Health news Spain plans to extend smoking ban to bar and restaurant terraces The ban would not only apply to traditional tobacco in public spaces, but also to electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco devices. 29/05/2025
France France's National Assembly backs assisted dying bill on first reading The bill, which received 305 votes in favour and 199 against, will be sent to the Senate for further debate but a definitive vote on the measure could take months. 27/05/2025
Health news Is Europe doing enough to prepare for bird flu risks to humans? Public health risks remain low, but experts in Europe are calling for more surveillance given the virus is so widespread among birds. 26/05/2025
Health news West Nile virus detected in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time The virus has emerged in northern and western Europe in recent years as a result of warmer temperatures. 21/05/2025
Health news WHO chief makes plea to fill budget gap by comparing 'costs to war' The UN health agency is asking for the equivalent of €3.7 billion for the next two years to fill a funding shortfall. 20/05/2025
Health news Countries sign off on global pandemic treaty at WHO meeting The agreement will be legally binding, but it won’t enter into force right away. 20/05/2025
Health news Polio outbreak declared in Papua New Guinea The situation is “serious but manageable,” the country’s top health official said. 16/05/2025
Health news US overdose deaths fell 27% last year, but remain far above EU levels An estimated 80,000 people in the US died from drug overdoses in 2024. 15/05/2025
Health news Bill Gates pledges to donate entire fortune over next 20 years The billionaire philanthropist had previously planned for his fortune to keep funding global health initiatives decades after his death. 08/05/2025
Health news Progress has stalled on global health issues, WHO officials warn Gaps in life expectancy, child mortality, and maternal health have narrowed between the wealthiest and poorest countries, but gains have slowed in recent years. 06/05/2025
Earth News How more trees in cities could have saved 400,000 lives in Europe ‘Expanding greenness’ could save millions of lives, a comprehensive new study finds. 02/05/2025
Health news Higher cigarette taxes could save 281,000 children’s lives in a year The analysis shows children from the poorest families would benefit the most from higher cigarette tax rates in lower-income countries. 30/04/2025
Health news Decades after Vietnam War, Agent Orange-linked health issues persist April 30 will mark 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, but the battle with Agent Orange, a chemical used by US forces during the conflict, continues. 29/04/2025
Health news Where has the new more contagious mpox strain been detected in Europe? Most European cases have been reported in people who had travelled to parts of Africa with ongoing mpox outbreaks. 25/04/2025
Europe News Traces of 'forever chemical' found in European wines PFAS are called 'forever chemicals' because they don't naturally break down in the environment. 23/04/2025
Healthcare Why is the world’s deadliest infectious disease on the rise in the UK? Tuberculosis (TB) cases rose 13 per cent in England last year, with increases among both immigrants and people born in the UK. 20/04/2025
Healthcare What 'dangerous chemicals' found in EU products mean for your health A banned fragrance, lead, and restricted "forever chemicals" were found in products in the EU last year, a new report has found. 18/04/2025
Nutrition Spain's schools ordered to ban fatty foods from menus to curb obesity The rules come amid concerns that children from lower-income families are struggling to eat well, creating health disparities. 17/04/2025
Europe News Chinese toys key culprit for EU's record-breaking alerts on dangerous Cosmetics, toys and electrical appliances were the most common products flagged by the European rapid alert system, which recorded the highest ever level of notifications last year, with dangerous chemical content involved in roughly half of cases. 16/04/2025
Health news Bird flu: 3-year-old girl in Mexico dies in country’s first human case It is still unclear how the girl contracted the virus, Mexican health officials said. 09/04/2025