Headlines on health

The development of the first drug in 30 years that modifies the disease - and not just the symptoms - of the most common form of dementia has given hope to patients. The drug Lecanemab is now undergoing a regulatory approval process in Australia and other countries in the world, but its exorbitant cost means few will be able to access it.

New research from Australian doctors suggests a simple change to infant care could save lives. Researchers at the University of Sydney have found that giving premature babies higher concentrations of oxygen has a dramatic effect on the child’s chances of survival.

Since Voluntary Assisted Dying (known as VAD) was legalised in Australia, over 2,400 terminally ill people have chosen to end their lives this way. Dr Bu O'Brien is one of the few Voluntary Assisted Dying practitioners. I asked her about why she has chosen this path. My name is Essam Al-Ghalib, and this is SBS Audio's Weekend One on One.

A new case of mpox has been reported in Pakistan, following a case in Sweden. Authorities are working to confirm if it's a worrying new variant, days after the WHO declared the virus's spread a global health emergency.

The World Health Organisation has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to neighbouring countries. With a new variant of the viral infection and cases appearing in more and more countries, including Australia, health officials are calling for international efforts to stop the spread.

Since Voluntary Assisted Dying was legalised in Australia, over 2,460 terminally ill people have chosen this option. A report by Go Gentle Australia highlights the system's successes but calls for more trained healthcare professionals, streamlined processes, and better support for remote and First Nations communities.

Babies and toddlers could be missing out on the nutritional value needed for healthy growth as some baby foods in Australia fail to meet WHO standards. Many baby food companies are falsely labelling their products, misleading parents and carers into believing they are healthy. Researchers are urging for food regulations in the country to be modified.

Loneliness is essentially a feeling of not having the connection or companionship someone wants and needs. For some people, those feelings can last a long time. Experts and those with lived experience are hoping to change that, especially for those who are more vulnerable to social isolation.

New research has found men from migrant backgrounds experience poorer health outcomes, the longer they live in Australia. It's among a range of findings by the Movember Institute of Men's Health, showing barriers to accessing care are among the biggest challenges they face.

The average diagnosis for endometriosis is between 7 and 12 years, while a Senate inquiry is currently looking into issues related to perimenopause and menopause. At the same time, there are prevailing gaps in knowledge around other health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. So what are the consequences of a delayed diagnosis for women and trans people?

Victorian health authorities say they've identified the source of the state's deadly legionnaires' outbreak. So far, there are 77 confirmed patients, and an additional nine suspected cases. Two people have died as a result of the outbreak - Victoria's worst in two decades. So what exactly is legionnaires disease and what caused the surge in cases?

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world with Melanoma being typically the most serious type. But new research has discovered in the last 20 years, deaths from a high risk form of non-melanoma skin cancer have doubled.

Researchers using a nasal vaccine approved in India and licensed for U-S development found that vaccinated hamsters didn’t spread the virus, unlike those receiving traditional injected vaccines. Published on July 31 in Science Advances, these findings indicate that mucosal vaccines could be crucial for controlling respiratory infections like COVID-19 and influenza. Essam Al-Ghalib spoke with the s...

It was a historic moment for Australia... as Western Australia became the last state in the country to decriminalise abortion in March this year. The federal government also committed just over $6 million dollars in funding to contraceptive care in the May budget. But there are still barriers around accessing safe and affordable sexual and reproductive health care for women and the LGBTQI+ communi...

For those grieving the loss of a family member, immediately deciding whether to donate the organs of their loved ones can be confronting and stressful. That's why - at the start of Donate Life Week - Australians are being encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors, to potentially save the lives of many others.

Hepatitis is the second leading cause of infectious deaths around the world. But experts say most types of hepatitis are treatable, and are calling for members of the community to get themselves tested to prevent further transmission.

A world-first New South Wales birth trauma inquiry released at the end of May made 43 recommendations for the state government. These include implementing trauma-informed care, reviewing laws around informed consent and improving mental health support and postpartum services. So what are the birth experiences of people in Australia which led to this inquiry?

Victoria's Chief Health Officer says people should keep records of their sexual partners for contact tracing as the state deals with a growing mpox outbreak. Victoria has recorded 76 cases over the past three months compared with only eight cases last year. Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker say people should keep the contact details of sexual partners and consider limiting their number of sexua...

Sepsis is a disease that affects tens of thousands of people in Australia. While it can be deadly for many, one photographer is trying to raise awareness of the condition by sharing the personal stories of people who survived the disease.

In Western Sydney, community leaders have convened to address the escalating prevalence of diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Highlighting success stories and urgent needs, advocates pushed for enhanced access to affordable diabetes management technologies amid health disparities and systemic challenges.

Two thirds of women in Australia say they experience gender bias in the health system. That's according to the federal government's End Gender Bias survey, which more than 2,500 women responded to and which forms part of the government's attempts to address medical misogyny. An inquiry into women's pain led by the Victorian Government Department of Health also found women generally experience more...

A new report from the Cancer Council shows zero-alcohol beverages could lead young people to alcohol consumption later in their lives. The survey shows the over a third of youngsters have consumed a zero-alcohol drink, with the majority of them admitting they look rather appealing.

The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) is preparing for the potential arrival of the H-5-N-1 virus. The CSIRO organisation has identified three distinct avian flu outbreaks in Australia, each caused by different strains, but has yet to confirm a single case of H5N1. The Centre which plays a crucial global role in monitoring and surveillance of avian flu has held a forum to explain w...

Leading health organisations are calling on the Australian government to scrap marketing guidelines for infant and toddler formulas. The Australian Medical Association's Steve Robson says toddler milks are unnecessary, unhealthy and deceptively marketed. He spoke to SBS reporter Sydney Lang.

An infectious diseases researcher says between 200 and 400 million people around the world have experienced long COVID. It's a chronic condition that occurs after someone gets infected with COVID and is present for at least three months. The Chief Executive of the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, Professor Brendan Crabb, told SBS's Greg Dyett the ongoing increase in long COVID case numbers is alarmi...