Clade lb, a deadlier strain of the virus, has reportedly emerged in other African countries, causing enough concerns for WHO to convene its emergency committee on Wednesday.

A 59-year-old man in Mexico City has died after contracting a subtype of bird flu, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. The man, who had prior health complications, succumbed to the virus on April 24.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra recently addressed the BRICS Health Ministers’ meeting held alongside the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva. Chandra, who has also been appointed as the head of Committee A at the 77th session of the WHA, emphasised India's active engagement in BRICS health track initiatives.

WHO's Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, emphasized the need to work harder to overcome the challenges of malaria.