Headlines on health

Measles was once considered eliminated in the United States, thanks to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and high immunisation rates. But because measles is so contagious experts say at least 95 percent of a community must be vaccinated to stop outbreaks - and that's not the case in the US, where there's been a serious outbreak in Texas witha couple of deaths. Vaccination rates have declined nationwide in the US since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most states are below the vaccination threshold for kindergartners. The worldwide decrease in vaccination levels is also being seen here in Australia. Paediatrian and vaccine expert Professor Margie Danchin is from the University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and she's been speaking to SBS's Deborah Groarke

The spread of HIV is increasing in Fiji, with some experts calling it the 'ticking timebomb' of the Pacific. Fiji has the second fastest growing epidemic in the Asia Pacific behind the Philippines, and the government has been urged by the Fiji Medical Association to declare an HIV outbreak. It's been attributed to poor sex education, low testing, limited access to intervention and a growing rate of injectable drug use, amid concerns the island nation is becoming a hub for drug trafficking.

Multiple women’s health medications are set to become more affordable when they're added to the government-subsidised list of medications, the PBS. The federal government says the latest listings follow on from the $50 billion package of women's health measures announced in February.

A global study conducted on osteoarthritis has revealed hundreds of genetic links to the disease. This comes as the group of international researchers have identified potential new drug targets that could fast track the development of more effective treatments.

It's been 10 years since commercial solariums were banned in Australia. But many Australians are still tanning - and now suntan trends are garnering millions of views on social media. Skin cancer experts are also concerned with the rise of modified sunbeds called collariums, that emit ultraviolet radiation, now being promoted as a healthy alternative to solariums.