Jonathan Reed Health Editor 
Maternal mortality has doubled in Ituri province as pregnant women avoid hospitals during the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest Ebola outbreak on record. Fear of quarantine, misinformation, and attacks on medical facilities have caused prenatal visits to plummet, while a shadow health crisis claims lives outside clinics. Maternal Deaths Double Across Ituri Province as Expectant … Read more
Researchers have confirmed New York State’s first case of Bourbon virus, a rare and potentially severe infection carried by lone star ticks, according to scitechdaily.com. The patient, 67-year-old Michael Larkin of Suffolk County, contracted the virus after being bitten by two lone star ticks while working outdoors, as reported by the New York Post. New … Read more
Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have identified a 19-protein blood panel that can predict when ALS gene carriers will develop symptoms years in advance. Published in Nature Medicine, the findings draw on two decades of data from the Pre-fALS study and outperform the leading single marker, NEFL. For families carrying … Read more
Pelvic floor health requires more than standard Kegels, according to Harvard medical experts and pelvic therapists. While strengthening exercises help postpartum recovery and incontinence, overly tight muscles need stretching and relaxation techniques like yoga to prevent worsening pain and dysfunction. Say the word Kegels and it usually prompts an involuntary muscle contraction alongside a mental … Read more
Researchers have discovered a contagious skin cancer spreading among brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog along the Vermont-Quebec border. Published in the journal Nature, the finding marks the first known transmissible cancer in a freshwater fish species and only the fourth naturally occurring contagious cancer documented in the animal kingdom. The investigation began in 2012 … Read more
Hundreds of thousands of women across England accessed free emergency contraception at high street pharmacies during the first five months of an expanded NHS service, eliminating GP wait times and addressing regional disparities in access. A new NHS initiative has supplied nearly 305,000 doses of the emergency contraceptive pill through community pharmacies between October 2025 … Read more
Updated national cholesterol guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology expand statin eligibility to an estimated 21.5 million more U.S. adults. Published in July 2026, the framework shifts cardiovascular prevention toward earlier, lifelong risk management using the PREVENT risk calculator and lower LDL cholesterol targets. A major revision to … Read more
A daily prebiotic fiber supplement significantly reduced knee osteoarthritis pain, improved grip strength, and lowered pain sensitivity in a six-week clinical trial led by the University of Nottingham. Published in March 2026, the INSPIRE trial tested inulin on 117 adults, revealing a remarkably low dropout rate compared to standard physiotherapy programs. For millions of older … Read more
The thymus gland, long dismissed as a vestigial organ that shrinks after childhood, is emerging as a critical factor in human aging, chronic inflammation, and cancer immunotherapy response. Recent studies utilizing artificial intelligence, animal models, and clinical data reveal that maintaining thymic function supports healthier immune aging and longevity. Nestled beneath the sternum in the … Read more
Delaware health officials formally declared a measles outbreak on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, after confirming four cases involving unvaccinated adult males in Kent County, marking the state’s first measles cluster in more than a decade and its first confirmed case since July 20. Delaware Declares Outbreak Following Kent County Cases The Delaware Division of Public … Read more