Health Headlines
Moderna awarded $590M to help accelerate development of mRNA-based bird flu vaccine: HHS
??????? ???????/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Moderna has been awarded approximately $590 million from the federal government to help speed up the development of an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine, alongside other influenza vaccines, health officials announced Friday.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a press release that the funding will allow the pharmaceutical company to accelerate the development of an H5N1 mRNA influenza vaccine "that is well matched to strains currently circulating in cows and birds and expands the clinical data supporting the use of mRNA vaccines that may be needed if other influenza strains emerge with pandemic potential."Moderna said the funding will support the expansion of clinical studies "for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic ... Read More
What 3rd case of bird flu with unknown source of infection could mean in fight against disease
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images(SAN FRANCISCO) -- A child in San Francisco was recently confirmed to be the third human case of bird flu in the United States in which it's unclear how the person got infected.Cases have been spreading across the country since April 2024 with 67 confirmed as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Most human cases have occurred after coming into contact with infected cattle, infected poultry farms or other culling operations.The CDC and other public health officials say there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission and the risk to the general public is low.Doctors tell ABC News they agree but, with few cases that have an unknown -- or unclear -- source of infection, ... Read More
Cancer diagnoses rising faster in women, especially those under 50: Report
fstop123/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Women are now being diagnosed with cancer more often than men in certain age groups, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.Among adults aged 50-64, cancer rates are slightly higher in women, and women under 50 are almost twice as likely as men in the same age group to receive a cancer diagnosis.The report, released Thursday, found that while deaths continue to decrease, troubling racial disparities persist, with white Americans more likely to survive cancer than other groups.Meanwhile, the report echoed data from recent years suggesting a worrying increase in cancer diagnosis among younger Americans, with colon cancer rates increasing among adults 65 and younger.Broadly, the report suggested doctors are getting better at ... Read More
FDA bans use of Red No. 3 dye in food, drinks
Canned cherries made with red dye #3/Photo credit: Linnea Bullion For The Washington Post via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving to ban the use of Red No. 3 dye in food products.The agency said Wednesday it is amending its color additive regulations to no longer allow the use of Red No. 3 in food, beverages and ingested drugs, in response to a 2022 petition from health groups and activists.FD&C Red No. 3, also known as Red 3, is a synthetic food dye that gives foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red color. It is primarily used in foods such as candy, cakes and cupcakes, cookies, frozen desserts, frosting and icings, and some ingested drugs.At least ... Read More
Some health care facilities remain closed amid California wildfires
Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Health care centers and medical facilities remain closed as the devastating California wildfires spread.At least 24 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as of Monday morning. Additionally, 105,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders and another 87,000 are under evacuation warnings.Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest health care systems in California, said most of its facilities remain open and operational but seven remain closed, including facilities in the cities and neighborhoods of Pasadena, Rosemead, Santa Monica, Canyon County and Sylmar.Keck Medicine of USC shared an update to its website stating that all affiliated hospitals remain open but at least nine clinics remain closed, including those in ... Read More
California wildfires can take mental health toll on residents, firefighters
Apu Gomes/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- As devastating wildfires continue to spread across southern California, thousands of structures have been destroyed or damaged and at least five people have been killed.Residents and firefighters have suffered physical injuries, but doctors say the wildfires can also take a heavy mental health toll on civilians and first responders."I think when disaster like this is unfolding, it makes sense to prioritize people's lives and mortality but, over time, we have to think about mental health consequences too," Dr. Sarah Lowe, associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at Yale School of Public Health, told ABC News."We also know that mental and physical health are connected," she continued. "While mental health symptoms might not necessarily be linked to ... Read More
Could Meta ending fact-checking lead to rise in health misinformation?
Marko Geber/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Meta -- the company that operates Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp --announced on Tuesday it was ending third-party fact-checking.Some social media policy experts and public health experts are worried that the end of fact-checking could lead to the spread of medical and science misinformation and disinformation. This is especially worrisome as the U.S. is in the throes of respiratory virus season and is fighting the spread of bird flu."There's going to be a rise in all kinds of disinformation, misinformation, from health to hate speech and everything in between," Megan Squire, deputy director for data analytics and open-source intelligence at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told ABC News. "[Health] is supposed to be a nonpartisan ... Read More
As 1st bird flu death reported in US, what could happen with virus in 2025?
Human Bird Flu Cases in the U.S. as of January 6, 2025. Image by ABC News. Data via CDC.(NEW YORK) -- In the nearly nine months since the first human case of bird flu was detected in the United States, the virus has continued to spread.The outbreak infected hundreds of herds and millions of birds before it spread to humans. As of Jan. 6, there have been 66 human cases of bird flu reported in 10 states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Almost all confirmed cases involve direct contact with infected cattle or infected livestock.On Tuesday, the first death of a human bird flu patient was reported in Louisiana. The patient was over the ... Read More
1st bird flu death in the US reported in Louisiana
Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images(LOUISIANA) -- The first person has died of bird flu in the United States, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed on Monday.The patient, who was exposed to non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, was over age 65 and had underlying medical conditions, officials said.Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the patient was experiencing the first case of severe bird flu in the U.S.At the time, a spokesperson from the Louisiana Department of Health told ABC News the patient was experiencing severe respiratory illness related to bird flu infection and was in critical condition. The patient remains the only human case of bird flu confirmed in Louisiana.The U.S. has seen an increase ... Read More
What you need to know about HMPV as China sees rise in cases
Roger Harris/Getty Images(CHINA) -- Chinese health officials are reportedly monitoring an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV).There is currently no evidence that the outbreak is out of the ordinary or that a new respiratory virus or illness has emerged in China.A spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) said data from China indicates "there has been a recent rise in acute respiratory infections" but that "the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China this year are lower than last year."Cases of HMPV have been steadily increasing in the U.S. since November 2024 with 1.94% of weekly tests positive for HMPV as of Dec. 28, 2024, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By ... Read More
Surgeon general warns of link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk
Westend61/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory on Friday warning of a link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.Consuming any type of alcohol, including beer, wine or spirits, increases the risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast cancer for women, as well as cancers of the colorectum, esophagus, larynx, liver, mouth, and throat, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote in a post on X, announcing the release of the advisory.Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, according to the surgeon general's advisory.For some cancers, including breast, mouth, and throat cancers, the risk of developing cancer may increase at one or fewer drinks per ... Read More
What to know about the Mediterranean diet, ranked best diet for 8th year in a row
(istetiana/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) -- The Mediterranean diet -- which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains -- has once again topped U.S. News and World Report's annual ranking of best diets.The publication on Friday named the diet the best overall diet for the eighth year in a row.The Mediterranean diet scored a 4.8 out of 5 based on an evaluation of several factors, including nutritional completeness, health risks and benefits, long-term sustainability and evidence-based effectiveness, according to U.S. News and World Report.The diet also scored the top spot in 11 additional categories in the publication's annual rankings, including easiest-to-follow, gut health, weight loss and mental health.The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which focuses on whole foods and low ... Read More
Dry January: What is it and how beneficial can giving up alcohol be?
Makoto Honda/500px/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- If you’re feeling hungover from New Year’s Eve champagne or had one too many boozy eggnogs over the holidays, let January be a fresh start.Taking the challenge of going dry in January, or Dry January, i.e. having no alcohol for the entire month, is one resolution that might actually make you healthier.The Dry January campaign was started in 2013 by Alcohol Change U.K., a charity focused on reducing alcohol harm. For the past several years, the initiative has proved popular in the United States and other countries too.What are the health benefits of Dry January?While research on how quitting alcohol for a month affects your body is still limited, several studies have shown psychological and ... Read More
FDA begins testing aged raw cow’s milk cheese samples nationwide for bird flu
Al Drago/CQ Roll Call(NEW YORK) -- Federal health officials have begun collecting samples of aged raw cow's milk cheese across the U.S. to test for bird flu, the Food and Drug Administration announced.Sample collection started at the end of this month and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025, the FDA said Monday. If needed, the agency said it will extend the collection period.It comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a federal order earlier this month that raw milk samples nationwide would be collected and shared with the agency to be tested for bird flu.The FDA said it plans to collect 300 samples of raw cow's milk cheese that has been aged for at least 60 days ... Read More
Jimmy Carter leaves behind a global public health work legacy
Hum Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- As world leaders mourn the death of former President Jimmy Carter and remark on his political and policy legacy, doctors are remembering his efforts to prevent disease, and his legacy in furthering global public health.The 39th president spent five decades working to eradicate a parasitic disease, helped organize a major-drug donation program, and made advancements addressing the mental health crisis in the U.S.Dr. Julie Jacobson, currently a managing partner of the nonprofit Bridges to Development, helped to provide funding for the Carter Center's work in the Americas, Nigeria and Ethiopia while she worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for over a decade."He was hugely influential, I think particularly for the ... Read More
Top of page
