Jan 30 Nurse dies from Ebola in Uganda as country declares first virus outbreak since 2022, health ministry says By Rodney Muhumuza, Associated Press A Ugandan health official says a nurse in the capital, Kampala, has died of Ebola, in the first recorded fatality since the last outbreak ended in 2023… Continue reading
Jan 30 WATCH: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies at Senate confirmation hearing for HHS secretary — Day 2 By Amanda Seitz, Stephen Groves, Associated Press Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to be the nation's top health official is uncertain after a key Republican joined Democrats to raise persistent concerns over the nominee's deep skepticism of routine childhood vaccinations that prevent deadly diseases. Continue reading
Jan 29 WATCH: RFK Jr. commits to prioritizing funding for long COVID research By Jackie Hai Indiana Sen. Todd Young asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to commit to directing funding for long COVID research toward potential treatments and diagnostics if he were to be confirmed as health and human services secretary. "Absolutely, senator, with enthusiasm," Kennedy… Continue reading
Jan 29 Hamas to release 3 Israelis and 5 Thais this week in hostage deal, Israeli official says By Tia Goldenberg, Samy Magdy, Associated Press The official named the Israel women as Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 19, and the man as Gadi Mozes, 80. Continue reading
Jan 28 Trump signs order to end federal support for gender transitions for people under 19 By Zeke Miller, Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press Medicaid programs in some states cover gender-affirming care. The new order suggests that practice could end and target hospitals and universities that receive federal money and provide the care. It's likely to be challenged in court. Continue reading
Jan 27 CDC memo orders public health officials to stop working with WHO immediately By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, John Nkengasong, sent a memo to senior leaders at the agency on Sunday night telling them that all staff who work with the WHO must immediately stop their collaborations and “await… Continue reading
Jan 27 State lawmakers see new opportunities to pass vaccine exemptions after Trump’s return By Susan Haigh, Devi Shastri, Associated Press Vaccination bills are popping up in more than 15 states as lawmakers aim to potentially resurrect or create new religious exemptions from immunization mandates, establish state-level vaccine injury databases or dictate what providers must tell patients about the shots. Continue reading
Jan 26 Watch 4:59 Study finds gender-affirming medical care for minors is very rare, refuting political narrative By John Yang, Claire Mufson, Kaisha Young Trump and Republican candidates made rolling back federal protections for transgender people a big issue, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on TV ads, much of it focused on gender-affirming care for minors. Despite the attention, a new study finds… Continue watching
Jan 25 Watch 5:53 What to know about an AI transcription tool that ‘hallucinates’ medical interactions By John Yang, Kaisha Young Many medical centers use an AI-powered tool called Whisper to transcribe patients’ interactions with their doctors. But researchers have found that it sometimes invents text, a phenomenon known in the industry as hallucinations, raising the possibility of errors like misdiagnosis. Continue watching
Jan 25 The FDA banned Red 3 food coloring. A scientist explains the dye’s history and health risks By Lorne J. Hofseth, The Conversation Over 35 years after the first study linking the artificial food dye Red 3 to thyroid cancer in rats was published, the U.S. is beginning to phase it out of foods and drugs. Continue reading