Health news

Hong Kong medics move to use AI to treat high risk patients at early stage

Elon Musk's Neuralink receives Canadian approval for brain chip trial

Neuralink to trial brain implant in Canada, aiming to help paralysed patients control devices through thought.

UNICEF raises concern over the intense smog in Pakistan

UNICEF has raised concerns over the toxic smog hospitalizing children in Lahore, Pakistan, the world’s most polluted city in terms of air quality, according to Swiss group IQAir’s live ratings. Schools and outdoor areas have been closed in the region.

Mysterious Illness Caused Deaths in Sudan's Al-Hilaliya Amid RSF Siege

Local hospitals are overrun by a mysterious illness. The Sudanese town of al-Hilalya has seen at least 73 deaths according to local doctors. It comes as violence and displacement in eastern El Gezira state continue to intensify. It has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

AstraZeneca says experimental obesity pill safe in early-stage trial

AstraZeneca’s new weight-loss pill, AZD5004, shows promise in early trials with tolerable side effects, advancing to Phase II studies focused on reducing obesity.

Weight-loss drugs didn't curb health costs within two years

An analysis of U.S. health claims reveals that while GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy may aid weight loss, they significantly increase medical costs—rising to $18,507 annually—without reducing obesity-related health events, raising concerns for insurers and employers.

US confirms two human bird flu cases in Washington state

The CDC confirms bird flu in two Washington poultry workers and ruled out infections in Missouri healthcare staff.

First case of new mpox variant identified in Germany

Germany has detected its first case of the new mpox variant, clade 1b, in a 33-year-old man.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper

WHO: Over 35,000 Suspected Mpox Cases Reported in Africa in 2024

World Health Organization has reported over 35,000 suspected cases of mpox across Africa in 2024, with nearly 1,000 deaths potentially linked to the disease

WHO approves first mpox diagnostic test

The WHO has approved Abbott Laboratories' mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, marking a key step in boosting testing in outbreak-hit countries. The real-time PCR test detects mpox virus DNA from skin swabs, with more tests under review to increase diagnostic availability worldwide.

Scientists begin developing ovarian cancer vaccine

Researchers at the University of Oxford are developing OvarianVax, a vaccine aimed at training the immune system to detect early signs of ovarian cancer.

What is Marburg virus, and how worrying is it?

Rwanda is facing its first-ever outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus, with 36 cases and 11 deaths reported. WHO has classified the risk as very high in Rwanda and high across the African region. Marburg, related to Ebola, has a fatality rate that can reach 88% in severe cases.

FDA approves first nasal spray flu vaccine for at-home use

The FDA has approved AstraZeneca's treatment for use outside of healthcare facilities, but it will still require a prescription.

Africa Faces Mpox Crisis: 30,000 Suspected Cases Reach Record Levels

The World Health Organization reports 30,000 suspected mpox cases in Africa this year, with over 800 deaths, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Bank is allocating $128.89 million to support ten African countries in battling the outbreak.