Pan American Health Organization

Venezuela earthquake aftermath and reconstruction

14 clusters · 246 sources · last updated about 15 hours ago

Latest: Venezuela earthquake victims require over 150 prosthetics

Two months after the June 24 seismic doublet near La Guaira, the official death toll reached 6,509. The disaster, involving magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and producti

Brazil health response expands amid measles and West Nile

129 clusters · 643 sources · last updated 1 day ago

Latest: Brazil reports 35 measles cases amid regional outbreaks

Following the Pan American Health Organization’s warning of a Southern‑Hemisphere respiratory virus surge, Brazil’s health authorities intensified surveillance and vaccination efforts throughout the 2026 winter. Early me

Health risks and regulatory responses to ultra-processed-f

47 clusters · 316 sources · last updated 1 day ago

Latest: Ultra-processed foods linked to addictive behaviors

Research increasingly links ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to severe health risks, including cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, obesity, and dementia. A global study in The Lancet warned that the rise of UPFs constit

Venezuela earthquake recovery and seismic activity

784 clusters · 4270 sources · last updated 1 day ago

Latest: Venezuela faces ongoing seismic activity and $25 billion reconstruction estimate

As of mid-September 2026, recovery efforts following the June 24 twin earthquakes (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5) continue to face legal, logistical, and economic challenges. While the National Assembly enacted a Special Lease

Dementia prevention efforts in Brazil

2 clusters · 7 sources · last updated 3 days ago

Latest: Paraná health officials promote lifestyle changes to prevent dementia

Research indicates that daily physical activity could prevent approximately 420,000 dementia cases in Brazil by 2050, potentially saving between R$ 16 billion and R$ 23 billion in disease-related costs. Experts suggest t

Chikungunya detection and surveillance in Honduras

2 clusters · 14 sources · last updated 3 days ago

Latest: Honduras increases border surveillance after imported chikungunya case

Honduras confirmed its first imported case of chikungunya for 2026 involving a 31-year-old freight transporter returning from Managua, Nicaragua. The patient exhibited intense joint pain, and molecular biology analysis c

Global RSV vaccine and antibody rollout expands

30 clusters · 89 sources · last updated 3 days ago

Latest: WHO prequalifies multi-dose RSV vaccine to expand global infant protection

Since mid‑2023, RSV immunisation has expanded globally. In the UK, the UK Health Security Agency reported that a maternal vaccination program—which reached 61.7% of women giving birth between March 2025 and February 2026

Global suicide prevention awareness initiatives

11 clusters · 434 sources · last updated 3 days ago

Latest: World Suicide Prevention Day: Global health organizations call for urgent action

Global efforts to combat suicide rates continue to intensify around World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Under the 2024–2026 theme ‘Changing the narrative on suicide,’ initiatives led by the World Health Organiz

Panama public health and specialized care initiatives

2 clusters · 6 sources · last updated 4 days ago

Latest: Panama Ministry of Health evaluates hiring foreign medical specialists

Panama is implementing several initiatives to address critical public health challenges, particularly regarding non-communicable diseases and specialized medical care. In late August 2026, the Ministry of Health (Minsa)

Rising syphilis infections across the Americas

10 clusters · 37 sources · last updated 5 days ago

Latest: Argentina health officials report rising syphilis cases

Syphilis infections are rising significantly across the Americas, with Latin America and the Caribbean accounting for 90% of new infections in the region. Data from the AIDS 2026 conference indicates that in 2024, there

Brazil-Paraguay border health and transit cooperation

3 clusters · 13 sources · last updated 5 days ago

Latest: Brazil negotiates with Paraguay over border transit document fees

Brazil and Paraguay have initiated new protocols to coordinate health actions and sanitary surveillance in their shared border regions. Through the ‘Campo Grande Charter’, the two nations have established a framework for

Maiquetía Airport and La Guaira port recovery progress

30 clusters · 195 sources · last updated 8 days ago

Latest: Venezuela launches reconstruction plan following devastating June earthquakes

Following the June 24, 2026, earthquakes that devastated Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the facility has transitioned from cargo-only services to full commercial passenger operations. While the airport

Colombia HIV epidemic control efforts

2 clusters · 3 sources · last updated 8 days ago

Latest: Colombia faces challenges in meeting HIV epidemic control targets

Colombia is working toward international epidemic control targets for HIV. While 89.4% of diagnosed individuals have achieved viral suppression and 81.01% receive antiretroviral therapy, the country faces difficulties me

South American emergency response to El Niño weather

4 clusters · 43 sources · last updated 9 days ago

Latest: South American health systems prepare for El Niño climate risks

As El Niño continues to drive extreme weather across South America, regional authorities are intensifying emergency and sanitary preparations. In Argentina, the national government is utilizing satellite data to monitor

Measles surge across the Americas reaches critical levels

31 clusters · 175 sources · last updated 9 days ago

Latest: United States measles cases reach highest annual level since 1991

The measles outbreak across the Americas has reached critical levels, with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reporting 47,459 confirmed cases across 16 countries as of mid-July 2026—a figure more than triple th

Saramacca River pollution and fish mortality

2 clusters · 7 sources · last updated 10 days ago

Latest: Saramacca River cyanide pollution sparks political criticism in Suriname

Following reports of mass fish mortality in the Saramacca River that first emerged in late June, environmental investigations have identified significant pollution. Initial water analyses conducted in French Guiana and F

Breastfeeding rights and health initiatives in Latin America

11 clusters · 96 sources · last updated 13 days ago

Latest: Institutions in Chile and Colombia implement breastfeeding support spaces

Efforts to support breastfeeding and maternal health continue to expand through legislative advocacy, localized infrastructure, and regional awareness campaigns. In Mexico, the Secretaría de Educación Pública de Hidalgo

Adolescent vaping and wellbeing in Chile

4 clusters · 15 sources · last updated 13 days ago

Latest: Chilean youth vaping rates rise in Biobío and Aysén regions

Health surveys in Chile indicate rising concerns regarding adolescent vaping and general youth wellbeing. A national study by the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization, involving over 7,000 students

Venezuela public health and disease surveillance initiatives

2 clusters · 5 sources · last updated 13 days ago

Latest: Venezuela implements epidemic intelligence to strengthen public health

Venezuela has initiated several public health strengthening measures in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Initially, the Ministry of People's Power for Health launched a national vector con

Avian influenza outbreaks in the Americas

2 clusters · 13 sources · last updated 13 days ago

Latest: PAHO reports decline in avian influenza outbreaks in the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has reported a decline in avian influenza A(H5) outbreaks among animals in the Americas during the first half of 2026. Between January 1 and July 15, 2026, ten countries record

WBW 2026: Global and Latin American lactation initiatives

8 clusters · 272 sources · last updated 15 days ago

Latest: Hospital Vidal y Fuentes installs breastfeeding awareness mural

Following the global campaign for World Breastfeeding Week 2026, themed ‘Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works’, regional initiatives continued to focus on community engagement and public a

Guyana mental health support for MV Barima survivors

2 clusters · 2 sources · last updated 16 days ago

Latest: Guyana Ministry of Health extends mental health support for MV Barima survivors

Following the MV Barima tragedy, the Guyanese government has implemented multiple mental health support initiatives for survivors and affected families. Initially, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security anno

Expansion of Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americs

2 clusters · 3 sources · last updated 17 days ago

Latest: Honduras joins Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas

The Alliance for Primary Health Care in the Americas, a regional initiative led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank, has expanded its membership in the

Uruguay regional foot-and-mouth disease vaccine integration

2 clusters · 4 sources · last updated 17 days ago

Latest: Vaccination drives launched in Uruguay and Argentina

Uruguay has formalized permanent membership in the Regional Bank of Antigens and Vaccines against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Banvaco). This makes Uruguay the fourth nation to join the mechanism, alongside Brazil, Ecuador, a

Adolescent bullying trends in Latin America

2 clusters · 13 sources · last updated 18 days ago

Latest: Pan American Health Organization launches bullying prevention toolkit

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has highlighted high rates of school and cyberbullying among adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean. Data indicates that approximately one in four adolescents aged 13 t

Public health disease control in Brazil

2 clusters · 44 sources · last updated 18 days ago

Latest: Belém implements successful Dengue control model

Brazil has reported significant progress in controlling mosquito-borne and parasitic diseases through targeted public health interventions. Regarding malaria, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha stated the country achieve

World Breastfeeding Week health initiatives

3 clusters · 20 sources · last updated 18 days ago

Latest: Experts advocate for systemic support during World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week initiatives have continued through regional activities and global health advocacy, focusing on education, clinical training, and systemic support. In Latin America, activities have spanned severa

Dominican Republic healthcare: service crises and financial

7 clusters · 36 sources · last updated 20 days ago

Latest: Dominican Republic SNS defends public hospital management and finances

The Dominican Republic’s healthcare system continues to face a dichotomy between reported financial stability and critical service shortages. Political opposition remains vocal regarding the state of public facilities.

Colombia health sector leadership appointments

2 clusters · 2 sources · last updated 20 days ago

Latest: Colombia appoints new leaders for health regulatory agencies

Colombia has undergone a series of leadership appointments within its health oversight and regulatory sectors. In mid-August, Mónica Rocío Lombana García was sworn in as acting National Superintendent of Health to focus

Human rights monitoring in Jujuy

2 clusters · 7 sources · last updated 20 days ago

Latest: Jujuy authorities coordinate with National Committee for the Prevention of Torture

Authorities in the province of Jujuy met with representatives from the National Committee for the Prevention of Torture to coordinate human rights protection policies. The meeting focused on following up on recommendatio