Kerala's decision to move children with spinal muscular atrophy onto a cheaper generic medicine has triggered debate among parents and lawmakers over safety, effectiveness and labelling. SMA is a rare, life-threatening genetic disorder that steadily weakens muscles and affects movement and breathing. The controversy centres on whether the switch was handled transparently.
A 65-year-old woman has died of Ebola in Kenya, becoming the country's second fatality. She was a close relative of the first victim, a man who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health officials are tracing contacts and stepping up monitoring to try to stop the virus from spreading further.
An explainer walks through what goes on inside the brain during a stroke and why early treatment is so urgent. Effects vary depending on where the damage occurs and how severe it is. The piece covers the different types of stroke, the warning signs people should watch for, and the steps involved in recovery afterwards.
A webinar on modern posture habits will be held on October 25. With people spending long hours at desks, on digital devices and in fixed positions, posture and spine health have become everyday concerns. The session will cover daily habits, ergonomics and practical ways to prevent back and neck pain.
Greece's parliament has approved a law banning children under 15 from using social media platforms, amid growing concern over the effects on young people. The ban takes effect in 2027, and Greece is seeking an EU-wide age-verification system with parental safeguards to support enforcement.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun the Tumaini Ebola vaccine trial, which will test whether existing and new vaccines, including Ervebo, can protect against the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. Doses are being given in Ituri province. Researchers hope the trial will strengthen defences against strains not covered by current vaccines.
The doctor in charge of the spinal muscular atrophy clinic at SAT Hospital in Kerala says parents were counselled several times about the government's move to a generic version of risdiplam. Hospital officials say the drug is effective, the process was transparent, and government supplies are being rolled out to affected children.
A GP says she was forced out of her role after passing on concerns about gender treatment that other doctors had brought to her. She describes facing a harsh investigation as a result. Her account adds to a wider and often heated debate about clinical practice and whistleblowing in this area.
A major trial has found that the first personalised cancer vaccine reduced the chance of the disease returning. Researchers say the findings could mark a turning point in treatment, moving tailored medicine closer to everyday use. Further work will be needed before the vaccine becomes widely available to patients.
A Microsoft AI system that copies doctors' step-by-step reasoning was more than twice as accurate as general physicians at solving complex medical cases, a study in Science found. It uses an 'orchestrator' to coordinate a simulated panel of experts, deciding which questions to ask and which tests to order rather than analysing everything at once.