World’s first Oropouche deaths in Brazil

Health Check

The world’s first deaths from the mosquito-borne Oropouche virus have been recorded in Brazil. Two women have died from the illness in the state of Bahia in the northeast of the country.

Claudia Hammond is joined by Dr Ayan Panja to discuss the implications of outbreaks of Oropouche across South and Central America.

We also hear about the latest developments with Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab as it’s rejected for use by the EU’s health regulator. The European Medicines Agency says the benefits of the drug don’t counterbalance the risk of serious side effects, despite it being approved in the US earlier this year.

Claudia and Ayan also look at both the psychology of languishing and whether loneliness leads to a higher risk of having a stroke.

And we look at the research suggesting cycling to work can lead to an almost 50% lower risk of dying.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Dan Welsh