Health

Mexican actress Victoria Ruffo revealed she was hospitalized after contracting a rare virus, describing the experience as brutal. Speaking to Mexican media, the telenovela star said the illness left her seriously unwell but she is now recovering. Her statements were reported by outlets including Excélsior, drawing widespread attention from fans concerned about her health.

President Donald Trump has offered American assistance to Russia following a reported death from plague, while the World Health Organization assessed the overall public health risk as low. The offer of cooperation between the two countries, at a time of strained relations, is drawing attention as health officials monitor whether the case could spread beyond Russia's borders.

First-quarter US electric vehicle sales data is drawing attention, with InsideEVs laying out five main takeaways from the numbers. The figures point to shifting demand patterns in the American EV market as automakers compete on price, range and new model availability. Analysts and industry watchers are weighing what the quarter's results mean for the rest of the year.

A pretrial hearing in Massachusetts v. Lindsay Clancy is being broadcast live, drawing a large audience. Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three young children in 2023, faces murder charges in a case that has drawn national attention because of questions surrounding her mental health and psychiatric medication. Court coverage outlets are streaming the proceedings, and viewers are following closely as prosecutors and defense attorneys argue over evidence ahead of trial.

Merck has hit a pipeline milestone on a cholesterol-focused drug candidate, according to Kalkine Media, and searches for 'cholesterol' are rising in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. The news is drawing attention from investors and health watchers following the pharmaceutical company's latest research progress.

Jim Bakker, the controversial televangelist and founder of the Praise the Lord Club, has died at the age of 86, according to his family. Bakker built a vast television ministry in the 1980s before a fraud conviction and imprisonment, and later courted criticism for his on-air claims about health products. Tributes and criticism are circulating as news of his death spreads.

A suspected case of lung plague in Russia is being closely watched by EU health authorities, according to Swedish news reports. The European Union says it is monitoring the suspected plague case carefully as officials assess the risk of spread. Details about the patient, location, and how the infection occurred remain limited.

Health experts highlight that roughly one in eight cancer cases worldwide are caused by infections, such as viruses and bacteria. They stress that this makes many of these cancers preventable through vaccination and treatment of infectious diseases, renewing calls for wider vaccine coverage, including HPV and hepatitis B immunisation, as a key tool in global cancer prevention efforts.

A widely shared quote from Audre Lorde — 'Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare' — is circulating again. The line comes from 'A Burst of Light', also known as 'The Cancer Chronicles', which Lorde wrote while dying of breast cancer in the late 1980s. Readers are invoking it in discussions of health, survival and resistance, reframing self-care as a political act rather than a luxury.

A lab worker at a plague research institute in Irkutsk, Siberia, has died from the disease, and dozens of people who had contact with them have been quarantined, with nearly 200 under medical observation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington is closely monitoring the case. Authorities have not confirmed how the worker was infected, and officials say the risk to the wider public remains limited.

A new study finds that infections are responsible for roughly one in eight cancer cases around the world, highlighting the role of viruses and bacteria in triggering the disease. The finding points to prevention opportunities, since many infection-related cancers could be avoided through vaccination and treatment of pathogens such as HPV and hepatitis.

Italian media report that Cristian Totti, son of Roma legend Francesco Totti, has been diagnosed with a health problem affecting the head that was discovered almost by chance. Outlets including Tgcom24 are covering what condition he has and its causes, drawing wide public attention in Italy to the young Totti's medical situation.

Planet Fitness has acquired the Body Xchange Health Club locations in Bakersfield, California, bringing the local gyms under the national fitness chain's brand. The deal means Body Xchange members in the area will see their clubs converted to Planet Fitness locations. The acquisition marks the national chain's expansion into the Bakersfield market, and locals are discussing what the changeover will mean for memberships, pricing and amenities.

A new episode of No Magic Pill, hosted by TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie, argues that society is getting key aspects of mental health dangerously wrong, questioning the reliance on quick fixes and medication over deeper approaches to wellbeing. The episode has drawn strong attention, with viewers widely engaging with its critique of how mental health is understood and treated today.

Health authorities in Russia have reported a death from plague in Siberia, according to headlines circulating widely on social media. Cases of bubonic plague occasionally occur in remote parts of the region, typically linked to contact with infected rodents or their fleas. Officials are expected to confirm the circumstances and whether others have been exposed. The report is drawing attention because of plague's historical notoriety and its rarity in modern outbreaks.

Haze has returned to Singapore, with air quality falling into the unhealthy range across most of the island. The National Environment Agency issued haze situation updates over 4 and 5 October, while The Straits Times and CNA report pollutant levels lingering in unhealthy territory overnight. Residents are monitoring readings closely as conditions persist into the new week.

Several stories about Russian drivers are circulating at once. A drunk unlicensed driver caused a serious crash while fleeing police, and St Petersburg authorities are confiscating cars from drunk drivers as a standard measure. The Health Ministry approved mandatory medical examinations for drivers, with officials preparing wider changes affecting all motorists. In Podmoskovye, drivers rescued a man from a burning car after a crash.

Karl Deisseroth, the Stanford psychiatrist and bioengineer known for pioneering optogenetics, is being searched for widely across Europe, including Italy, Sweden, Germany, Britain and Spain. Italian science outlets featured him in this week's science news round-ups, renewing public interest in his work on brain circuitry and his bestselling writing on mental health.

The White House is tracking reports of a suspected plague outbreak in Russia, according to a report carried by Ukrainian outlet NV. Details about the scale, location, or confirmation of the outbreak remain limited, and US officials have not publicly outlined what measures, if any, might follow. The story is circulating amid heightened attention to Russia-related health and security news.

A researcher has died following an accident at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia, Russia. Details about the incident, including the researcher's identity, the nature of the accident, and any potential contagion risk, have not been fully disclosed. The institute studies dangerous pathogens, including plague, prompting concern and speculation about laboratory safety protocols and possible public health implications as officials investigate the circumstances of the death.

Researchers report that three days of fasting triggers systemic changes across the body, according to findings covered by ScienceDaily and picked up by news outlets. The study suggests the effects extend well beyond weight loss, with broad physiological shifts emerging only after the 72-hour mark. The findings are prompting discussion about what prolonged fasting actually does to human health.

Bill Gates told Ezra Klein that artificial intelligence is a more transformative technology than nuclear weapons, saying it 'makes nuclear weapons look like nothing'. The remarks came during a wide-ranging interview on the implications of AI. His comparison is drawing attention given his long history with technology policy and global health, and is feeding an ongoing debate about how rapidly AI should be developed and regulated.

New York state has declared a disaster emergency as measles cases continue to spread, part of a wider resurgence of the disease across the United States. The move gives health officials expanded powers to respond to the outbreak, which has drawn national attention amid falling vaccination rates. Commentators are debating vaccine hesitancy and public health readiness as authorities race to contain transmission.

Donald Trump commented on reports of a potential plague case in Russia, calling it a 'big problem'. The remarks come as health officials monitor the situation, and the story is drawing wide attention amid ongoing concerns about disease outbreaks and cross-border public health risks.

NPR reports on growing interest in heat therapy as a possible support for mental health, ranging from floating saunas to formal clinical trials. Researchers are exploring whether controlled heat exposure, such as sauna use or whole-body heating, could ease symptoms of depression and anxiety. The piece examines what the science shows so far and what remains unproven.