Health Check

A new study from America looks at the safety of organ transplants between people with HIV. Its promising results raise the potential for expanding access to life-saving treatments.This week's show also examines a surprising resurgence of scurvy, a disease often associated with historical poverty. Is the current cost of living crisis contributing to nutritional deficiencies? Plus, an update from the Africa CDC reveals encouraging news about the Marburg virus outbreak, but a grim warning about the spread of Mpox. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa Hawkins

Can rapid diagnostic tests make a difference in the fight against malaria? A new study tries to quantify the real-world difference these tests are making.Also on the show, what can we learn from a single documented case of a medical anomaly: like the recent study of a break dancer presenting with a thickened skull. And Claudia learns to surf – all in the name of health. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins

The discovery of Micro RNA has won the Nobel Prize for medicine. We learn more about what micro RNA is, how it contributes to gene regulation, and what that means for our health.Also on the programme, there has been an outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda, and the pharmaceutical company Gilead is making a revolutionary HIV medication available to countries that need it most. But does this good news story have an unexpected downside. We learn more on Health Check.

As mpox continues to spread to new places, we find out how the vaccine rollout is going and what more needs to be done to help both contain and better understand the virus.Also on the show; why the first medication approved to treat schizophrenia in decades has the world of psychiatry excited, and how finding out what doesn’t work in health care can be just as useful as knowing what does. Plus, can laughter help treat dry eye disease? Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Katie Tomsett

As vector-borne diseases begin to spread more widely around the world, we look at why, what the effects are, and what can be done.Also on the program, a new study has examined the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, what did they find, and how is this different from previous papers? And can space flight age you? A new study tries to find out.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Katie Tomsett

The Taliban has denied reports that they are halting polio vaccines in Afghanistan – so what is going on? We take a look at what is happening in the country, and how it could effect polio eradication efforts worldwide. Also on the show, an important U.S. pathogen database loses funding, and why placebos that cause you pain may be more effective.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Katie Tomsett

As Haiti expands its state of emergency to cover the entire country, we take a look at the deterioration of the country’s healthcare system.Also on the show, how does long covid affect children, is a global twin book just down to IVF, and we hear from you about objects associated with grief that have sentimental importance.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins

Explore the arrival of MPox vaccines in Africa and the hurdles in their distribution. Delve into the intriguing question of whether catching up on weekend sleep can truly benefit heart health. Discover the latest research on snakebite treatments using heparin, showcasing its promise. Hear amusing tales of snake encounters in Australia that add a lighthearted touch. Finally, weigh the balance between innovative weight loss drugs and traditional health practices in the face of evolving health challenges.

In this engaging conversation, Adam Tjolle, a brave survivor of a brain tumor, reflects on his life-changing surgery with his close friend, presenter Claudia Hammond, by his side. They revisit old recordings and discuss Adam’s journey of recovery in Malawi, where he helps with animal welfare. Adam shares insights on living with uncertainty, his evolving perspective on life, and the importance of finding joy despite health challenges. Their heartfelt dialogue underscores resilience, personal growth, and the power of friendship in tough times.

The World Health Organisation has officially declared the spread of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern. Health Check has been following the spread of the disease across the Democratic Republic of Congo and now internationally in recent weeks, and Claudia Hammond is joined by BBC health journalist Philippa Roxby to discuss the latest developments.Claudia and Philippa also look at the doctors strikes taking place across India following the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata. Hundreds of thousands of doctors have refused to work, with hospitals and clinics turning away non-emergency patients.We also find out how prescription drugs get given their names, with Professor Caleb Alexander from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health telling us about the risks of getting it wrong.Claudia also hears how personal objects can help us form links in our brains and remember our loved ones. And the study that suggests we age dramatically in two bursts – at the ages of 44 and 60.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Dan Welsh