Headlines on health SBS News

There's fresh hope in the fight against deadly childhood cancers, with trials of a new approach doubling survival rates for some patients. Genome sequencing is being used to better match treatment to a child's cancer driver genes in what’s called personalised medicine. Australian researchers say the outcome is the result of almost 10 years of work.

Scientists and health authorities are on alert for signs that bird flu is adapting to spread more easily among humans. It comes after the World Health Organization said a man's death in Mexico was caused by a new strain of bird flu that has never before been found in a human.

There are promising developments in the fight against melanoma with new treatment options offering fresh hope for patients. Research involving Australian scientists has made a breakthrough - it's found a powerful combination of immunotherapy drugs, given before cancer removal, can drastically improve survival rates.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community agreed it needed new systems to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response. But the World Health Organisation meeting in Geneva remains at odds this week over a new landmark pandemic treaty. Having failed to agree a finalised draft ahead of the meeting, it appears now that agreement on a new timeline cannot be reached. And scientists are warning the next pandemic is "just around the corner."

A New South Wales birth trauma inquiry has been released, making 43 recommendations to the New South Wales government. These include implementing trauma-informed care, reviewing laws around informed consent and improving mental health support and postpartum services.

New data from the Leukemia Foundation reveals that eight per cent of Australians will be diagnosed with a form of Blood Cancer in their lifetime. The foundation says it's critical for Australians to know about the condition that can impact anyone.