Health Check

We hear what could be behind the rapid spread of the coronavirus on board a cruise ship near Japan. Dr Nathalie MacDermott from Kings College, London suggests an investigation should look at the air filtration and sanitation systems and whether a “deep-clean” was carried out in communal areas. She also says sheer exhaustion could be behind the rising number of healthcare workers infected in China – one mistake when removing personal protective equipment could infect them. A new trial of group check-ups for pregnant women in the UK aims to help them support each other – as well as receive the best care from midwives. Some women are at risk of giving birth to smaller, premature babies – and it’s hoped that the Pregnancy Circles will help to reduce this risk. Our six-months-pregnant reporter Bobbie Lakhera goes along to a session in north London. Technology companies are developing artificial intelligence to detect our moods so that we can interact with “virtual agents” on our computers. But reading facial expressions like humans do is a huge challenge for current technologies. We hear from a leading expert about how the expressions on our faces don’t always tally with how we are feeling. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Paula McGrath (Image: Quarantined passengers look out from their balconies on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama. Photo credit: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images)

The test for the coronavirus which originated in China involves taking swab samples to a lab to look for the genetic code of the virus – Covid-19. But it can’t be used once someone has recovered. We hear from a British scientist who’s working on a new test to detect antibodies which are created in the body in response to an infection – so we might be able to tell how far the infection has spread. Many of the women living in slums in Bangladesh cannot afford to buy sanitary protection to use during their periods. So they cut up old saris and make their own – which they try to wash in secret because of embarrassment. But with shared toilets and little clean water it’s tricky. Now new bags which help to wash and dry the cloths discreetly are being trialled in Dhaka. Millions of young women are having unnecessary internal pelvic examinations every year in the United States according to a new study. Women should only have such examinations if they have symptoms like bleeding or an unusual vaginal discharge. But over the years many American doctors have carried out vaginal examinations routinely even though they are unnecessary and potentially harmful. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Paula McGrath (Image: A laboratory technician working on coronavirus samples in Wuhan, China. Photo credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Headlines are still dominated by the spread of the new coronavirus including the race to create a vaccine. But does that divert attention from other infectious diseases which can kill? GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance, has announced that it’s planning to vaccinate 45 million children against measles in places like South Sudan, Bangladesh and Nepal following a surge in the number of cases. GAVI’s CEO Seth Berkeley believes that we must strengthen all healthcare systems to tackle the outbreaks. Going to see a doctor can be difficult if your community has experienced discrimination. A new clinic has been set up in the Canadian city of Ottawa for Inuit children from Nunavut in the frozen north. They travel to the Aakuluk clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario for specialist treatment. Reporter Sian Griffiths met some of the families, translators and Inuit social navigators who support the homesick children. When a word is “on the tip of the tongue” but you just can’t remember it, you might think your memory is failing. We hear from a psychologist who says that our verbal skills don’t all get worse as we age – many of us become better storytellers as the years go by. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Paula McGrath (Image: Children waiting for a measles vaccination in the Central African Republic. Photo credit: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images.)

As the number of cases in the new coronavirus outbreak in China climbs, the World Health Organisation visits to assess the situation. Confirmed cases have emerged outside China despite measures aimed at limiting its spread – like putting the city of Wuhan in lockdown and some airlines cancelling flights. We hear from a British coronavirus expert about how difficult it is to assess how deadly the virus is without knowing if it can be passed on before symptoms appear. There are 160,000 deaths every year from another infectious disease – typhoid. It’s spread by contaminated water and kills 1 in 5 of those infected. Multi-drug resistant typhoid has emerged which cannot be treated with first line antibiotics. So scientists are calling for more preventative measures including vaccines. We hear about a new exhibition in Oxford which looks at the past, present and future of typhoid. You don’t have to be famous or hugely successful to suffer from imposter syndrome: the feeling that we feel we shouldn’t really be allowed to do what we’re doing and that eventually we’ll be found out. New research shows that it’s more widespread than we thought – but there may be a way to overcome it. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Paula McGrath (Photo: Medical staff wearing protective clothing arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in China. Credit: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images.)

Many people with autistic spectrum disorder learn techniques to overcome their difficulties interacting with others. The first study that has looked at the consequences of these compensatory strategies reveals some benefits but also significant downsides. The consequences can be stress, low self-esteem, mental illness and misdiagnosis. Claudia talks to lead researcher Professor Francesca Happé from King’s College London and Eloise Stark, a woman with autism. A new research programme at Imperial College London is investigating the link between obesity and infertility in men. Madeleine Finlay explores why weight gain and other factors of modern life might be influencing men’s sperm health. Tick-borne Lyme disease is on the rise in the northern hemisphere. Lyme disease can develop into a serious illness. It is hard to diagnosis early and delayed diagnosis means lengthy treatment and recovery. Dr Mollie Jewett at the University of Central Florida is working on a much faster means of diagnosis, and a more effective treatment. Deborah Cohen meets Dr Jewett and her ticks. Graham Easton is in the Health Check studio to talk about links between hearing loss and dementia, and the worrying spread of bacteria resistant to carbapenems, one of the most important kinds of antibiotic drugs. (Photo caption: A young woman standing in the middle of a crowded street – credit: Getty Images) Health Check was presented by Claudia Hammond with comments from Dr Graham Easton. Producer: Andrew Luck-Baker