Health & Safety

Scott Weaver, of the University of Texas Medical Branch, was one of only a few scientists studying Zika before the latest outbreak in Latin America.

Virus Profilers Race To Figure Out What Makes Zika Tick

3:14pm February 10, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Though Zika was discovered in 1947, few scientists since had studied the virus. Now, while some check its genes, others turn to placental cells for clues to any link between Zika and birth defects.

Queue Listen Now

Screenshot from the CDC Emergency Operations Center B-Roll

Zika Virus: What Happened When

2:20pm February 10, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

For decades, Zika was considered a mild virus that rarely made people ill. Suddenly it seems to be causing serious problems and is spreading across the Americas. Here's the latest news.

Chinese Taste For Fish Bladder Threatens Tiny Porpoise In Mexico

2:03pm February 10, 2016

by Christopher Joyce

The nets that ensnare the giant totoaba fish also trap and kill the world's smallest and rarest mammal: a porpoise called the vaquita.

Queue Listen Now

Past Outbreaks Offer Clues To How To Deal With Zika Virus

7:08am February 10, 2016

Renee Montagne talks to Professor Duane Gubler, who has studied previous outbreaks of the Zika virus. He says if we had paid closer attention to them, Zika might not be at epidemic proportions now.

Queue Listen Now

In 2013, Zika virus was found in French Polynesia, including the island of Tahiti (above). Some 20,000 inhabitants were diagnosed with the disease.

Zika In French Polynesia: It Struck Hard In 2013, Then Disappeared

5:59pm February 09, 2016

by Jason Beaubien

The islands saw the world's largest outbreak before Brazil: 20,000 cases. It may have been linked to birth defects — research is still being done. And in 2014 it seemed to disappear.

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito has been linked to both dengue fever and the Zika virus.

State Of Emergency On Hawaii's Big Island Over Dengue Fever Outbreak

5:33pm February 09, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Hawaii has nearly 250 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus since September 2015. State health officials say dengue symptoms include fever, rash, severe headaches and eye, joint and muscle pain.

The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is a fat-soluble compound called THC.

Why Is It So Hard To Test Whether Drivers Are Stoned?

2:08pm February 09, 2016

by Angus Chen

Blood alcohol levels match well with a person's impairment. But the THC in marijuana doesn't move around the body the same way, so blood tests can miss people who are stoned.

How 401(k) Withdrawals Can Complicate Health Plan Subsidies

12:27pm February 09, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

When someone taps into pretax retirement savings, the IRS considers it income. An unexpected withdrawal can change a person's subsidy for health premiums.

No, he didn't repossess this car from a corrupt official. As a hobby, global health avenger Cees Klumper fixes up classic cars. This one is the actual El Camino used in the TV series My Name Is Earl. Klumper tracked it down and had it shipped to Geneva.

Meet The Repo Man For Global Health: Skim Off A Grant, He'll Make You Pay

12:11pm February 09, 2016

by Nurith Aizenman

When he isn't fixing up vintage cars, Cees Klumper goes after officials who misuse money meant to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Why You'll Never Buy the Perfect Ring (and Other Valentine's Day Stories)

10:01am February 09, 2016

by NPR Staff

It's almost Valentine's Day, but this week we're not talking about love. Instead, we explore the other forces that drive our romantic relationships.

Queue Listen Now