Headlines on health

Cases of Ebola continue to rise in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the number of suspected cases approaching 1,000, and suspected deaths at more than 200. Aid groups are warning they need more funding to tackle the disease, and health workers and volunteers are working to educate people and quash misinformation.

Every May, Lupus Awareness Month is recognised around the world, to highlight the chronic autoimmune disease which is still widely misunderstood. Lupus affects over five million people globally, and many of those affected are women. Jenny Lai is a mental health advocate whose Lupus diagnosis was a catalyst in her mental health journey. She has spoken to SBS' Alyssa Chandler.

There are fears as the government seeks to achieve its budget savings with cutbacks to NDIS access, those who need support won't receive it. A new survey has found not all those with multiple sclerosis have access to the scheme - and for those who do, they face constant misunderstandings about their condition.

The World Health Organisation has sent a team of experts and supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help combat the spread of Ebola. On Sunday, it declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern because of the high risk the disease could spread further beyond DR Congo's borders after two cases were confirmed in Kampala, the capital of neighbouring Uganda. Among the agencies assisting in the efforts is Medicins San Frontiers, also known as Doctors Without Borders. Simon Eccleshall is the Head of Programs for MSF in Australia, and he spoke with SBS World News reporter Alexandra Jones about the group's response.

Health workers are racing to contain the Bundibugyo strain of the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. The World Health Organisation says the Ebola outbreak spreading through the eastern D-R-C into neighbouring Uganda could be far larger than officially reported. In cities like Goma and Bunia, families are still trying to continue daily life amid growing fears the outbreak is spreading beyond control.

Australia's worst diphtheria outbreak in decades has spread across Northern Territory into Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, with more than 230 [[as of May 21]] cases of the disease reported so far this year. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and health workers are welcoming a $7 million federal government funding package aimed at supporting the response to the outbreak. But, experts say the re-emergence of the disease exposes serious gaps in the public health system.

The cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak has left Cape Verde and is headed for the Canary Islands, where passengers are expected to depart the vessel and begin heading home. Three people have died in the outbreak with eight recorded cases so far. But the World Health Organisation is moving to reassure people hantavirus is not the new COVID-19.

Carlton have been fined $75,000 over their handling of an incident involving player Elijah Hollands in a game against Collingwood in April. The fine will be paid to the AFL's mental health partner, Headspace. The finding has highlighted the treatment of mental health within sporting circles.

Seven cases of the deadly hantavirus have now been identified in a suspected outbreak on a luxury cruise ship off West Africa. The outbreak has caused global concern, as the disease is considered rare among humans. What is happening with the ship, and what does hantavirus actually entail?

A paediatrician says misinformation about childhood vaccines coming out of the United States has led to a huge spike in vaccine hesitancy in Australia in the past year. Professor Margie Danchin from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute says the latest figures show Australia has the lowest vaccine coverage for children under 5 in more than a decade, with the rates falling each year since 2020. She spoke with Greg Dyett.

The lion's share of attention this week has been on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with the federal government announcing cuts that it's estimated will see tens of thousands removed from the scheme. But there have also been developments in aged care too- the federal government has now reversed its policy on the funding for showering after a mass of complaints from residents, families, and advocates.

The federal government has announced a major overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in efforts to cut down fraud and spending in the $50 billion program. Welcoming some aspects of the reform, disability advocates say there must be further clarity around cuts to support and eligibility, with fears that those in need will lose access to vital supports.

The Federal Government has announced free R-S-V vaccinations for older Australians, in a push to better protect those most at risk from the potentially deadly respiratory virus. The $445 million dollar investment means Australians aged 75 and over - and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 and over - will be able to access the immunisation for free from mid May, saving them as much as $300 dollars per vaccination.

Coeliac disease affects one in seventy Australians, according to the Wesley Research Institute. But when food is integral to cultural identity, the impacts of this autoimmune disease — especially on multicultural and diasporic communities in Australia — can extend beyond the physical, affecting mental health. Jude Soussan is a young person of Lebanese heritage in Perth, Western Australia, and has used her diagnosis to help educate others about what it means to live with coeliac disease in the diaspora, using creativity. She hopes that, with time, communities can better understand how to accommodate chronic illness.

A new report has found discrimination against trans and gender-diverse people is widespread, with serious impacts on safety and dignity. Released to coincide with the International Transgender Day of Visibility, it makes key recommendations for governmental reform.

The latest report on Closing the Gap Targets, released last month, found just four of nineteen targets are on track. Among those targets Australia is failing to meet, the country is moving backward when it comes to reducing suicide rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which are now more than three times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians.First Nations health advocates and practitioners are urgently calling for investment in new approaches to preventative mental health support that are led by First Nations wisdom and experience. SBS reporter Angelica Waite, has speaking with Clinton Schultz, a Gomeroi Gamilaroi man, and Director of First Nations Strategy and Partnerships with Black Dog Institute. For more than a decade, he's been a pioneering voice when it comes to finding new models for preventative care that reflect the depth, complexity and connectedness of First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing. She started by asking Mr Schultz how he came to study and work in the field of psychology.

Once confined to bodybuilding forums and elite sports scandals, unapproved peptides have now moved into mainstream wellness and are being marketed online as tools for bio-hacking and longevity. So why are people turning to online communities and influencers for advice, and is there a breakdown in trust for traditional medical pathways?

The latest report on Closing the Gap Targets, released last month, found just four of the nineteen targets are on track. Among those targets Australia is failing to meet, the country is moving backward when it comes to reducing suicide rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people , which are now more than three times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians. First Nations health advocates and practitioners are urgently calling for investment in new approaches to preventative mental health led by First Nations wisdom and experience.

A WARNING THAT THIS STORY MAY BE DISTRESSING FOR SOME LISTENERS: Scotland's Parliament has rejected legislation that would have made Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives. Members of the Edinburgh-based legislature voted 69 to 57 against a bill that would have let people in Scotland with six months or less to live seek help to end their life. The Scottish vote is part of a wider debate across the UK.

For international students studying in Australia, accessing healthcare is often seen as too expensive - or too confusing to navigate. But a new initiative - designed by international students FOR international students - aims to make services easier to find, while breaking down taboos around sexual and mental health.