21 February 2011 - Antimicrobial resistance is becoming more dangerous - for example multidrug-resistant tuberculosis causes at least 150 000 deaths annually. A new fact sheet provides examples of what can be done to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In the run up to World Health Day, the fact sheet highlights the importance of countries taking action today to protect the medicines of tomorrow.

• Antimicrobial resistance fact sheet
• World Health Day 2011

14 February 2011 - An innovative vaccine will protect children against pneumococcal disease, which causes life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Kenya is the fourth country to roll out the vaccine as part of its immunization programme. In the past three months, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Yemen have also introduced the vaccine.

11 February 2011 - Harmful use of alcohol results in the death of 2.5 million people annually. The newly published Global status report on alcohol and health analyses alcohol consumption in over 100 individual country profiles. This evidence should allow countries to create policies to save lives and reduce the health impact of harmful alcohol drinking.