Jan 28 Watch 6:38 Washington state's measles outbreak coincides with low rates of immunization Washington state is experiencing an outbreak of measles, with 35 confirmed cases in a single county. The disease's flare-up is reinforcing concerns about insufficient immunization in some communities. Hari Sreenivasan talks to Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of… Continue watching
Jan 26 Measles outbreak grows in northwest U.S., 31 cases reported By Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press The number of confirmed measles cases near Portland grew to 31 on Friday — an outbreak boosted by lower-than-normal vaccination rates in what has been called an anti-vaccination U.S. “hot spot.”… Continue reading
Jan 24 Juuling skyrocketed among students in 2018, national survey finds By Sarah D. Sparks, Education Week The percentage of students who reported vaping nicotine in the last 30 days doubled or nearly doubled among eighth, 10th and 12th graders since 2017, representing some of the largest single-year jumps ever recorded in the survey. Continue reading
Jan 23 Watch 6:56 In Thailand, tracking animal health to prevent outbreaks of human disease By Fred de Sam Lazaro Viruses like avian flu, Ebola and Marburg often fester in animals before moving into human populations. Animals in regions that are geographically remote present particular challenges for disease containment. But in Thailand, local residents are using technology, including digital scanning,… Continue watching
Jan 23 Twitter Chat: Helping millennials step into the role of family caregiver By Zoe Rohrich How can younger Americans balance the stress and responsibility of providing care for loved ones? The PBS NewsHour will explore that and more in our next edition of #NewsHourChats on Twitter Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. EST. Continue reading
Jan 22 Watch 8:27 Coal miners have been inhaling deadly silica dust for decades. Now they're dying For decades, coal miners have been inhaling silica dust on the job. The extremely fine particles, generated when the quartz-rich limestone surrounding coal seams is cut, lodge in the lungs, obstructing respiration. According to a Frontline/NPR report, both the industry… Continue watching
Jan 21 Watch 7:41 Consumption of marijuana edibles rises amidst scarce research into their health impact By Lori Jane Gliha, Rocky Mountain PBS As more states legalize recreational use of marijuana, edible forms of the drug are also becoming increasingly popular. But little research has been done on potential complications of consuming the substance, and some scientists believe they can cause hallucinogenic reactions. Continue watching
Jan 20 Watch 8:09 Behind Purdue Pharma's marketing of OxyContin In June, the state of Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, which manufactures the prescription painkiller OxyContin, alleging that the family controlled-company misled patients about the dangers of the opioid drug. Now, new details about the company’s marketing strategy… Continue watching
Jan 20 Watch 8:55 Paralyzed outdoorsman designs bike to cycle woods again By Christopher Booker, Mori Rothman Christian Bagg was an avid outdoorsman when a 1996 accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. As a mechanical designer, he spent years attempting to create a wheelchair that could withstand the rugged trails of the Canadian Rockies near… Continue watching
Jan 19 Edgar Allan Poe's greatest mystery was his death By Dr. Howard Markel A man was discovered lying in the gutter, confused, bedraggled, and under the influence. Shabbily dressed (in someone else’s clothing, as it turned out), Edgar Allan Poe was in dire need of medical assistance. Continue reading