Health Check

BBC World Service

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

  1. 2d ago

    The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    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)

  2. Aug 5

    Why are some people microdosing weight loss drugs?

    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)

  3. Jul 29

    Steering in the right direction to road safety

    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

  4. Jul 22

    USA military launches testosterone screening programme

    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

  5. Jul 15

    HIV fears due to Niger’s anti-gay laws

    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

  6. Jul 8

    Health challenges after Venezuela earthquakes

    On June 24th, twin earthquakes hit Venezuela, and in the weeks since the healthcare system has been overwhelmed with need. Claudia Hammond speaks with International Red Cross representative Paolo Cravero to learn more about the latest health updates on the ground in Caracas, and what is being done to fill the growing gaps in care. Claudia is joined by Graham Easton, Professor of Clinical Communication Skills at Queen Mary University of London, who brings us the latest on a Swedish study which suggests a prostate cancer blood test could detect 50 percent more cases, helping significantly reduce needless treatments. Graham and Claudia also discuss the growing threat of fungal infections and antifungal resistance - the WHO has released a “blueprint” to help countries respond - whilst the USA has published a surveillance report noting the doubling of Candida auris cases between 2022 and 2024 in the country, one of the fungal pathogens the WHO is most concerned about. Also, while rates of obesity and overweight have continued to rise globally over the last 30 years, a new study has found that the associated cardiac risks of high blood pressure and cholesterol have instead plateaued. Claudia speaks with Paul Franks, professor of genetic epidemiology at Lund University in Sweden, and of translational precision medicine at Queen Mary University, to understand what this trend really means. And could the parasites carried by feral and stray cats in New York City cause disease in humans? Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Georgia Christie & Jonathan Blackwell Image: A general view of a camp where people visit for health aid after the earthquakes that struck Venezuela and other regions in the Caribbean, on July 1, 2026 in La Guaira, Venezuela Image Credit: Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images

  7. Jul 1

    Ebola drug trials in the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Two Ebola drugs are due to be trialled in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as cases of the disease continue to rise in the country. BBC health and science correspondent James Gallagher joins Claudia Hammond to discuss the new clinical trial, and to update on the latest from the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda. Claudia also visits The Royal Society’s annual Summer Science Exhibition in London to explore a range of new health research on display. We hear about how salt water is being used to try to make lateral flow tests more sensitive and targeted, with Guido Bolognesi and Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh from University College London. They also explain the role gold nanoparticles play in current lateral flow tests, which rapidly diagnose pregnancy or Covid-19. Claudia also visits a 'microbe zoo' and speaks with Revathy Krishnamurthy from the Quadram Institute of Bioscience in Norwich, England, who explains what phages are, and how they can be harnessed to improve food safety. Finally, we meet Pat Price, visiting professor at Imperial College London, to learn about the high-energy particles that could kill cancer cells, how they could completely change treatment for patients, and how it’s hoped lasers can help them accomplish it. Image Credit: Credit: Photo by DIEUDONNE DIROLE/EPA/Shutterstock Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Dan Welsh and Georgia Christie

  8. Jun 24

    Lack of evidence most IVF ‘add-ons’ improve fertility

    Many people with infertility use in vitro fertilisation (IVF), however the probability of having a baby following IVF is only approximately 30-40% per cycle and decreases significantly with age. It can be a lengthy and expensive process. Providers sometimes offer ‘add-ons’, additional treatments that they claim could help patients conceive, which are themselves also usually expensive. In Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom more than 70% of patients pay for at least one of these add-ons. A new review published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health journal has found that evidence on the benefits of these add-on treatments is unclear. Claudia Hammond speaks to Dr Sarah Lensen, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health at the University of Melbourne. Joining Claudia from Ghana is genito-urinary consultant and HIV expert, Vanessa Apea. Claudia and Vanessa discuss a draft African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values, which claims that comprehensive sex education, as well as a range of sexual and reproductive health rights, are a threat to African families from foreign ideologies. They also discuss a report from the Office of Inspector General of US Agency for International Development (USAID) which reveals that President Donald Trump’s administration has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in storage and transportation costs for $9.7 million worth of contraceptives that are being stored in Belgium rather than distributed to the various low-income countries they were intended for. Many of the withheld contraceptives are now expired or unusable due to their removal from temperature-controlled storage. We also hear from Health Check reporter Jane Chambers in the Chilean city of Valdivia, where wetlands are part of everyday life—and increasingly, part of people’s health. And we hear how faecal-microbiome transplants could improve the efficacy of some antidepressants in patients with major depressive disorder. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Jonathan Blackwell & Georgia Christie

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About

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodes
    313
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Health Check

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