Health News
5/12/2026

Making sense of the showdown at the CDC



Confused by the new COVID vaccine guidelines? Here's what you need to know.



Trump promotes unproven theory about Tylenol and autism. What does the science say?



Chagas disease, a deadly infection caused by ‘kissing bugs,’ may have taken root in the U.S., researchers say



Poll: Only 15% of Americans agree with the unproven claim that Tylenol causes autism



What you should know if there's no sexual attraction for your partner, according to a therapist


Why would a person pick a potential life partner without feeling the spark of sexual attraction? And can these relationships survive and thrive? Can sexual attraction be cultivated later? Therapist Ian Kerner shares what he's learned in his practice.

The benefits of 'body doubling' when you have ADHD, according to experts


'Body doubling' is a strategy people with ADHD can use to accomplish more than they would alone. Here's how to do it.

If you think you can't focus for long, you're right


Your attention span has shrunk by nearly two minutes in the past 20 years, driven in part by technology's hold over your work and home life, experts say. Here's how to stay focused so you can get things done.

What a medication abortion is like, according to a doctor


An expert in medication abortion describes how mifepristone and misoprostol work and what to expect after using these medications known as the "abortion pill."

How to cool down without AC


No air conditioning? Here are 14 methods for cooling your body and buffering your house from the outside heat.

The planet is getting hotter fast. This is what happens to your body in extreme heat


Human-caused climate change has already made heat waves around the world more frequent and intense.

8 activewear brands you should add to your workout wardrobe


The increasing popularity of stylish, trendy athletic wear has made über-comfortable clothing something that's not just for the gym. It's infiltrated all corners of culture, from high fashion runways to the offices of Silicon Valley executives — and really, it's appropriate for any occasion when you just want to be comfortable.

The best coupons at CVS Pharmacy



Why we have nightmares and how to stop them


We leave behind our fears of monsters under the bed as we say goodbye to our childhoods, but one can follow us into adulthood and loom over our heads.

Your guide to finding the right Theragun massage gun for you



This bat fossil could fill in a piece of the evolutionary puzzle


Two 52 million-year-old bat skeletons discovered in an ancient lake bed in Wyoming are the oldest bat fossils ever found — and they reveal a new species.

How long you can use vintage Tupperware


Since Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand that's been a household name for decades, signaled recently that it might be going out of business, you might be wondering how long your stash of its food storage containers is safe to use — especially if it's vintage.

Paper airplane breaks a world distance record


It's a bird... It's a plane... It's a paper airplane!

Desperate for heart surgery for their baby, a family feels the effects of pediatric hospital shortages


Even before their daughter was born in June, Aaron and Helen Chavez knew she would need heart surgery. Doctors expected her to have an operation around 6 months of age.

Fuzzy first photo of a black hole gets a sharp makeover


The first photo ever taken of a black hole looks a little sharper now.

Experimental therapy gantenerumab fails to slow or improve Alzheimer's memory loss in clinical trials


An experimental treatment, gantenerumab, failed to help people at high risk of memory loss from Alzheimer's or those who were in the early phases of the disease, the manufacturer said Monday.

US gets D+ grade for rising preterm birth rates, new report finds


The rate of premature birth in the United States is climbing, according to the infant and maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes.

Covid-19 boosters could keep thousands of kids out of hospitals, but uptake remains low


Higher Covid-19 vaccination rates among US children could prevent thousands of pediatric hospitalizations and millions of missed school days, according to an analysis published Tuesday by the Commonwealth Fund and the Yale School of Public Health.

RSV hospitalization rate for seniors is 10 times higher than usual for this point in the season


The respiratory virus season has started early in kids this year and flooded children's hospitals in many parts of the country -- especially with respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV.

Hantavirus: Your questions answered


Lucy Woodham answers your questions on the outbreak of hantavirus on board a cruise ship

Hantavirus: WHO chief says public health risk is low


The origin of the outbreak is still unknown, with the World Health Organisation saying investigations are "still under way".

The Global Story


When conversation drifted into fantasy, one man grabbed a hammer and prepared for war.

Concern 'dangerous' performance enhancers are being sold online


UK Anti-Doping have published research into SARMs being sold on social media platforms. The survey found a third of people aged 16-25 see ads for SARMs every week.

Newcastle's Burn on mental health and importance of asking for help


Newcastle United Foundation has painted benches in the city's Leazes Park to highlight mental health and encourage fans to talk to each other. Defender Dan Burn spoke to BBC Sport about the work being done and how important it is to "check in".

Inside Health


James Gallagher is joined by experts to answer key questions on the meningitis outbreak.

Inside Health


James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

Inside Health


James visits Hackney, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

Inside Health


James Gallagher finds out how a hot flush feels - and delves into a new treatment.

'Doctors strikes' and 'paw prints in space'


A round-up of stories from local newspapers and the BBC from the past week in the West of England.

'Month of worry' over doctor strike surgery delay


The strike further delays Tom Lawson's gastric bypass surgery after a more than three-year wait.

Hospitals coping well with doctors' strike so far - NHS boss


Resident doctors in England – the new name for junior doctors – are taking part in their 15th walkout in a long-running pay dispute.

Stay at home advice questioned and rules too tough - key findings from Covid report


An NHS close to collapse, patients failed and NHS staff put at risk - what you need to know.

Why did resident doctors go on strike and how much are they paid?


Resident doctors in England have returned to work after the 15th walkout in a long-running dispute.

Doctors' strikes can have surprising benefits - but are they sustainable?


Some hospital trusts tell the BBC previous action has seen shorter waits, faster decisions and calmer corridors.

Vaccines a huge success, but public trust must be earned - key findings from Covid report


Immunisation saved hundreds of thousands of UK lives, but vaccine hesitancy remains an issue.

What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work?


The fourth report from the inquiry into the pandemic said the vaccine roll-out was an "extraordinary feat".

Bird flu vaccine trial against potential pandemic strain begins


The jab targets the H5N1 flu strain which has caused devastating infections in bird populations worldwide, but has yet to spread between humans.

Rollout of Covid vaccines extraordinary feat - inquiry report


Covid vaccines saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but a small minority harmed need better support, says report.

Researchers look into island's health benefits


The team aims to find out what it is about the Isle of Wight that makes people feel better.

What is vegan collagen?


What's the latest on Collagen?

Calls for Reformer Pilates regulation amid boom


Reformer Pilates businesses in the UK rose nearly ten-fold between 2024 and 2025.

Wellbeing garden opens to combat isolation


The outdoor area at Yarm Wellness will officially open to the public on Saturday.

Sophie Raworth: 'I hope I can still run in my 80s'


Sophie Raworth talks about the need for exercise as we get older.

Mums' choir leader 'baffled' by park fee structure


A postnatal choir leader says professional dog walkers pay less to use the city's parks.

University explores endometriosis and cancer link


The condition affects one in 10 women in the UK and can cause debilitating pain and infertility.

Mother and baby mental health unit to go ahead


Mike Nesbitt says Northern Ireland's first regional mother and baby unit in should open within the next three years.

'We have to respond to women's health needs more easily'


Groups in Liverpool are trying to remedy the historical under-resourcing of women's healthcare.

Could weight-loss jabs be behind rising gallbladder removals?


Last year, there was a 15% annual increase in the operations and surgeons want more research.

Women-only mental health crisis house to open in town


Swindon's new mental health support facility for women will be an "alternative" to hospitalisation.

Worldwide race to trace passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship


About 12 countries have so far been linked to the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, as the UN health agency confirms at least five cases.

How to check whether you have bowel cancer


What are the main symptoms and causes of bowel cancer, and how can you reduce your risk of getting it?

What are the symptoms of meningitis and how is it spread?


Two people have died following an "unpredecented" outbreak of meningitis in Kent.

What to do if you think someone has heat exhaustion or heatstroke


Know the signs and what to do if someone is unwell in hot weather.

How is Keir Starmer getting on with his pledges to deliver change?


At the end of 2024, Keir Starmer announced key government targets including on NHS waiting lists and building new homes, how is he getting on?

Why did resident doctors go on strike and how much are they paid?


Resident doctors in England have returned to work after the 15th walkout in a long-running dispute.

Hundreds contact BBC about mystery skin condition 'hell' - but doctors can't agree it exists


Some think it's a severe case of eczema. Others say it's a condition called TSW. But doctors are stuck in a dilemma.

Hantavirus survivor says sickness was like 'hell on earth'


Two survivors who caught the hantavirus years earlier told the BBC they both felt lucky to be alive.

Should you really trust health advice from an AI chatbot?


Abi has had very mixed results when asking a chatbot for guidance about her health issues.

What death doulas can teach us about dying


Death doulas or soul midwives have increased in popularity in recent years. What do they do?

The struggle to get hold of medication in England is set to get worse


People living with conditions include heart problems, stroke risks, eye infections and bipolar are unable to get hold of the drugs they rely on.

Hantavirus may have spread between passengers on cruise ship, WHO says


Two cases of the virus, which rarely spreads between humans, have been confirmed on the ship, and three people have died.

NHS cancer jab could save patients hours in hospital


Thousands of patients will be offered a new injectable form of an immunotherapy drug that takes minutes.

Cruise passengers tell of life on board stranded ship after hantavirus outbreak


While passengers onboard the MV Hondius say the situation is calm, they face days at sea as officials warn the disease may have spread.

Hantavirus strain that spreads between humans found in cruise ship passengers


South Africa's health ministry said the Andes strain of the virus was found in two confirmed cases linked to the outbreak.

Ethiopian woman's joy at rare quintuplets after 12 years trying for a baby


The woman, 35, says she was praying for a baby and was "overjoyed" to be "blessed with five at once".

Hantavirus-hit cruise ship on way to Canary Islands after three evacuated


A British man is among three evacuees sent to the Netherlands after displaying symptoms while aboard the MV Hondius.

French national shows symptoms on return from hantavirus-hit ship


Five passengers of the MV Hondius will be quarantined in Paris "until further notice", France's prime minister says.

What is hantavirus and how does it spread?


The Andes strain of the virus, which can rarely be passed from person to person, has been found among passengers of a cruise ship.

How are countries responding to hantavirus?


The UK, US and EU are asking all citizens returning home from the virus-hit MV Hondius to self-isolate for about six weeks.

UK alcohol deaths fall for first time since Covid pandemic


Experts say the “modest reduction” is “not cause for complacency”, with calls to redouble efforts to slash deaths further.

How worried should we be about hantavirus?


Passengers potentially exposed to hantavirus are being repatriated, so what is the risk to the wider public?

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