Health Check

Three months since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 1,900 people have died from the virus, with more than 4200 confirmed cases, making this the second-worst Ebola outbreak ever. Claudia Hammond speaks to Ebola specialist Bronwyn Nichol, Senior Officer of Public Health and Emergencies for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to find out what challenges there have been on the ground. Claudia is also joined by global health journalist Andrew Green to discuss efforts to develop a vaccine for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
Andrew also updates Claudia on news that US President Donald Trump has signed an order that calls for fewer childhood vaccines and which also recommends splitting the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) shots. Medical experts have criticised the new order and said it could reduce vaccination rates and expose children to harmful diseases.
In Chile, reporter Jane Chambers shares with us the programmes of non-profit organisation Abrázame to improve the emotional wellbeing, attachment and development of children currently living in residential care or hospital.
We also hear Andrew’s takeaways from the 26th International AIDS Conference which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which he attended. And Claudia and Andrew discuss the rise of meat allergies caused by ticks.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell & Georgia Christie
(Photo: Health workers wearing protective suits assist a patient suspected of having Ebola -KENZO TRIBOUILLARD via Getty Images)

Some people are injecting a fraction of the standard dose of weight loss drugs and hoping to still receive the benefits, but many are doing so without any medical oversight and there could be risks. Makers of the drugs say they don't condone people modifying how they use their products. Health journalist Katie Silver speaks to Claudia Hammond about why some people are choosing to microdose these weight loss drugs.
With wildfires spreading across Western Europe, North Africa and Canada, Claudia is joined by BBC Health Reporter Laura Foster to discuss recent studies into the impacts wildfires can have on our health.
Claudia and Laura also talk about new research into fertility and pregnancy loss as well as asking, are we consuming too much protein?
And it is increasingly clear that multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked to Epstein-Barr virus infections, but can we use that knowledge to stop the progression of MS? Claudia speaks with Michael Levy, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and neuroimmunologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital, to understand if viral treatments could halt this disease and why this common virus can cause such severe immune responses in a few individuals.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell & Georgia Christie
(Photo:- Hand on belly on gray background - stock photo- Credit: seb_ra via Getty Images)

Road accidents are a leading cause of death and injury around the world, and in 2020, the UN General Assembly set a target to reduce road deaths by 50% by 2030. Claudia Hammond is joined by BBC Health reporter Philippa Roxby to look at new research which explores how road injury trends have changed globally over the past three decades, and discuss what these trends mean for public health and safety.
India is facing shortages of important chemotherapy drugs as the price of the precious metal platinum has soared. Journalist Chhavi Sachdev reports on the situation from Mumbai.
The prediction market platform Kalshi has announced that they will now be allowing users to place bets on the outcomes of clinical trials and FDA approvals. Claudia speaks with Nikola Biller-Andorno, Professor of Biomedical Ethics at the University of Zurich, to understand what this could mean for clinical research going forward.
Also what is really happening to the body when it goes to space? New research suggests our cells react to microgravity in surprising ways. And how introducing fish to rice fields in Senegal could halt the spread of the neglected tropical disease, schistosomiasis.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Georgia Christie and Jonathan Blackwell

Last week, the US Defence Secretary announced a new policy that will require US military personnel to undergo annual screening for testosterone deficiency, however some health experts have expressed concerns that this program could have negative effects. Claudia Hammond speaks with Gary Wittert, professor of medicine at Adelaide University and consultant endocrinologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, to understand more about testosterone and what hormone replacement therapy can do to the body.

Many babies receive a vitamin K shot after birth to prevent internal bleeding, but recently more parents are declining this potentially life-saving treatment. Dr Matthew Fox, Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health at Boston University, joins Claudia to explain what is driving this trend, and the evidence behind the jab.
Professor Rebecca Katz from Georgetown University in Washington DC and Director of the Health Security Operations Center has been monitoring disease spread and public health risks during the Men's Football World Cup, and joins Claudia to share what went well and what we have learned through this monitoring process.
A microscopic parasite, cyclosporiasis, is causing a gastrointestinal outbreak in the United States – Matthew and Claudia discuss the possible sources and what is being done to combat it. And, how El Salvador eliminated trachoma – the world's leading infectious cause of blindness.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell and Georgia Christie

Organisations providing HIV services to gay men have had to close in Niger after a ban on same sex acts. Gay men there fear coming forward to be tested or treated and have lost access to condoms and medication protecting against HIV. Claudia Hammond and health journalist Camilla Mota discuss what this might mean for HIV rates in the country.
We also hear about a US study looking at whether cancer screening rates differ across sexual orientation and gender identity, and discuss the return of a crisis hotline which aims to prevent suicide in LGBTQ+ in the US which had been closed a year ago.
And little is known about how screen time impacts recovery after a concussion. Claudia speaks with Professor Ginger Yang from the Center for Injury, Research and Policy at the Nationwide Children's Hospital in the United States about her new research which found that for teens, the relationship may be more complicated than we thought.
Then reporter Sen Nguyen takes us to Bangkok, where an intrepid group of cyclists are looking to change the city's road culture, and we hear how changes like these could fit into Thailand's proposed Clean Air Bill.
And finally, we hear about how the smell of chocolate could help us to train harder in the gym.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producers: Jonathan Blackwell and Georgia Christie