Headlines on health

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...

New cancer treatment methods that target a patient's genetic profile have been saving the lives of Australians and paving the way for groundbreaking new research. The new findings include the link between 12 different cancers inside the human genome that researchers hope will explain some of the key drivers of the disease.

That loud snoring keeping you up at night could be more than a noisy annoyance - it could be an early warning sign of dangerous hypertension. New research from Flinders University sleep experts has found people who regularly snore at night are more likely to have elevated blood pressure and uncontrolled hypertension. SBS's Ciara Hain spoke with research fellow at Flinders University, Dr Bastien Le...

Four million Australians live with back problems and treatment costs Australia more than $3 billion annually. A new technique to rehabilitate spinal discs offers fresh hope to many.

Dr Michael Mosley, a celebrated British doctor and television journalist, has been found dead on the Greek island of Symi. His body was discovered four days after he failed to return from a walk. He had dedicated his career to promoting health and well-being.

There's fresh hope in the fight against deadly childhood cancers, with trials of a new approach doubling survival rates for some patients. Genome sequencing is being used to better match treatment to a child's cancer driver genes in what’s called personalised medicine. Australian researchers say the outcome is the result of almost 10 years of work.

Scientists and health authorities are on alert for signs that bird flu is adapting to spread more easily among humans. It comes after the World Health Organization said a man's death in Mexico was caused by a new strain of bird flu that has never before been found in a human.

There are promising developments in the fight against melanoma with new treatment options offering fresh hope for patients. Research involving Australian scientists has made a breakthrough - it's found a powerful combination of immunotherapy drugs, given before cancer removal, can drastically improve survival rates.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community agreed it needed new systems to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response. But the World Health Organisation meeting in Geneva remains at odds this week over a new landmark pandemic treaty. Having failed to agree a finalised draft ahead of the meeting, it appears now that agreement on a new timeline cannot be reached. And scientists a...

A New South Wales birth trauma inquiry has been released, making 43 recommendations to the New South Wales government. These include implementing trauma-informed care, reviewing laws around informed consent and improving mental health support and postpartum services.

New data from the Leukemia Foundation reveals that eight per cent of Australians will be diagnosed with a form of Blood Cancer in their lifetime. The foundation says it's critical for Australians to know about the condition that can impact anyone.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is reportedly withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine worldwide. The vaccine was discontinued by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Authority in April 2023 after findings of adverse side effects.

Hand-sanitising prayer beads have been launched to help curb the spread of germs among Muslim pilgrims at this year's Hajj. The prayer beads (or Tasbih) are coated in tea tree oil and uniquely designed to preserve spiritual practices. They're being distributed to pilgrims on Saudia airlines flights, as well as in Mecca itself.

About one-in-ten people across Australia provide unpaid care for a loved one with a disability or an older person and roughly 304,500 of them receive the government carer payment. The Albanese government has unveiled changes to the support payment to allow them greater flexibility in the hours they can work.

Fewer people follow a formal religion, according to the latest Census. In fact, almost 40 per cent of people in Australia now identify as ‘no religion’. However, in times of crisis many still reach out for support. And that’s where non-religious spiritual carers step in.

New research shows that some people living with HIV are choosing cheaper and suboptimal antiretroviral treatment out of fear that their applications for permanent residency will be rejected. Applicants must show that their medical spending will not exceed more than $51,000 over 10 years — a requirement, known as the Significant Cost Threshold. Experts say these rules for migrants are unfair and ca...

Walking is something many of us take for granted. But a new study has revealed the enormous health benefits that walking just once a week can have, especially for those aged 70 and over.

In this episode of Cost of Living Secrets with Ricardo Goncalves and Peggy Giakoumelos, we talk about saving when visiting your doctor. New South Wales and ACT chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Dr Rebekah Hoffman shares her tips on: