An Australian man in his 50s has died after being bitten by an “extremely rare” bat virus that caused rabies-like infection, according to health officials on Thursday.

The man from northern New South Wales (NSW) was bitten by Australian bat lyssavirus -- a close relative of the rabies virus -- “several” months ago, as per a statement from NSW Health. Although he received treatment at the time, it proved to be ineffective.

“We express our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends for their tragic loss,” NSW Health said in a statement.

“While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it,” it added.

The man from northern New South Wales, who has not been identified, was this week listed as being in a “critical condition” in hospital.

Global goals like Universal Health Coverage (UHC) can only be met when traditional medicine becomes an essential part of the national health policy and wellness delivery, said Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of Ayush.

Speaking at the third conference on beauty, wellness, and traditional medicine organised by ASSOCHAM, Samagandi said India’s holistic health future lies in combining traditional medicine with modern policy and practice.

''Holistic health is a fundamental right and to truly achieve it, India must integrate traditional systems into the core of its healthcare framework,” he added.

The conference brought together key stakeholders from the industry and policy tables to deliberate on the theme.

A team of US researchers has identified a genetic mutation that increased the risk of humans getting cancer, paving the way for new treatments for the deadly disease.

Researchers from the University of California Davis, US, explain why certain immune cells in humans are less effective at fighting solid tumours compared to non-human primates.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, revealed a tiny genetic difference in an immune protein called Fas Ligand (FasL) between humans and non-human primates.

This genetic mutation makes the FasL protein vulnerable to being disabled by plasmin -- a tumour-associated enzyme. This vulnerability seems unique to humans and is not found in non-human primates, such as chimpanzees.

Maharashtra Minister of Women and Child Welfare Aditi Tatkare in a written reply said on Thursday that of the total children of 48,59,346 whose weight and height measured - 30,800 children were reported with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 1,51,643 with Medium Acute Malnutrition (MAM) as per Poshan track data for February 2025.

The number of malnourished children in urban areas is increasing compared to rural areas. In Mumbai suburb, of the 2,34,896 children whose weight and height measured, 2,887 were reported with SAM and 13,457 with MAM, in Thane of the 1,85,360, 844 SAM and 7,366 (MAM), in Nashik of 3,05,628, 1852 (SAM) and 8,944 (MAM), in Pune of 2,98,929, 1,666 (SAM) and 7,410 (MAM), in Dhule of 1,41,906, 1,741 (SAM) and 6,377 (MAM), in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 1,439 (SAM) and 6,487 (MAM) and in Nagpur, 1,373 (SAM) and 6,715 (MAM), said the minister.

At least 60 students of a girls' residential school in Mandor Lukhadia village of Dahod district fell ill due to suspected food poisoning, prompting an urgent medical response and a formal investigation by authorities.

According to preliminary reports, the students began experiencing vomiting, stomach pain, and nausea shortly after consuming their meal.

Around 12 students were initially shifted to the Limkheda Government Hospital for treatment.

However, as the night progressed, more students reported similar symptoms and were also rushed to the hospital in ambulances.

Doctors confirmed that all students are in stable condition, thanks to timely medical intervention.

Health officials across the US states of California, Florida and Texas confront an alarming reality with nearly doubling dengue fever cases nationwide, signalling the mosquito-borne disease may become a permanent fixture in communities, according to health news.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3,700 new dengue infections were reported last year in the contiguous United States, up from about 2,050 in 2023, KFF Health News reported on Wednesday.

It added that the surge included 105 cases contracted in California, Florida or Texas -- infections acquired locally rather than through international travel.

California witnessed the most dramatic escalation. In 2024, California saw 725 new dengue cases, including 18 acquired locally, reports news agency, citing state data. This represented a nearly threefold increase from about 250 new cases, including two acquired locally, in 2023.

A team of Australian scientists has identified a group of proteins that could transform approaches to treating cancer and age-related diseases.

Researchers at the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) in Sydney discovered that these proteins play a crucial role in controlling telomerase -- an enzyme responsible for protecting DNA during cell division, news agency reported.

The breakthrough clarifies how telomerase both supports healthy ageing and fuels cancer cell growth, highlighting new possibilities for treatments that slow ageing or stop cancer by targeting these newly identified proteins, the team said.

Telomerase helps maintain the ends of chromosomes, known as telomeres, which are vital for genetic stability.

Telomerase adds DNA to the ends of chromosomes (telomeres) to protect them from damage.

Obesity rate, and alcohol and tobacco use are the major reasons driving cancer rates in Kerala -- far above the national average, experts said on Wednesday.

A recent study presented by Prof Prashant Mathur, Director, ICMR-National Center for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru, at the Kerala Cancer Conclave 2025, held last week, reveals alarming cancer trends in the state -- reporting an average of 88,460 cases annually.

“Reducing cancer burden requires a combination of general non-communicable disease risk reduction strategies and cancer-specific interventions,” Mathur told.

While the national average stands at 105 per lakh population in men and 103 per lakh population in women, Kerala reported an incidence of 243 per lakh population in men and 219 per lakh population in women.

Policy changes are crucial to ensure equitable access to life-saving organ transplants for underserved and marginalised populations, according to a global study led by international researchers, including from India.

While solid organ transplantation has improved globally, many patients, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), struggle to access these services.

The research, part of The Lancet's series promoting equitable access to life-saving organ transplantation treatments, highlights critical disparities in access to life-saving transplants, underscoring the need for equitable solutions across low- and middle-income countries.

It noted that advancements in organ preservation and improvements in immunosuppression have led to improvements in solid organ transplantation worldwide, but access remains a key concern for underserved and marginalised populations.

The study outlined a policy agenda to address disparities in access to transplantation and post-transplant care. These disparities are not just local issues, but global challenges that affect the lives of many.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to decide, within 3 months, a representation raising safety concerns on the usage of GLP-1-RA drugs in weight management and aesthetic treatment.

A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) against the manner in which Glucagon Like Peptide -1 Receptor Agonist (RA) (GLP-1-RA) drugs, specifically semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide have been granted marketing approval in India for weight loss and aesthetic purposes, despite being originally approved for treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

The PIL, filed through advocate Rohit Kumar, referred to the significant risks posed by these medications, including pancreatitis, gastrointestinal damage, thyroid and pancreatic cancers, cardiovascular complications, metabolic dysregulation, and optic neuropathy.