Jan 12 Two cats in California died after drinking raw milk recalled for bird flu, their owner says By JoNel Aleccia, Associated Press The cats drank unpasteurized milk from lots recalled by Raw Farm, of Fresno, whose dairy products were pulled from California store shelves in December after health officials found the virus in milk for sale, the owner said. Continue reading
Jan 11 Watch 3:35 How to protect yourself from the health hazards of wildfire smoke By Ali Rogin, Claire Mufson, Andrew Corkery Vast plumes of smoke and ash from the California wildfires are threatening the health of people miles away, and has led both the Biden administration and Los Angeles County to declare public health emergencies. Ali Rogin speaks with Dr. Russell… Continue watching
Jan 11 Watch 5:39 Formaldehyde is everywhere, but poses dangers to our health. Here’s what to know By John Yang, Harry Zahn The chemical formaldehyde is found just about everywhere, including in composite lumber, plastics, paints and glues used in many homes and offices. This past week, an EPA evaluation said it poses “an unreasonable risk” to human health. A ProPublica investigation… Continue watching
Jan 11 Wildfires can contaminate drinking water with harmful chemicals. Here’s what to know By Andrew J. Whelton, The Conversation Fires like the ones burning in the Los Angeles area can make drinking water, and the water pipes and tanks themselves, unsafe. A researcher who has worked with communities after several wildfires explains why, and what to do. Continue reading
Jan 09 Wildfire smoke inside homes can cause lingering health risks. Here are some tips for cleaning and staying safe By Colleen E. Reid, The Conversation Research shows that the mix of chemicals released when human-made materials like these burn is different from what is emitted during a vegetation fire and is potentially more toxic. Continue reading
Jan 06 Louisiana patient is the first to die of bird flu in the U.S., health officials say By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Louisiana officials say they are not aware of any other cases in their state, and U.S. officials have said they do not have any evidence that the virus is spreading from person to person. Continue reading
Jan 06 Fewer than 0.1 percent of U.S. adolescents receive gender-affirming medications, report finds By Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press From 2018 through 2022, only 926 adolescents with a gender-related diagnosis received puberty blockers and 1,927 received hormones, suggesting that fewer than 0.1 percent of all youth in the database received these medications. Continue reading
Jan 03 Watch 5:36 U.S. surgeon general explains why he’s calling for cancer warnings on alcohol By Amna Nawaz Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States behind tobacco use and obesity. Alcohol consumption contributes to roughly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths each year. A new advisory says alcoholic beverages should have a… Continue watching
Jan 03 Alcohol’s cancer risk should be clearly labeled on drinks, Surgeon General says By Amanda Seitz, Associated Press Alcohol is a leading cause of cancer, a risk that should be clearly labeled on drinks Americans consume, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed on Friday. Continue reading
Jan 02 Watch 6:00 As weight loss drug demand soars, physician outlines effectiveness and potential downsides By William Brangham, Jackson Hudgins, Hamada Hanoura For weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, 2024 was a big year. More patients are relying on them to manage their weight, treat diabetes, or prevent heart attacks and strokes. And while they are highly effective, they also come… Continue watching