Finding out what nasty bugs are in your system could soon be done much faster thanks to a Mars Bar-sized device capable of quickly decoding your genetic make-up.

Singer Avril Lavigne fought back tears as she recalled her recent battle with Lyme disease in a new TV interview.

A young inmate who died after two weeks on life support likely carried the superbug which killed him into the hospital from prison.

Scientists are close to developing a vaccine to prevent against chlamydia.

A Kiwi professor has developed a new treatment which may be the answer to helping those diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer.

Completing the crossword and taking regular exercise may ease the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease - but will not prevent it, scientists say.

The United States admits it may have accidentally sent live anthrax to research laboratories in Australia.

Having a healthy baby is a top concern for parents-to-be. One couple went through pregnancy knowing their baby was likely to have a rare genetic condition.

A new documentary reveals the struggle behind a debilitating and ultimately fatal rare disease that overwhelmingly strikes young boys.

The 28-year-old fashion designer is said to be battling a debilitating bacterial illness caused by tick bites and causes pain in the sufferer's skin and joints.

A breakthrough by New Zealand scientists could lead to a vaccine to treat a ghastly disease which mostly affects the poorest in the world.

Luca Enna, 4, knows that when his best friend - who has a blood condition - gets hurt on the playground, he must tell a teacher fast.

Hamish Bockett-Smith is about to spend 12 weeks in Singapore in an attempt to halt the steady destruction multiple sclerosis is inflicting on his body.

A former Iowa state politician faces up to 10 years in jail after having intercourse with his wife, who suffered from a severe case of Alzheimer's disease.

"Even more epidemic than Alzheimer's itself is the fear of Alzheimer's." So in an attempt to offer some perspective, experts tell you what to look out for.

The Kiwi nurse who sparked New Zealand's first Ebola scare is relieved to be home.

While almost eliminated in most developed countries, New Zealand’s rate of rheumatic fever is 14 times the OECD average.

Rates of pneumococcal disease in New Zealand have plummeted since a vaccine was introduced, even among those who have not been immunised.

A Kiwi nurse who recently returned from Ebola-ravaged Sierra Leone has tested negative for the deadly virus.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says negative result is “great news”, but a second test is required to confirm the result.

Parents of well-off Pakeha girls are less likely to get their daughters immunised against an STI because "white girls don't have sex", a health researcher believes.

A returned healthcare worker is being tested to rule out Ebola. The patient has recently been in Sierra Leone as part of New Zealand's contribution to the international response to Ebola.

The Christchurch child diagnosed with measles has passed the infectious period and has been given the green light to return to preschool, with no secondary cases being reported to health authorities.

New measles outbreaks are the result of New Zealand’s historically low vaccination rates, says immunisation expert Dr Nikki Turner.