Shifts in climate in the Middle Ages likely drove bubonic plague bacteria from gerbils in Asia to people in Europe, research now suggests. Rats don't deserve all the blame.
His doctor injected him with a used syringe. Millions of people have contracted HIV, hepatitis and other diseases that way. The solution: a syringe designed to prevent reuse.
Scientists interviewed more than 1,000 men, women and children who were forced into sex work and hard labor. The result is the largest study to detail the health of human trafficking survivors.
Tiny patches of Tanzanian farmland contain more rats than do nearby forests. These rats are more likely to carry the bacteria that cause the plague in humans.
Some think of resilience as a solo act. But the villagers of Barkedu are helping each other move forward in the wake of tragedy. Psychologist Jack Saul shares insights into "community resilience."
Malaria parasites in Myanmar are learning how to fend off the incredibly effective drug called artemisinin. That could cause a lot of problems there — and beyond.
The test is as simple as a pregnancy test. So it could help health workers find and stop new outbreaks more quickly. But it doesn't catch every case and still requires some lab equipment.
More than 80 percent of high school students in Shanghai are myopic. A new study finds a link between higher income and poor eyesight. But the root cause is still hotly debated.
Ebola is especially deadly for children and babies. About 80 percent of those infected have died. But one man knew instinctively that love and affection could make a difference.