Category: Public Health

FDA: Bird flu virus fragments detected in pasteurized milk

On April 23, the FDA said remnants of the bird flu virus have been detected in samples of pasteurized milk in the U.S. The agency said the finding does not change its assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe. 

Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don’t Meet Them.

The staffing regulation was disparaged by the industry as unattainable. Patient advocates say it doesn’t go far enough. Labor unions welcomed the requirement.

Bird flu a 'great concern' to public health: WHO

While emphasizing that no human-to-human transmission has occurred, global health officials are urging countries to closely track bird flu to detect any potential changes in the virus that may make it more adept at spreading to and among humans.

CDC probe into fake Botox grows: 5 notes

Health officials are now investigating at least 22 reports of harmful reactions linked to counterfeit or mishandled Botox injections in 11 states, the CDC said in an April 19 update. The agency first announced the probe earlier this. At that time, it w…

Hospitals could be asked to report emissions in 2026

Starting in 2026, CMS could ask hospitals to report emissions.

WHO updates terminology for airborne diseases

Following several years of collaboration with major public health agencies, the World Health Organization has broadened its classification of airborne diseases — a move that could have significant influence over infection control policies in countries …

Heat-related ED visits hit 6-year high in 2023: CDC

July and August 2023 had the highest rates of heat-related illness emergency department visits across the nation, and the risk was three times higher than in other warm months — demonstrating a rising trend in heat-related illnesses compared to the pre…

In San Francisco’s Chinatown, a CEO Works With the Community To Bolster Hospital

Jian Zhang, an immigrant from China with a doctorate in nursing, leads the 88-bed Chinese Hospital in San Francisco. The facility faces financial constraints like other independent hospitals, but its strong community support and partnerships have helped it weather tough times.

Newsom Offers a Compromise to Protect Indoor Workers from Heat

After rejecting proposed rules to protect millions of workers in sweltering warehouses, steamy kitchens, and other hot workplaces, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has offered a compromise to allow the protections to take effect this summer. But state and local correctional workers — and prisoners — would have to wait even longer.

Too Big To Fail? Now It’s ‘Too Big To Hack’

Congress this week had the chance to formally air grievances over the cascading consequences of the Change Healthcare cyberattack, and lawmakers from both major parties agreed on one culprit: consolidation in health care. Plus, about a year after states began stripping people from their Medicaid rolls, a new survey shows nearly a quarter of adults who were disenrolled are now uninsured. Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner interviews Caroline Pearson of the Peterson Health Technology Institute.