Health

Covid-19 pandemic Mental Health Monkeypox
News

Five players on Australia's women's water polo team have tested positive for Covid

Anna Meares, the chef de mission for the Australian team in Paris, said the affected athletes are clear to practice when they feel well enough to train.

Published yesterday at 1:00 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 1:00 pm Le Monde with AP

News

New Zealand inquiry reveals 200,000 children and adults abused in state care

The landmark report revealed on Wednesday that almost a third of all children and adults in care between 1950 to 2019 were abused.

Published yesterday at 11:13 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Round-up Subscribers only

Paris 2024: Covid-19 looms over Olympic Games

Despite the surge in infections affecting the Paris region since mid-May, the Games organizers and health authorities do not foresee implementing a health bubble. However, athletes will be advised to take precautions.

Published on July 20, 2024, at 11:45 pm (Paris), updated on July 21, 2024, at 8:09 am Elisabeth Pineau Jérôme Porier Florence Rosier

News

France recalls contaminated Olympic water bottles

The branded reusable bottles for children contained excessive levels of endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A.

Published on July 20, 2024, at 3:14 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Investigation Subscribers only

Alcohol, a major but underestimated cause of everyday violence

The consumption of alcohol, and sometimes drugs, plays a central role in violence committed in France, particularly within the family circle. Across the country, judges, police officers and addiction specialists are observing the extent of this phenomenon.

Published on July 16, 2024, at 8:30 pm (Paris) Luc Bronner

News Subscribers only

Toxic metals found in tampons

A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has revealed the presence of lead and arsenic in menstrual tampons. The effects could be potentially harmful to the kidneys, liver and neurological system.

Published on July 12, 2024, at 3:10 pm (Paris) Lucile Coppalle

News

Covid-19 still kills 1,700 people each week, says WHO

Four years since the start of the pandemic, the virus mostly affects at-risk groups like health workers and people over 60.

Published on July 12, 2024, at 2:54 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Op-Ed Subscribers only

UNICEF France president: 'Childhood has been totally absent from the debates, except to announce tougher penal policies'

Adeline Hazan, the president of UNICEF France, expresses her 'deep concern' that the rights of the 15 million children living in the country will be undermined following the parliamentary elections.

Published on July 7, 2024, at 2:47 pm (Paris) Adeline Hazan

News

US Supreme Court rejects divisive bankruptcy deal with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma

The $6 billion deal would have shielded the Sackler family who own the company from further liability over US opioid epidemic.

Published on June 27, 2024, at 5:52 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AP

News

US Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho in limited ruling

Thursday's ruling does not answer key questions about whether doctors can provide emergency abortions elsewhere, a pressing issue as some states have moved to restrict the procedure in the two years since the high court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Published on June 27, 2024, at 5:30 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AP

Investigation Subscribers only

A revolution in the treatment of obesity

Molecules that mimic digestive hormones and act on satiety are revolutionizing the treatment of obese patients. French health authorities have been slow to approve their marketing, while, elsewhere, there is a rush to buy them, even though their long-term effects remain unknown.

Published on June 21, 2024, at 8:30 pm (Paris), updated on June 21, 2024, at 10:09 pm Nathalie Brafman Pascale Santi

News

France reports almost 200 cholera cases in overseas territory of Mayotte

The Indian Ocean territory has been struck by a cholera epidemic since late April. A 62-year-old woman a three-year-old girl have died.

Published on June 21, 2024, at 2:20 pm (Paris), updated on June 21, 2024, at 2:27 pm Le Monde with AFP

News Subscribers only

Covid-19: New KP.2 sub-variant contributes to increased viral spread

This sub-variant, derived from JN.1, is more immune-evasive but doesn’t cause more severe forms of the disease.

Published on June 20, 2024, at 1:57 am (Paris), updated on June 20, 2024, at 8:06 am Delphine Roucaute

News Subscribers only

France sees record number of imported cases of dengue fever

While more than 6 million cases were reported in Brazil, at least 2,666 people reported the disease in France in 2024.

Published on June 16, 2024, at 3:25 pm (Paris) Delphine Roucaute

In Depth Subscribers only

Deteriorating water resources threaten Perrier production

According to information gathered by Le Monde and Radio France, two wells used to produce the natural mineral water have been suspended for disinfection. Nestlé Waters no longer has the volumes needed to produce 1-liter bottles of Perrier.

Published on June 14, 2024, at 1:07 pm (Paris) Stéphane Foucart

News

Comoros launches vaccine drive after more than 130 people die from cholera

The outbreak is believed to have arrived in February by boat from Tanzania, where cholera is endemic.

Published on June 13, 2024, at 5:15 pm (Paris), updated on June 13, 2024, at 5:23 pm Le Monde with AFP

Interview Subscribers only

'The quest for a slimmer figure is driving some people to do anything to get their hands on Ozempic'

Intended for the treatment of diabetes, this drug is now being reappropriated for weight loss. According to pharmacologist Jean-Luc Faillie, the phenomenon remains rare in France but he warns against the adverse side effects of use outside a medical framework.

Published on June 13, 2024, at 4:31 am (Paris), updated on June 13, 2024, at 9:44 am Nathalie Brafman

News Subscribers only

Four industries are responsible for 2.7 million deaths each year in Europe, WHO says

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization's Europe office published a report denouncing the way in which the tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed food and fossil fuel industries are obstructing health policies.

Published on June 12, 2024, at 1:30 pm (Paris) Delphine Roucaute

News Subscribers only

Avian flu: New human infections reported as epizootic rapidly spreads in the US

The H5N1 virus continues to spread in American dairy farms. Moderately concerned, scientists criticize the lack of transparency necessary for better managing the risk that this virus originating in animals might mutate and become transmissible between humans.

Published on June 11, 2024, at 1:27 am (Paris), updated on June 11, 2024, at 1:28 am Delphine Roucaute

News

WHO confirms first fatal human case of H5N2 bird flu

The 59-year-old, who died on April 24 in Mexico, had 'no history of exposure to poultry or other animals' and 'multiple underlying medical conditions', the World Health Organization said in a statement.

Published on June 6, 2024, at 2:08 am (Paris), updated on June 6, 2024, at 8:07 am Le Monde with AFP

In Depth Subscribers only

Why are some Taylor Swift fans reporting post-concert amnesia?

Known as 'transient global amnesia,' this not-so-rare phenomenon has been described in connection with emotionally-charged events.

Published on June 4, 2024, at 2:18 pm (Paris), updated on June 4, 2024, at 4:41 pm Ynès Khoudi

Feature Subscribers only

The women who stop their periods: 'It's so much easier not to have them'

Many women are choosing to stop menstruating by taking the pill continuously. The practice is harmless, but it still generates many misconceptions and concerns.

Published on June 3, 2024, at 3:00 am (Paris) Elvire Camus

Op-Ed Subscribers only

'If the horrors of Britain's infected blood scandal lead to positive change, we have campaigners to thank'

British historian Andrew Seaton takes a look back at the United Kingdom's infected blood scandal and at the lessons to be learned to improve the country's public health system.

Published on May 31, 2024, at 12:05 pm (Paris), updated on May 31, 2024, at 1:00 pm Andrew Seaton

In Depth Subscribers only

France's pharmacists go on strike over remuneration, threat of retail giants

Angry French pharmacists are set to go on strike on Thursday with 40 demonstrations scheduled for across France, including one in Paris.

Published on May 30, 2024, at 10:31 am (Paris) Zeliha Chaffin

Editorial

France's end-of-life bill: Legislating with caution

Now that the Assemblée Nationale has begun examining the bill on aid in dying, this is no time for political posturing or strategy. The debate, which is as divisive in terms of individual experience as it is in terms of partisan labels, cannot get bogged down.

Published on May 28, 2024, at 10:14 pm (Paris) Le Monde

News

South Korea: Seoul authorities find Shein products contain high levels of toxic chemicals

The government of South Korea's capital Seoul found toxic substances in amounts hundreds of times above acceptable levels in children's products.

Published on May 28, 2024, at 1:02 pm (Paris), updated on May 29, 2024, at 10:13 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

French parliament debates divisive bill on 'aid in dying'

In the first day of two weeks of debates in France's Assemblée Nationale, MPs debated the controversial right-to-die bill, which has been promoted as a key reform of President Emmanuel Macron's second term.

Published on May 27, 2024, at 9:16 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Feature Subscribers only

How do you deliver a cancer diagnosis? Medical students train in empathy in drama workshops

At the Montpellier-Nîmes medical school, students train with actors and a director in short improv scenes: a new way of learning how to put interpersonal skills into practice.

Published on May 27, 2024, at 3:00 am (Paris) Lilas Pepy

News

Mayotte: Second person dies of cholera on French island

A 62-year-old woman has died of cholera, bringing the death toll from the epidemic on the French island in the Indian Ocean to two, health authorities said on Sunday.

Published on May 26, 2024, at 2:28 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

Pandemic agreement talks end without a deal

Countries have been trying to draft new treaties on the world's ability to prevent and react to pandemics.

Published on May 25, 2024, at 1:26 am (Paris), updated on May 25, 2024, at 10:19 am Le Monde with AFP

Column Subscribers only

'Faced with the revolution in anti-obesity drugs, Nestlé has come up with a solution'

The agrifood group, whose sales are threatened by the craze for chemical treatments to combat excess weight, is launching a range of pasta, sandwiches and pizzas specifically designed to tackle obesity, writes columnist Philippe Escande.

Published on May 23, 2024, at 3:50 am (Paris), updated on May 23, 2024, at 8:38 am Philippe Escande

News

Michigan farmworker diagnosed with bird flu is second US case tied to dairy cows

The worker, who had been in contact with cows at a farm with infected animals, experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, officials said on Wednesday.

Published on May 23, 2024, at 12:23 am (Paris), updated on May 23, 2024, at 7:40 am Le Monde with AP

In Depth Subscribers only

UK's infected blood scandal: Victims are finally recognized, 40 years after the first warnings

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a formal apology on behalf of the government to the victims of infected blood, on a historic day during which the report of the public inquiry launched in 2017 was handed over.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 2:49 pm (Paris), updated on May 21, 2024, at 2:49 pm Cécile Ducourtieux

Visual Story Subscribers only

'We counted the bodies around us': Narcotics Anonymous, the return from hell of ordinary people

Overdose. France under the influence | Across France, some 2,000 people damaged by drugs attend the discussion groups to help them overcome their addiction.

Published on May 20, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on May 30, 2024, at 5:41 pm Ivanne Trippenbach infographic

In Depth Subscribers only

French prisons vulnerable in the face of drug trafficking

The attack on a French prison van on Tuesday, in which two officers were killed, has highlighted the difficulties faced by prison administration in dealing with large-scale drug traffickers.

Published on May 16, 2024, at 8:00 pm (Paris), updated on May 17, 2024, at 8:27 am Thomas Saintourens

News Subscribers only

French senators warn that France is 'submerged by drug trafficking'

After six months of investigation, a report by a Sénat committee on drug trafficking published its conclusions on Tuesday, May 14. It presents a worrying assessment of the situation, along with proposals for reform.

Published on May 14, 2024, at 11:08 am (Paris) Simon Piel Antoine Albertini Thomas Saintourens

News Subscribers only

The microbiota of male mice influences their offspring's health

A team from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory has demonstrated that a disturbance in rodent intestinal flora can have harmful effects on baby mice.

Published on May 13, 2024, at 2:57 am (Paris), updated on May 13, 2024, at 8:03 am Matéo Vaucouleur

Op-Ed Subscribers only

Elective egg freezing in France: 'A promise without the means'

Obstetrician and gynecologist François Olivennes deplores abnormally long waiting times despite a law that is supposed to facilitate fertility preservation for women.

Published on May 10, 2024, at 4:06 pm (Paris) François Olivennes

Visual Story Subscribers only

Teenage killers, drug trafficking's lost generation

Overdose. France under the influence | Part 7. The more powerful drug traffickers become, the more they're able to subcontract the murder of rivals to an easily exploitable workforce, as in the high-profile 'Popincourt' case in Paris.

Published on May 8, 2024, at 12:00 pm (Paris) Lorraine de Foucher infographic

Column Subscribers only

Women are first victims of global warming

According to several scientific studies, heatwaves exacerbate gender inequalities in poor countries, reports Julien Bouissou in his column.

Published on May 8, 2024, at 10:37 am (Paris), updated on May 9, 2024, at 9:26 am Julien Bouissou

Visual Story Subscribers only

How Dubai became a safe haven for drug traffickers

Overdose. France under the influence | Part 6. A paradise for opaque finances and a mecca for those with money to burn, the Emirate has everything it takes to please high-level drug traffickers, who flock there to put their feet up.

Published on May 6, 2024, at 4:49 pm (Paris) Thomas Saintourens Luc Leroux infographic

Feature Subscribers only

Sweden's social model is on its last legs

In schools, hospitals and nursing homes, employees complain of worsening working conditions. Meanwhile new budget cuts are being announced by local and regional authorities, whose deficits are exploding.

Published on May 6, 2024, at 9:32 am (Paris) Anne-Françoise Hivert

Visual Story Subscribers only

A drug trafficker comes clean: 'I know I'm dead, they're going to put contracts all over my head'

For two years, Kamel worked for one of France's biggest drug traffickers, Abdelkader Bouguettaia, alias 'Bibi.' Arrested after a container was searched in the port of Le Havre, he has provided investigators with an avalanche of information.

Published on May 4, 2024, at 12:01 pm (Paris) Nicolas Chapuis Thomas Saintourens infographic

Visual Story Subscribers only

Drugs in Paris: The leak that implicated a police chief

Overdose. France under the influence | Part 4. Le Monde learned that a highly experienced chief brigadier, who for a long time was in charge of narcotics in the Paris suburbs, is suspected of having colluded with major drug traffickers.

Published on May 3, 2024, at 10:13 am (Paris), updated on May 3, 2024, at 12:35 pm Luc Bronner infographic

Visual Story Subscribers only

Uber Narcos

Customer service, franchises, discounts – using the same model as food deliveries, home drug delivery has rapidly developed in France.

Published on May 2, 2024, at 5:48 pm (Paris) Alexandre Kauffmann infographic

News Subscribers only

In Africa, trauma from climate disasters lingers

Until now, little attention has been paid to the psychological impact caused by the brutality of extreme weather events.

Published on May 2, 2024, at 4:03 am (Paris), updated on May 2, 2024, at 7:42 am Laurence Caramel

News Subscribers only

Bird flu can spread very quickly in live poultry markets, study shows

While the H5N1 type of avian flu raises fears of a pandemic that could affect humans, a new study of the H9N2 type shows that its transmission speed between chickens can take less than one day.

Published on May 1, 2024, at 12:20 pm (Paris), updated on May 1, 2024, at 1:53 pm Julien Lemaignen

Visual Story

Drug trafficking is disruptive to our societies and a threat to our democracies

France has become a crossroads for drug routes. To chronicle this shift, Le Monde is publishing project 'Overdose,' consisting of several investigations documenting drug importation into the country, the way they are sold and consumed, and their social and health damage.

Published on April 30, 2024, at 12:39 pm (Paris) Le Monde infographic

Visual Story Subscribers only

Cons, Covid and cocaine: The fall of the 'sugar cartel'

Overdose. France under the influence | Part 1. An investigation by Le Monde has found that French and Colombian drug traffickers mastered a game-changing process for smuggling narcotics into Europe, by chemically infusing sugar with cocaine.

Published on April 30, 2024, at 12:33 pm (Paris), updated on April 30, 2024, at 1:10 pm Liselotte Mas Simon Piel Thomas Saintourens infographic

Profile Subscribers only

Using artificial intelligence to detect endometriosis

At 26, Elise Mekkaoui is the founder of Matricis.ai, an AI software designed to aid diagnosis of this disease, which she plans to adapt to other female pathologies.

Published on April 29, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on April 29, 2024, at 9:41 am Sofia Hullot-Guiot

Feature Subscribers only

Near Paris, a pediatric clinic treats young children for 'excessive' screen use

Concerned parents come to pediatrician Sylvie Dieu Osika for help, such as when an child doesn't speak or look people in the eye. When her practice was launched in 2019, the target age was before 11. Now, it has dropped to below 3.

Published on April 26, 2024, at 10:00 pm (Paris) Mattea Battaglia

In Depth Subscribers only

Nestlé destroys two million bottles of Perrier over bacterial contamination

In an order dated April 19, the company received formal notice to 'immediately suspend' operations at one of its seven water extraction sites in Vergèze, in southern France.

Published on April 25, 2024, at 10:43 am (Paris) Stéphane Foucart

Interview Subscribers only

'While screen time matters, the context of exposure to screens matters a great deal, if not more'

Researcher Jonathan Bernard works on young children's exposure to screens and its influence on their development and health.

Published on April 24, 2024, at 5:15 pm (Paris) Mattea Battaglia

News Subscribers only

Junk food and controversy: Nestlé in turmoil

The world's number one food company faced rebuke from critical shareholders and NGO representatives at its annual general meeting. In particular, it is accused of continuing to mass-produce and distribute foods that are too fatty, too salty and too sweet.

Published on April 19, 2024, at 2:30 pm (Paris) Serge Enderlin

Interview Subscribers only

Child malnutrition soaring in Sahel: 'Without aid, consequences will be extremely grave'

In an interview, UNICEF's regional director for West and Central Africa explains the challenges of operating in an area plagued by insecurity and affected by climate change.

Published on April 18, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on April 18, 2024, at 8:17 am Mathilde Gérard

In Depth Subscribers only

Paris 2024 Olympics: How authorities are preparing for the risk of epidemics

With some 15 million visitors expected to attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games, French authorities are trying to anticipate any health risks.

Published on April 18, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on April 18, 2024, at 12:59 pm Julien Lemaignen

News analysis Subscribers only

In Germany, the legalization of cannabis faces implementation challenges

Enacted in haste and without the necessary preparation to deal with its legal and law enforcement ramifications, the law leaves many questions unanswered.

Published on April 18, 2024, at 2:00 am (Paris), updated on April 18, 2024, at 9:50 am Thomas Wieder

News

US Supreme Court allows Idaho to enforce ban on transgender healthcare for minors

The justices' order Monday allows the state to put in place a 2023 law that subjects physicians to up to 10 years in prison if they provide hormones, puberty blockers or other gender-affirming care to people under age 18.

Published on April 16, 2024, at 3:29 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

What the French bill on end of life allows compared to its European neighbors

Le Monde has listed the most frequent conditions that have led to euthanasia in Belgium and the Netherlands, and imagined the fate of the same patients in France if the draft law on 'aid in dying' were to be voted as it stands.

Published on April 10, 2024, at 10:11 am (Paris) Romain Imbach

News

Landmark English review urges 'extreme caution' on youth gender identity healthcare

The four-year investigation into services provided for young people dealing with gender identity issues comes weeks after puberty blockers were blocked for under-16s outside of research trials.

Published on April 10, 2024, at 7:50 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

1 2