The World Health Organization has said it believes there may have been human-to-human transmission of hantavirus on the Dutch cruise ship where three passengers have died.

US regulators have announced plans to begin monitoring microplastics and pharmaceutical residues in drinking water, marking a first step towards assessing potential health risks and shaping future regulation.

Employees across the massive U.S. Health and Human Services Department began receiving notices of dismissal on Tuesday in an overhaul ultimately expected to lay off up to 10,000 people.