Dengue fever: Vaccine trial raises a muted cheer
A prototype vaccine for dengue notched up the best success yet against the disease but failed to protect against all its viral strains.
Heart attacks: longer resuscitation boosts survival chances
Adding a few minutes to attempts to resuscitate patients who suffer a heart attack in hospital can significantly boost their chances of survival.
Work, mahjong and tea: Hong Kong's secrets to longevity
Covered in smog and cramped apartment towers, Hong Kong is not usually associated with a healthy lifestyle. But new figures show that Hong Kongers are the longest-living people in the world.
German thalidomide firm 'very sorry', 50 years on
The German firm that made thalidomide has issued its first apology in 50 years to the thousands born disabled as a result of the drug's use, drawing stinging criticism from advocates for some survivors.
US approves new once-a-day pill to treat HIV
A new pill to treat HIV infection -- combining two previously approved drugs plus two new ones -- has been approved for adults living with the virus that causes AIDS, US regulators said Monday.
US sees record spike in West Nile virus cases
The US is experiencing the worst outbreak of West Nile virus since the mosquito-borne disease was first detected in 1999, health officials said Wednesday.
6 dead in Quebec Legionnaire's disease outbreak
Legionnaire's disease, which hit Quebec in mid-July, has infected 65 people and killed six, health authorities of the French-speaking Canadian province said.
Syphilis scare prompts call to halt US porn shoots
Reports of several cases of syphilis among porn actors in California has prompted a trade group to call for a temporary halt to shooting in the lucrative US adult film industry.
Fewer circumcisions could cost the US billions: study
As debate rages over the ethics of infant circumcision, a study published Monday said falling rates of the once-routine procedure in the United States could cost billions of dollars in health costs.
Giving babies antibiotics could lead to obesity: study
Giving babies antibiotics before the age of six months could cause them to be chubby children, according to a study published Tuesday.
Down's syndrome testing hits several European markets
A new prenatal test for Down's syndrome hit the market in Germany and several other European countries Monday, the manufacturer said, amid a controversy over whether it could lead to more abortions.
Addiction to heroin can be blocked: research
Addiction to morphine and heroin can be blocked, according to research released Wednesday which could prove a major breakthrough in treating addicts and in pain relief treatments.
In Europe, defences rise against Asian mosquito peril
Behind air-tight doors in a lab in a southern French city, scientists in protective coveralls wage war against a fingernail-sized danger.
Batman movie shooting suspect 'mentally ill': lawyer
The man suspected of gunning down 12 people at a screening of the new Batman movie last month is mentally ill, his defense lawyer said Thursday, seeking more time to assess his health.
Vietnam, US begin historic Agent Orange cleanup
From deformed infants to grandparents with cancer, families near Vietnam's Danang Airbase have long blamed the toxic legacy of war for their ills.
Long-haul travel boosts illness risk for athletes -- study
The questions arising from a new probe which says elite athletes who have to travel very long distances are nearly three times likelier to fall ill than when they play at home.
Scientists treat ulcers with 'spray-on skin'
Scientists said Friday they had developed a revolutionary "spray-on skin" treatment for venous leg ulcers -- a common ailment involving a shallow, open and stubborn wound on the ankle or lower leg.
Computer game aims to zap teen depression
Long viewed as a contributing factor in teenage isolation, computer games are now being used to treat adolescent depression in an innovative New Zealand programme.
Small breakthroughs offer big hope of AIDS 'cure'
Small but significant breakthrough studies on people who have been able to overcome or control HIV were presented Thursday at a major world conference on ways to stem the three-decade-old disease.
AIDS cure may have two main pathways: experts
Investigators are looking into two main paths toward a cure for AIDS, based on the stunning stories of a small group of people around the world who have been able to overcome the disease.