🦠 India has reported two confirmed cases of Nipah virus (NiV) in West Bengal, both among health-care workers at the same hospital. 🏥One patient is receiving intensive care, the other is recovering. Importantly, over 190 contacts have been tested and all are negative, and no new cases have been detected so far. *What is Nipah virus?* 🦇 Nipah is a rare but serious disease that can spread from animals (especially fruit bats) to people, and sometimes between people through close contact. 🧠 Symptoms can range from fever and headaches to severe brain infection. There is no specific vaccine or treatment yet, but early supportive care saves lives. 📊 *WHO assesses the risk as moderate locally, and low nationally, regionally and globally.* *How to reduce risk:* ✅ Wash and peel fruits ✅ Avoid raw date palm sap ✅ Wash hands often ✅ Seek care early if symptoms appear WHO is working closely with Indian authorities to monitor the situation and keep communities safe. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4kg85P1

🍎 Healthy food at school = healthier futures 🏫 What children eat at school shapes their health for life. That’s why WHO has released a new global guideline to help countries create healthier school food environments — from the cafeteria to the classroom. *Why this matters:* 📊 In 2025, 1 in 10 school-aged children and adolescents (188 million) were living with obesity worldwide — more than the number who are underweight for the first time ever. At the same time, 466 million children receive school meals every day, yet many meals are still high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. *WHO recommends a whole-school approach:* 🥦 Set clear standards so healthy food is the easy choice. 👀 Use simple “nudges” like better placement and pricing to encourage healthier options. 📣 Limit marketing of unhealthy foods to children. *What you can do:* ✅ Support healthy school meal policies ✅ Encourage nutritious lunches and snacks ✅ Speak up for healthier food in schools 💚 Healthy schools help children learn better today and live healthier tomorrow. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4bYewnr

🗓️ 30 January is World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day. 💡Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) still affect 1 billion people worldwide — mostly in vulnerable communities. The good news? They are preventable, treatable and can be eliminated. *Progress is real:* 📉 In 2024, 1.4 billion people needed NTD interventions — a 36% drop since 2010. 💪🏾By early 2026, 58 countries had eliminated at least one NTD, bringing the world closer to WHO’s goal of 100 countries by 2030. ⚠️ But progress is at risk. Funding cuts threaten to undo years of hard-won gains, even though low-cost solutions exist. Every $1 invested in NTD prevention delivers $25 in economic benefits. *On World NTD Day, let’s act:* ➡️ Support country-led solutions ➡️ Protect funding for NTD programmes ➡️ Champion innovation and partnerships Together, we can eliminate NTDs — one of the most achievable and equitable goals in global health. Learn more ➡️https://bit.ly/4rhQWqb