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Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

World Health Organisation

Also known as: WHO · World Health Organization

World Health Organisation — international health body that declares disease emergencies, issues public health guidance, and works with countries on disease prevention and health monitoring.

2018-02-022026-06-08
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. May 2026

  2. The Namibian

    the World Health Organisation (WHO) recorded about 423 road traffic fatalities in Namibia in 2023, a rate of 14 per 100 000 population

    Source

    “Namibia also recorded about 423 road traffic fatalities in 2023, a rate of 14 per 100 000 population, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

    End the Road Carnage Now

  3. New Era

    World Health Organisation (WHO) warned countries to remain vigilant following reported hantavirus cases in parts of the world

    Source

    “The government's statement follows growing international concern after the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday last week, warned countries to remain vigilant following reported hantavirus cases in parts of the world.”

    Govt assures nation amid global hantavirus concerns

  4. New Era

    WHO advised the public to avoid contact with rodents and areas contaminated by rodent droppings

    Source

    “WHO further advised the public to avoid contact with rodents and areas contaminated by rodent droppings, urine or saliva, which remain the primary sources of infection.”

    Govt assures nation amid global hantavirus concerns

  5. The Namibian

    World Health Organisation reported hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship travelling across South Atlantic

    Source

    “The warning follows a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship travelling across the South Atlantic, as reported by the World Health Organisation on 3 May.”

    Namibia monitors global hantavirus outbreak as cases rise

  6. Informanté

    World Health Organization currently considers the overall public health risk linked to the incident to be low

    Source

    “Despite these developments, Ithindi noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) currently considers the overall public health risk linked to the incident to be low.”

    No hantavirus cases detected in Namibia, Health Ministry confirms

  7. Windhoek Observer

    World Health Organisation considers the public health risk linked to the outbreak to be low

    Source

    “World Health Organisation currently considers the public health risk linked to the outbreak to be low because transmission usually requires close and prolonged contact.”

    Namibia on alert over Hantavirus outbreak

  8. The Namibian

    Dr Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organisation (WHO) stressed it was not the start of a pandemic

    Source

    “In an update on Thursday, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove from the World Health Organisation (WHO) stressed it was not the start of a pandemic, saying: "This is not Covid, this is not influenza, it spreads very, very differently."”

    How worried should we be about hantavirus?

  9. The Namibian

    World Health Organisation (WHO) says hantavirus has possibly spread among those on board

    Source

    “the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has possibly spread among those on board.”

    Stranded on board ‘hantavirus ship’

  10. The Namibian

    World Health Organisation reported three deaths after suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship

    Source

    “Three people have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

    Hantavirus on Atlantic cruise ship: What is it?
  11. April 2026

  12. The Namibian

    World Health Organisation has prequalified first malaria treatment for newborns and young infants

    Source

    “The World Health Organisation (WHO) has prequalified the first malaria treatment specifically developed for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilogrammes.”

    WHO approves first malaria treatment for newborns
World & Region

South Africa intensifies Ebola screening as Central Africa outbreak spreads

The News

A deadly Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has claimed at least 61 lives and resulted in 359 cases, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Africa's Border Management Authority says it has intensified screening and surveillance measures at ports of entry, including temperature checks and travel history interviews, to prevent the virus from entering the country.

7 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Yesterday

  1. South Africa intensifies Ebola screening as Central Africa outbreak spreads

    A deadly Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has claimed at least 61 lives and resulted in 359 cases, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Africa's Border Management Authority says it has intensified screening and surveillance measures at ports of entry, including temperature checks and travel history interviews, to prevent the virus from entering the country.

    7 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Rosatom seeks uranium mining approval pending IAEA report

    Russian state-owned Rosatom, through subsidiary Headspring Investments, claims groundwater in the Stampriet Basin already contains uranium at levels approximately 300 times higher than WHO drinking water guidelines. The company awaits an independent IAEA report on its proposed in situ leaching uranium mining project in Omaheke Region, which the Namibian government has received and Cabinet is reviewing.

    2 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 1 June

  1. WHO warns tobacco firms exploit gaps marketing nicotine pouches

    A WHO report, prepared with Stanford University experts, warns that tobacco companies are using aggressive marketing tactics—including social media, influencers, and youth-appealing branding—to drive nicotine pouch sales, particularly among adolescents, exploiting regulatory gaps with "smoke-free" claims and candy-like flavours.

    1 June 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 30 May

  1. Angola, Zambia listed among ten African nations at Ebola risk

    Two of Namibia's neighbours, Angola and Zambia, are among ten African countries at risk of Ebola exposure as an outbreak spreads in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has recorded about 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths. The May 2026 outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine and mortality rates can reach up to 50 per cent.

    30 May 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 23 May

  1. Namibia reports no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases

    Namibia's health ministry confirmed there are no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases in the country, despite an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain spreading to major urban centres in the DRC and Uganda. The ministry has implemented heightened surveillance at all points of entry and is providing refresher training to frontline health workers.

    23 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 21 May

  1. Walvis Bay Corridor Group urges vigilance over DRC Ebola

    The Walvis Bay Corridor Group has called on transporters, logistics operators, and corridor users to strengthen hygiene and sanitation measures following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Transport and trade activities continue normally, but stakeholders are advised to ensure handwashing facilities, sanitisers, and protective equipment are available and to comply with health screening measures.

    21 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Windhoek residents demand lab evidence after body found in water treatment facility

    A body was discovered at Windhoek's Gammams Water Care Works facility on Sunday, prompting the Residents and Ratepayers Association to demand laboratory results on tap water safety. The Windhoek Municipality has assured the public that the city's water is safe, noting the body was found at the initial screening stage of the treatment process.

    20 May 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibia strengthens medicine safety systems through African cooperation

    Namibia is strengthening its medicine safety systems as African countries push for closer regulatory cooperation through the African Medicines Agency to address concerns over counterfeit medicines and weak reporting systems for medicine side effects. The Ministry of Health and Social Services says stronger cooperation between African regulators would help countries respond faster to harmful medicines, improve monitoring of side effects and reduce dependence on foreign regulatory systems.

    20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 18 May

  1. Over 70% of low-income Namibians depend on walking and cycling

    A report launched during UN Global Road Safety Week found that more than 70% of daily travel among low-income households in Namibia depends on walking and cycling, but major gaps exist in infrastructure, funding and policies supporting pedestrians and cyclists. Namibia recorded more than 1,000 motor vehicle crashes during the first four months of 2026, resulting in 179 deaths and over 1,700 injuries.

    18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

    The World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern.

    18 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Sunday 17 May

  1. Ministry and WHO urge regular blood pressure screening on World Hypertension Day

    Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services and the WHO marked World Hypertension Day on 17 May, calling on the public to prioritise regular blood pressure checks and healthy lifestyles. The ministry urged monitoring blood pressure, reducing salt intake, exercising, and taking prescribed medication, warning that uncontrolled hypertension can lead to stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.

    17 May 2026 · Informanté →

  2. WHO declares DR Congo Ebola outbreak public health emergency

    The World Health Organisation has declared an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo's Ituri province—caused by the Bundibugyo virus, with 246 suspected cases and 80 reported deaths—a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak has spread to Uganda, with two confirmed cases reported there, and the WHO warns of potential for larger spread despite no approved drugs or vaccines for this strain.

    17 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 16 May

  1. Monica Geingos appointed Board Chair of global maternal health alliance

    Former First Lady Monica Geingos has been appointed Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), the world's largest alliance focused on the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. She succeeds former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, whose tenure ends in November 2026.

    16 May 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 15 May

  1. WHO representative urges investment in safer walking and cycling

    World Health Organization country representative Dr Richard Banda called for urgent investment in safer walking and cycling infrastructure, stating that road crashes continue to claim lives and leave many with permanent injuries in Namibia and across Africa. He said pedestrians and cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users due to poor infrastructure and unsafe conditions, and called for stronger law enforcement, lower speed limits in pedestrian areas, and improved emergency response systems.

    15 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. Former first lady Geingos appointed chair of global maternal health alliance

    Monica Geingos has been appointed board chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the world's largest alliance focused on maternal, newborn and child health, succeeding former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark when her term ends in November 2026. The alliance, hosted by the WHO in Geneva, brings together nearly 1,500 partner organisations working on maternal, child and adolescent health.

    15 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 12 May

  1. Road deaths persist as national crisis requiring urgent attention

    The Namibian reports that 15 people died on roads during a long weekend, bringing the year-to-date toll to 170 by 3 May, with the MVA Fund recording 921 crashes, 1,467 injuries, and 143 fatalities from January to 26 April. The editorial argues road crashes constitute a persistent national crisis requiring immediate action, citing WHO data showing Namibia recorded about 423 fatalities in 2023 at a rate of 14 per 100,000 population.

    12 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 11 May

  1. Namibia monitoring hantavirus threat as WHO alerts countries

    The Namibian government has assured the nation that the country remains vigilant and prepared amid global hantavirus concerns, with the Ministry of Health and Social Services stating that Namibia has not recorded any confirmed cases but is actively monitoring developments at global and regional levels through coordination with local and international partners.

    11 May 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 10 May

  1. Namibia monitoring global hantavirus outbreak, no local cases recorded

    Namibia has not recorded any hantavirus cases, but health authorities are closely monitoring the global and regional situation and urging the public to seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms, especially after rodent exposure or travel to affected regions. As of 6 May, eight cases including three deaths have been reported globally, five confirmed as the Andes strain, the only hantavirus strain known to allow limited human-to-human transmission.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 9 May

  1. Namibia has not recorded any Hantavirus cases, ministry confirms

    The Ministry of Health's Executive Director confirmed that Namibia has not reported any Hantavirus cases, though the ministry is monitoring the global and regional situation. The statement follows reports of a Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that travelled from Argentina to Cabo Verde, with five confirmed cases and three suspected as of 6 May 2026.

    9 May 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 8 May

  1. Namibia has no Hantavirus cases, monitoring outbreak

    Namibia has not recorded any cases of Hantavirus despite a recent outbreak on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic that has resulted in eight reported cases, including three deaths. The Ministry of Health and Social Services says it is closely monitoring the global and regional situation and has put precautionary measures in place.

    8 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

  2. Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship traced to multiple countries

    Three passengers have died and four others medically evacuated from a cruise ship that sailed from Argentina a month ago carrying the Andes strain of hantavirus. Health authorities are tracing potentially exposed passengers who have travelled to countries including the UK, South Africa, the Netherlands, the US and Switzerland, but WHO stress the risk to the general public remains low.

    8 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 7 May

  1. Hantavirus outbreak strands 150 on luxury cruise ship

    Around 150 people from 23 countries are stranded on the MV Hondius in the Atlantic near Cape Verde after three confirmed and five suspected hantavirus cases were identified on board. Three passengers have died, and the WHO says three suspected hantavirus patients have been evacuated to The Netherlands for medical care.

    7 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 6 May

  1. Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

    Three people have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, with two cases confirmed so far and two crew members presenting with respiratory symptoms. Hantavirus is a virus strain carried by rodents, primarily transmitted to humans through inhalation of airborne particles from dried rodent droppings, with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome having an approximate 38% mortality rate when respiratory symptoms develop.

    6 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 30 April

  1. Namibia intensifies malaria elimination efforts amid rising cases

    Namibia marked World Malaria Day 2026 by reaffirming its commitment to fight malaria, particularly in northern regions where cases are rising. Health Minister Dr. Esperance Luvindao stressed that malaria is preventable and treatable, calling for stronger prevention and early detection efforts supported by coordination with the Africa CDC, WHO, and regional partners.

    30 April 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 29 April

  1. WHO approves first malaria treatment for newborns

    The World Health Organisation has prequalified artemether/lumefantrine, the first antimalarial drug formulation specifically designed for infants weighing two to five kilogrammes. The move addresses a long-standing treatment gap affecting about 30 million babies born annually in malaria-endemic parts of Africa, as infants have previously been treated with medicines intended for older children.

    29 April 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Namibia launches polio vaccination despite no reported cases

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services has started a nationwide polio vaccination campaign following virus detections in sewage at Rundu and Gobabis, with the health minister declaring an outbreak despite no confirmed cases. The last reported polio cases in Namibia occurred in 2006, when 35 cases and 11 deaths were recorded.

    29 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 22 April

  1. Japan, UN fund health projects targeting emergency preparedness

    Japan, the UN, and global partners have launched major investments to strengthen Namibia's health system, including three key projects focused on emergency preparedness, disease prevention, and diagnostic capacity. The initiatives, valued at approximately N$18.4 million, will benefit more than 118,000 people across eight hospitals and vulnerable regions including Kunene, Omusati, and Otjozondjupa.

    22 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 16 April

  1. Researcher identifies antimalarial drug resistance markers in Namibia

    Lydia Eloff, a University of Namibia PhD candidate in malaria genomics, has identified molecular markers associated with drug resistance in Namibia using genomic tools. Her research, which won the Best Student Researcher Award, is informing national surveillance efforts and therapeutic efficacy studies as the country experiences rising malaria cases, particularly in northeastern regions.

    16 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. African health worker migration rooted in colonial power structures

    A health education researcher argues that the migration of healthcare workers from poorer to wealthier countries is not simply driven by individual choice, but is shaped by colonial legacies and global inequality. Solutions require African governments to invest in local retention and working conditions, while high-income countries must reduce reliance on international recruitment and reform global knowledge hierarchies that devalue non-Western expertise.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 9 April

  1. Walvis Bay dumpsite becomes informal settlement amid health risks

    A controlled landfill in Walvis Bay has transformed into an informal settlement housing over 100 shacks and more than 300 people, with residents reporting illegal tyre burning, undercover prostitution, domestic violence, and drug activity. The situation raises serious environmental and health concerns for surrounding communities, prompting authorities to engage stakeholders on de-proclaiming the portion within Dorob National Park to enable better municipal management.

    9 April 2026 · New Era →

World Health Organisation — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute