Dozens of maternal health organizations and advocates are pressuring the California surgeon general to stop the rollout of a plan aimed at reducing maternal mortality, The Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 29.
Category: Public Health
Western North Carolina facing care access crisis in wake of Helene: 5 things to know
Western North Carolina is facing a healthcare crisis as communities struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact, The New York Times reported Oct. 28.
US health departments falling short on bird flu surveillance
The CDC has confirmed 34 human bird flu cases in 2024, but the total number remains elusive as health departments struggle to track the outbreak, KFF Health News reported Oct. 25.
How a Proposed Federal Heat Rule Might Have Saved These Workers’ Lives
Laborers have suffered in extreme heat triggered by climate change. Deaths aren’t inevitable, researchers say: Employers can save lives by providing ample water and breaks.
Black Americans Still Suffer Worse Health. Here’s Why There’s So Little Progress
The United States has made almost no progress in closing racial health disparities despite promises, research shows. The government, some critics argue, is often the underlying culprit.
Bird flu concerns escalate: 7 things to know
There are 31 confirmed cases of bird flu in the country, and experts are concerned that cases may continue to rise, giving opportunities for the flu to mutate, The New York Times reported Oct. 24.
Exclusive: Emails Reveal How Health Departments Struggle To Track Human Cases of Bird Flu
Emails show how health officials struggle to track the bird flu, partly in deference to the agricultural industry. As a result, researchers don’t know how often farmworkers are being infected — and could miss alarming signals.
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Less Than Two Weeks To Go
With Election Day rapidly approaching, abortion is gaining traction as a voting issue, according to public opinion polls. Meanwhile, states with abortion bans are reviving the lawsuit — dismissed by the Supreme Court on a technicality this year — that could roll back the availability of the abortion pill mifepristone. Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat, and Victoria Knight of Axios join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Tricia Neuman, senior vice president of KFF and executive director of its Program on Medicare Policy, about Medicare open enrollment and the changes to the federal program for 2025.
CDC recommends 2 COVID shots a year for older adults
On Oct. 23, the CDC updated its timeline recommendations for COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccines.
XEC poised to become dominant COVID variant: Preprint study
COVID-19 variant is expected to surpass KP.3.1.1 as the most dominant circulating variant, according to a preprint study from researchers at universities in Japan and the United Kingdom.
