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Disease

Disease
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Disease. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The MV Hondius, a cruise ship with nearly 150 people aboard, has been waiting for help off the coast of Cabo Verde. Photo: Reuters
World Health Organization (WHO)

Deadly virus traps 150 on cruise ship as WHO identifies more cases

Passengers and crew hunker down in isolation on a ship stuck off Cabo Verde following a hantavirus outbreak.

Malaysia

Malaysia warns of health risks from heatwave, 2 deaths recorded this year

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South Korea

South Korean team behind new stroke research, treatment cites Chinese interest

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Wellness

1 in 4 people are ‘Alzheimer’s gene’ carriers like Chris Hemsworth. What to do

APOE4 comes with a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but the 25 per cent of people who have it can lower that risk with lifestyle changes.

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Chris Hemsworth famously carries a pair of APOE4 gene alleles, which makes his risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease significantly greater than non-carriers. A doctor who also carries two APOE4s explains how lifestyle changes can significantly affect the development of the condition. Photo: Instagram/chrishemsworth
World Health Organization (WHO)

Suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship leaves 3 dead

The WHO is investigating a cluster of cases aboard the MV Hondius, a polar cruise ship now positioned off Cabo Verde.

Medicine

Letters | Why lifestyle medicine belongs in Asia’s nasopharyngeal cancer conversation

Readers discuss a form of cancer endemic to East and Southeast Asia, the impact of the disruption to oil supply on Asian cities, and EU support for Ukraine.

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Science

China’s thalassaemia jab raises hope for common inherited blood disorder

Original therapy integrating stem cell tech and gene editing could treat a blood disorder with 350 million carriers worldwide.

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Professor Chen Jia (centre), the brain behind the development of the CS-101 therapy. Photo: Handout
Science

China launches war on Alzheimer’s that may affect 10% of population by 2050

Chinese biotech firms tackle urgent initiative to create four new pharmaceutical drugs to treat world’s fastest growing form of dementia.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong plans new trial of infecting male mosquitoes to halt offspring growth

‘Mosquito-to-control-mosquito’ strategy will be deployed next year, as government considers stepping up control measures.

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO approves first malaria treatment for babies

Up to now, infants have been given formulations for older children – carrying a greater risk of dose errors, side effects and toxicity.

A child receives an oral Malaria vaccine in Lilongwe, Malawi. Photo: Unicef via Reuters
Wellness

How a zoo’s sights, sounds and smells can benefit people with dementia

Tour programmes at Berlin Zoo for people with dementia are helping them feel part of society and even jogging happy childhood memories.

Monika Jansen, 85, touches a sculpture of a rhino as she takes part in a guided tour for people with dementia organised by Malteser Berlin, part of the international Catholic aid organisation The Sovereign Order of Malta, at Berlin Zoo in Germany on March 26, 2026. Photo: AP
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong airport staff offered free measles jabs in bid to prevent outbreak

Three aircraft maintenance workers were recently found to have caught measles.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

First local dengue case could lead to outbreak in coming months: health official

Head of Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch says heat, rainy season will create ‘ideal breeding ground’ for mosquitoes.

Wellness

How cooking can help lower your dementia risk – even just 1 meal a week

Experts say the processes involved in cooking, from grocery shopping to following recipes, can all have a positive impact on brain health.

A recent study suggests that cooking at home, even once a week, lowers a person’s dementia risk. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

Do you have trouble visualising things? Maybe you have aphantasia

Aphantasia is the inability to visualise objects or scenarios in the mind, a condition affecting up to 4 per cent of people.

Aphantasia is the inability to create mental images in your “mind’s eye”. When sufferers attempt to visualise memories or objects, they often describe the result as having a “blank screen” in their mind. Photo: dpa
Technology

BrainCo’s brain-computer interface wows at HSBC summit with mind-controlled hand

The non-invasive BCI technology offers a safer alternative to surgery for some conditions, BrainCo partner Nyx He says.

Bangladesh

Vaccine coverage gaps spur Bangladesh’s deadly measles outbreak

Health authorities launched an emergency vaccine campaign on Sunday, with UN agencies aiming to protect more than 1.2 million children.

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Wellness

Hong Kong hairstylist’s cancer battle takes him on a crowdfunding campaign

Pitt Cheung and his brother Lego have so far raised thousands for nasopharyngeal cancer treatments not covered by Hong Kong’s public system.

An August 2025 post on nasopharyngeal cancer patient Pitt Cheung’s Instagram account shows him holding a placard bearing a blessing written in Mongolian. Photo: Instagram/pittcheung
Wellness

Hypertension’s link to dementia calls for stronger blood pressure control

Links between dementia and hypertension are reasons to keep blood pressure under tighter control – sooner rather than later.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Girl, 9, in a critical condition with meningococcal infection after holiday in Japan

Girl, who has an underlying illness, visited Japan in a tour group with her family.

Wellness

Are trends like ‘fibermaxxing’ and ‘proteinmaxxing’ actually healthy?

Experts say more is not always best when it comes to protein and fibre. Here’s some advice on balanced nutrition and gut health.

Viral diet trends like “proteinmaxxing” and “fibermaxxing” promise health benefits, but experts warn against extreme optimisation. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Editorial | Hong Kong’s world-first Alzheimer’s blood test will strengthen city’s healthcare

This breakthrough in screening marks another step in Hong Kong’s broader moves to identify and tackle health problems early.

Professor Nancy Ip, president of HKUST, attends the press conference for the launch of the project to screen 6,000 elderly people for Alzheimer’s disease, at HKUST in Sai Kung on March 23. Photo: Dickson Lee
Science

How China’s ‘pig semen eyedrop’ may help deliver Alzheimer’s treatment

Cutting-edge therapy could enable drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier making it suitable for dementia treatment, Adelaide researcher says.

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Wellness

How a 70-year-old retired teacher defied osteoporosis to become a powerlifter

Hongkonger Anjali Hazari used to run marathons and climb mountains before major knee and abdominal surgeries. Now she has a new challenge.

Wellness

His wife died from cancer. Now, he is running 2,200km to honour her memory

Today, Lim Shyang Guey starts a 90-day campaign to fulfil a dream he shared with his wife, Goh Joo Lee, running up to 35km a day.

Lim Shyang Guey, a Malaysian runner, at Victoria Park, in Hong Kong. Lim is preparing to run 2,200km around Peninsular Malaysia starting on March 28 in honour of his late wife, who passed away from cancer. Photo: Edmond So
Wellness

How a California studio is helping autistic artists break into Hollywood

Visual effects studio Exceptional Minds in Los Angeles is preparing adults with autism for careers in Hollywood.

Artist Kris Helmacy works on a project at the Exceptional Minds Academy in Los Angeles, California. Exceptional Minds trains adults with autism for jobs in filmmaking. Photo: Reuters
Wellness

‘A healthy meal helps you heal’: doctors on why food is the best medicine

What we eat has a significant impact on our health, but is rarely treated like medicine. Nutrition experts explain why it should be.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

HKUST launches programme offering blood-based Alzheimer’s test for elderly

‘NeuroCare Community Project’ will offer free screening to 6,000 underprivileged elderly residents over five years.

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