The U.N. health agency said there were more than 14,000 COVID-19 deaths in the last week and nearly 7 million new infections. The number of new deaths rose by 19% in the Middle East, while dropping by more than 70% in Africa, 15% in Europe and 10% in the Americas.

Pockets of Chicago — particularly on the South and West sides — lack convenient access to a local pharmacy. As a result, access to medications and other vital health services becomes more limited.

Researchers looked through the medical literature of established cases of illnesses and found that 218 out of the known 375 human infectious diseases, or 58%, seemed to be made worse by one of 10 types of extreme weather connected to climate change.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that among Black Americans age 70 and older, more than 21% are living with that disease. Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is launching a clinical trial of a new drug therapy for those at risk, and they’re looking for participants in Chicago.

A career development initiative has taken root on Chicago’s South Side for young people who want to improve the health of their community.

The proposed merger of freight rail giants Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern – which has faced a swell of opposition – wouldn’t have major environmental consequences, according to a draft environmental impact statement released Friday by the Surface Transportation Board.

Both Pfizer and Moderna are working on bivalent boosters: vaccines made up of both the old formula and a new one that targets the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the coronavirus. If the shots meet US Food and Drug Administration standards, they will probably be available as early as September, the FDA says.

The Southeast Side community is home to about 9,500 people, according to U.S. census data. Local hotspots include a nostalgic roller rink and a series of murals by local artists.

Viruses don’t discriminate, society does. That’s the argument made by Northwestern University journalism professor Steven Thrasher in his new book.

The announcement will free up money and other resources to fight the virus, which may cause fever, body aches, chills, fatigue and pimple-like bumps on many parts of the body.

There are now 533 confirmed monkeypox cases in Illinois. And one of those cases was confirmed last week in Cook County Jail. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s office said the individual is believed to have contracted the virus in the community prior to being ordered into custody.

New research hints that even a simple exercise routine just might help older Americans with mild memory problems.

By declaring the state a disaster area for the disease, the Illinois Department of Public Health will be able to more quickly coordinate the agency’s response to the spread of the virus and distribute vaccines more efficiently, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

Local cyclist, Xail Hernandez offers la ultima palabra on what claiming a lane did for her health and her spirit, and what she says it can do for yours too.

When it comes to health care, clear communication is critical to good outcomes. Nowhere is that truer than in America, where the health care system can be difficult to navigate as well as vastly different from the systems in other countries.

Nine percent of America’s Latinos live with a disability, ranging from physical and cognitive impairments to mental health disorders. While that’s a lower rate than other racial and ethnic groups, Latinos are more likely to be unemployed or drop out of school due to disability. They’re also more likely to have worse health outcomes.