Jong Wook Lee to be named WHO director general

Jong Wook Lee, a tuberculosis expert from South Korea, on Tuesday was chosen by a World Health Organization executive committee to take over the position of WHO director general, BBC News reports. Lee was narrowly selected in a 17-15 vote over Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS director Peter Piot. Lee will succeed Norway's Gro Harlem Brundtland, who will step down in June when her five-year term expires. Lee, who has headed WHO's Stop Tuberculosis program since 2000, must be confirmed by all 192 WHO members, who will vote on the appointment in May.