WHO confirms internal misconduct probe underway

LONDON (AP) – The World Health Organization has confirmed it is investigating allegations of misconduct following an Associated Press story that revealed its chief ordered an internal probe to examine explosive charges made in emails to the agency’s top managers.

The U.N. health agency said in a statement issued Thursday that charges of racism, sexism and corruption “are being investigated according to WHO’s established procedures.”

The statement says the allegations had been circulating internally and addressed by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at several staff meetings.

In audio recordings provided to the AP, Tedros thanked the author of the emails and said he had ordered an internal probe.

Critics doubt WHO can investigate the allegations properly and have called for the investigation to be made public.