Bird flu cases in humans are ticking up as the U.S. government funnels more than $300 million into strengthening its response to the outbreak and health experts find worrisome mutations in H5N1.
Category: Public Health
EPA flags cancer risks tied to formaldehyde: 5 notes
Formaldehyde, a toxic chemical found in many common products, poses an “unreasonable risk” to human health, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a Jan. 2 report.
Listen: NPR and KFF Health News Explore How Racism and Violence Hurt Health
KFF Health News Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony and Emily Kwong, host of NPR’s podcast “Shortwave,” talk about Black families living in the aftermath of lynchings and police killings.
Respiratory virus activity continues to climb: 5 notes
Respiratory illness activity remains high nationwide, with emergency department visits and positive test rates rising for COVID-19, seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, according to a Jan. 3 news release from the CDC.
Biden commits $306M to bolster bird flu response
The Biden administration is committing $306 million to strengthen the nation’s response to the H5N1 avian influenza, according to a Jan. 3 HHS news release shared with Becker’s. The commitment aims to monitor and prepare for potential public health ris…
Experts call attention to troubling trend among children
Kidney stones typically affect older adults, but increasingly, children are presenting with the condition, according to research and accounts from physicians.
Surgeon General: 7 cancers linked to alcohol use
Each year, alcohol consumption contributes to about 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths, according to a Jan. 3 report from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD.
Syringe Exchange Fears Hobble Fight Against West Virginia HIV Outbreak
Health workers and researchers say an HIV outbreak in West Virginia that three years ago was called “the most concerning” in the U.S. continues to spread after state and local officials restricted syringe service programs.
Stimulant Users Are Caught in Fatal ‘Fourth Wave’ of Opioid Epidemic
The migration of fentanyl into illicit stimulants such as cocaine is especially dangerous for people who are not regular opioid users. That’s because they have a low tolerance for opioids, putting them at greater risk of an overdose. They also often don’t take precautions — such as not using alone and carrying the opioid reversal medication naloxone — so they’re unprepared if they overdose.
Norovirus, whooping cough cases hit decade high: 7 things to know
Cases of norovirus and whooping cough are rising across the U.S., prompting health officials to issue warnings as the country enters peak cold and flu season.
