Herald section
The latest health reporting from The Belfast Herald.
A woman with advanced ovarian cancer became the first person in the world to receive the ZI-MA4-1 therapy at The Christie hospital in Manchester. The treatment is part of a clinical trial testing its use across several cancer types.
Resident doctors in Northern Ireland began a 24-hour strike at 07:00 BST on 29 June 2026, citing a pay decrease of over 20% since 2008 and rejecting a 3.5% uplift.
The UK and Switzerland recorded their highest ever June temperatures, with Somerset reaching 36.7°C and Basel recording 38°C, prompting health emergencies and infrastructure strain across Europe.
MapBiomas reports a 2.6% rise in Amazon water levels in 2025 due to increased rainfall, though long-term hydrological stability remains at risk from climate change and land-use shifts.
The Health Minister has announced a one-off meningitis B vaccination programme for students up to 25 in Northern Ireland, following an outbreak in Kent and clusters in England. The initiative targets those entering higher or residential further education in autumn 2026.
BioNTech is ending its own production of the COVID-19 vaccine, transferring full responsibility to Pfizer. The move follows restructuring that includes facility closures and job reductions.
The World Meteorological Organization reported that Earth's energy imbalance and ocean heat content reached record highs in 2025 due to elevated greenhouse gas concentrations.