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WHO warns Europe of new heatwave: Could face deadlier weeks

WHO warns Europe of new heatwave: Could face deadlier weeks

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Europe could face its "deadliest week yet" due to a new intense heat wave forming over the Atlantic.

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, held an urgent meeting with representatives from 41 countries, the European Commission and civil society organizations to discuss lessons learned from the last heat wave and preparations for the next one.

In a statement, Kluge said that countries with health action plans regarding extreme temperatures and heat waves reacted faster and better protected their populations during the June heat wave.

However, he said that less than half of WHO's European member states are implementing such measures.

"The work now is on two fronts: fixing what failed in recent weeks before the next heat wave hits, and building the kind of health systems that not only respond to extreme heat, but are ready for it," Kluge said.

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