Public Health

A new study suggests that COVID-19 may worsen existing health problems over the long term, adding to the growing body of research on the virus's lasting effects. The finding was shared with a sardonic tone, framed as an obvious conclusion, but reflects ongoing concern about long COVID and its impact on people with pre-existing conditions.

A cheese product is being recalled across the United States following an E. coli outbreak, according to a TODAY report. The nationwide recall means consumers are being urged to check their refrigerators and discard or return affected products. Food safety officials are expected to provide further details on the brands involved and the number of illnesses linked to the contaminated cheese.

The CDC says more than 11,500 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite, have been reported across 41 US states. Outbreaks of the infection, often linked to contaminated fresh produce, typically rise in summer months, and health officials are monitoring the unusually high case count as investigations continue.

India has proposed banning junk food sales in school canteens and within 50 meters of schools, in an effort to curb rising obesity and diabetes rates among children. The rules would restrict children's access to unhealthy food during and around the school day. The proposal comes as health officials warn that poor diets are driving growing rates of childhood obesity and related diseases across the country.

A multistate hepatitis A outbreak has been linked to clams that have since been recalled, according to health reporting. Officials are tracing infections back to the contaminated shellfish, and consumers are being urged to check whether they purchased the affected product. The recall raises fresh questions about shellfish safety screening in the supply chain.

Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been hospitalized, according to trending searches in Singapore and Malaysia. Details about his condition or the reason for admission have not been confirmed publicly. Separately, his granddaughter shared a tribute recalling fond memories of her grandmother, adding a personal dimension to public interest in the 99-year-old statesman's health.

An outbreak is reported on a popular tourist island located roughly four hours' flight from Australia. News.com.au is covering the story, which is drawing wide attention from travellers and the public. Details of the illness involved, the number of cases and any travel advisories have not been specified in the available reporting.

Canadian farmers are speaking publicly about the mental health challenges tied to working in the field, according to a CTV News report. The discussion highlights isolation, financial pressure and unpredictable conditions in agriculture, and has drawn significant public attention and sympathy, with many praising farmers for breaking the silence on an issue long considered taboo in rural communities.

Several Florida counties have declared a state of emergency following an outbreak of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness. The declarations allow local authorities to intensify mosquito control measures and respond to the spread of infections. The outbreak has drawn attention to rising dengue cases in parts of the United States as conditions become more favourable to the mosquitoes that carry the virus.

The CDC has confirmed a multistate outbreak of E coli infections linked to raw milk cheese. Health officials are investigating the source and working to identify affected products and prevent further illness. Raw milk cheeses are a known risk for E coli contamination because they are made from unpasteurized milk, and the outbreak is likely to prompt consumer warnings and possible recalls.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a ban on sports betting sites on Friday, targeting the 'bets' that have become the biggest sponsors of the country's football clubs. The move comes just nine days before a fiercely contested election in which Lula is seeking a fourth term, and is drawing criticism that the timing is politically motivated, while supporters frame it as a public health measure against gambling addiction.

The FDA is investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk cheese, which has been recalled. The recall covers raw milk cheese products believed to be the source of the infections. Health officials are working to trace the contamination and warn consumers, and the story is drawing attention as details of the outbreak and the scope of the recall emerge.

Health officials in Los Angeles are investigating an outbreak of flea-borne typhus in the Wilshire Center neighborhood. Fox 11 Los Angeles reports the probe is underway, and local residents are discussing the news amid concerns about rodent populations, stray animals and how the bacterial illness, spread by fleas, may have taken hold in the urban area.

Florida health officials have declared a state of emergency in response to what they describe as a 'wildly unusual' disease outbreak in the state. The emergency declaration allows authorities to mobilise additional resources to investigate and contain the spread. Details about the illness, the number of cases and the areas most affected have not been laid out in the reporting available so far.

State health officials in North Carolina are throwing their support behind mental health first aid training programs at colleges and universities. The initiative would train students, faculty and staff to recognize signs of mental distress and connect peers with help. The backing comes as campuses nationwide face rising demand for mental health support and look for practical ways to build awareness across their communities.

A cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated food has spilled into US midterm election campaigns, with food safety becoming a political talking point. Candidates and voters are weighing how federal agencies like the FDA and CDC handled the illness cluster, turning a public health matter into an accountability question at the ballot box.

Finnish health-tech company Oura, best known for its smart ring that tracks sleep and health metrics, is preparing an initial public offering that would list its shares on Wall Street. The move would make the wearable maker one of the most prominent health-device companies to go public, drawing attention from both tech and finance observers tracking the market for consumer health wearables.

The European Commissioner for Health launched Europe's first Screening Week from Milan, promoting preventive health checks across the continent. The campaign is drawing attention to screenings such as blood glucose (glicemia) tests, which can catch diabetes and other conditions early. It highlights a wider EU push to make early diagnosis a public health priority.

French media are telling readers how to eliminate tiger mosquitoes, with Ouest-France highlighting a solution costing under 5 euros to use this Sunday, September 27. The advice comes as tiger mosquitoes remain a growing concern in France, where the invasive species has spread across much of the country and is monitored for transmitting diseases like dengue.

A new study finds that infections are responsible for roughly one in eight cancer cases around the world. The finding highlights the role of viruses and bacteria, such as those linked to cervical and liver cancers, in the global cancer burden, and points to prevention through vaccination and treatment of infectious diseases as a major public health opportunity.

Health officials in San Diego County have linked raw milk cheeses to an E. coli outbreak. The county's public health authorities are investigating the outbreak and have identified the cheeses as a source, and residents are being warned about consuming unpasteurized dairy products while the investigation continues.