Pope Francis, still hospitalised, thanks faithful in rare audio message

Pope Francis, speaking in a frail and breathless voice, thanked the faithful for their prayers in an audio message broadcast Thursday. It was his first public communication since being hospitalised three weeks ago with double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope’s weakened condition has sidelined him for the longest stretch of his papacy and raised fresh concerns … Read more

Choose compassion, reject cruelty to end HIV, says top UN rights official

In a stark assessment of the current situation of the health crisis, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif warned that more than nine million people do not receive treatment, while 4,000 girls and young women contract the virus every week. A staggering three-quarters of them live in sub-Saharan Africa, she noted, reminding Member … Read more

A Runner Was Hit by a Car, Then by a Surprise Ambulance Bill

Sandy West Jagdish Whitten was on a run in July 2023 when a car hit him as he crossed a busy San Francisco street. Whitten, then 25, described doing “a little flip” over the vehicle and landing in the street before getting himself to the curb. Concerned onlookers called an ambulance. But Whitten instead had … Read more

DR Congo: WHO tracks deadly mysterious illness

In recent months, disease surveillance has identified increases in cases and fatalities on three occasions across different areas of the country, which triggered follow-up investigations to confirm the cause and provide needed support, WHO said in a statement. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, sweating, stiff neck, muscle aches, multiple joint pain and body aches, a runny … Read more

House Cats With Bird Flu Could Pose a Risk to Public Health

More than 80 domestic cats, among many other types of mammals, have been confirmed to have had bird flu since 2022 — generally barn cats that lived on dairy farms, as well as feral cats and pets that spend time outdoors and likely caught it by hunting diseased rodents or wild birds. Now, a small … Read more