3+ week, 2+ day ago (428+ words) The Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood argued its birds survived the original infection detected in December 2024 and had become immune. Canadian officials say the animals remain a potential source of infection for birds and other species. Midday on Thursday federal health officials, with security provided by police officers, moved in wearing safety equipment, as Universal Ostrich Farms" owners along with a crowd of supporters wept, denounced the cull and called for its suspension. "We are meant to protect them," said a distraught Katie Pasitney, a family member of a co-owner and a spokesperson for the farm, in a post on Facebook following the Supreme Court of Canada ruling. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency late last year ordered the ostriches to be killed " standard procedure for commercial flocks infected with bird flu. On Thursday, the agency said it would move forward…...

4+ day, 19+ hour ago (200+ words) The death toll from a Marburg virus outbreak in Ethiopia has risen to six, state-run news agency reported on Wednesday. Ethiopia first confirmed the outbreak on November 14, with three deaths being reported three days later. "Out of the 11 people in whom the virus was detected, six have died, and five are receiving medical treatment," Ethiopian Press Agency said on its Facebook page, citing a statement from the health ministry. The ministry has said 349 people who were suspected of having contact with infected individuals were isolated, and 119 of them have been released after completing their surveillance. Marburg, from the same virus family as Ebola, often presents with severe headaches and leads to haemorrhaging. Previous outbreaks in Africa have resulted in fatality rates as high as 80% or more, typically within eight to nine days of the onset of symptoms. (Reporting by Dawit…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (670+ words) With the R2.5-million 2024/2025 Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award, we have the opportunity to catapult Africa into the forefront of paediatric traumatic brain injury research and expertise. There is a compelling counterpart to South Africa's growing reputation for exploring the complexities of the outer universe with its strategic astronomy programme: an ambitious exploration of the complex internal universe of the human brain. In children, this complexity is even more pronounced. While an adult's brain is essentially physiologically stable, a child's is not: it constantly undergoes rapid structural and functional changes, so much so that we cannot compare a two-year-old's to a 12-year-old's, let alone that of an adult. This also means that what works in treating any brain injury in adults, including medication and surgery, is not necessarily effective in children. Indeed, trying to translate treatments is a profoundly bad idea. We…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (476+ words) November is Movember " a worthy initiative where men, as part of a global awareness campaign, grow moustaches to spark conversations about men's health issues. Not only does this initiative focus on physical health (highlighting cancers and other illnesses that affect men) but it also focuses on mental well-being, often described as the "silent epidemic" among the South African male population. The statistics are staggering: the WHO ranks South Africa eighth among countries with the highest suicide rates. And in 2022 alone, 10 861 of the 13 776 reported suicides in South Africa were committed by men. Yet, though at significantly higher risk than women, men are far less often diagnosed with or treated for depression. Some of the main reasons men hesitate to speak out are rooted in societal expectations and set ideas about male identity and masculinity. Boys are raised to "not cry or…...

6+ day, 3+ hour ago (984+ words) From heart health to immune support, science increasingly supports what tradition has claimed for centuries: garlic is good for you. Whether it is sizzling in olive oil or crushed into a curry, garlic has long been a hero in the kitchen. But beyond its strong flavour, garlic has earned a reputation as a natural remedy with a surprising range of potential health benefits. The secret lies in its chemistry. Garlic (allium sativum) contains sulphur compounds, including diallyl disulfide and S-allyl cysteine, that are responsible for both its distinctive smell and its medicinal effects. The most studied of these is allicin, which forms when garlic is chopped, crushed or chewed. Allicin is unstable and quickly breaks down into other sulphur-containing compounds that are linked to several health effects. Here are some of the best supported benefits. Garlic is widely studied for…...