Health
Health and medicine — from public-health threats to the latest research. We cover disease outbreaks and the response to them, healthcare systems under strain, mental health, and the medical and pharmaceutical advances changing how illness is treated.
Latest in Health
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Judi Dench to have London’s Shaftesbury theatre renamed after her
James Bond actor, who is only the second non-royal woman to be celebrated in this way, called the honour ‘truly overwhelming’Dame Judi Dench is to hav…
Sean Penn to direct January 6 drama with Bradley Cooper set to star
Oscar-winning actor to write and direct fact-based movie that will follow a police officer mixed up in 2021 Capitol riotSean Penn will direct a new fi…
More US states push to ban kratom drink deemed ‘gas-station heroin’
At least eight states have banned the plant-derived product as more people use it and some claim it’s addictiveIn 2024, Maizie Hepner, 24, started vis…
Leading OB-GYN group breaks from CDC on maternal vaccination schedule
Medical societies endorse ACOG’s schedule, saying maternal vaccines are ‘key element’ of protectionThe leading professional organization for obstetric…
Witnessing joy amid the death: BBC travels to epicentre of Ebola outbreak
There are glimpses of happiness in the Democratic Republic of Congo's fight against the virus that has killed more than 170.…
RFK Jr under fire for ‘bullying’ letter to scientific journal
Health advocates criticized Kennedy’s move demanding answers from journal that removed ‘flawed’ vaccine studyRobert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secret…
Bonnie Tyler now out of coma but remains in intensive care in Portugal
Welsh singer, best known for 1983 hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, had emergency intestinal surgery in MayWelsh pop star Bonnie Tyler is no longer in a…
Italian police dismantle illicit bank used by drug traffickers as global broker
Clandestine operation run by Chinese national in Prato moved €80-100m a year through intermediariesItalian police have dismantled an underground bank …
Cheltenham hospital admits failing man who died after using contaminated shower
Chris Elliot was exposed to ‘lethal dose’ of bacteria while receiving chemotherapy from Gloucestershire NHS trustAn NHS trust has admitted to failing …
Court of appeal to review sentence for man who murdered Henry Nowak
Solicitor general asks for Vickrum Digwa’s 21-year minimum jail term to be reviewed under ‘unduly lenient sentence’ schemeThe 21-year minimum jail ter…
Man arrested over 2017 ‘Putney pusher’ incident on south-west London bridge
Police had previously closed case of jogger who appeared to shove a woman into the path of a bus, prompting outrageA man suspected of being the “Putne…
Woman’s hypothermia death after her release by ICE is ruled a homicide
Daphy Michel, a vulnerable asylum seeker from Haiti, died at Pittsburgh bus shelter days after leaving federal custodyA medical examiner has ruled the…
Catholic church had been alerted to Texas priest’s sexual predation for years – but dawdled before acting
Church officials had extended the temporary term of Anthony Odiong, recently convicted of sexual assault, even after women came forward with allegatio…
Disabled people with lifelong conditions facing ‘unnecessary’ Pip reassessments
‘Pointless’ reviews are wasting public money and ‘significantly harming’ the mental health of claimants, charity says Disabled people with lifelong co…
Pakistani police officer arrested over shooting death of ‘happy, bubbly, friendly’ Australian girl Hania Ahmed
Punjab police said an officer mistakenly opened fire at the Ahmed family, who were victims of a robbery at ChakwalA Pakistani police officer has been …
UK hypermobility sufferers wait up to 21 years for diagnosis, study suggests
Awareness of disorders such as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is low among British healthcare professionalsPeople in the UK with hypermobility con…
Mitch McConnell receiving medical care after being admitted to hospital
US senator is getting ‘excellent care’ after being hospitalized on Sunday morning, spokesperson saysSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailM…
Antidepressants and antipsychotics could serve as alternatives to opioids, study finds
Medications that target depression, anxiety and poor sleep could help treat pain without opioids’ addictive propertiesA range of other medications cou…
Blaze at 1m-sq-ft California warehouse rages into third day: ‘We’re struggling’
Fire at medical supplier Medline in Tracy, city of more than 100,000 residents, is affecting the air qualityCalifornia firefighters continued to battl…
One Stop shop worker sacked after trying to tackle suspected shoplifter
Convenience store employee Eileen Fox, 56, said suspect ‘banged into metal stand’ but no one was injured in incident• Waitrose employee sacked after s…
Two arrested after girl critically injured in loading vehicle incident in Essex
Man, 18, and boy, 17, detained on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in Southend-on-SeaTwo people have been arrested on suspicio…
Revealed: DWP still allowing unpaid carers to run up debts despite being told about overpayments
Chris Farrell was given benefit for six months despite his repeated requests for payments to stopA former unpaid carer has urged welfare officials to …
Longtime New York City TV anchor announces retirement after revealing Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Bill Ritter, anchor on WABC since 2001, said he’s stepping down but will continue to report on the diseaseA longtime New York City television news anc…
Mourners line Bangkok streets to pay respects to Thailand’s Princess Bha
Funeral procession travels to palace as people remember royal’s campaigning and work for underprivilegedAs the sun began to set on the golden spires a…
New York man who killed gay dancer faces 25 years after hate-crime conviction
Dmitriy Popov fatally stabbed O’Shae Sibley in Brooklyn in 2023 and was found guilty of manslaughter as a hate crimeA New York City man who was recent…
Drug diversion schemes cut reoffending rates more than prosecution, study says
Exclusive: Research in England shows people a third less likely to reoffend under decriminalisation-style schemesDrug diversion schemes led by police …
Riots and racism: why is the UK burning?
Claims of two-tier policing and uncontrolled immigration may not be borne out by the facts, but that has not stopped them being played up for politica…
Gene Shalit, longtime Today show movie critic, dies at 100
Beloved movie critic and arts reporter was known for bushy hair and mustache and affection for groan-inducing punsGene Shalit, a movie critic and arts…
Louisiana jury awards $1.1bn to woman who sued over childhood molestation in 1960s
‘Lookback law’ allowed Pamela Lockridge to seek damages against late stepfather who abused her starting at age fourA north-west Louisiana jury recentl…
Fire at California warehouse complex prompts evacuations as authorities fight blaze
No injuries reported as fire in Tracy destroys medical equipment warehouse and authorities investigate causeA fire at a 1m sq ft warehouse complex was…