Just in time for respiratory virus season, a highly transmissible COVID-19 strain is fueling a wave of infections across the US. The XFG variant, informally known as “Stratus,” has been driving up case numbers. Stratus’ ability to evade immune system defenses has propelled it past NB.1.8.1 (aka “Nimbus”) as the dominant Covid strain. The increased … Read more
A new study from the CDC found that infection rates for a drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” are on the rise, increasing nearly 70% between 2019 and 2023. The increase was primarily driven by the NDM gene, which makes bacteria particularly difficult to treat. Only two antibiotics are known to effectively combat these infections, and both are … Read more
Do newborns need the hepatitis B vaccine to B healthy? That’s slated to be deliberated Thursday at a meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The influential vaccine advisory panel is expected to vote to recommend delaying a shot typically given at birth to age 4, NPR reported. “There is going to … Read more
A kiss might steal your heart — but this one could stop it. Health experts are warning about a deadly parasitic infection spread by so-called kissing bugs, which have now been found in 32 states across the country. At least eight Americans have caught Chagas disease through local transmission, leading scientists to urge the CDC … Read more
Health officials upgraded a recent travel warning amid a concerning surge of a mosquito-borne illness that causes pain potentially lasting for years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel warning for Guangdong Province in China, advising visitors to “practice enhanced precautions” due to an outbreak of chikungunya. The CDC has issued a … Read more
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has moved to strip thousands of federal health agency employees of their collective bargaining rights, according to a union that called the effort illegal. HHS officials confirmed Friday that the department is ending its recognition of unions for a number of employees, and are reclaiming office space … Read more
Most Americans get more than half their calories from ultra-processed foods, those super-tasty, energy-dense foods typically full of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, according to a new federal report. Nutrition research has shown for years that ultra-processed foods make up a big chunk of the U.S. diet, especially for kids and teens. For the first time, however, the U.S. Centers … Read more
They came for blood — and left behind something worse. Thousands of people in China have been infected with a painful mosquito-borne virus, triggering the country’s most aggressive public health response since COVID and stoking fears of a potential pandemic. Now, US health officials are urging travelers to take extra precautions not just in China, but … Read more
The fertility rate in the U.S. dropped to an all-time low in 2024 with less than 1.6 kids per woman, new federal data released Thursday shows. The U.S. was once among only a few developed countries with a rate that ensured each generation had enough children to replace itself — about 2.1 kids per woman. But it … Read more
Israeli researchers have developed a new vaccine that is “100% effective” against bacteria that is deadly to humans. The announcement came from Tel Aviv University, which teamed up with the Israel Institute for Biological Research to create the mRNA-based vaccine, the first to protect against bacteria. “In the study, we show that our mRNA vaccine provides 100% protection against … Read more
A new federal estimate shows a rise in prediabetes among American adolescents, a finding that is spurring concerns about the health of U.S. children — and the way Trump administration health officials are conducting research and communicating information, experts said. In 2023, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. youngsters ages 12 to 17 had prediabetes, according … Read more
Lung cancer, the second-most common cancer in the U.S., is often associated with smoking — but even those who have never had a cigarette could be at risk of the deadly disease. While it’s true that those who smoke face a much higher risk, up to 20% of lung cancers affect people who have never smoked or … Read more
Older U.S. adults are increasingly dying from unintentional falls, according to a new federal report published Wednesday, with white people accounting for the vast majority of the deaths. From 2003 to 2023, death rates from falls rose more than 70% for adults ages 65 to 74, the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and … Read more
In recent extraordinary moves, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired and replaced a team that makes vaccine recommendations for the country. Apoorva Mandavilli, a science and global health reporter at The New York Times, explains how this change could impact vaccine accessibility. Source link #Video #Vaccines #Arent #Recommended
Americans are losing a vast array of people and programs dedicated to keeping them healthy. Gone are specialists who were confronting a measles outbreak in Ohio, workers who drove a van to schools in North Carolina to offer vaccinations, and a program that provided free tests to sick people in Tennessee. State and local health departments responsible … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration has initiated the process of banning oral fluoride supplements for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends these tablets and lozenges for children with a high risk of tooth decay or for those whose local drinking water is low in fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, water, … Read more
A threat to American livestock – the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly, which has been considered eradicated from the country since 1966 — has reemerged as a potential danger following an outbreak in Mexico. The news triggered a shutdown of cattle, horse and bison imports along the southern border, as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first at-home test for cervical cancer screening, its maker Teal Health said on Friday, offering an alternative to Pap smears that need to be undertaken at a doctor’s office. Pap smear tests have significantly reduced cancer incidence from when they were first introduced 80 years ago. But … Read more
Travelers headed to Fiji this summer better pack more than just their swimsuits — they might want to add some serious bug spray. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just issued a warning for the tropical hotspot as dengue fever cases spike across the Western Pacific. Dengue, a potentially deadly virus spread by … Read more
The nerve! A type of herpes virus — the varicella-zoster virus — causes chickenpox in childhood and shingles later in life. Shingles travels along nerves, triggering a distinctive blistering rash and what some have described as the worst pain they have ever experienced. Shingles infections trigger a distinctive blistering rash and intense pain. ryanking999 – … Read more