Global Health

WHO Says Ebola Is Now A 'Public Health Emergency Of International Concern'

5:07pm July 17, 2019

by Nurith Aizenman

The head of the World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo an international emergency. It's only the fifth time the WHO has sounded the alarm this way.

The World Health Organization says more than 1,650 people have died from the current outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak In Congo An International Health Emergency

4:31pm July 17, 2019

The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 1,650 people, according to the World Health Organization. About 12 new cases are reported daily.

Nana Kadidia Diawara, a nurse who is a community health worker in Mali's capital city of Bamako, measures the arm of a child to check for signs of malnutrition. There's no charge for the care she provides.

Health & Safety

How One Community Brought Child Mortality Down From 154 to 7 Per 1,000 Live Births

11:10pm July 12, 2019

by Peter Yeung

A 7-year trial in Mali provided house calls and health care at no charge for pregnant women and young children. The results inspired the president to make a bold pronouncement.

Chickpeas, peanuts and bananas are among the ingredients that scientists use in a paste to help rehabilitate gut microbes in severely malnourished children.

A Mix Of These Foods Could Restore Healthy Microbes In Malnourished Kids

5:28pm July 11, 2019

by Tim McDonnell

A paste made from chickpeas, soy, peanuts and bananas is the result of years of work studying the bacteria that live in the human gut.

Illustration for story on personality tests.

The Famous Big 5 Personality Test Might Not Reveal The True You

4:43pm July 10, 2019

by Rhitu Chatterjee

The survey gauges people on five traits. It's used to screen applicants for jobs and predict earning potential. But its accuracy may depend on whether you live in a rich country or a poor country.

Merck Wants To 'Empower' Infertile Women In Africa. Can Music Videos Help?

10:43am July 09, 2019

by Malaka Gharib

The songs tell women they are "more than a mother" — then promote the pharmaceutical company's fertility treatment programs. But the music videos raise some concerns.

Health & Safety

Patient With 'Tree Man' Syndrome Says He 'Can Finally Live A Normal Life'

5:26pm July 08, 2019

by Sara Toth Stub

The man, who lives in Gaza, has undergone a pioneering treatment by Israeli surgeons for a severe case of this rare condition.

A new study finds that drug prices can vary dramatically in the developing world, especially as a country moves up the economic ladder.

Drug Prices Can Take A Surprising Turn When A Poor Country Gets Richer

5:18pm July 08, 2019

by Joanne Lu

A new study finds that as poor countries become wealthier, it becomes harder for citizens to purchase basic medicines at affordable prices.

A trash picker carries a sack of recyclable materials she collected at the Ghazipur landfill in the east of New Delhi.

A Day's Work On Delhi's Mountain Of Trash

11:58am July 06, 2019

by Lauren Frayer

It's almost as tall as the Taj Mahal. It smolders and festers. And it's a source of income for slum dwellers nearby.

Queue Listen Now

Pakistani women jostle to receive their ballot papers prior to casting their ballot at a polling station on May 11, 2013 in Lahore. A study in The Lancet provides evidence that free and fair elections are associated with a lower burden of chronic diseases

Good News About Democracy: It's Good For Your Health

7:17am July 04, 2019

by Jonathan Lambert

A study finds that for countries worldwide, the "democratic experience" — through free and fair elections — plays a larger role than GDP in easing the burden of chronic diseases.