Tag: health and medicine

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Ebola is a severe and often deadly viral disease that affects humans and other primates. It is caused by the Ebola virus and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated objects.

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a public health emergency of international concern.

This outbreak is especially difficult because it involves a rare strain of Ebola that currently has no vaccine, and infections have been reported in a conflict-affected region.

Read the article about Ebola and why stopping the latest outbreak in DR Congo is so difficult.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz72p75zg4qo

Vocabulary Questions:

1. Define “organ failure”. “As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and it can lead to organ failure.” Use the term in a sentence.
2. What does “porous” mean here: “A further complication is that the outbreak is taking place in a conflict zone, with a quarter of million people displaced from their homes and people moving across porous borders into neighbouring countries.” Use the word in this context in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
3. What does “to bolster” mean? “Several African countries are tightening border screenings and bolstering health facilities.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

1. What makes the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo difficult to control?
2. Why do you think Ebola outbreaks are so dangerous compared to other diseases?
3. What do you think is the most effective way to stop the spread of Ebola in the long term?
4. How important is international cooperation in responding to outbreaks like Ebola?
5. What challenges do healthcare workers face when treating Ebola patients?
6. How can misinformation or fear impact efforts to stop an Ebola outbreak?
7. What lessons has the world learned from past Ebola outbreaks?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A cruise ship (MV Hondius) reported a suspected hantavirus outbreak three people died, several others infected. The ship was blocked from docking due to health risks.

Hantavirus spreads mainly through rodent droppings or urine WHO called it a “public health event”, but said global risk is low. Countries are coordinating medical evacuation and investigation.

Read the article about confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/04/cruise-ship-suspected-hantavirus-outbreak-blocked-docking-cape-verde?

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to scramble” mean? “The statement on Monday came hours after global health officials said they were scrambling to investigate the suspected outbreak of hantavirus, a disease primarily found in rodents, on the cruise ship in the Atlantic.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
2. What does “stricken” mean? “On Monday the WHO said seven cases of hantavirus – a disease primarily found in rodents – were either confirmed or suspected as the stricken ship was held off west Africa with mostly British, American and Spanish passengers on board.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
3. What does “contact tracing” mean? “South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases was carrying out contact tracing in and around Johannesburg in order to assess whether people had been exposed to the infected passengers.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think should be the priority during this kind of medical incidents: is it protecting the passengers and crew of the ship or protecting the countries they want to dock in?
2. If you were a passenger on the cruise ship, how would you feel about not being allowed to dock? What would you expect from the government?
3. In your opinion, who should be more responsible in situations like this: the cruise company, the government, or global health organizations? Explain your answer.
4. Do you still think that cruise ships are safe despite hearing about virus outbreaks like this? Why or why not?
5. How can countries balance touristic activities (like cruises) with public health safety especially during a possible disease outbreak?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A joint statement by the EPA and HHS gave incorrect figures about how many microplastics are found in the brain and did not clearly explain how they plan to regulate the issue.

Meanwhile, a study in Nature Health reported that microplastics were present in almost all of the 191 human brain samples it examined.

Read the article to know why microplastics have become embedded in our modern lives.

https://healthpolicy-watch.news/microplastics-in-the-brain/

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “turning point” mean? “US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr hailed a federal proposal by the EPA to track microplastics contamination in drinking water earlier this month as “a turning point” in the effort to confront microplastics that have “become embedded in modern life.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
2. What does “engulf” mean? “The threat of micro- and nanoplastics contamination in the brain tissue raises significant concern as they can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, where they are subsequently engulfed by the brain’s immune cells, known as microglia” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
3. What does “stringent” mean? “They stressed that this direct exposure pathway demands global attention and the urgent establishment of stringent quality-control standards within the healthcare industry..” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

1. What was your reaction when you learned that microplastics can be found in the human brain?
2. How do you think microplastics enter the human body and reach the brain?
3. What possible health effects do you think microplastics could have on humans?
4. Do you think governments and companies are doing enough to reduce plastic pollution? Why or why not?
5. What simple changes can individuals make in their daily lives to reduce exposure to microplastics?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People have long been curious about the strange experience of moving around while asleep. Many old beliefs about it, such as the idea that waking someone in this state is dangerous, are myths. Today, science shows that stress, genetics, and poor sleep habits often play a role in these nighttime episodes.

Let’s read the article and see how science clears up the myths about sleepwalking.

https://interestingengineering.com/culture/body-wanders-brain-naps-science-myth-sleepwalking

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to hover on” mean? “Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, belongs to a family of sleep disorders called parasomnias, behaviors that hover on the boundary between sleeping and waking.” Use it in a sentence.
2. Define the phrase “to ripple through“.”Deep in stage 3 of NREM, a surge of activity ripples through the motor networks while regions needed for self-awareness and decision-making stay largely offline.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
3. What does the adjective “garbled” mean? “Passers-by may receive a blank stare or garbled replies.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think people have created so many myths about sleepwalking?
2. What everyday factors do you think can trigger sleepwalking episodes?
3. What risks might sleepwalkers face if they are not guided or protected?
4. Can you think of a time when stress or tiredness affected your sleep in unusual ways?
5. How do you think sleep science has changed the way people understand sleepwalking today?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A new study found that 41% of traded wild mammals carry diseases transmissible to humans, compared to just 6.4% of non-traded species.

Read the article to know more about why experts warn that activities like hunting and transporting wildlife increase the chances of future pandemics and call for stricter global regulation.

https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/wildlife-trade-fuelling-spread-diseases-humans-study-finds

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “spillover” mean? “The global wildlife trade could be accelerating the spillover of diseases from animals to humans” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “multilateral agreement” mean? “Currently, the main multilateral agreement governing international trade in wild species, CITES, focuses primarily on preventing extinction.” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “disease emergence” mean? “To reduce disease emergence, these opportunities for encounters must be limited, and therefore the overall volume of trade.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think wildlife trade still continues despite the health risks?
2. How can governments balance economic needs and public health when it comes to wildlife trade?
3. Do you think pandemics caused by animals are preventable? Why or why not?
4. How might wildlife trade affect not just health, but also the environment?
5. Would you support stricter penalties for illegal wildlife trade? Why or why not?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Health experts warn that cutting funding for polio eradication efforts could reverse decades of progress. While cases are now low in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, continued global support is needed to fully eliminate the disease.

Read the article to know why funding is crucial to eliminate polio.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/apr/08/funding-is-vital-to-end-the-scourge-of-polio?

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “disheartening” mean? “It is extremely disheartening to read that after 2026, the UK government is to end its contributions to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), putting at risk the great efforts that have been made over the last 40 years to improve the health and wellbeing of children across the world” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “cornerstone” mean? “The eradication of polio is a cornerstone of the humanitarian work of Rotary International (a GPEI partner).” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “on the ground” mean here, ” Infection numbers in Pakistan and Afghanistan are very low, but this is a result of great efforts on the ground in these last two endemic countries.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think are the biggest risks of wildlife trade when it comes to spreading diseases?
2. Do you think stricter laws on wildlife trade would actually prevent future pandemics? Why or why not?
3. How aware do you think people are about the connection between wildlife trade and human health?
4. Should countries completely ban wildlife trade, or just regulate it better?
5. What role do you think individuals can play in reducing the risks linked to wildlife trade?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Kent is experiencing a rapid meningitis outbreak, with 20 cases reported, including six MenB infections. Most cases involve university students linked to social events, and experts describe it as the fastest-growing outbreak they’ve seen.

The UK Health Security Agency is responding with antibiotics for close contacts and vaccinating 5,000 students, urging anyone exposed at early March events to seek treatment to prevent further spread.

Read the article and know more about the situation.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/18/meningitis-cases-investigated-kent-uk-health-security-agency?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does the adjective “unprecedented” mean? “It’s the explosive nature that is unprecedented here – the number of cases in such a short space of time.” Use this in a sentence. 
2. What does “super-spreader event” mean? “This looks like a super-spreader event, with ongoing spread within the halls of residence in the universities.” Use this in a sentence. 
3. What does “to stand something up” mean here, “We are being so proactive in the provision of antibiotics, because they’re an effective treatment, but also standing up vaccination at a pace and in a way that we wouldn’t normally do.”? Use this in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is prompt treatment with antibiotics important in meningitis cases?
2. Do you think universities should cancel large or all social events during outbreaks? Why or why not?
3. If you were in charge of the response, what other measures might you take to control the outbreak?
4. Do you think news coverage of outbreaks help or do they only cause unnecessary panic? Share your insights.
5. If a similar outbreak happened in your city, how would you personally respond?