Category: Public Health

The US Remains a Grim Leader in Preterm Births. Why? And Can We Fix It?

American women are more likely to deliver their babies prematurely than women in most developed countries. It’s a distinction that coincides with high rates of maternal and infant death, billions of dollars in costs, and even lifelong disabilities for the children who survive.

Mayo Clinic considers development of avian flu test, monitors potential of human outbreak

While acknowledging the risk of a human-to-human outbreak of avian flu is currently low, Matthew Binnicker, PhD, director of clinical virology at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, isn’t taking any chances.

'Deaths of despair' pushed Minnesota's death rate up in COVID-19's first year: study

Minnesota’s death rate increased 17 percent during the first year of the pandemic, driven by both COVID-19 and other preventable deaths of despair from overdoses, alcohol use and malnutrition, according to new findings from researchers at Rochester, Mi…

CDC, FDA respond to Florida surgeon general's COVID vaccine claims

In an effort to “correct the associated misinterpretations and misinformation” about COVID-19 vaccines, the FDA and CDC wrote a joint response to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, after he claimed the vaccines pose severe risks.

Breaking the cycle of childhood obesity

Every specialty has its burden, and pediatric endocrinology’s is obesity. Primary care providers refer because they or the child’s parents suspect the cause is hormonal. It almost never is. The overly adipose child invariably has, using old…

Has life returned to normal? 8 COVID-19 experts weigh in

Three years into the pandemic, many medical experts have let their guards down and resumed some semblance of normal life, though most agree there is still a time and place for COVID-19 precautions, The Washington Post reported March 12. 

COVID-19 origin declassification bill heads to Biden's desk

A bill to declassify information about the pandemic’s origins passed the House on March 10 and now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk, according to The Hill. 

The holistic solution to obesity: Addressing mind, body, and behaviors for lasting weight loss

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro. These names have entered our common parlance within the last year via news articles, television stories, and celebrity exposes. Everyone from Hollywood to your neighbor seems to be on medication for weight loss or trying to f…

Forecasts of SARS-CoV-2 variant scenarios reveal what turns the virus could take

Looking ahead to June, researchers released forecasts for hospitalizations and death tolls of five different SARS-CoV-2 variant scenarios eyeing what might be next and how to prepare accordingly.

Biden Budget Touches All the Bases

Very little in the proposed budget released by the Biden administration is likely to become law, particularly with Republicans in charge of the U.S. House. Still, the document is an important statement of the president’s policy priorities, and it’s clear health programs are among those he feels are important. Meanwhile, five women who were denied abortions when their pregnancies threatened their lives are suing Texas. Shefali Luthra of The 19th, Victoria Knight of Axios, and Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times join KHN’s Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Harris Meyer, who reported and wrote the two latest KHN-NPR “Bill of the Month” features. Both were about families facing unexpected bills following childbirth.