Health - AFP

BERLIN (AFP) - A Belgian man thought to have been in a coma for 23 years has told of his "second birth" after doctors realised he was in fact conscious, a German weekly reported Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Key Democratic allies in the US health care battle warned that a Senate bill required major changes if it was to earn their support and give President Barack Obama a crucial victory on his top domestic priority.

PARIS (AFP) - Swine flu vaccines are still effective despite reported cases of mutations in the A(H1N1) virus, health experts in Europe and North America said Saturday.

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AFP) - Days before a forecast three million Muslim pilgrims pack Mecca to begin the holy ritual of the hajj, the spectre of a possible outbreak of swine flu seems to be fazing few of them.

MELBOURNE (AFP) - Bangladeshi conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna appeared on Sunday to have beaten the odds with their miracle story of survival, both awaking from landmark separation surgery happy and well.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Women should not get their first cervical cancer screening before age 21, the leading US group of women's health care professionals said Friday, also recommending less frequent subsequent tests.

GENEVA (AFP) - The World Health Organisation said Friday that a mutation had been found in samples of the swine flu virus taken following the first two deaths from the pandemic in Norway.

GENEVA (AFP) - Around 6,750 people have died from the swine flu pandemic, World Health Organisation data showed Friday, about 500 more than a week ago.

PARIS (AFP) - Beaten or sexually abused children are more likely to show accelerated ageing of cells later in life, a condition linked to higher rates of cancer and heart disease, according to a study released Friday.

BEIJING (AFP) - China has ordered more accurate reporting of swine flu fatalities after a doctor renowned for helping expose the scale of the 2003 SARS outbreak said deaths were being deliberately underplayed.

LONDON (AFP) - More than one in 10 British people don't realise that a woman can still get pregnant if she has sex standing up, according to a poll Friday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's signature drive to remake US health care was on track to clear a key Senate hurdle Saturday, as the last wavering Democrats agreed to vote to formally open debate on the bill.

MELBOURNE (AFP) - The weaker of two Bangladeshi twins separated from her conjoined sister in landmark surgery in Australia woke fully from a coma Saturday -- and blew her guardian a raspberry.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's planned overhaul of the US health care system headed Sunday for another major political battle after it cleared a key Senate hurdle that allows for debate on the proposal.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate, torn along party lines, voted to formally launch debate on historic legislation to enact President Barack Obama's signature drive to remake US health care, handing him a win for now.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's health reform faces a landmark first test in the US Senate Saturday as Democratic leaders strive to lock down support for a vote that would allow them to launch a formal floor debate on the proposal.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democrats in the US Senate strove to lock down support to prevail in a landmark first test vote of President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, remaking the US health care system.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama's Democratic allies in the Senate strove to lock down support to prevail in a landmark first test vote on his top domestic priority, remaking the US health care system.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US officials Friday said infections from A(H1N1) virus had slowed in the United States this week, raising hopes the early roll-out of vaccines may be bringing the disease under control.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Days after controversy erupted over new breast cancer screening guidelines, a US health group has said women should wait longer to get their first cervical cancer test.

MELBOURNE (AFP) - A second Bangladeshi twin began returning to consciousness on Friday, three days after being separated from her conjoined sister in a landmark operation in Australia, the hospital said.

BETHESDA, Maryland (AFP) - A US company said it would consider making its innovative flu vaccine abroad after a panel of experts advising the US drug regulator voted not to recommend it for approval.

MELBOURNE (AFP) - A second Bangladeshi twin is waking "slowly" and should be conscious later, three days after being separated from her conjoined sister in Australia, a hospital official said Friday.

PARIS (AFP) - French doctors on Friday said they had used human embryonic stem cells to grow skin that one day may be used as potentially life-saving temporary patches for patients suffering bad burns.

BETHESDA, Maryland (AFP) - A US company said it would make its flu vaccine abroad after a panel of experts Thursday gave the innovative product poor marks and failed to recommend it for approval by the US drug regulator.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama's top domestic priority, remaking US health care, will face arguably its toughest test yet this weekend with a key vote in the US Senate, Democrats announced Thursday.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Forget Freddy Krueger or flesh-eating zombies: the real villain of a night at the movies could be lurking in a bag of popcorn or drinks carton, according to a new US study.

CHICAGO (AFP) - Embryonic stem cell therapy got a step closer to the clinic Thursday after US researchers said they filed a request for government approval of human trials.