Health
Apu Gomes/Getty Images (LOS ANGELES) — As devastating wildfires continue to spread across southern California, thousands of structures have been destroyed or damaged and at least five people have been killed. Residents and firefighters have suffered physical injuries, but doctors say the wildfires can also take a heavy mental health toll on civilians and first responders. “I […]
Marko Geber/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — Meta — the company that operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp –announced on Tuesday it was ending third-party fact-checking. Some social media policy experts and public health experts are worried that the end of fact-checking could lead to the spread of medical and science misinformation and disinformation. This is […]
Human Bird Flu Cases in the U.S. as of January 6, 2025. Image by ABC News. Data via CDC. (NEW YORK) — In the nearly nine months since the first human case of bird flu was detected in the United States, the virus has continued to spread. The outbreak infected hundreds of herds and millions […]
Roger Harris/Getty Images (CHINA) — Chinese health officials are reportedly monitoring an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV). There is currently no evidence that the outbreak is out of the ordinary or that a new respiratory virus or illness has emerged in China. A spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) said data from […]
Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images (LOUISIANA) — The first person has died of bird flu in the United States, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed on Monday. The patient, who was exposed to non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, was over age 65 and had underlying medical conditions, officials said. Last month, the Centers […]
(istetiana/Getty Images) (NEW YORK) — The Mediterranean diet — which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains — has once again topped U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of best diets. The publication on Friday named the diet the best overall diet for the eighth year in a row. The Mediterranean diet scored […]
Westend61/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on Friday warning of a link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, according to the Surgeon General’s advisory. For some cancers, including breast, mouth, and […]
Makoto Honda/500px/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — If you’re feeling hungover from New Year’s Eve champagne or had one too many boozy eggnogs over the holidays, let January be a fresh start. Taking the challenge of going dry in January, or Dry January, i.e. having no alcohol for the entire month, is one resolution that might […]
Al Drago/CQ Roll Call (NEW YORK) — Federal health officials have begun collecting samples of aged raw cow’s milk cheese across the U.S. to test for bird flu, the Food and Drug Administration announced. Sample collection started at the end of this month and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025, the […]
Hum Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images (NEW YORK) — As world leaders mourn the death of former President Jimmy Carter and remark on his political and policy legacy, doctors are remembering his efforts to prevent disease, and his legacy in furthering global public health. The 39th president spent five decades working to eradicate a […]