Health News

Russian embassy says North Korea lifted lockdown in capital

Russia’s embassy in North Korea says the country has eased stringent epidemic controls in capital Pyongyang that were placed during the past five days to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses.

2 days ago

Experts urge better opioid rescue drug access to save lives

Access has improved across the U.S. to a rescue drug that reverses opioid overdoses, but advocates say naloxone — commonly known by its brand name Narcan — still isn't getting to everyone who needs it.

3 days ago

Nuclear strike chief seeks cancer review of missile crews

The top Air Force general in charge of the nation’s air- and ground-launched nuclear missiles has requested an official investigation into the number of airmen who are reporting blood cancer diagnoses after serving at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.

3 days ago

FDA moves to ease rules for blood donations from gay men

The U.S. plans to make it easier for gay and bisexual men to give blood.

FDA’s advisers back plan to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations

The U.S. is poised to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like a yearly flu shot, a major shift in strategy despite a long list of questions about how to best protect against a still rapidly mutating virus.

California prison inmates to get some Medicaid care

The federal government will allow Medicaid dollars to treat some people in prisons, jails or juvenile detention centers for the first time ever.

Hong Kong to ban CBD, label it a 'dangerous drug'

Hong Kong will ban CBD starting Wednesday, labeling it a “dangerous drug.”.

Maternal deaths and disparities increase in Mississippi

A newly released report from the Mississippi State Department of Health finds that an increasing number of mothers in the state have died in recent years due to pregnancy complications.

Virginia Democrats defeat bills limiting abortion access

A Democratic-led Virginia Senate panel has defeated several bills that would have restricted abortion access in the state.

Texas death row inmates sue over solitary confinement

A group of Texas death row inmates have filed a federal lawsuit against the state’s prison system over its policy of mandatory and indefinite solitary confinement for all prisoners who are awaiting execution.

FDA's advisers back plan to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations

The U.S. is poised to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like a yearly flu shot.

US infiltrates big ransomware gang: 'We hacked the hackers'

Attorney General Merrick Garland and other U.S. officials say the FBI and international partners have at least temporarily disrupted the network of a prolific ransomware gang they infiltrated last year.

Illinois man charged in Planned Parenthood clinic fire

A central Illinois man has been charged with setting fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic earlier this month.

New lawsuits target state restrictions on abortion pills

Supporters of abortion rights have filed separate lawsuits challenging abortion pill restrictions in North Carolina and West Virginia.

FDA food safety official resigns, cites structural issues

The Food and Drug Administration's top food safety official has resigned.

Record 16.3 million seek health coverage through 'Obamacare'

The government says a record 16.3 million people sought health insurance through the Affordable Care Act this year.

Malawi cholera outbreak death toll rises above 1,000

Malawi’s health minister says a cholera outbreak has claimed more than 1,000 lives.

Guinea worm eradication effort enters ‘most difficult’ phase

The Carter Center said Tuesday that only 13 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide last year.

Doctor who molested patients convicted of federal sex counts

A gynecologist who molested some of his patients during a decadeslong career has been convicted of federal charges that he enticed women to cross state lines so he could abuse them.

Amazon launches a subscription prescription drug service

Amazon is adding a prescription drug discount program to its growing health care business.

FAO: Rising prices, food insecurity add to ranks of hungry

A report by the United Nations shows growing numbers of people in Asia lack enough to eat as food insecurity rises with higher prices and worsening poverty.

Oregon launches abortion hotline offering free legal advice

Oregon is launching a hotline offering free legal advice on abortion.

US proposes once-a-year COVID shots for most Americans

U.S. health officials want to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the annual flu shot.

‘Diamond’ of pro-Trump commentary duo dies of heart disease

Conservative political commentator Lynette Hardaway died earlier this month of a heart condition, according to a death certificate obtained by The Associated Press.

South Dakota tribe: Storm deaths 'could have been prevented'

A Native American tribe in South Dakota says several of its members died when December storms buried their reservation in snow and left them stranded.

Harris rallies against GOP push to roll back abortion rights

Vice President Kamala Harris is rallying supporters against efforts in Washington and in Republican-led states to restrict abortion on what would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe vs.

Brazil declares public health emergency for Yanomami people

Brazil’s government has declared a public health emergency for the Yanomami people in the Amazon who are suffering from malnutrition and diseases such as malaria as a consequence of illegal mining.

China accuses ‘some Western media’ of COVID-19 coverage bias

China has accused “some Western media" of bias, smears and political manipulation in their coverage of China's ending of its strict “zero-COVID" policy.

Religious leaders sue to block Missouri's abortion ban

A group of religious leaders who support abortion rights has filed a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s abortion ban, saying lawmakers openly invoked their religious beliefs while drafting the measure and thereby imposed those beliefs on others who don’t share them.

Navajo Nation rescinds mask mandate on vast reservation

The Navajo Nation has rescinded a mask mandate that's been in effect since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

March for Life eyes Congress for post-Roe abortion limits

A half century after Roe v. Wade, March for Life supporters are celebrating the dismantling of that constitutional right to abortion and heralding the political struggle set loose by the Supreme Court's decision.

J&J subsidiary to pay $9.75M to resolve kickback allegations

Federal prosecutors say a subsidiary of health care company Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to settle allegations that it violated federal and state law by providing free products to a surgeon.

This project is helping women who can’t afford postpartum care

Shades of Blue was created by a woman who experienced a traumatic birth.

Inspections of Ukrainian grain ships halved since October

Inspections of ships carrying Ukrainian grain and other food exports have slowed to half their peak rate under a U.N.-brokered wartime agreement.

Flavored cannabis marketing is criticized for targeting kids

As New York opens more legal outlets for recreational marijuana, some public health advocates want more scrutiny on how marijuana products are being marketed to teens and young adults.

Oregon's drug decriminalization gets poor marks on audit

Oregon’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization has had a rocky start, but the Oregon secretary of state says as part of an audit of the program that it’s too early to call it a failure.

New USDA rule boosts "organic" food oversight, targets fraud

The Agriculture Department issued new requirements for foods labeled organic, a move aimed at cracking down on fraud and boosting oversight.

Indiana's top court weighing challenge to state abortion ban

A top state lawyer has urged the Indiana Supreme Court to uphold the state’s Republican-backed abortion ban.

Study: Non-infectious diseases cause early death in Pakistan

A British-based medical journal says Pakistan has made progress over infectious diseases but now struggles against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer as causes of early deaths.

Hong Kong to scrap isolation rule for new COVID-19 cases

Hong Kong's leader says the city will scrap its mandatory isolation rule for people infected with COVID-19 starting Jan. 30 as part of its strategy to return to normalcy.

Lesion removed from Jill Biden's eyelid was non-cancerous

The White House says a lesion removed by surgeons last week from first lady Jill Biden’s left eyelid was a non-cancerous growth.

Transgender youth reemerge as statehouse focal point in Utah

Utah is among a group of states considering limiting transgender kids from receiving certain health care, including puberty blockers, hormones and surgery.

US divided over Roe's repeal as abortion foes gird for march

Anti-abortion activists will have multiple reasons to celebrate — and some reasons for unease — when they gather Friday in Washington for the annual March for Life.

Feds to investigate nursing home abuse of antipsychotics

The federal government says it will begin a targeted crackdown on nursing homes’ abuse of antipsychotic drugs and misdiagnoses of schizophrenia in patients.

Shooting by 6-year-old raises complex cultural questions

Even in a country where gun violence is commonplace, the story of a small boy with a gun is reverberating in a big way.

World Food Program chief: Somali famine slowed, not avoided

The head of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning World Food Program says support from donors like the United States and Germany have allowed it to postpone — though not entirely avert — famine in Somalia.

Florida warns pharmacists not to dispense abortion pills

The Florida Agency of Healthcare Administration last week warned healthcare providers not to distribute abortion pills, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Jill Biden's skin cancer could fuel advocacy in cancer fight

First lady Jill Biden's advocacy for curing cancer didn't start with her son's death in 2015 from brain cancer.

Pakistan launches anti-polio drive targeting 44M children

Pakistan is launching its first anti-polio campaign of the year, targeting more than 44 million children under the age of five.

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information

The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep releasing information about its wave of COVID-19 infections.

China reports 60,000 COVID-related deaths, says peak passed

China has reported nearly 60,000 deaths in people who had COVID-19 since early December following complaints it was failing to release data about the status of the pandemic.

Holidays didn't lead to feared bump in flu cases, CDC says

New U.S. government data suggests holiday gatherings didn’t spark surges in respiratory diseases.

Nursing home owner faces new lawsuit in Ida storm evacuation

A Louisiana nursing home owner is facing a new lawsuit over evacuating residents to a squalid warehouse to ride out Hurricane Ida in 2021.

Poland lawmakers back law intended to release EU funds

Poland’s lawmakers have voted to approve a new law on judicial accountability that the government hopes will meet European Union expectations and help unfreeze billions of euros in pandemic recovery funds for the country.

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