Amina Zafar

Journalist

Amina Zafar covers medical sciences and health care for CBC. She contributes to CBC Health's Second Opinion, which won silver for best editorial newsletter at the 2024 Digital Publishing Awards. She holds an undergraduate degree in environmental science and a master's in journalism.

Latest from Amina Zafar

Doctors propose new definitions of obesity that would move away from BMI

In Tuesday's issue of The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, dozens of international medical experts and people with lived experience are proposing a major change to how obesity is diagnosed because they say current medical approaches don't reliably assess an individual's health.

What's different, and worse, about the smoke from the L.A. fires

Los Angeles is already infamous for poor air quality. But the fires scorching the area now are sending up plumes of black smoke that pose threats to human health beyond that of standard wildfires.
Second Opinion

'Zombie facts' live on after black plastic and other studies get corrected or retracted

Headlines warning people to throw out their black plastic kitchen utensils live on, as do social media posts warning of “secret toxins” in your kitchen. Less prominent? A correction to the peer-reviewed study those headlines were based on.

How long do leftovers really last? And other holiday food safety questions, answered

Since kitchens can turn into sites of debates over leftovers, CBC News put some questions to food scientists. Here are the answers.

Most RSV infections are in babies less than 1 year old. But protection remains out of reach for many

Most positive tests for RSV so far this season in Canada have been among the youngest, federal data suggests. And while Health Canada has approved an immunization that can protect all babies from the illness, it’s only available in a few jurisdictions. 

Cancer brings emotional anguish, harsh treatments — and a financial toll on patients, families: report

Over their lifetime, people with cancer and their caregivers face nearly $33,000 in costs like medications, transportation to hospital and accommodation as well as lost income, the Canadian Cancer Society reports.

1 in 7 ER visits in Canada are for conditions that could have been managed in primary care: report

Lack of access to family doctors and other primary care providers leaves many Canadians with no option than to go to the emergency department for care, new data suggests.

Why it seems like there have been so many food recalls in Canada recently

Canada has seen many high-profile food recalls this year — from sweet kale chopped-salad kits to plant-based milks — and even some Listeria contaminations. Here's what you need to know about all the recalls lately.

Taylor Farms brand Sweet Kale Chopped Kit recalled due to salmonella risk

Taylor Farmers Sweet Kale Chopped Kit sold in 340 gram bags are being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination, Canadian officials say.

SunFed cucumbers sold in U.S. and Canada recalled due to salmonella risk

Canadian officials say SunFed Produce brand whole, fresh, American cucumbers have been recalled due to potential salmonella contamination. The cucumbers were sold in several Canadian provinces in October and November.