Oct 25 An epidemiologist explains how zombies are a metaphor for public health By Tom Duszynski, The Conversation Across the globe, other reanimated corpses crop up in local folklore, often reflecting fears of improper burial, violent death or moral wickedness. Continue reading
Oct 22 mRNA COVID vaccines may be helping some cancer patients fight tumors, researchers say By Lauren Neergaard, Associated Press People with advanced lung or skin cancer who were taking certain immunotherapy drugs lived substantially longer if they also got a Pfizer or Moderna shot within 100 days of starting treatment, according to preliminary research being reported Wednesday in the journal Nature. Continue reading
Oct 21 Most Americans are concerned about rising health care costs, AP-NORC poll finds By Ali Swenson, Linley Sanders, Associated Press Federal policies have left millions of people at risk of skyrocketing health insurance premiums or of losing their health insurance altogether. Continue reading
Oct 21 Anti-science bills hit statehouses, attacking longstanding public health protections By Michelle R. Smith, Laura Ungar, Associated Press More than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses across the U.S. this year. Continue reading
Oct 20 Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger spar over abortion in Virginia By Olivia Diaz, Associated Press/Report for America, Bill Barrow, Associated Press The winner of the election will likely influence abortion law in the only Southern state that's maintained broad access to abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 eliminated a national right to the procedure. Continue reading
Oct 20 Congo's last Ebola patient discharged, raising hopes outbreak is over By Associated Press The World Health Organization says the last Ebola patient in Congo's recent outbreak has been discharged. No new cases have been reported since September 25. Continue reading
Oct 20 Advice to feed babies peanuts early and often helped thousands of kids avoid allergies By JoNel Aleccia, Associated Press A new study in the medical journal Pediatrics found that peanut allergies in children ages 0 to 3 declined by more than 27% after guidance was first issued, and by more than 40% after it was expanded in 2017. Continue reading
Oct 19 Watch 7:02 What to know about lymphedema, a painful side effect of breast cancer treatment By Ali Rogin, Kaisha Young The end of breast cancer treatment is cause for celebration, but for many patients, it can bring new challenges. Some studies show that up to 65% of women who undergo breast cancer surgery develop lymphedema, a painful swelling of tissue… Continue watching
Oct 18 Watch 6:57 Former CDC director offers an insider's 'Formula for Better Health' in new book By Ali Rogin, Claire Mufson Dr. Tom Frieden has spent his career as a disease detective, New York City’s health commissioner during a tuberculosis outbreak and CDC director during the Ebola crisis. In his new book, “The Formula for Better Health,” he shares lessons about… Continue watching
Oct 18 New report finds high levels of lead in some protein powders. A pharmacologist explains the data By C. Michael White, The Conversation A new study by Consumer Reports claims that some protein products contain dangerously high levels of lead, as well as other heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic. Here's what to know about the study and what it found. Continue reading