Opposition to vaccines and other public health measures backed by science has become politically charged. That makes dangerous misinformation much harder to fight.
Category: Public Health
CDC to physicians: Be alert for measles
The CDC is urging healthcare providers to monitor patients for measles symptoms amid a recent uptick in U.S. cases, according to Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
Senate Probes the Cost of Assisted Living and Its Burden on American Families
In the wake of a KFF Health News-New York Times series, members of the Special Committee on Aging are asking residents and their families to submit their bills and are calling for a Government Accountability Office study.
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Health Enters the Presidential Race
New Hampshire voters have spoken, and it seems increasingly clear that this November’s election will pit President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump. Both appear to be making health a key part of their campaigns, with Trump vowing (again) to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and Biden stressing his support for contraception and abortion rights. Meanwhile, both candidates will try to highlight efforts to rein in prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Somers of the National Health Law Program about the potential consequences for the health care system if the Supreme Court overturns a key precedent attempting to balance executive vs. judicial power.
CDC dismisses severity claims of JN.1 variant
The CDC has rejected findings from Ohio State University researchers that the JN.1 coronavirus variant is more severe than previous strains.
How IDSA is boosting infectious disease expert, public health collaboration
The Infectious Disease Society of America has announced the success of a program it jointly developed in 2017 aimed at drawing more physicians into the field and building a strong path to retain more of them in positions at the public health level.
Rare fungal infection gains prevalence in new region
Blastomycosis, a rare infection caused by the fungus Blastomyces, may be more common in the U.S. than previously thought, particularly in the Northeast, the CDC said Jan. 24.
A more accurate Alzheimer's blood detection test is on the horizon
A blood test that could detect signs of Alzheimer’s disease even prior to symptom onset is in the works, and early evaluation of it has proven to be highly accurate, according to new research, published Jan. 22 in JAMA.
Philadelphia measles outbreak eases, but US should expect more cases, experts warn
More than a week has passed since a new measles case was reported in connection with the Philadelphia outbreak. City health officials said Jan. 23 that they will continue to monitor the situation, but wind down updates further if no additional cases ar…
Preparing to Hang Up the Car Keys as We Age
As cognitive skills erode with age, driving skills weaken, but an aging driver may not recognize that. Advance directives on driving are one way to handle this challenge.
