Health

NEW DELHI: Exposure to micro- and nano plastics may be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in mice.

KERALA: A 47-year-old man from Malappuram district in northern Kerala died of amoebic meningoencephalitis, marking the sixth death from the fatal infection caused by a brain-eating amoeba in the state in the month.

NEW DELHI: While deaths from chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke decreased for most countries, in almost 60 per cent of nations, the rate of decline was slower, according to a study published in The Lancet on Thursday.

KINSHASA: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it is continuing its efforts to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in halting the spread of the Ebola virus, following the country's declaration of an outbreak in Kasai Province.

SYDNEY: Australia has approved the world's first vaccine to protect endangered koalas from chlamydia, a disease that has devastated wild populations of the iconic marsupial.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has set aside an order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) that had held a doctor of a private hospital liable for medical negligence in the death of a woman and her newborn during delivery.

NEW DELHI: Even healthy, full‐term babies are at significant risk of intensive care or prolonged hospitalisation from serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections -- especially during the first three months of life, according to a study.

With the persistently rising healthcare costs in India, health insurance has become a vital tool to combat the medical inflation as it provides financial coverage for planned and unplanned treatments & illnesses. Hence, with its growing importance, it is also crucial to understand the health insurance cost. Apart from the premium amount, the major component which impacts the health insurance cost is the GST.

Women in Delhi often face unique gynaecological challenges shaped by city life, pollution, and limited awareness about reproductive health. Studies show that many experience conditions like PCOS and hormonal imbalances, which can go unnoticed without regular checkups.

JAMMU: J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday visited the mega camp for flood-affected families organised by the State Health Department at Rajeev Colony in Jammu city.

ULAN BATOR: Two additional cases of bubonic plague have been confirmed in Khuvsgul Province, northern Mongolia, bringing the national total to three, the country's health ministry said Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: With cases of hypertension or high blood pressure rising significantly in India, particularly among young adults, lowering the BP threshold to less than 120/80 mm Hg by the American Heart Association (AHA) may help raise awareness and push for earlier interventions in the country, said health experts on Monday.

KERALA: A 56-year-old woman from Malappuram district, here, has succumbed to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis -- a rare and often-fatal brain infection --, health authorities confirmed on Monday.

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the spread of mpox (monkeypox) in Africa no longer represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

NEW DELHI: Over the past decade, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing bioeconomies in the world, with the sector expanding to $165.7 billion in 2024 from just $10 billion in 2014. With an ambitious target of $300 billion by 2030, the bioeconomy is steadily becoming a cornerstone of India’s sustainable growth and innovation, driven by advancements in biotechnology, agricultural innovation, biomanufacturing, and healthcare.

KAMPALA: The cumulative number of confirmed mpox cases in Uganda has hit 8,001, with 50 deaths reported as the East African country registers a decline in new infections, the Ministry of Health said.

ADDIS ABABA: The death toll from Africa's ongoing mpox outbreak is approaching 2,000 since the beginning of 2024, amid recent "encouraging" decline in the number of cases, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

WASHINGTON: US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. faced tough grilling from the Senate Finance Committee over his decision to fire Centres for Disease Control (CDC) Director Susan Monarez and his views on vaccines.

NEW DELHI: An increasing number of nurses in Pakistan are leaving the country in search of better salaries, safer working environments, and professional opportunities abroad. However, this will cause a severe impact on an already fragile health infrastructure in the country, according to a report.

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav on Thursday reviewed the situation in Turakapalem village in Guntur district, where a series of unexplained deaths during the last couple of months have triggered panic.

NEW DELHI: Calling the reforms made in the Goods and Services Tax (GST), truly next-gen in nature, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday said that it will bring down the healthcare costs and lead towards a fit and healthy Bharat.

NEW DELHI: The reforms made in Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the GST Council, in its 56th meeting on Wednesday, will boost the affordability of life-saving drugs as well as address public health, pharma industry experts said.

CHENNAI: Questioning the logic of demanding documents to establish personal friendship, the Madras High Court has set aside an order of the Authorisation Committee that had refused permission for a kidney transplant between two men who described themselves as family friends.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday welcomed the long-awaited approval for a government medical college in Wayanad, calling it a major milestone for the region. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has sanctioned new medical colleges in both Wayanad and Kasaragod.

CHENNAI: With viral fever cases steadily rising across Tamil Nadu in recent weeks, the State Health Department has issued a fresh public advisory urging citizens to adopt precautionary measures, including the use of masks in crowded areas.

CAPE TOWN: South Africa's Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen voiced concern about the country's spreading foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

NEW DELHI: India must become self-reliant in manufacturing technologies that can help remove disabilities such as speech and hearing and make them more accessible to the common man, said President Droupadi Murmu.

NEW DELHI: With 23 of the world’s top 50 life sciences companies establishing centres in the country, India has emerged as the global hub of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) for life sciences, according to a report on Monday.

NEW DELHI: A new medication has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure in people whose levels stay dangerously high, despite taking several existing medicines, according to the results of a Phase III clinical trial.

MANILA: The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday reported that it has tallied 2,525 cases of the highly contagious Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in just one week, bringing the total number of cases to 39,893 recorded from January to August 16.

NEW DELHI: Intake of healthy gut bacteria in a pill form can act as a holy grail to tackle weight loss as well as metabolic syndrome that drives the risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to a study.

NEW DELHI: Even a small amount of ultra-processed foods can lead to increased weight, hormone disruption, and poor sperm quality in men, finds a study.

GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that cholera outbreaks, driven by conflict and poverty, are worsening across multiple countries and pose a significant global public health challenge.

NEW DELHI: Urging the need to set bold goals for growth, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the MedTech sector is a natural candidate for Atmanirbharata and self-reliance.

NEW DELHI: Mpox continues to be a global health risk, with 47 countries reporting a total of 3,924 confirmed cases, including 30 deaths in July, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday.