Here are 7 major public and global health stories for World Polio Day, including their sources and links for further reading.
1. WHO Warns of $7 Billion Needed for Gaza Health System & Polio Funding Cuts
On World Polio Day, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted two major global health challenges. He stated that at least $7 billion is needed to rebuild Gaza’s health system, which has no fully functioning hospitals. Separately, he warned that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is facing a 30% budget cut, which threatens the immense progress made and could affect outbreak detection and response in high-risk regions.
- Source: Health Policy Watch / WHO
- Link: https://healthpolicy-watch.news/billions-needed-to-rebuild-gazas-health-system-polio-eradication-faces-30-percent-budget-cut/
2. Autochthonous Transmission of Mpox Clade Ib Detected in EU/EEA
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a threat assessment brief after locally acquired cases of Mpox (monkeypox) caused by Clade Ib were reported in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands. These cases, with no travel history to Central Africa, suggest transmission is occurring within sexual networks of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the EU/EEA. The overall risk is assessed as moderate for the MSM population and low for the general population.
- Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- Link: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/mpox-TAB-October-2025.pdf
3. WHO Europe Director Highlights Crises: Exhausted Health Workers and Climate Change
Ahead of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, Regional Director Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge warned of major crises in the region:
- Health Workforce: One in three European doctors and nurses reports depression or anxiety, with a shortage of nearly one million workers projected by 2030.
- Climate Change: The Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health warns climate change is a public health emergency, with air pollution killing over half a million people and heat-related deaths up 30% over two decades.
- Source: WHO Regional Office for Europe / ReliefWeb
- Link: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/ahead-75th-who-regional-committee-europe-be-held-copenhagen-28-30-october-2025-who-regional-director-europe-dr-hans-henri-p-kluge-said
4. Oropouche Virus Disease Reported Across Seven Regions in Panama
Panama’s Ministry of Health has reported a total of 613 confirmed cases of Oropouche virus disease (OROV) across seven regions during 2025. OROV is a mosquito-borne disease that has been actively circulating since late 2024. The U.S. CDC has reissued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for the region, as no preventive vaccine is currently available.
- Source: Vax-Before-Travel / U.S. CDC (Travel Notice)
- Link: https://www.vax-before-travel.com/2025/10/24/oropouche-virus-disease-reported-across-seven-panama-regions
5. WHO Western Pacific Takes Action on Alcohol Control and IHR Implementation
WHO Member States in the Western Pacific Region have endorsed new resolutions focusing on several health priorities. Notably, they agreed to implement the first regional plan globally to strengthen the International Health Regulations (IHR) amendments, and called for stronger alcohol control measures, including taxes, pricing, and restricting availability to counter industry interference.
- Source: WHO Western Pacific
- Link: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/item/24-10-2025-who-western-pacific-member-states-take-action-on-key-health-priorities
6. New E. coli Outbreak Linked to Contaminated Meat in California
ProMED is reporting an outbreak of E. coli in the U.S., specifically linked to contaminated meat that has caused Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in California. The alert did not specify the exact number of cases or the product involved, but highlights an ongoing food safety concern.
- Source: ProMED
- Link: [ProMED updates are typically text-only. See ProMED for recent alerts dated Oct 24, 2025]
7. Fiji Certified by WHO for Trachoma Elimination
The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Fiji as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, and the achievement highlights successful public health interventions, including the WHO-endorsed SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental improvement).
- Source: ProMED / WHO
- Link: [ProMED updates are typically text-only. See ProMED for recent alerts dated Oct 24, 2025]
