Ebola, or Ebola virus disease, is a highly contagious and potentially deadly illness caused by ebolaviruses. It has gained worldwide attention because of severe outbreaks in Central and West Africa. While Ebola can devastate families and communities, it is possible to reduce its spread and impact through prevention, early detection, and coordinated efforts.

Today, Ebola remains a serious threat. In May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared a new Ebola outbreak in Ituri  Province involving a newly identified variant that does not match previously known strains. With no vaccine currently available for this variant, thousands of displaced children are at risk.

Ebola virus disease: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Ebola
• What is Ebola?
• Current outbreak in DRC’s Ituri Province (May 2026)
• How can I help Ebola survivors and people affected by viruses?
• What are the symptoms of Ebola?
• Is Ebola treatable?
• How does World Vision respond to Ebola outbreaks?
• What was World Vision’s response to the Ebola outbreaks in 2014?

Fast facts: Ebola virus disease

• Ebolavirus is highly contagious and can cause Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
• The disease is initially transmitted to humans from wild animals. Subsequently, it spreads by human-to-human transmission through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people. It can also be transmitted through contact with surfaces contaminated with these fluids.
• In 1976, public health officials identified ebolaviruses during two successive outbreaks of lethal hemorrhagic fever in distinct regions of Central Africa. The initial outbreak occurred in a village near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), giving the virus its name. The second outbreak occurred an estimated 500 miles away in what is now South Sudan.
• Ebola outbreaks primarily occur in Central and West Africa, with occasional cases in other regions.
• The largest outbreak happened in West Africa (2014–2016), with more recent outbreaks confirmed in DRC (2018–2020), Uganda (2022–2023), Kasai Province in DRC (2025), and Ituri Province in DRC (2026).

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What is Ebola?

Ebola virus disease, formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and often deadly disease in humans caused by infection with one of four ebolavirus strains: Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo, or Taï Forest.

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Current outbreak in DRC’s Ituri Province (May 2026)

On May 15, 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new Ebola outbreak in the health zones of Bunia, Mongwalu, and Rwampara in Ituri Province.

The outbreak is especially concerning because health authorities say the newly identified Ebola variant does not match any previously known strain, and no vaccine is currently available. The crisis is unfolding in a region already affected by conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and limited healthcare access. More than 900,000 internally displaced people live in Ituri Province, placing thousands of children at heightened risk of infection.

As of May 19, 2026:

• 536 suspected cases, 105 probable cases, and 34 confirmed cases have been reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• 134 suspected deaths have been recorded
• These numbers include two confirmed cases, including one death in Uganda, in people who traveled from the DRC.
• This is a rapidly evolving situation, and case figures are subject to change.

World Vision is also working alongside health authorities and humanitarian partners to help contain the 17th outbreak and protect vulnerable children and families through hygiene promotion, infection prevention and control, child protection support, community education, and coordination with local leaders.

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How can I help Ebola survivors and people affected by viruses?

• Pray: Join us in praying for all those threatened by Ebola outbreaks and the spread of other diseases and infections.
• Sponsor a child as a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need.

What are the symptoms of Ebola?

Symptoms of Ebola virus disease include high body temperature, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and both internal and external bleeding, such as from the gums and stool.

It can be challenging to distinguish Ebola from other diseases, such as malaria, typhoid fever, and meningitis. Symptoms typically appear from 2 to 21 days after contracting the disease. People who have contracted the disease can’t transmit it to others until symptoms appear.

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Is Ebola treatable?

While there is no proven, licensed treatment for Ebola, early symptom management and intravenous fluid hydration can improve survival rates. Ongoing research efforts are exploring potential treatments, including antiviral drugs and immunotherapies.

The 2026 Ituri outbreak is especially concerning because the newly identified variant currently has no vaccine available.

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How does World Vision respond to Ebola outbreaks?

World Vision responds swiftly to Ebola outbreaks by educating affected communities, supporting healthcare workers, providing child protection and psychosocial support, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, and delivering emergency relief. We aim to help communities stay safe and resilient in the face of this deadly virus. A few of our key programming areas include:

Community education: We equip communities with information about Ebola prevention, transmission, and the importance of early detection. We help raise awareness to ensure people know how to protect themselves from the virus.

World Vision’s Channels of Hope programming: We train and equip religious leaders to share accurate information about Ebola prevention and treatment, dispel myths and misconceptions, and promote safe practices within their congregations and communities. By working with these local faith leaders, who have a great deal of influence because of how much their communities trust them, World Vision seeks to enhance awareness, reduce stigmatization, and encourage early detection and treatment of Ebola cases. The collaborative approach between faith-based organizations, communities, and health agencies has played a vital role in controlling the spread of Ebola and providing support to affected individuals and families.

Child protection: We offer psychosocial support to children who may have lost family members or been affected by the outbreak. We work to keep children safe and emotionally supported.

Healthcare support: We supply healthcare workers with medical supplies, protective gear, and training so they can safely care for Ebola patients.

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What was World Vision’s response to the Ebola outbreaks in 2014?

World Vision swiftly responded to the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in Sierra Leone. We did this through a comprehensive effort to protect children and their families. With a strong focus on health and safety, awareness and prevention, safe burials, and social and economic recovery, World Vision played a crucial role in combating the epidemic. Our initiatives ranged from providing personal protective equipment and hygiene kits to launching extensive education campaigns and training local leaders on virus prevention. Through our efforts, we successfully prevented Ebola-related deaths among the children and families we supported. And we contributed significantly to the containment of the outbreak. Our approach encompassed immediate medical needs, long-term recovery, and community resilience.

When Ebola struck Sierra Leone in 2014, World Vision was already working in 25 program areas. We were serving an estimated 58,000 children and their families. Building on 20 years of community development in Sierra Leone, we joined communities, partner agencies, and every level of government in the battle against Ebola.

During the emergency response, World Vision reached 1.6 million people through these and other initiatives:

Health and safety

• World Vision delivered 5.4 million personal protective equipment items. These included suits, gloves, face masks, and goggles to Sierra Leone hospitals and health centers, and gave hygiene kits to schools. Long-time World Vision partner McKesson, one of the largest healthcare service companies in the U.S., donated 200 pallets of medical relief supplies to help meet Sierra Leone’s needs for five months.

Awareness and prevention

• World Vision–trained staff organized massive awareness, prevention, and education campaigns to protect children from the disease through radio and house-to-house information sharing.
• Staff trained more than 2,000 influential local leaders — including Christian and Muslim clerics, traditional faith healers, and frontline community health workers — to deliver messages on Ebola awareness and prevention. “When so many communities face such terrible suffering, the church must be there to combat fear, stigma, isolation, and hopelessness with both love and tangible support,” said Bruno Col, then­–World Vision communications director in West Africa.

Safe and dignified burials

• World Vision and two other aid agencies organized and trained 800 burial teams. These teams carried out 29,201 burials to prevent the spread of the disease while ensuring families had the opportunity to mourn and respecting their cultural beliefs.
• World Vision and its humanitarian partners, along with burial workers like 53-year-old Ebola survivor Maseray Kamara, were awarded the 2015 Bond International Humanitarian Award. The award recognized the courage and care of those on the front lines of Ebola prevention during the outbreak. “This recognition is a tremendous encouragement after all the suffering we have seen in Sierra Leone and across West Africa,” said Grace Kargbo, a World Vision Sierra Leone burial team manager at the time. “These brave souls have received little recognition at home and abroad. In fact, they have often been shunned, ostracized, vilified because they are burial workers.”

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Jonathan Bundu, Karen Homer, Chris Huber, Heather Klinger, Denise C. Koenig, Sahr Ngaujah, and Sevil Omer, all of World Vision, contributed to this article.

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Malaria remains a life-threatening disease spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of the disease, but it poses a special risk to pregnant mothers and children under 5. Challenges persist while progress against malaria is being made through improved diagnosis, treatments, insecticide-treated bed nets, and the malaria vaccine.

Malaria: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

Explore facts and frequently asked questions about malaria, and learn how you can help children and families at risk.

• Fast facts: Malaria
• What is malaria, and what causes it?
• What are the symptoms?
• Why is malaria especially dangerous for infants and young children?
• What are the best preventative measures?
• How can I help people at risk of malaria?
• What is World Vision doing to tackle malaria?
• Milestones in the fight against malaria

Fast facts: Malaria

• In 2024, nearly half of the global population faced the risk of malaria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• An estimated 282 million people contracted malaria in 80 countries in 2024, compared to 249 million in 2023.
• The total number of malaria-related deaths in 2024 reached 610,000.
• Children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to malaria, accounting for approximately 75% of malaria-related deaths.
• World Malaria Day on April 25 serves as a reminder of the ongoing effort needed to eradicate this deadly disease, which disproportionately affects vulnerable populations with limited access to healthcare.

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What is malaria, and what causes it?

Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) parasite. The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito must have acquired the parasite by previously biting a person who carries the parasite in their blood. The parasites multiply in the infected person’s liver before ultimately infecting and destroying red blood cells.

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What are the symptoms?

Malaria symptoms include a high fever, chills, headache, and vomiting. These flu-like symptoms usually appear between 10 and 15 days after an infected mosquito bites a person.

If untreated, malaria can become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. Signs of severe malaria include very pale skin, severe vomiting, and convulsions.

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Why is malaria especially dangerous for infants and young children?

During pregnancy, a mother’s infection can lead to low birth weight and infant mortality. Newborns in malaria-prone areas acquire some immunity from their mothers, but it wanes after about three months. In places where malaria is prevalent, children who survive multiple infections often become partially immune by the time they’re between 2 and 5 years old. That’s why the most severe malaria cases tend to affect children under 5, before they have had time to build up sufficient immunity.

Additionally, children with malaria are at a higher risk of anemia, which can be fatal if untreated.

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What are the best preventative measures?

To prevent malaria in countries where it is endemic, several effective strategies can be used:

• Sleeping under long-lasting insecticidal bed nets: Using durable pre-treated bed nets helps protect people from mosquito bites while sleeping. This also reduces the risk of malaria transmission.
• Taking antimalarial medications: Pregnant women, in particular, can take antimalarial medications to prevent infections that could endanger their lives and the health of their unborn children.
• Eliminating standing water: Cleaning up stagnant water around dwellings helps eliminate breeding sites for mosquitoes, which reduces their population and potential for spreading malaria.
• Indoor spraying with insecticide: Indoor spraying of insecticides effectively kills mosquitoes and rapidly reduces malaria transmission in affected areas.
• Early diagnosis and prompt treatment: Timely diagnosis and treatment with antimalarial medications can prevent a mild case of malaria from becoming severe and life-threatening.
• Vaccination: The RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) vaccine, developed after 35 years of research, is considered a breakthrough for child health, according to the U.N. Children’s Agency (UNICEF). It targets the deadliest malaria parasite, P. falciparum, in Africa. The vaccine reduces severe malaria and child mortality, a significant milestone in the fight against malaria.

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What is World Vision doing to tackle malaria?

World Vision works to prevent malaria and ensure people in affected areas stay safe and healthy. We play a significant role in fighting malaria by supporting and helping fund local programs in places where malaria is a threat, including Angola, the Central African Republic, Malawi, Mozambique, Thailand, and Zimbabwe. 

We equip people with long-lasting insecticidal bed nets for sleeping, reducing mosquito bites and malaria risk. Our efforts also extend to indoor insecticide applications, community health worker education, and data-driven mosquito-control measures.

We supported over 23 million people through our malaria prevention programs in 2024. That same year, World Vision distributed over 1 million bed nets in at-risk communities, reaching over 1.9 million people in Burundi and the Central African Republic. 

In Zambia, community health workers are tackling malaria with the support of World Vision and its partners.

Phales Mulinda, a trained community health worker, has significantly impacted her community by providing critical medical services and education. “From the time I was trained, I have been able to not only work, but I am well informed about malaria, unlike before,” she says. “I am very happy because of the knowledge that World Vision facilitated … to help my community.”

Thanks to the malaria prevention measures she implements, people no longer have to travel long distances to get medical attention. The Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia program, launched in 2021, aims to end malaria by adding 2,500 community health workers to the national health system, serving over 1.3 million people in 10 highly affected districts. The Rotary Foundation, World Vision, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation each contributed $2 million to the program.

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How can I help people at risk of malaria?

• Pray: Dear God, we see Your hand in the work to end malaria. Lift the spirits of all individuals who devote themselves to this effort, and bless their work to achieve even greater results. Be with those who are ill with malaria and suffering from its effects, and help them make a full recovery.
• Give: Help provide life-saving interventions like insecticide-treated bed nets, medical care, prevention education, and more.
• Sponsor a child: World Vision’s sponsorship program helps whole communities find sustainable solutions for the issues they’re facing, like prevention and treatment for malaria.

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Milestones in the fight against malaria

1880s to 1890s: The malaria parasite and its transmission through mosquitoes were identified.

The early 1900s: The use of insecticide spray reduced malaria and yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal and the U.S. occupation of Cuba.

1930s to 1950s: Federal Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spraying programs eliminated the transmission in the U.S.

1955 to 1970s: The world experienced varying success in eliminating malaria, depending on local conditions, health system strength, climate, and development.

2002: The Global Fund invested approximately $4 billion annually to fight malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis in locations of greatest need.

2006: President George W. Bush’s malaria initiative committed $1.2 billion to fight the disease in 15 countries.

2015: Due to nearly 1 billion bed nets distributed in sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2015, there was a 37% reduction in global malaria incidence and a 60% decline in death rates, achieving Millennium Development Goal targets.

2016: Between 2000 and 2016, global efforts saved 6.8 million lives and prevented 1 billion cases.

2017: The U.S. malaria initiative expanded to 24 countries and over 90 million people in West and Central Africa.

2020 to 2021: Service disruptions due to COVID-19 caused approximately 13 million more malaria cases and 63,000 more malaria-related deaths.

Present to 2030: The World Health Organization aims for a 90% reduction in malaria cases by 2030.

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Tuberculosis (TB), a disease eradicated decades ago in the U.S., remains a pressing global health threat, placing a significant burden on children. Despite being preventable and treatable, TB claims the lives of over 600 children under 15 every day. The World Health Organization reported an estimated 10.8 million global TB cases in 2023, 1.3 million of those being children, emphasizing the widespread impact of this airborne infectious disease across all countries and age groups.

Every year on March 24, we observe World Tuberculosis Day, commemorating Dr. Robert Koch’s 1882 discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.

Understanding TB is crucial, especially in children, where the disease develops rapidly. Here are five key facts:

1. Global impact: Children account for 11% of all TB cases, with 1.1 million new cases each year. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) poses a substantial threat to public health security. In 2022, only about 2 in 5 people with MDR-TB accessed intensive treatment.
2. Vulnerability of younger children: Children under 5 are particularly at risk, facing rapid disease progression.
3. Challenges in diagnosis: Children’s symptoms can be non-specific, making diagnosis difficult. Conventional diagnostic tools may not be as effective in detecting pathogens in their lungs.
4. Unique immune challenges: Children are more likely than adults to develop extra-pulmonary TB, which is TB that affects organs other than the lungs.
5. Treatment and prevention: TB in children is both preventable and treatable — and children respond well to prescribed therapies.

Despite challenges, World Vision aims to improve prevention, early detection, and proper treatment through our Global Fund programs while strengthening healthcare systems. In 2023, we supported over 176,432 people through our TB programs.

Chris Huber of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article.

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The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in late 2019, and its associated disease, COVID-19, left an indelible mark on the world. Beyond its immediate health implications, the pandemic has threatened progress in reducing global poverty and income inequalities. Of particular concern is the long-term impact on children in areas such as education, mental health, and protection from exploitation. These challenges have further hindered progress toward achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

COVID-19 pandemic: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Coronavirus and COVID-19
• What do I need to know about the coronavirus and COVID-19?
• Is the coronavirus worse than the flu?
• World Vision’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.?
• World Vision’s response to the coronavirus pandemic worldwide?
• How many people has World Vision supported during the pandemic?
• What has been the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children?
• How has the pandemic affected sponsored children?
• How can I help people made more vulnerable by emergencies like the pandemic?
• Resources to learn more about COVID-19
• 2025 update on COVID-19 and timeline

Fast facts: Coronavirus and COVID-19

• Global statistics: As of January 2025, over 777 million COVID-19 cases and 7 million deaths have been recorded worldwide since December 2019.
• U.S. statistics: While data was collected from January 2020 to March 2023, the United States led globally with nearly 104 million reported cumulative cases and more than 1.1 million recorded deaths.
• The virus and its variants: SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, was identified on December 31, 2019. Variants such as Omicron continue to evolve, with some being more transmissible than earlier strains.
• Child poverty: In just two years, an estimated 100 million more children have fallen into poverty, a 10% increase since 2019. Today, an estimated 356 million children live in extreme poverty.
• Child marriage risks: Up to 10 million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides due to the pandemic.
• Education disruption: Over 1.6 billion children worldwide experienced school closures at some time during the pandemic, leading to significant learning losses.

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What do I need to know about the coronavirus and COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named for crownlike spikes on their surfaces. COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which spreads through respiratory droplets from coughs, sneezes, or speech.

COVID-19 symptoms: Fever, cough, difficulty breathing, chills and shaking, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or a loss of sense of taste or smell. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Variants: New variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will continue to evolve as they spread and replicate. Some disappear. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks and continues to monitor variants.

Learn more from the CDC’s latest update on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

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Is the coronavirus worse than the flu?

COVID-19 is more infectious and severe than the flu, with a higher mortality rate and limited preexisting immunity. While both are contagious respiratory illnesses, the novel coronavirus causes more widespread and prolonged disruptions to health and society, according to the CDC.

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World Vision’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.?

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, World Vision acted quickly to support vulnerable families across the U.S. by distributing Family Emergency Kits in key locations, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Seattle. Each kit included essential supplies — nutritious food for a family of five for a week, along with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, first-aid antiseptic, paper products, and children’s games and school supplies — helping families during this challenging time.

Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, we distributed 87,600 Family Emergency Kits, serving more than 328,700 children and adults through our church partners as of February 1, 2024. In partnership with the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program, we also distributed more than 3.6 million Fresh Food Boxes to nearly 14.3 million people across the U.S. through a network of over 1,300 churches between May 2020 and May 2021.

World Vision also supplied more than 3 million items of personal protective equipment to healthcare systems, first responders, and schools across the U.S., including a distribution to the Navajo Nation.

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World Vision’s response to the coronavirus pandemic worldwide?

World Vision prioritized our COVID-19 response in every country where we work. Our global response focused on four main objectives, with programs that were adapted based on context and local need:

• Scaling up preventive measures to slow the spread
• Strengthening healthcare systems and workers
• Supporting children impacted by the effects of the pandemic
• Collaborating and advocating with partners to ensure that vulnerable children got the care they need

We served vulnerable populations in countries where the health systems and monitoring were weak; where people have been suffering from diseases common among impoverished populations, such as malaria, tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV and AIDS, and Ebola; or where severe malnutrition compromised immune systems.

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How many people has World Vision supported during the pandemic?

World Vision has supported more than 99 million people globally to stay safe during the pandemic with supplies and information about protecting themselves from COVID-19, including handwashing, social distancing, mask usage, hygiene practices, and vaccines. As of September 2022, marking the end of our program’s reporting, here are response highlights:

• Partnered with more than 207,614 faith leaders to ensure vulnerable families have information on COVID-19 prevention and care and vaccines.
• Distributed more than 12.8 million supplies, including handwashing materials, hygiene kits, and cleaning kits, to keep communities safe.
• Established or maintained nearly 297,000 facilities, like community handwashing stations, school toilets, household latrines with handwashing facilities, clean drinking water systems, and community drainage systems, to limit the spread of COVID-19.
• Reached more than 54 million people with health interventions, including preventative behavior and vaccine messaging, safe quarantine and/or isolation spaces, and transportation support and services.
• Trained 291,430 community health workers in COVID-19 prevention measures, including vaccines.
• Aided more than 5.2 million people with educational materials, support, or training so children could keep learning during pandemic-related school closures.
• Helped more than 13 million people in 64 countries with cash and vouchers or food assistance.
• Supported over 1.9 million children with child protection activities.
• Assisted more than 5 million people with psychosocial support or age-specific health information, education, and communication materials.
• Equipped people and communities to recover and thrive during COVID-19 through VisionFund’s microfinancing, recovery loans, and savings groups.

Vaccines play a critical role for the most vulnerable 

In 2022, World Vision reached more than 10.5 million people, including 4.2 million children, with support for vaccine programs and interventions to reduce the pandemic’s indirect impacts on the most vulnerable people.

Globally and through our local staff, World Vision has extensive experience confronting pandemics, supporting vaccination programs, and improving child health. We worked alongside our partners to implement immunization campaigns and ensure communities understood the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination. The availability of COVID-19 vaccines for vulnerable people globally will continue to enormously benefit the hundreds of millions of children whom the pandemic has negatively impacted by giving them a lifeline to return to their childhoods. Vaccines are a game changer for children, as they allow kids to resume school and families to recover their livelihoods.

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What has been the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children?

The pandemic has had profound and lasting effects on children worldwide, impacting their health, education, and overall well-being. For many children in developing countries, the effects of the pandemic have also increased poverty, hunger, and the risk of child marriage, child labor, gender-based violence, and exploitation.

• An estimated 5.2 million children worldwide have lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to COVID-19.
• In 2021, experts estimated that an additional 8.9 million children will have engaged in child labor by the end of 2022 due to rising poverty driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Following abrupt drops in household incomes; disruptions to the supply of affordable, nutritious foods; and interruptions to health, nutrition, and social protection services, up to 15% more children suffered from wasting in 2020 compared with projections for 2020 without COVID-19.

The pandemic also ushered in new challenges for children’s mental health or intensified pre-existing mental health issues.

World Vision, in partnership with War Child, examined the impact of COVID-19 on the mental and psychosocial well-being of children living in conflict-affected countries, including Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan, Lebanon, and South Sudan. According to the 2021 study, the number of refugee children who said they needed mental health support had more than tripled because of COVID-19.

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How has the pandemic affected sponsored children?

World Vision worked diligently to help protect children from the indirect effects of the COVID-19 disease, like hunger and extreme poverty. Through our child sponsorship programs, we:

1. 1. Assessed local situations and responded in the most appropriate ways
   2. Trained staff, community volunteers, and partners on the prevention of COVID-19 and access of care and treatment
   3. Worked with local health authorities and community organizations to spread accurate information about COVID-19, including the importance of vaccination when available, to families and communities

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How can I help people made more vulnerable by emergencies like the pandemic?

You can help bring hope to people who have been made more vulnerable by crises like the pandemic.

• Pray: Join us in praying for all those affected by this pandemic and its lasting impacts.
• Give: Your gift can help deliver hope and meet practical needs of  children and their families during emergencies.

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How is World Vision responding to COVID-19 in its communities? | World Vision

Resources to learn more about COVID-19

• U.S. COVID-19 data: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides detailed case trends, hospitalizations, and variant tracking.
• Global COVID-19 insights: The World Health Organization (WHO) offers international data on COVID-19 transmission and variant tracking.
• Comprehensive COVID-19 graphs: Our World in Data presents in-depth visual trends on cases, deaths, and vaccinations worldwide.

2025 update on COVID-19 and timeline

December 2019

• December 31: In Wuhan, China, reports surface of people with pneumonia due to an unknown cause. Between December 31 and January 3, national authorities in China report 44 cases to the World Health Organization (WHO).

January 2020

• January 9: The first confirmed death from the outbreak occurs.
• January 11: The National Health Commission in China informs the WHO that the outbreak is linked to exposure to the seafood and live animal market in Wuhan. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities identify a novel (new) coronavirus.
• January 12: Chinese health officials share the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus for countries to use in developing specific diagnostic kits.
• January 21: The WHO confirms 314 cases of the new coronavirus, 309 of which are in China. Other countries reporting cases include Thailand, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The CDC confirms the first case in the United States — a person in Washington state who returned from Wuhan on January 15. The death toll rises to six. Many people affected have underlying health issues, according to Reuters.
• January 24: Reported cases around the world increase to 846, with 830 in China. Singapore and Viet Nam report their first cases, and a second case is identified in the U.S. — a person who lives in Illinois and recently visited Wuhan. The death toll increases to 25.
• January 25: The WHO confirms 1,320 cases globally. Australia, Nepal, and France report their first cases. A third U.S. case is identified in Orange County, California — a person who had recently traveled to Wuhan. Forty-one people have died so far, all in China.
• January 28: Global cases jump to 4,593, with 4,537 in China. The death toll increases to 106, and three more countries — Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Germany — report cases.
  • An airliner with about 210 U.S. citizens, mostly consulate personnel and their families, leave Wuhan for the United States. CDC officials recommend avoiding all travel to China and expand airport health screenings to 20 U.S. locations.
  • Scientists in Australia become the first to recreate the new coronavirus outside of China.
• January 30: The global case total jumps to 7,818, with China accounting for 7,736. Outside of China, 82 cases have been identified in 18 different countries. The WHO reports cases in Malaysia, the Philippines, India, and Finland. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte confirms Italy has its first two cases during a press conference.
  • The CDC confirms the first human-to-human transmission in the United States.
  • U.S. President Donald J. Trump announces the formation of a coronavirus task force to lead America’s response to the outbreak.
  • The WHO emergency committee makes a nearly unanimous decision to declare a public health emergency of international concern.

February 2020

• February 11: The WHO names the illness COVID-19, based on its origin in 2019 and the coronavirus that causes it.
• February 14: A Chinese tourist who tested positive for COVID-19 dies in France, becoming the first person to die from the epidemic in Europe. The same day, Egyptian officials announce the country’s first case of COVID-19, according to a joint statement by Egypt’s Ministry of Health and the WHO. This is the first confirmed case in Africa.

March 2020

• March 11: The WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic.
• March 12: The global case total passes 128,000 people, with the death toll now at over 4,700 people.
  • Travel bans cascade around the globe.
  • Wall Street suffers its worst day since 1987 as virus fears spread.
  • Events across the U.S. are canceled or postponed. Many universities and schools temporarily close or announce a move to online learning. Professional and collegiate sports seasons are also affected, including the NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, and the NCAA, which cancels the annual March Madness basketball tournament.
• March 16: Coronavirus vaccine testing begins in the U.S. Even if the research goes well, a vaccine wouldn’t be available for widespread use for 12 to 18 months, says Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
• March 17: Coronavirus cases have now been identified in all 50 U.S. states.
• March 26: The overall number of cases passes 550,000 worldwide, with more than 175 countries reportedly affected. The U.S. now leads the world in the number of confirmed cases.

April 2020

• April 2: Cases worldwide top 1 million. More than 200,000 people in the U.S. have been infected.
• April 11: Cases in the U.S. surpass 500,000.
• April 27: Cases worldwide reach 3 million, with 185 countries now affected by the pandemic.

May 2020

• May 9: Cases worldwide top 4 million.

July 2020

• July 8: Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 11.8 million. Cases in the U.S. surpass 3 million.
• July 14: The CDC recommends Americans wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• July 22: Global cases exceed 15 million.
• July 27: Phase III clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Moderna, begin in the United States.

August 2020

• August 1: Mexico’s COVID-19 death toll becomes the third highest in the world. Mississippi records the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the nation.
• August 6: Africa’s cases surpass 1 million, with South Africa accounting for more than half.
• August 10: Moderna and U.S. federal officials reach a deal to supply the United States with 100 million doses of Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine.
• August 13: The WHO reports that the COVID-19 pandemic is costing the global economy over $375 billion per month, citing International Monetary Fund research.

September 2020

• September 29: Global deaths surpass 1 million. Deaths from coronavirus-related illnesses have doubled in just three months, led by fatalities in the U.S., Brazil, and India. The NFL reports its first COVID-19 outbreak.
• September 30: The WHO announces nearly $1 billion to fight COVID-19 and to make sure poor countries receive treatments and vaccines against the disease.

October 2020

• October 1: U.S. President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19.
• October 8: The White House COVID-19 outbreak reaches at least 34 people.
• October 28: The U.S. announces it will provide no-cost access to the COVID-19 vaccine, once available, for all Americans.
• October 29: WHO officials announce that Europe is again the epicenter of the pandemic.
• October 30: Cases in the U.S. surpass 9 million.

November 2020

• November 4: The United States passes 100,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time.
• November 17: New unemployment claims in the U.S. fall below 1 million for the first time since March.

December 2020

• December 11: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues the first emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine to Pfizer-BioNTech.
• December 14: The death toll in the United States surpasses 300,000. COVID-19 moves ahead of heart disease as the leading cause of death in the nation.
• December 18: The FDA authorizes Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the U.S. 
• December 20: Several European countries impose travel restrictions after new coronavirus variants are identified there. The new variants begin to emerge in the U.S., with the first case reported in late December.
• December 21: The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved by the European Union.

January 2021

• January 14: A WHO team of scientists arrive in Wuhan, as China ramps up efforts to contain a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in China’s northeast.
• January 19: The U.S. surpasses 400,000 coronavirus–related deaths.

February 2021

• February 22: The U.S. passes 500,000 coronavirus–related deaths.
• February 26: The United States administers 70.5 million COVID-19 vaccines.
• February 27: The FDA authorizes the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use in the U.S.

March 2021

• March 11: Brazil’s intensive care units surpass 90% capacity in 15 capitals as the pandemic flares up. Researchers in Brazil identify two cases of simultaneous infection with two different coronavirus variants.
• March 17: The European Union unveils its plans for vaccine passports, while the United Kingdom considers a vaccine passport option for summer travel.

April 2021

• April 23: The FDA announces its first full approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, produced by Pfizer-BioNTech.

May 2021

• May 7: India is experiencing a deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections. The world’s second-most populous country records 414,188 new cases in one day — a record high.
• May 10: The FDA approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination for children as young as 12.
• May 12: The Red Cross warns that cases are exploding across Asia, with more than 5.9 million new confirmed infections in the past two weeks. India’s death toll surpasses 250,000.
• May 13: The CDC announces that fully vaccinated Americans do not need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors or follow physical distancing guidelines. Guidelines will still apply for travel and public transit.

June 2021

• June 10: Over 172 million people in the U.S. have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC. More than 873 million people worldwide have received at least one dose, according to the WHO.
• June 19: Brazil reports a total of more than 500,000 deaths from COVID-19, the world’s second-highest confirmed death toll.

July 2021

• July 15: Coronavirus–related deaths rise sharply in Africa, where countries face shortages in oxygen and intensive care beds. The number of deaths rise more than 40% this week, reaching 6,273 — nearly 1,900 more than the week before.
• July 17: The first case of COVID-19 is detected in Tokyo’s Olympic village.
• July 29: President Joe Biden calls on school districts to host pop-up clinics in order to vaccinate more children 12 and older against COVID-19 as worries intensify that the upcoming school year will be interrupted by the delta variant. The CDC describes the delta variant as being as transmissible as chickenpox.

August 2021

• August 2: The United States reaches a 70% vaccination rate.
• August 5: California becomes the first U.S. state to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all health workers.
• August 23: The FDA grants full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

September 2021

• September 22: The FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots for Americans over 65 or who are at risk of severe COVID-19 complications.

October 2021

• October 20: The FDA recommends a Moderna booster for people 65 and older and the immunocompromised.
• October 29: The FDA approves the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children ages 5 to 11.

November 2021

• November 1: The global death toll surpasses 5 million.
• November 2: The CDC recommends pediatric COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 to 11.
• November 19: The FDA authorizes booster shots of both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for everyone 18 and older.
• November 26: WHO officials classify omicron as a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern.

December 2021

• December 27: The CDC shortens the recommended COVID-19 isolation period to five days.

January 2022

• January 3: The FDA authorizes the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster shots for children 12 to 15.
• January 5: The United States joins Brazil, Hungary, Israel, Italy, and the Philippines in reporting cases of “flurona,” or COVID-19 and Influenza coinfection.

February 2022

• February 15: The Pan-American Health Organization delivers 100 million vaccines to Latin America and the Caribbean via COVAX.
• February 18: The U.S. announces increased vaccine assistance to 11 African countries through its new Initiative for Global Vaccine Access.

March 2022

• March 20: The CDC reports a surge in U.S. hospitalizations of young children with COVID-19 during omicron wave.
• March 24: The WHO identifies the omicron BA.2 “stealth variant” as the dominant strain of omicron worldwide, making up a majority of cases.

April 2022

• April 13: The CDC extends mask requirements, set to expire April 18, to allow more time to study omicron subvariants circulating in the U.S.
• April 18: A federal judge in Florida voids the federal government’s nationwide mask order for public transit, commercial flights, and transportation hubs such as airports and train stations.

July 2022

• July 13: Novavax approved in the U.S. for use in people who haven’t yet been vaccinated.
• July 21: President Biden tests positive for COVID-19 and experiences mild symptoms.

September 2022

• September 14: The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says, “We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic,” but warned that if the world doesn’t take the opportunity now, there’s still a risk of more variants, deaths, disruption, and uncertainty.

2023

• January 25: The government of North Korea imposes a five-day lockdown on Pyongyang, its capital city, after a spike in respiratory illness..
• January 30: President Biden informs Congress that his administration will not seek a renewal of the public health emergency for COVID-19 after it expires on May 11, 2023.
• May 5: WHO officials announce the end of the emergency phase of COVID-19.
• July 6: China reports a rise in COVID-19 deaths in June following the lift of most containment regulations.
• July 31: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services establishes the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to lead the national response to Long COVID and help coordinate the launch of Long COVID-related clinical trials.

2025:

• February 2025: Health experts have reported a smaller wave of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. compared to past winters. This trend is attributed to high immunity levels from earlier infections and vaccinations and fewer new variants leading to diminished transmission.

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Sevil Omer, Heather Klinger, and Kristy J. O’Hara-Glaspie of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article.

The post Coronavirus: Facts, FAQs, and how to help appeared first on World Vision.

Grace sat on a worn mat on the floor wrapped tightly in a brown kitenge with bright flowers. In the dim light, I could still see her eyes, her lids heavy. She looked tired and frail. And so sad. It was 20 years ago in Zamtan, in Zambia’s Copperbelt, where I was reporting on people living with HIV and AIDS.

Grace was 32 and the mother of five children between 2 and 13. She was living with her parents, Solomon and Delphista, because her home had recently collapsed. 

Solomon and Delphista were welcoming. They were older, but healthy and strong. A devout Catholic, the 69-year-old father and grandfather told us he’d been a fisherman in his youth. 

The family had received blankets for the children and school uniforms from World Vision. But for Grace, the thing she really needed was not available — a healthcare system capable of diagnosing her illness and prescribing antiretrovirals. “My main wish is for better medication,” she told me. 

Today 77% of all people with HIV access antiretrovirals globally. In 2004, no one I interviewed in the villages had access to the drugs. AIDS was a death sentence. It was not uncommon to see a casket strapped to the back of a motorcycle bumping down a dirt road on its way to a funeral. So many funerals. Mounds of fresh dirt, each representing a person whose heart used to delight in the morning sun and whose face would glow in the light of an evening fire. How was it all going to end? Would it all end?

Then-World Vision President Rich Stearns, his wife Reneé, and his daughter Sarah were in Zambia to learn more about the AIDS epidemic and World Vision’s work. I had planned for Rich and his family to walk from home to home, meeting people and learning how World Vision was responding to their situations. Grace agreed to meet with Rich and his family later on in our visit. 

Rich met amazing, resilient people and saw World Vision at its best — our staff, themselves caring for relatives who were orphans due to HIV and AIDS. At a primary school the next week, as Rich gave a speech, I realized it was getting too late to also visit Grace. On these trips we don’t stay out after dark, for safety reasons. As he encouraged the crowd — hundreds of people yearning for words of hope — I ran to Grace’s house.

Grace was lying in the corner on her mat in the darkness, barely conscious. I wasn’t sure what to say. Should I touch her? How could I provide comfort? I explained to her parents that the visit had run long, and that Rich wouldn’t be able to come. 

I don’t think they were disappointed. The old fisherman and his wife were undoubtedly preparing to take on more responsibility. Five children, one a toddler and another a teenager, were waiting outside their mother’s room, listening to her breathe.

Not 24 hours later, Grace was dead. One of 33 million people who lost their lives to AIDS-related diseases.

Her children became orphans. 

Her parents became parents again. 

And the world was robbed of a generation of people like her who were never allowed to fulfill their promise.

That’s what the AIDS epidemic looked like in the 90s and 2000s.

The post A mother’s strength and an AIDS death sentence appeared first on World Vision.

Zika virus — a tropical mosquito-borne disease — captured global attention during the 2015–2016 outbreak in the Americas, which resulted in widespread birth defects such as microcephaly, as well as the debilitating Guillain-Barré syndrome. Governments, aid organizations, health workers, and families worked swiftly to contain the epidemic as it spread from Brazil. Although the Zika virus has largely faded from the headlines, it remains a significant risk in many countries and territories.

Zika virus: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Zika virus 
• What is Zika?
• What are the symptoms of Zika?
• How can I protect myself from contracting Zika?
• When was the last Zika outbreak? What is the current risk of Zika transmission?
• How can I help children and families affected by viruses such as Zika?
• World Vision’s efforts to stop the spread of the Zika virus

Fast facts: Zika virus

• The Zika virus primarily spreads through infected mosquito bites, but it can also be transmitted sexually and from mother to child during pregnancy.
• The best way to prevent Zika is by avoiding mosquito bites, especially in high-risk areas. This includes applying insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and using window screens for protection against insects.
• There is no specific medicine or vaccine for Zika. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with rest, fluids, and medications.
• Pregnant women should take extra precautions, as Zika is linked to severe birth defects, including microcephaly.
• Microcephaly is a neurological condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than normal. It is caused by abnormal brain development during pregnancy or early infancy.

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What is Zika?

Zika is a virus most often transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also transmits yellow fever and dengue. This is a different type of mosquito than the one that transmits malaria. Zika can also be transmitted through sexual contact and from mother to child during pregnancy.

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What are the symptoms of Zika?

Symptoms of Zika include mild fever, headache, skin rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes), typically lasting for two to seven days. However, only 20% of people who contract the virus experience any symptoms, and people who do rarely need to be hospitalized.

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How can I protect myself from contracting Zika?

The best way to avoid getting Zika is to protect yourself against mosquito bites by covering your skin with clothing or mosquito repellent. If you leave your windows open, make sure there are screens on them. Eliminating standing water also helps, as stagnant puddles are a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

While bed nets have proven effective in protecting people against mosquitoes that carry malaria, they are less effective in preventing Zika because the Aedes aegypti mosquito bites mostly during the day and early evening.

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When was the last major Zika outbreak? What is the current risk of Zika transmission?

The last major outbreak of Zika occurred in the Americas from 2015 to 2016. As of 2024, Zika transmission persists at low levels in several countries, according to the World Health Organization’s latest map. A total of 89 countries and territories have reported evidence of the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus infection.

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How can I help children and families affected by viruses such as Zika?

• Pray: Please pray for people who have been affected by the Zika virus, especially parents of children with birth defects and the children themselves, who face many challenges in their development.
• Sponsor a child: World Vision’s sponsorship program helps whole communities find sustainable solutions for the issues they’re facing, like prevention and treatment for viruses.

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World Vision’s efforts to stop the spread of the Zika virus

World Vision has worked in Latin America since 1977, operating in 14 countries, including 12 of the 26 countries affected by the Zika outbreak.

In February 2016, we swiftly launched a response to limit the spread of the virus in Brazil, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Colombia. Our immediate efforts included:

• Information on mosquito control and individual protection
• Health services and protection kits, including mosquito nets, for pregnant women
• Community engagement activities on protection, sanitation, and cleanup in partnership with churches and youth groups

During the peak of the health crisis, we supported more than 400,000 people at risk of contracting Zika. In six months, we reached over 3 million people in 1,000 communities in the worst-affected municipalities with awareness and prevention programs.

As our experts responded to the Zika outbreak, they drew on successes and lessons learned from the efforts to end the spread of Ebola in West Africa between December 2014 and June 2016. That response proved how critical it was to work with respected local leaders, including faith leaders, to disseminate accurate prevention messages and dispel misinformation or rumors, which can hinder efforts to tackle the spread of disease.

In Brazil, World Vision partnered with agencies that provided physical, psychosocial, and speech therapies for children with microcephaly. We also helped parents with the expenses of accessing the care their children needed.

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Chris Huber and Heather Klinger of World Vision’s staff in the U.S. contributed to this article.

The post Zika virus: Facts, symptoms, and how to help appeared first on World Vision.