Health

Editorial

The anti-vax offensive is poisoning American democracy

The politicization of science currently at play in the United States marks a dangerous step backward for a country where many of the vaccines that are now under attack were, in fact, originally developed.

Published yesterday at 12:00 pm (Paris) Le Monde

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'Access to pornography gravely undermines children's mental health and psychological integrity'

Feminist figures from 17 European countries call for the implementation of age verification on pornographic websites. They see it as a necessary measure to protect the most vulnerable audiences from content that is often violent, misogynistic, racist or even contains child sexual abuse.

Published yesterday at 5:00 am (Paris) Group letter

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RFK Jr. ramps up attacks on vaccination in the US, creating confusion

After sweeping layoffs at major US health agencies, the health secretary made several decisions this summer that threaten the country's vaccination ecosystem, emboldening the anti-vaccine movement.

Published on September 5, 2025, at 12:09 pm (Paris) Delphine Roucaute

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Chikungunya: Ixciq, the first authorized vaccine against the virus, comes under scrutiny

The US Food and Drug Administration has suspended the vaccine developed by French-Austrian laboratory Valneva. In France, its use has been restricted to people under 65 after three deaths in La Réunion.

Published on September 3, 2025, at 3:26 am (Paris), updated on September 3, 2025, at 11:32 am Delphine Roucaute

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French youth fund summer holidays in Marseille through 'narcotourism'

Young people visiting the southern French city for holidays who find themselves short on cash or accommodation sometimes end up offering their services as lookouts or dealers at drug selling spots.

Published on August 31, 2025, at 1:42 am (Paris), updated on August 31, 2025, at 12:30 pm Luc Leroux

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Ultra-processed foods cause negative health effects within weeks, study finds

In a clinical trial similar to those used for testing medicines, scientists studied the health impacts of a diet filled with ultra-processed foods. Results show that numerous biological processes are affected.

Published on August 30, 2025, at 5:30 am (Paris), updated on August 30, 2025, at 11:28 am Stéphane Foucart

News

Trump fired CDC Director Susan Monarez himself, White House says

The saga began Wednesday night with the administration's announcement that Monarez would no longer lead the CDC. In response, three officials resigned from senior roles at the agency. The turmoil triggered alarm as Trump's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tries to advance anti-vaccine policies.

Published on August 28, 2025, at 10:43 pm (Paris), updated on August 29, 2025, at 7:13 am Le Monde with AP

News

CDC chief refuses to step down, accuses RFK Jr of 'weaponizing public health'

Susan Monarez, who has been director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for less than a month, has 'neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired,' her lawyers said in a statement.

Published on August 28, 2025, at 5:17 am (Paris), updated on August 28, 2025, at 7:35 am Le Monde with AFP

In Depth Subscribers only

French GPs can now prescribe anti-obesity drugs, but not all are convinced

France's medicine safety agency has decided to broaden access to Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are not reimbursed by the French national health insurance, and to lower the obesity threshold required for a prescription. Some medical professionals are concerned that the new rules could lead to misuse.

Published on August 27, 2025, at 5:30 am (Paris), updated on August 27, 2025, at 2:35 pm Pascale Santi Camille Stromboni

Investigation Subscribers only

Channel's 'cocaine fishermen' prove valuable allies for organized crime

The arrest of several fishermen in April exposed a trafficking operation that specialized investigators often describe as 'underestimated.' The scheme involves sending small trawlers out to sea to retrieve drugs dropped in the wake of cargo ships.

Published on August 27, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on August 27, 2025, at 9:55 am Thomas Saintourens

News

US suspends license for chikungunya vaccine after reports of serious side effects

US health authorities suspended the license for the Ixchiq vaccine on Monday after new cases of adverse reactions, mainly among elderly patients, prompted concern.

Published on August 25, 2025, at 11:46 am (Paris), updated on August 25, 2025, at 11:59 am Le Monde with AFP

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Largest chikungunya outbreak recorded in mainland France sparks hunt for tiger mosquitoes

There have been 33 locally-transmitted cases of the tropical disease in a neighborhood in the city of Vitrolles in the south of France.

Published on August 25, 2025, at 3:18 am (Paris), updated on August 25, 2025, at 3:20 pm Delphine Roucaute

News

At least five people die from Legionnaires' disease and 14 are hospitalized in New York

Health officials have confirmed that 108 cases of infection have been caused by air conditioning systems in Harlem.

Published on August 19, 2025, at 7:57 am (Paris), updated on August 19, 2025, at 4:23 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Trump administration halts visas for people from Gaza

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were 'just a small number' of visas issued to children in need of medical aid, but they were accompanied by adults, so Rubio explained the need to 'pause' the program and 'reevaluate how those visas are being vetted' for security purposes.

Published on August 18, 2025, at 1:02 am (Paris) Le Monde with AP

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In emergency rooms, AI supports doctors treating severe trauma patients

AI algorithms and humans could complement each other and improve care for seriously injured patients.

Published on August 17, 2025, at 9:08 am (Paris) Anaëlle Charlier

News Subscribers only

Greek public healthcare system remains in shambles

The system suffers from chronic underfunding and staff shortages. Low salaries drive doctors to the private sector.

Published on August 17, 2025, at 12:06 am (Paris), updated on August 17, 2025, at 9:13 am Marina Rafenberg

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Four misconceptions about tanning, sunburns and their effects on the skin

'Sunscreen is pointless for darker skin.' 'Sunburns help you tan.' 'Swimming soothes burns.' Every summer, misconceptions about sun exposure persist despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

Published on August 16, 2025, at 3:06 am (Paris), updated on August 16, 2025, at 9:53 am Romain Geoffroy Adel Miliani

News

At least 40 dead in Sudan's worst cholera outbreak in years

Doctors Without Borders said the Darfur region, which has been a major battleground over more than two years of fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, had been hardest hit by the year-old outbreak.

Published on August 14, 2025, at 11:28 am (Paris), updated on August 14, 2025, at 11:50 am Le Monde with AFP

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Fight against polio under threat by withdrawal of US funding

Global vaccination campaigns have reduced cases of this disease by 99%, but budget setbacks and difficulties reaching the last endemic areas are now jeopardizing the goal of total eradication.

Published on August 10, 2025, at 1:00 pm (Paris), updated on August 10, 2025, at 3:50 pm Delphine Roucaute

News Subscribers only

US to partially pull funding for mRNA vaccines

The announcement by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a major setback for the sector, as the technology has proven effective against Covid-19 and research into certain cancers holds promise.

Published on August 9, 2025, at 4:30 pm (Paris) Zeliha Chaffin

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In France, suicide affects men three times more than women

With 13.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the suicide rate appears to have reached a 'floor' after several decades of decline. While the mental health of young people has drawn significant attention, it is older men who continue to be the most affected.

Published on August 8, 2025, at 5:17 am (Paris), updated on August 8, 2025, at 10:22 am Camille Stromboni

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Extreme heat is causing more drownings in France

The number of drownings at the start of summer 2025 was twice as high as during the same period the previous year. This increase is linked to the early onset of heatwaves, which have driven people to swim in rivers and lakes that are minimally or not at all supervised.

Published on August 7, 2025, at 4:47 pm (Paris) Eléa Pommiers

News

RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to cancel contracts and funding for the development of certain vaccines signals a shift in 'priorities,' according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Published on August 6, 2025, at 4:32 am (Paris), updated on August 6, 2025, at 10:00 am Le Monde with AP

In Depth Subscribers only

For the first time ever, the majority of doctors in France are women

Out of 237,214 practicing doctors, there are 118,957 women and 118,257 men as of January 1, according to data from the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics. Nonetheless, this increase in female representation within the medical field has not reached all of the highest professional levels.

Published on August 4, 2025, at 11:45 am (Paris) Mattea Battaglia Camille Stromboni

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Glyphosate: French court clears Bayer-Monsanto of responsibility in birth defects case

In a judgment handed down Thursday, the court ruled that the severe birth defects of Théo Grataloup, now 18, could not be attributed to in utero exposure to glyphosate.

Published on July 31, 2025, at 5:19 pm (Paris) Stéphane Mandard

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From games to reminders to drink water: The rise of 'streaks,' rewards that keep you hooked

The use of tracking meters, popularized by apps such as Duolingo and Snapchat to reward their most dedicated users, has become widespread. However, addiction specialists and psychologists have raised concerns.

Published on July 25, 2025, at 3:59 am (Paris), updated on July 25, 2025, at 9:23 am Camille Ribot

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Trump urges Coca-Cola to use cane sugar, sparking backlash from Midwestern corn producers

The Atlanta-based company confirmed on Tuesday that it would now produce a portion of its beverage sold in the US using cane sugar, as corn syrup comes under scrutiny from the Trump administration.

Published on July 23, 2025, at 10:53 am (Paris) Arnaud Leparmentier

Gallery Subscribers only

Nepal's HPV vaccination campaign falls victim to US budget cuts, seen through Nanna Heitmann's lens

Following the Trump administration's announcement at the end of June that it would suspend its financial support to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Le Monde is presenting the work of German photographer Nanna Heitmann, who documented what is set to be both the first and last HPV vaccination campaign in Nepal.

Published on July 23, 2025, at 4:22 am (Paris), updated on July 23, 2025, at 11:48 am Allison Ferrera

Profile Subscribers only

Meet the face of France's anger against cancer and pesticides

Fleur Breteau was instrumental to the success of a petition demanding the repeal of a law that would reintroduce a banned pesticide, which surpassed one million signatures.

Published on July 22, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris) Stéphane Mandard

News

Trump diagnosed with vein condition after leg swelling, hand bruising

Aside from the 'chronic,' but 'benign' condition, announced on Thursday after the White House had long dismissed questions on it, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump 'remains in excellent health.'

Published on July 18, 2025, at 12:10 am (Paris), updated on July 18, 2025, at 7:35 am Le Monde with AFP

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France's 2026 budget plan includes €5 billion in healthcare cuts

To rein in healthcare costs, Prime Minister François Bayrou has doubled the cap on out-of-pocket medical expenses to €100 and has targeted long-term illness coverage for patients.

Published on July 16, 2025, at 3:36 am (Paris), updated on July 16, 2025, at 9:42 am Mattea Battaglia Camille Stromboni

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Sudden cardiac arrests in athletes reveal hidden micro-abnormalities in the heart

A French study found that in 14 out of 19 people who survived sudden cardiac arrest during exercise, advanced heart scans revealed tiny electrical abnormalities despite normal results on standard medical tests.

Published on July 15, 2025, at 3:38 am (Paris), updated on July 15, 2025, at 10:51 am Florence Rosier

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Tracking neural implants that fool the immune system

To reduce the body's rejection response – which can impair the effectiveness of neural implants – an international team of researchers has chemically bonded these devices with an anti-inflammatory drug.

Published on July 12, 2025, at 5:24 am (Paris) Anaëlle Charlier

News

US records worst measles outbreak in over 30 years

At least three people have already died since the start of this measles epidemic, all unvaccinated.

Published on July 7, 2025, at 7:28 pm (Paris), updated on July 7, 2025, at 9:11 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

French court drops government Covid response investigation

The Court of Justice of the Republic closed the probe on Monday, five years after it began in July 2020 over complaints that the French government mismanaged its response to the virus, including a lack of protective gear and unclear guidance over mask wearing.

Published on July 7, 2025, at 5:48 pm (Paris), updated on July 9, 2025, at 2:23 pm Le Monde with AFP

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How to combat 'sloth syndrome' and get moving

A lack of individual motivation alone does not explain the gap between good intentions and actual physical activity. Above all, it is essential to choose the right activity and to associate it with positive emotions.

Published on July 5, 2025, at 12:00 pm (Paris) Sandrine Cabut

Op-Ed Subscribers only

'The decline in vaccine coverage in the US can and will have global consequences'

The US secretary of health has completely overhauled the national committee of vaccination experts, appointing individuals without relevant qualifications and, in some cases, with anti-vaccine views. A group of French experts voices its concerns about the repercussions of the decision.

Published on July 2, 2025, at 11:25 pm (Paris), updated on July 4, 2025, at 7:45 pm 10 experts

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Tobacco: 'Some EU member states are using their political influence to defend the interests of the industry'

ACT-Alliance Against Tobacco, joined by nine European anti-smoking and anti-lobbying associations, calls on member states and the European Union to put public interest before their financial interests in the fight against the tobacco industry.

Published on July 2, 2025, at 7:01 am (Paris) Collectif

News

Over 14 million people could die from US foreign aid cuts, study says

According to projections in a study by the prestigious Lancet journal, the cuts could lead to more than 14 million avoidable deaths by 2030, which includes over 4.5 million children under the age of five – or around 700,000 child deaths a year.

Published on July 1, 2025, at 1:13 am (Paris), updated on July 1, 2025, at 7:50 am Le Monde with AFP

In Depth Subscribers only

Hyperthermia, dehydration, heatstroke: What impact does a heat wave have on the body?

Over time, high temperatures can cause headaches, confusion and slow motor function, especially in the elderly. Prevention involves staying hydrated and cooling down as much as possible.

Published on June 30, 2025, at 4:10 pm (Paris), updated on July 2, 2025, at 10:22 am Delphine Roucaute

Feature Subscribers only

A wedding in southern France ends in bloodshed, casting a shadow of drug-related violence

Two men were charged on Thursday in connection with a shooting that left a young bride dead and her husband critically injured. A third assailant was killed during the attack, while a fourth is still at large. In the idyllic village where the celebration took place, residents have sought reassurance, saying, 'Goult wasn't the real target.'

Published on June 29, 2025, at 12:42 pm (Paris) Henri Seckel

News

France officially bans smoking on beaches and parks to protect children

Bus shelters and areas in the immediate vicinity of libraries, swimming pools and schools are also affected by the ban. The rule is being imposed one week before the beginning of the school holidays in France in a clear bid to immediately protect children from smoke on the beach.

Published on June 29, 2025, at 5:11 am (Paris), updated on June 29, 2025, at 6:55 pm Le Monde with AFP

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Serge Hefez, psychiatrist: 'Our children are too alone in front of screens'

The teenager who stabbed a school supervisor in eastern France in June had no history of mental health problems and later showed no remorse. Psychoanalyst Serge Hefez draws a link between the growing lack of empathy he has observed in his patients and their ever-increasing screen time.

Published on June 28, 2025, at 11:54 pm (Paris) Serge Hefez

News

France's ban on public smoking takes effect Sunday

Smoking will be prohibited in parks, beaches, bus shelters and near schools, as the government prioritizes protecting children from secondhand smoke.

Published on June 28, 2025, at 12:04 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

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Medical deserts: France takes new step in 'solidarity mission' to increase doctors in 151 red zones

The 'mandatory solidarity mission' measure, which calls for doctors to provide assistance in areas with the fewest medical resources, will take effect starting in September and will be based on voluntary participation.

Published on June 27, 2025, at 12:19 pm (Paris) Camille Stromboni

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Why pregnant women face risks of complications during heat waves

Studies published since 2023 have shown an increased risk of early or premature births following periods of high temperatures.

Published on June 25, 2025, at 7:00 pm (Paris) Delphine Roucaute

News

'Gwada negative': French scientists find new blood type in woman

The patient was undergoing routine tests before surgery when the unknown antibody was detected.

Published on June 21, 2025, at 3:25 pm (Paris), updated on June 22, 2025, at 9:32 am Le Monde with AFP

News

British MPs approve assisted dying bill in historic step

Lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 314 in favor to 291 to send the proposal to the upper House of Lords following hours of emotional debate.

Published on June 20, 2025, at 5:19 pm (Paris), updated on June 21, 2025, at 2:55 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

US approves Gilead's twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV

Lenacapavir, marketed under the brand name Yeztugo, has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission by more than 99.9% in adults and adolescents.

Published on June 18, 2025, at 11:28 pm (Paris), updated on June 19, 2025, at 8:04 am Le Monde with AFP

News

Kraft Heinz set to cut certain artificial dyes from its US products

Food company Kraft Heinz said it would be pulling certain artificial dyes from its US products by 2027, after US health officials began urging companies to phase out petroleum-based food, drug & cosmetic colors.

Published on June 17, 2025, at 5:10 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AP

News

Vaccine experts fired by Trump administration 'deeply concerned' by Robert F. Kennedy Jr

Since becoming head of the US Department of Health and Human Services in February, RFK has initiated a major overhaul of health policy in the United States.

Published on June 17, 2025, at 3:33 am (Paris), updated on June 17, 2025, at 7:50 am Le Monde with AFP

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French health authorities launch major study of pollutants' impact on population's health

The new study will be conducted on 3,150 people to look at the effects of being exposed to a wide range of toxic substances.

Published on June 15, 2025, at 1:54 am (Paris), updated on June 15, 2025, at 11:00 am Stéphane Foucart

News

Education minister urges focus on youth mental health after school knife attack

French Education Minister Elisabeth Borne, speaking after a 14-year-old pupil fatally stabbed a teaching assistant on Tuesday, said schools needed to adopt a 'safety net' to help pupils suffering from psychological distress

Published on June 13, 2025, at 7:03 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

RFK Jr ousts entire US vaccine panel over alleged conflicts

The US health secretary has dismissed all current members of a key federal vaccine advisory panel, accusing them of conflicts of interest.

Published on June 10, 2025, at 2:31 am (Paris), updated on June 10, 2025, at 7:52 am Le Monde with AFP

Investigation Subscribers only

Cadmium, a proven carcinogen, has contaminated some of the most consumed foods in France. Doctors warn against a 'public health time bomb'

French citizens, especially children, face widespread contamination by this carcinogen found in phosphate fertilizers through the consumption of cereals, bread or pasta. France's national public health agency links the issue to the soaring rate of pancreatic cancer.

Published on June 6, 2025, at 3:07 pm (Paris) Stéphane Mandard

In Depth Subscribers only

Synthetic drugs pose unprecedented health risk to Europe

In its annual report, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) has highlighted the dangers linked to the rapid rise in the consumption of chemically manufactured narcotics.

Published on June 6, 2025, at 2:39 am (Paris), updated on June 6, 2025, at 10:37 am Thomas Saintourens

News

Canadian wildfire smoke causes air quality hazards in the US and reaches Europe

Smoke from Canadian wildfires carried another day of poor air quality south of the border to the American Midwest. Huge plumes of smoke have even reached Europe, the European Union's climate monitoring service said Tuesday.

Published on June 4, 2025, at 1:06 pm (Paris), updated on June 4, 2025, at 3:19 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

Trump administration revokes guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions

That guidance was issued to hospitals in 2022, during the Biden administration, weeks after the Supreme Court upended national abortion rights.

Published on June 4, 2025, at 4:43 am (Paris), updated on June 4, 2025, at 9:48 am Le Monde with AP

News

Etienne-Emile Baulieu, inventor of the abortion pill, dies at 98

A doctor and researcher, Etienne-Emile Baulieu was world-renowned for the scientific, medical and societal significance of his work on the role of steroid hormones, which led to the abortion pill mifepristone.

Published on May 30, 2025, at 5:58 pm (Paris), updated on May 30, 2025, at 8:59 pm Le Monde with AFP

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Smoking to be banned on French beaches, public gardens and near schools starting July 1

Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said that cigarettes 'must disappear where there are children.' The ban does not apply to vaping.

Published on May 30, 2025, at 10:48 am (Paris) Pascale Santi

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