Margaret Chan voted WHO head

The World Health Organization on Wednesday re-appointed Margaret Chan as its chief, the sole candidate nominated for the post. Chan was re-elected at a meeting of the World Health Assembly, the WHO's decision-making body, in Geneva. It is the second term for the former Hong Kong health chief who has headed the UN body since November 2006. Back in 2009, it was Chan who declared swine flu the world's first flu pandemic in 40 years. Chan's next mandate will begin on July 1 and see her remain director general through to June 30, 2017. She was the only candidate put forward to the WHO's executive board. The WHO has 194 member states and is responsible for assessing health trends and shaping the research agenda as well as providing technical support to countries. Chan is the eighth director general in the body's 64-year history.