Health

Drew Angerer/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — When the omicron variant first began sweeping the country, there was some hope that because initial studies indicated it was less severe, it would prove to have less of an impact on the health care system. However, given its increased transmissibility, the unprecedented explosion of cases is proving otherwise, […]

iStock/koto_feja (SAN FRANCISCO) — The San Francisco Department of Public Health said it is reducing hours at some COVID-19 testing sites due to staffing shortages. The decision comes despite warnings from experts about the importance of COVID testing to keep up with the surge of the highly transmissible omicron variant. “On Monday, some SFDPH-affiliated sites […]

Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images (ATLANTA) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning Thursday about the risk of rabies after three Americans — including a child — died from the disease over a six-week period last year. All three patients contracted rabies after being exposed to bats. This brings […]

Oscar Wong/Getty Images (ATLANTA) — Most American adults are not getting enough of their fruits and vegetables, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with even greater disparities found for those living in poverty. The report, published Thursday, found that only 10% of adults are eating the recommended daily […]

Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images (NEW YORK) — In the midst of a new pandemic surge, another seemingly new ailment is now grabbing headlines: flurona. Despite the catchy name, “flurona” is not new. It is a term coined to describe what happens when a person tests positive for the flu […]

Johnny Louis/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — As U.S. COVID-19 cases continue to surge, some health care facilities have been forced to shut down facilities or departments as staffing shortages worsen. Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was forced to close labor and delivery units, while keeping open, at least for now, NICU and postpartum […]

Xesai/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — With the explosion of coronavirus cases in the U.S., fueled in part by the highly contagious omicron variant, Americans are once again facing a wave of sickness and the anxiety and stress that comes with it. Those who believed that mass vaccination would help bat the virus down over the […]

JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Pfizer boosters for 12- to 15-year-olds. The moves comes as schools reopen after the holiday break. In a release, the FDA said it has amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to also shorten the time between the […]

ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Hundreds to thousands of calls come in to the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) each week from disabled people across the country with questions about COVID-19, vaccinations, testing spots and more. As one of the first call centers to focus specifically on the needs of disabled […]

Al Bello/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — Amid pushback from some public health officials on new Centers for Disease Control guidance for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, which does not require a negative test to end isolation after five days, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease specialist, said changes to the guidance […]