Latest stories, analysis, and insights from the world of health.
A college student has died and two people are being treated after cases of meningitis in Reading, Berkshire, with close contacts being offered antibiotics as a precaution. The UKHSA confirmed one case as Meningitis B and said the risk to the wider public is low.
The UK government has hit an interim target with 65.3% of patients treated within 18 weeks by March 2026, marking progress toward Labour's manifesto pledge to reach 92% by 2029. The overall waiting list also fell to 7.1 million, the lowest in three and a half years.
British passengers and staff aboard a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak will be brought to a UK hospital to isolate at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral after the MV Hondius docks in the Canary Islands this weekend.
A third British national has suspected hantavirus infection linked to an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius, with two others already confirmed as infected. The ship is expected to dock in the Canary Islands this weekend, where remaining British passengers will be flown home and asked to self-isolate.
Two British people are self-isolating at home after potential exposure to hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which has been struck by an outbreak that has killed three passengers. The pair left the vessel at St Helena in late April and flew back to the UK, with health officials tracing their contacts during travel.
The Andes strain of hantavirus, confirmed in passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, can spread between humans through close contact and is normally transmitted from rodents through their urine and droppings, with a mortality rate of 20-40%.
A cruise ship outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus has confirmed cases and deaths, with the virus spreading through close contact between people on board. Hantavirus is normally transmitted from infected rodents to humans, but the Andes strain can spread between people in rare cases.
Red light therapy has become a wellness industry trend claiming to improve skin, speed muscle recovery, and boost overall health. But what does the science actually say about LED masks, therapy beds, and infrared saunas?
A federal judge delivered a criminal sentence to the company to resolve a DOJ probe, clearing the way for the settlement that will dissolve Purdue Pharma and replace it with a public good-focused company.
People with epilepsy, heart conditions, and other serious illnesses are struggling to access essential medications as supply problems and a complex funding system create severe shortages across England's pharmacies.
It's a very treatable form of cancer if caught early, yet younger adults rarely get screened. Patient advocates want more people to talk to their doctors about risk factors and number 2.
A new scan technique using specialized CT scans combined with a molecular tracer may help spot endometriosis earlier, potentially reducing the average nine-year wait for diagnosis that affects one in 10 women in the UK.
Like many vets, it took Fred Minnick time to find the best way to cope with what he would learn was PTSD. For Minnick, sense and peace came with bourbon — and "taste mindfulness."
A new tool called OBSCORE promises to better define who's at risk for obesity complications, going beyond BMI to include family history, diet, and socioeconomic factors. The model aims to help identify who might benefit from GLP-1 drugs and other obesity treatments.
'Drug Story' examines how blockbuster pharmaceuticals intersect with modern life, exploring the history and societal impact of over 3,000 drugs behind pharmacy counters.
The UK recorded around 1,504 heat-associated deaths during summer 2025, roughly half the predicted 3,039, despite experiencing the warmest summer on record with four heatwaves and temperatures reaching nearly 36°C.
Resident doctors in England begin their 15th strike in a long-running pay dispute, promising significant disruption to NHS services as they make up nearly half of the medical workforce.
Even after one of the largest environmental remediation efforts in California history, dangerous levels of lead persist in residential neighborhoods surrounding a former battery smelter in Southeast Los Angeles, according to a new UC Irvine study.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to add microplastics and pharmaceutical residues to its list of priority pollutants, potentially leading to new research and regulations for drinking water safety.
Northern Ireland becomes the first part of the UK where women and their partners are entitled to two weeks of paid leave following a miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy, providing validation and time to process the loss together.