Bird flu infects 3rd US dairy worker; Michigan set to expand testing
A third U.S. dairy worker tested positive for bird flu after exposure to infected cows, and was the first to suffer respiratory problems, U.S. officials said on Thursday. The infection was the second human case in Michigan, which has confirmed…
Health advocates seek reforms to combat Indonesian men’s high smoking rates
Hotib is practicing his speech. Repeating the letters from his therapist “A-E-I-O-U.” Hotib, 64, smoked cigarettes for almost 40 years and a cancer diagnosis led to his larynx being removed. He now breathes through a hole in his neck. His…
Health advocates push for reforms to combat Indonesia’s high male smoking rates
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day, a day when many health advocacy groups raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco. These groups have reason to celebrate: In most countries, tobacco use is declining. But not in Indonesia, where smoking…
WHO: Climate change could increase spread of diseases
The World Health Organization says “urgent action” is needed to research how climate change is affecting malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Rising temperatures are changing how vector-borne diseases – diseases spread by the bite of infected insects – are…
US optimistic a deal to lessen threats of future pandemics is in sight
Geneva — Despite the failure of negotiators to reach a pandemic accord ahead of this week’s World Health Assembly, a senior U.S. official remains optimistic that an agreement to lessen the threats of global killer disease outbreaks is in sight….
‘Open source’ investigators use satellites to identify burned Darfur villages
Investigators using satellite imagery to document the war in western Sudan’s Darfur region say 72 villages were burned down in April, the most they have seen since the conflict began. Henry Wilkins talks with the people who do this research…
Robot will try to remove nuclear debris from Japan’s destroyed reactor
TOKYO — The operator of Japan’s destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant demonstrated Tuesday how a remote-controlled robot would retrieve tiny bits of melted fuel debris from one of three damaged reactors later this year for the first time since…
Cameroon fights period stigma and poverty on World Menstrual Hygiene Day
Yaounde — Cameroon is observing World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28) with caravans visiting schools and public spaces to educate people about social taboos that women should not be seen in public during their menstrual periods. Organizations are also donating…
Global health faces mounting challenges from climate chaos, conflict, COVID
Geneva — The 77th World Health Assembly opened its annual weeklong session Monday on a somber note, as delegates were faced with the task of setting health policies for the year ahead amid mounting challenges to global well-being from multiple…
Military labs do the detective work to identify soldiers decades after they died in World War II
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — Generations of American families have grown up not knowing exactly what happened to their loved ones who died while serving their country in World War II and other conflicts. But a federal lab tucked…