malaria

When this orangutan got roughed up, he treated his wound with a medicinal plant

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When Rakus the orangutan found himself a little worse for wear, he seemed to know exactly what to do about it. In June 2022, the Sumatran orangutan in Indonesia sustained a wound to his face, likely during a scrap with another male. So he grabbed some liana plant, which is known for its medicinal properties, … Read more

Malaria remains public health challenge in Kenya, but progress may be coming 

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MIGORI, Kenya —  As the coffin bearing the body of Rosebella Awuor was lowered into the grave, heart-wrenching sobs from mourners filled the air. Her sister Winnie Akinyi, the guardian to Awuor’s orphaned son, fell to the ground, wailing. It was the latest of five deaths in this family attributed to malaria. The disease is … Read more

Lots of new animals are heading for your city, study suggests

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When you look out the window or walk your dog in the year 2100, the animals you spot might be quite different from what you see today, a new study suggests. Many wildlife species are moving due to climate change — which means Canadian cities could get an influx of wild climate refugees. They could … Read more

Africa accounts for 95% of Malaria deaths globally

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Ministers of health from African countries with the highest burden of malaria have committed to ending deaths from the disease, as the African region accounts for 95 per cent of malaria deaths globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed on its official website that the Ministers at a conference held in Yaounde Cameroon signed a … Read more

World’s First Malaria Vaccine Distributed in Cameroon

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In a groundbreaking moment for global health, the world’s first malaria vaccine rollout has commenced in Cameroon, marking a significant stride in the fight against one of the deadliest infectious diseases. The monumental event was heralded as a “transformative chapter in Africa’s public health history”. The RTS, S vaccine, consisting of 662,000 doses, will be … Read more

As temperatures rise, dengue fever infections keep surging around the world

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This story is part of CBC Health’s Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. In Bangladesh, roughly 300,000 people have been infected with dengue this year during the country’s worst-ever outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted disease. … Read more

Oldest mosquito in amber reveals bloodsucking surprise

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Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are killed annually by malaria and other diseases spread through the bite of mosquitoes, insects that date back to the age of dinosaurs. All of these bites are inflicted by females, which possess specialized mouth anatomy that their male counterparts lack. But it hasn’t always been that way. Researchers … Read more