Two rare bird flu strains have emerged since late January, prompting public health concerns during a freeze on federal health communications.
Category: Public Health
Biden Rule Cleared Hurdles to Lifesaving HIV Drug, but in Georgia Barriers Remain
A new rule requires insurers to improve coverage of PrEP, which can prevent HIV, but Georgians face challenges getting the drug.
Access tops list of Americans' healthcare concerns: 4 survey findings
A quarter of Americans rank healthcare access and affordability as the top public health priority they want government leaders to focus on, according to poll findings from Gallup and Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.
California Housing Officials Recommend State Protect Renters From Extreme Heat
State officials say homes should be able to be cooled to a safe indoor air temperature of 82 degrees. The legislature will now take up the report.
Trump’s Already Gone Back on His Promise To Leave Abortion to States
On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump said the power to make abortion policies “has been returned to the states.” In his first two weeks in office, he’s already gone further to restrict abortion than any president who’s held office since the 1973 “Roe v. Wade” decision, writes Julie Rovner.
CDC restores some purged healthcare files
The CDC has begun restoring some of the files it had recently purged from its website, following some criticism from the medical community and the public, The New York Times reported Feb. 3.
FDA OKs pig organ transplant trials for patients with kidney failure: 5 notes
The FDA has approved two biotechnology companies to begin clinical trials of xenotransplantation, a procedure whereby genetically modified pig organs are transplanted into humans. The breakthrough offers new hope for thousands of Americans suffering ki…
Little Tracking, Wide Variability Permeate the Teams Tasked With Stopping School Shootings
Several states require schools to assemble teams of law enforcement and education officials to identify students who could become mass shooters and intervene before it’s too late. But some experts say the efforts often face a lack of guidance and significant pressure, putting them at risk of maligning innocent students.
26 states reporting high respiratory virus activity: 5 updates
The CDC reported high levels of respiratory virus activity across the U.S. Flu-related emergency department visits remain very high, while COVID-19 visits are low and RSV-related visits are moderate, according to the latest data.
The case for vaccine hesitancy questionnaires
Asking patients to complete a brief vaccine hesitancy questionnaire before a checkup could help physicians quickly understand concerns and address them effectively during appointments, MIT Technology Review reported Jan. 31.
