Microbiology

Three medical leaps that could transform disease treatments

6 Jan 2013

More than once last year, researchers described leaps in medical science that were so breathtaking, and held so much potential for patients, that they immediately joined the list of fields to...

New fish bacteria named after Hong Kong

30 Dec 2012

Hong Kong has earned another accolade, with a new bacteria named after the city.

Streptococcus hongkongensis was discovered when a worker at one of the city's fish stalls cut his thumb on a...

Shanghai researchers identify bacteria linked to obesity

20 Dec 2012

Mainland researchers have identified a bacteria which may cause obesity.

A new paper suggests diets that alter the presence of microbes in humans could combat the condition.

Hong Kong has right conditions for outbreaks of drug-resistant superbugs

4 Nov 2012

In August, Princess Margaret Hospital reported the second case of the New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) Enterobacteriaceae, a lengthy name for a microbe that can simply be called a superbug...

Case History: Rise of the superbugs

9 Oct 2012

Madam Thila's health worsened dramatically after a fall at home. It left Thila (whose name has been changed for patient confidentiality reasons) with acute subdural haematoma, or bleeding in the...

Opinion

Jake Van Der Kamp

An age-old problem and the sums that just don't add up

Howard Winn

HSBC suffers the Taibbi treatment in Rolling Stone

Shirley Yam

How tycoons' IPO 'losses' may hide profits at herd's expense

Nutrition: coconut oil could combat tooth decay

With chemical additives in personal care products causing increasing concern, new research unveiling a natural antibiotic for oral health couldn't have come at a better time.

US faces mosquito-borne West Nile virus outbreak, as cases climb 60pc

The number of West Nile virus infections in the United States has jumped more than 60 per cent in the past week in what officials say is one of the country's biggest-ever outbreaks of the disease...

New virus strain linked to increase in gastroenteritis cases in Hong Kong

A virus strain new to Hong Kong may be the reason for an abnormal surge of gastroenteritis cases this month.

Outbreaks in places such as homes for the elderly are five times last year's...

Fact file: Necrotising fasciitis

Necrotising fasciitis is a bacterial infection that attacks the soft tissue and fascia that bind together muscles and organs.

The bacteria usually enter via a cut, blister or small injury,...

MEDICAL

Couple's happy reunion cut short by killer disease

Ronald Ancheta counted the days until he would join his wife in Hong Kong so they could live together for the first time in their nine-year marriage. Their dream lasted just one week, cut short by...

Virus puts the boot into team

The public health agency of Seattle and King County in the US state of Washington received a call alerting it to an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis among participants at a soccer tournament held...