Category: Health Fitness

The number of measles cases reported in the U.S. in a single week has topped 90 for the first time since a record wave in 2019, according to figures published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ninety-one cases of measles were reported with rashes that began the week of March 23, with…

How Health and Human Safety Department cuts could affect your health – CBS News Watch CBS News In his first network TV interview since becoming Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sat down with Dr. Jon LaPook. Kennedy said he was not familiar with cuts to programs that could have a devastating…

Jenny Pierre has a master’s degree in business administration and speaks five languages. However, her education couldn’t help with something that many other women experience but many don’t want to talk about, but Pierre does. “At my lowest point, my menstruation was 28 days per month. It was very painful. I would end up in…

One Faribault, Minnesota, woman says every day is simply a “gift” as she’s the only known person in the world with her unnamed genetic disorder. “I was told that she probably wouldn’t make it past a year. And she’s 26 and we don’t know what the future holds for us,” Iris Enriquez’s mother, Daisy Slack,…

Because of past fraud by rogue brokers, some Affordable Care Act policyholders may get an unexpected tax bill this season. But that isn’t the only potential shock. Other changes coming soon – stemming from proposals by the administration of President Donald Trump – could affect their coverage and its cost. And sorting out related problems…

It has been nearly three years since the launch of the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and since then, millions seeking help have used the call center as a life-saving resource. But understaffing and underfunding threaten to upend the hotline’s mission. The nation’s 988 hotline works like 911, bringing critical access to care for those…

Massachusetts has some of the best health care in the country, but it’s far from perfect. Black women in particular experience complications during childbirth two-and-a-half times more often than their white counterparts, and they face a pregnancy-related death rate that’s more than three times the rate of white mothers. Researchers at at the Center for…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has begun redeploying staff to respond to the deadly outbreak of measles in Texas, a spokesperson said Monday, a week after steep layoffs at the agency impacted its response to the spread of the virus.  “A team of three deployed yesterday to meet with county and state officials…

A second school-aged child has died in Texas from a measles-related illness, a hospital spokesperson confirmed Sunday. The child’s death comes as an outbreak of measles originating in West Texas continues to spread. Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complications of measles…

RFK Jr. says 20% of health agency layoffs could be mistakes – CBS News Watch CBS News Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday that he expects about 20% of fired employees may have been cut by mistake, and some could be brought back, following widespread layoffs directed by…

Some of the Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to support testing for the ongoing bird flu outbreak have been disrupted due to steep layoffs at the agency, multiple officials told CBS News Thursday, in the latest fallout from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s cuts to the nation’s federal health agencies. In…

Senior Food and Drug Administration leaders are planning for cutbacks to the number of routine food and drug inspections conducted by the agency, multiple officials say, due to steep layoffs this week in support staff.  Around 170 workers were cut from the FDA’s Office of Inspections and Investigations, according to two federal health officials who…

Teams handling Freedom of Information Act requests at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration were gutted Tuesday as part of the widespread job cuts ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., multiple officials said.  The process of fulfilling FOIA requests from reporters, advocacy groups…

Experts on fighting bird flu As egg prices soar, health officials discuss options to fight bird flu 05:01 Some Egg Beaters and Bob Evans liquid egg products are under recall because they may include a cleaning solution with bleach, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.  The liquid egg substitutes were recalled by Cargill Kitchen Solutions…

West Virginia has outlawed foods that contain some artificial dyes or other additives, in one of the most comprehensive statewide bans of its kind. The move cites potentially harmful health effects and comes amid a broader push from scientists and government leaders to clamp down on synthetics in the nation’s food supply. On Monday, West Virginia Gov….

A Michigan resident has died of rabies after receiving a transplanted organ in Ohio, the Toledo-Lucas County (Ohio) Health Department reported Wednesday.  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the report, saying the patient died in January and the transplant happened in December. “A public health investigation determined they contracted rabies through the…

An 8-year-old northern Minnesota boy is one of the first in the country to receive a specific type of gene therapy treatment. Colton Belluzzo was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy when he was a baby. The disease has weakened his muscles over time. But he and his family now have good reason to…

PLEASANTVILLE, Iowa — Zach Mecham has heard politicians demand that Medicaid recipients work or lose their benefits. He also has run into a jumble of Medicaid rules that effectively prevent many people with disabilities from holding full-time jobs. “Which is it? Do you want us to work or not?” he said. Mecham, 31, relies on…

An 8-year-old northern Minnesota boy is one of the first in the country to receive a specific type of gene therapy treatment. Colton Belluzzo was diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy when he was a baby. The disease has weakened his muscles over time. But he and his family now have good reason to…

Residency programs are where medical students get post-graduate hands-on experience. It’s a very competitive process. “We are officially excited to welcome you to Match Day 2025,” said Dr. DaCarla Albright, associate dean for Student Affairs and Wellness at Perelman School of Medicine. Graduating medical students at the University of Pennsylvania found out where they’ll go…

Paul Safarik, 32, of Lincoln, Nebraska, has worked in the food industry since he was 21, delivering for quick service restaurants like Raising Cane’s and stocking groceries at stores like Trader Joe’s. With his earnings, Safarik, who has Down syndrome, recently bought a treadmill to stay active when the weather’s bad and helped cover the…

Officials at agencies throughout the Department of Health and Human Services say they are bracing for steep layoffs, as Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his aides are nearing their final decisions on a sweeping restructuring of the department. Decisions by Kennedy and his team on the changes to the department’s makeup and organization are…

The benefits all students gain from an LGBT-inclusive sex education curriculum – CBS News Watch CBS News For students who identify as LGBTQ+, learning in school about sexual health-related issues that concern them can be nearly impossible to find. GLSEN Education Manager Becca Mui spoke to CBSN Originals about how an inclusive-sex education curriculum benefits…

How the Zika virus changed travel in Latin America and the Caribbean – CBS News Watch CBS News The places hardest hit with Zika are also some of the most popular tourist destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean. During 2015-2016 outbreak, tourism declined and traveler demographics changed in affected areas, while Zika-free destinations got…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will step up its testing for heavy metals in infant formula and review nutrients required in the products used to feed millions of babies, the agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday. “The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal…

CDC’s airplane testing seeks to prevent another pandemic – CBS News Watch CBS News Five years ago, COVID-19 touched down on U.S. soil when a man from Washington state flew home after a trip to Wuhan, China. But for days, officials didn’t know he was carrying the virus because the U.S. at the time wasn’t…

PepsiCo is acquiring prebiotic soda brand Poppi for almost $2 billion, the beverage giant said on Monday. Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo had reportedly planned to start its own so-called functional soda under its Soulboost brand, but decided instead to purchase Poppi, a brand that combines prebiotics, fruit juice and apple cider to craft a low-calorie…

The U.S. has seen at least 308 measles cases so far this year, according to figures published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking the most infections reported nationwide in a single year since a record 2019 wave. More than 90% of the cases have been from a growing outbreak in Texas…

As millions of Americans travel for spring break getaways, some may face an invisible danger. Carbon monoxide poisoning could be a risk at hotels or vacation rentals. You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide gas, but it’s the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,…

Trader Joe’s is cautioning customers that some glass bottles of Gerolsteiner sparkling water sold in 12 states could be cracked or damaged. About 61,500 bottles of the product are being recalled because they pose a potential laceration hazard, according to a notice posted Thursday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  The recalled bottles were…

5 years on, what we learned from the COVID pandemic response – CBS News Watch CBS News It’s been five years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, driving billions of people indoors and killing more than a million people in the U.S. Dr. Jon LaPook examines what lessons we can take away from that…

Bird flu ripping through California dairy farms – CBS News Watch CBS News California has over 1,100 dairy farms, two-thirds of which have been impacted by the bird flu outbreak. A leading suspect is contaminated milking machines. Dr. Jon LaPook reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and…

In recent years, research has suggested a connection between oral bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease, raising concerns for those with poor dental health. With nearly 700 species of bacteria inhabiting the human mouth, experts say maintaining good oral hygiene could benefit both heart and brain health. There is growing evidence suggesting good oral health could help…

Former heart surgeon and television host Dr. Mehmet Oz is set to face questions Friday from the Senate’s finance committee over his nomination to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Trump. After Friday’s hearing, the GOP-led finance committee will schedule a vote on whether to send Oz’s nomination to the full…

Washington — The White House is withdrawing former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon’s nomination to be the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a White House official confirmed Thursday. An administration official who was asked about why Weldon’s nomination was withdrawn responded, “It was clear he did not have the votes in the…

Food additive safety under scrutiny as RFK Jr. meets with industry leaders – CBS News Watch CBS News As concerns over food additives grow, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with top food executives to discuss stricter regulations under his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. A recent poll shows 58% of…

There aren’t that many women who are presidents of hospitals, but Riddle Hospital President Shelly Buck knows all about breaking boundaries. Research shows only about 14% of hospital CEOs are female. But Buck, who started her career as a nurse, has broken the glass ceiling. “I’ve experienced some challenges that you normally wouldn’t have in…

Lifesaving training is now available to the Hispanic and Latino community in North Philadelphia. At Wednesday’s ribbon cutting event, the Maria de los Santos Health Center welcomed a new lifesaving training device aimed at helping people who speak Spanish learn how to perform CPR. It’s a Spanish-speaking, hands-only CPR kiosk that teaches people how to…

Health care is so expensive that 31 million U.S. adults, or 12%, had to borrow a total of $74 billion last year to obtain medical care, new data shows. That includes people with health insurance, making such numbers even more troubling.  Almost one-third of the more than 3,500 people surveyed by Gallup and West Health,…

A special education teacher at Huron High School in New Boston, Michigan, gathered with students on Wednesday to make blankets for families of organ donors.  Jackie Dennis had just given birth in 2020 when her health went downhill. After a little over a month on life support, doctors began preparation for a double lung transplant. …

Melbourne, Australia — An Australian man credited with saving 2.4 million babies through his record-breaking blood plasma donations over six decades, has died, his family said Tuesday. He was 88. James Harrison, a retired state railway department clerk, died in a nursing home on the central coast of New South Wales state on Feb. 17,…

Measles outbreaks across North America are threatening the region’s status of having officially eliminated the virus, officials from the Pan-American Health Organization warned, potentially undoing a hard-fought victory to wipe out community transmission. The U.N. agency pointed to a 4.5-times increase in reported measles cases this year across North and South America, compared to the…

The top communications official under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly resigned last week, just two weeks after being sworn in to be the department’s assistant secretary for public affairs. The resignation of Thomas Corry, a Trump administration appointee, was first reported by Politico. Corry did not respond to multiple requests…

A recent Harvard Business Review article identified a phenomenon called “meeting hangovers” which new research shows can derail productivity well beyond the meeting itself. A survey conducted by University of North Carolina Charlotte and other institutions found that more than 90% of employees occasionally experience these “meeting hangovers,” with over half reporting that these negative effects…

Breakfast snack packs sold at Kroger and Meijer stores in 13 states are being recalled because they contain wheat and eggs that are not listed on the label, posing a risk of serious reactions if eaten by those allergic to either ingredient, according to a notice posted Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The recall…

More than 10% of the staff working for the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration were fired this month as part of the government-wide cuts to recently hired federal workers ordered by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, task force. The cuts amounted to around 100 probationary workers, multiple current and…

Pope Francis had a calm night with no more crises after suffering a bronchial crisis that prompted a sudden worsening of his health, the Vatican said in a short update on Saturday morning. The pope woke up, had coffee and read newspapers, the Vatican said, and he continues to be able to move and sit…

“Weathering” and its effect on poor health and life expectancy – CBS News Watch CBS News Arline Geronimus’ research indicates societal pressures like institutional racism, classism, financial stressors or the environment can impact not just the length of life, but also the quality of life for marginalized communities suffering chronic diseases. She talks with correspondent…

The Food and Drug Administration was allowed to participate in the World Health Organization’s meeting this week on updating influenza shots, officials for the U.N. agency said, despite an order by President Trump last month banning government employees from working with the WHO. The administration has granted some exemptions to the order. “FDA, the same…

Deadly listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplemental shakes – CBS News Watch CBS News The Food and Drug Administration is investigating a possible link between frozen supplemental shakes and a deadly listeria outbreak. The now-recalled shakes are typically sold to hospitals and nursing homes, which is where nearly all of the cases have been reported….

CDC warns of surge in flu cases Why the CDC is warning that this flu season is on track to be one of the worst in a decade 03:26 This season’s influenza vaccines may have been less effective against emergency room visits for some kids compared to last year, a new study by the Centers…

The Food and Drug Administration unexpectedly canceled an annual meeting of its advisers to update next season’s influenza vaccines, an adviser on the panel and multiple officials confirm to CBS News, potentially upending the process to start manufacturing next winter’s flu shots. “We’re all left trying to understand what is going on. Why was this…

Dozens of passengers aboard a cruise ship that left from Florida have been sickened with norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program. Holland America Line’s Eurodam left Port Everglades, Florida, on Feb. 19, according to the tracking site cruisemapper.com. The cruise is scheduled to last 10 days and make…

An unknown illness has killed over 50 people in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to doctors in the central African nation and the World Health Organization. The interval between the onset of symptoms and death has been just 48 hours in the majority of cases, and “that’s what’s really worrying,” Serge…

Denny’s is the latest breakfast chain to charge extra for orders containing eggs, an ever-costlier commodity in short supply due to the killing of millions of egg-laying hens as a result of bird flu. The restaurant said the additional and temporary fee will vary by region and location. The move by the Spartanburg, South Carolina-based…

A listeria outbreak linked to recalled frozen supplemental nutrition shakes has infected 38 people, killing 12, according to an update on Monday from federal and state health officials. The infections, which ranged across 21 states, have been traced to recalled products manufactured by Prairie Farms Dairy at a facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Swabs collected…

Meet Dr. Arlene Bennett, who pioneered the way for Black women at the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school. She was the first Black woman to graduate from Penn’s medical school in 1964 and recently shared how she made the most of her opportunities. There is a lot of laughter at tea time at the Simpson…

Forty years ago, the public was outraged.  It seemed there was a wave of teenage girls, particularly Black teenage girls, getting pregnant. “This was a new idea, this new deviant class of people, and it was portrayed in these terms that were really not accurate: babies having babies,” said Arline Geronimus. Geronimus was at the…

Gottlieb “very concerned” about Texas measles outbreak: “I think this will spread” – CBS News Watch CBS News “I think that this is going to get into the hundreds of cases and could take many months to fully snuff out,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the FDA, said about the ongoing measles outbreak…

FDA says Ozempic, Wegovy are not in short supply anymore, which could impact prices – CBS News Watch CBS News The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Ozempic and Wegovy, the popular GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss, are no longer in short supply. CBS News New York reporter Ali Bauman reports on whether…

Millions facing starvation in Sudan Millions facing starvation in Sudan after nearly 2 years of civil war 06:29 A cholera outbreak in a southern Sudanese city killed nearly 60 people and sickened about 1,300 others over the last three days, health authorities said Saturday. The outbreak in the southern city of Kosti was blamed mainly…

New York doctor faces criminal charges in Louisiana for prescribing abortion pills – CBS News Watch CBS News Dr. Margaret Carpenter, who legally practices in New York, is fighting extradition after Louisiana officials charged her for mailing abortion pills. As restrictive state laws clash with legal protections, Gov. Kathy Hochul vows to defend providers under…

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday it had officially declared an end to the nationwide shortage of Ozempic and Wegovy, medications used for diabetes and weight loss. The agency first declared a shortage of semaglutide, the main ingredient used to make Ozempic and Wegovy, in 2022. The FDA’s announcement comes months after drugmaker Novo…

Funds restored for 9/11-related cancer research, officials say Funds restored for 9/11-related cancer research, officials say 00:48 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has restored a $257,000 contract for 9/11-related cancer research after the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, tried to cancel it, officials say. The contract pays for data processing…

The nation’s largest airlines are looking to rescind new consumer protection rules for travelers with disabilities, arguing in court filings that the U.S. Department of Transportation had exceeded its authority in enacting them.  In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, the trade group Airlines for America and five…

Experts looking for new ways to stop the spread of bird flu Experts looking for new ways to stop the spread of bird flu 02:12 Some lots of raw pet food sold in two states are being recalled after two indoor cats became ill with bird flu earlier this month and were euthanized due to…

Trump eyes COVID vaccine mandates in schools Trump bars federal funds for schools with COVID vaccine mandates 05:24 Washington — President Trump signed an executive order Friday that prohibits schools and colleges with COVID-19 vaccine mandates from receiving federal money, though no states currently have such a requirement.  The directive only applies to the COVID-19…

Washington — President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that directs his administration to find ways to reduce the high costs of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, for Americans struggling with fertility.  At an event at Mar-a-Lago, White House staff secretary Will Scharf told reporters that the order directs the Domestic Policy Council “to…

Louisiana requests extradition of New York doctor who prescribed abortion pills online – CBS News Watch CBS News A state judge in Texas ordered a New York doctor to pay a $100,000 fine for sending abortion medication to a woman in Texas, where most abortions are banned. The same doctor faces criminal charges in Louisiana….

Minneapolis parents of sons with rare condition advocate for cure Minneapolis parents of sons with rare condition advocate for cure 03:49 Caleb Kasner and his brother Duncan Kasner move around a little differently than average kids. The two brothers have Duchenne muscular dystrophy — a rare, inherited muscle-wasting disorder that has no cure. “Caleb stopped…

Measles outbreak in Texas raises concerns – CBS News Watch CBS News Officials have confirmed 48 measles cases, most of them in Gaines County, Texas. According to the CDC, cases have also been found this year in four other states and New Mexico’s health department recently confirmed a case. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine…

FDA’s approval of non-opioid pain pill could be game-changer – CBS News Watch CBS News The Federal Drug Administration last month approved Journavx, a new kind of non-addictive pain medication. Doctors say Journavx is an important alternative because the power of opioids helped fuel an overdose epidemic and a surge in fentanyl use. Stephanie Stahl…

A new resource is bringing culturally appropriate health care providers to Black Coloradans. It’s called the Colorado Black Health Resource Directory — a collaboration between Colorado Black Health Collaborative and Connect for Health Colorado. The 108-page guide is the most comprehensive source of Black health information in Colorado and provides listings for doctors and specialists…

Probationary workers across multiple federal health agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services received virtually identical letters Saturday evening informing them they would be terminated from their positions, sources told CBS News.  “Unfortunately, the Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit…

Ohio’s health department confirmed Saturday that a farmer in the state was discharged from the hospital after being sickened by bird flu, marking the fourth American to have been hospitalized with the H5N1 virus. “The individual had respiratory symptoms. He was previously hospitalized and has since been released,” a spokesperson for Ohio’s health department told…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a third U.S. bird flu hospitalization, Wyoming’s health department said Friday, after a woman was admitted to a healthcare facility in neighboring Colorado.  The patient was experiencing “flu-like symptoms” and had “health conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness,” Wyoming’s health department said. She…

How excessive screen time might be damaging relationships – CBS News Watch CBS News On this Valentine’s Day, health and science journalist Catherine Price, author of “How to Break Up with Your Phone,” shares insights on how excessive screen time might be damaging relationships. She explains why it might be time to reconsider our digital…

Foodborne illness kills hundreds of Americans a year, sickens tens of millions annually, and costs billions in medical care, lost productivity and premature deaths, federal researchers said in a report.  Roughly 10 million cases of foodborne illness each year in the U.S. are caused by six pathogens — salmonella, listeria monocytogenes, campylobacter, clostridium perfringens, shiga…

More than 1 million Igloo rolling coolers sold nationwide by retailers including Amazon, Costco and Target are being recalled after a dozen reports of fingertip injuries, including amputations, according to a notice posted Thursday by a federal regulator. The tow handle on the Igloo 90-quart Flip & Tow rolling coolers can pinch users’ fingertips, posing…

At least four cattle herds in Nevada have tested positive for a strain of H5N1 bird flu never before seen in cows, state agriculture officials confirmed Wednesday, and respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing have been reported. That bird flu strain, called D1.1 by scientists, was also linked to a fatal human case in Louisiana…

About 2 million baked goods sold nationwide — including some doughnuts and coffee rolls purchased at Dunkin’ — were recalled last month due to concerns the products might be contaminated with listeria, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturer FGF Brands issued the recall involving products products before December 13, 2024, the FDA…

The U.S. confirmed at least a dozen deaths from whooping cough last year, according to preliminary figures released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That marks the most fatalities from the bacterial infection since a 2017 surge of the illness, which is also known as pertussis. Over the last month, pertussis…

Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration to restore webpages and data that had been scrubbed in compliance with President Trump’s executive order on gender ideology while litigation moves forward. U.S. District Judge John Bates agreed to…

A dairy worker in Nevada has been confirmed to be infected by a new bird flu strain found to be spreading among cows in the state last week.  That strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus, called D1.1 by scientists, is different from a previous variant called B3.13 which had infected at least 40 dairy workers…

A coalition of attorneys general from 22 states announced Monday they are suing the Trump administration to stop steep cuts to how medical research grants are funded by the National Institutes of Health. “We will not allow the Trump Administration to unlawfully undermine our economy, hamstring our competitiveness, or play politics with our public health,”…

The Friendship Bench: Bringing talk therapy into underserved communities – CBS News Watch CBS News Dr. Dixon Chibanda was one of the few practicing psychiatrists in Zimbabwe when he founded the Friendship Bench, a program that trained grandmothers to serve as “first responders” for those seeking mental health assistance in underserved communities. The program has…

Dr. Dixon Chibanda remembers like yesterday the moment in 2005 that changed his life. “During my formative years working as a psychiatrist, I lost a patient of mine to suicide. Erica was her name. She had hanged herself from a mango tree in the family garden.” Erica was just 25 years old. Chibanda, a psychiatrist…

About 500,000 ranges sold nationwide are being recalled after dozens of fires burned property, people and pets, LG Electronics said Wednesday in a notice posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall involves ranges with front-mounted knobs that can be turned accidentally, with CPSC receiving at least 86 reports of unintentional activation. The…

Trump administration political appointees have taken steps in recent weeks to exert unprecedented influence over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s flagship medical research publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, multiple federal health officials tell CBS News. The interference included dictating what to cover and withholding studies on the growing bird flu outbreak….

Levels of influenza nationwide are now at the highest they have been since the peak of the 2009 swine flu pandemic, according to figures published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, amid this winter’s second wave of the virus. Close to 8% of visits for respiratory illness to outpatient providers, including urgent…

Blue Cross Blue Shield payments to about 6 million people are set to go out more than two years after the health insurer reached a $2.67 billion settlement with subscribers.  Notices of payments to claimants are being emailed on a rolling basis, according to an update on the BCBS settlement website.  The settlement stems from a…

WORCESTER- It was a joyful unforgettable moment the Sinclair family has been waiting for, when their 10-month-old baby Charlie heard for the very first time in her life. “Oh man it was almost like a weight was lifted off my heart, not my shoulders,” dad Tyler Sinclair said. Born with Usher syndrome Charlie was born…

President Trump has selected Gerald Parker, a veterinarian and former top-ranking federal health official, to head the White House’s pandemic office, two U.S. officials tell CBS News.  Congress created the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy after the COVID-19 pandemic.  As part of one of the lessons learned from the outbreak, the…

Some health officials in the U.S. fear the shutdown of U.S. Agency for International Development missions may have disastrous results, as the stalling of foreign aid has forced delays in what they said was the “chaotic” early U.S. response to Uganda’s swelling Ebola outbreak.  The outbreak marks Uganda’s eighth from an Ebola virus. The first confirmed…

Washington — Caroline Kennedy, the cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sent a blistering letter to senators on Tuesday — a day before his confirmation hearings — that described him as a “predator” whose actions “have cost lives.”  In the letter to committee leaders, the former ambassador to Australia urged senators to reject his nomination…

The White House blamed an “outage” for locking out a wide range of organizations and agencies on Tuesday from the online systems responsible for drawing down federal health dollars.  Multiple state Medicaid programs reported late Tuesday they have been able to resume accessing their payment systems after the nationwide lockout.  The interruption had sparked outcry…

The impact from bird flu spreads – CBS News Watch CBS News After H5N1, the current strain of bird flu, reached the United States in 2022, more than 148 million chickens, turkeys and other farm birds have been euthanized. Since last year, when the virus jumped from poultry and wild birds to mammals, the number…

Is there a cure to hiccups? Is there a cure to hiccups? 03:11 MINNEAPOLIS — They happen to the best of us and, once they start, there’s often no controlling them. Hiccups are a part of life, but a Wisconsin doctor believes they may be closer to an actual cure.  “We don’t really know exactly…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took offline recommendations on how doctors should treat sexually transmitted infections and vaccinate adults Friday, as part of a sweeping purge of all mentions of “gender” from federal websites ordered by the Trump administration this week. “Doctors in every community in America rely on these treatment guidelines to…

New York doctor facing charges for sending abortion pill to Louisiana New York doctor facing charges for sending abortion pill to Louisiana 02:08 BATON ROUGE, La. — A New York doctor was indicted by a Louisiana grand jury on Friday for allegedly prescribing an abortion pill online in the Deep South state, which has one of…

Washington — Federal officials on Thursday approved a new type of pain drug designed to eliminate the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications like Vicodin and OxyContin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ pill, Journavx, for short-term pain that often follows surgery or injuries. It’s the first…

CHICAGO (CBS) — Chicago native and former Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade revealed Thursday that he was diagnosed with cancer a little over a year ago and lost part of his kidney as a result. On his “The WY Network” podcast, Wade, 43, said post-retirement from the NBA, he was no longer…

Kampala, Uganda — A nurse in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, has died of Ebola, a health official said Thursday, in the first recorded fatality since the last outbreak ended in 2023. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of the health ministry, told reporters the 32-year-old male patient was an employee of Mulago Hospital, the main referral facility in…

Abortion opponents praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday, after he vowed at a Senate hearing to implement “whatever” position President Trump takes on regulating abortion pills, if confirmed as the next secretary of health and human services. Kennedy’s pledge comes as conservatives have stepped up pressure on the Trump administration to force the Food…

At Market Basket locations in some parts of Massachusetts, customers are being asked to limit their egg purchases to two cartons per family. Another shopper on the hunt for eggs, this one in Las Vegas, reported finding empty shelves at a local grocery store. On social media, a consumer accustomed to paying around $2 for a dozen eggs expressed…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s controversial pick to head the federal Department of Health and Human Services, will appear Wednesday before a Senate panel that is crucial to advance his nomination.  Kennedy is due to appear first at the Senate Committee on Finance, the panel that will ultimately be the committee with the deciding…

A California duck farm made headlines this week after the World Organization of Animal Health published a report by U.S. authorities that a strain of bird flu that scientists call H5N9 had been found among sick birds in the flock. This is far from the first time that H5N9 has been found in birds around…

Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety, recalls and ultra-processed foods 06:24 Taquitos sold at Aldi stores nationwide are being recalled because they may contain pieces of metal, Bestway Sandwiches said in a notice posted Saturday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Shipped to Aldi stores across the…

Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and terrorism charges in CEO killing case 03:11 MINNEAPOLIS — UnitedHealth Group on Thursday announced that a longtime employee in the company has been named the new leader of its health insurance arm, nearly two months after the killing of former CEO Brian Thompson. …

Geneva — The World Health Organization said Friday it was reviewing its priorities in preparation for the withdrawal of its largest donor, the U.S., and stressed that it provides vital services that protect the country from health threats. President Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing the U.S. to withdraw from the WHO, a…

An Alabama woman passed a major milestone Saturday to become the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant – healthy and full of energy with her new kidney for 61 days and counting. “I’m superwoman,” Towana Looney told The Associated Press, laughing about outpacing family members on long walks around New York City as she…

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary nominee, awaits his confirmation hearing, financial disclosures released Wednesday show that he is saddled with millions in debt, but is positioned to earn millions from book deals. In financial disclosure forms filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Kennedy reported debts of…

Multiple federal health agencies have stopped releasing some key health information — including updates on some outbreak investigations — amid a department-wide communications “pause” ordered by the Trump administration, though many other “mission critical” updates are still being released, CBS News has learned. The Department of Health and Human Services “has issued a pause on…

Breaking down Trump’s health agenda Breaking down Trump’s health agenda 04:44 The Trump administration is expected to tap Susan Coller Monarez, the deputy director of a federal health research agency, to serve as the acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, multiple health officials tell CBS News.  Picking Monarez would close an…

More than two years after recalling about 1.7 million Ionic smartwatches sold globally, Google-owned Fitbit will pay a $12.2 million penalty for failing to alert consumers that the products can overheat and cause burns, federal regulators said Thursday. Fitbit received numerous reports of the lithium-ion batteries in the watches overheating during 2018, 2019 and continuing…

The Federal Trade Commission is sending a total of more than $1 million to fully refund people who bought deceptively marketed face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency announced on Monday. The FTC in April 2024 took action against Razer and several affiliates over their production and sale of a “wearable air purifier” face mask called…

New Maryland law helps amputees cover special prosthetics New Maryland law helps amputees cover special prosthetics 02:08 BALTIMORE — A new Maryland Law, the “So Everybody Can Move Act,” requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and state commercial plans to cover prosthetics designed for physical activities, including running, biking or swimming.  The new law was…

The American Cancer Society’s annual trend report is out with some mixed results. Cancer deaths are down but cases among certain groups are up. Jamil Rivers, a South Jersey mother of two, was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer when she was 39. “When I heard those words, cancer was devastating because my youngest was in…

More than a dozen cats have been killed or sickened by bird flu that is spreading in raw food products, the Food and Drug Administration says, prompting a federal probe into how the virus got into the pet food supply chain.  “The FDA is aware of reports of death or illness associated with uncooked food…

Three Boar’s Head deli meat plants were cited for unsanitary conditions, including insects, mold, and “unidentified slime,” according to newly released federal records. The new findings suggest that sanitation problems were not limited to the company’s factory that was shut down last year following a deadly listeria outbreak. The inspection records, released in response to Freedom…

The Food and Drug Administration released on Tuesday its long-awaited proposal to require food manufacturers to put some nutrition facts on the front of packages, in a bid to nudge Americans and food companies towards healthier diets in line with similar pushes in other countries. FDA’s new “nutrition info box” focuses on telling people whether…

About 328,000 smoke alarms sold nationwide and online by the Home Shopping Network — or as it now calls itself, HSN — are being recalled because the products can malfunction and fail to alert users of a fire, posing the risk of smoke inhalation or death, a federal safety agency said on Thursday. Three61, the…

New report reveals rising cancer rates among women – CBS News Watch CBS News The American Cancer Society finds cancer rates are increasing in women, surpassing men in some cases. Dr. Celine Gounder, CBS News medical contributor, joins “CBS Mornings” to discuss these troubling trends and their implications. Be the first to know Get browser…

What caused first severe bird flu case in U.S.? Breaking down what caused the first severe bird flu case in U.S. 01:20 Bird flu was detected in a commercial poultry flock in Georgia for the first time since the current outbreak started in 2022, officials announced on Friday.  The positive case of the H5N1 strain…

What happened when a town removed fluoride from its water – CBS News Watch CBS News On Thursday, the Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Servies. His nomination has raised alarms with health officials because of Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines…

Attorneys for the Biden administration said Friday they would seek to challenge a court loss last year that could pave the way for the Trump administration to ban the use of fluoride in water. The Biden administration’s notice, filed Friday with the federal district court in San Francisco, comes just days ahead of a Jan….

Medicare announced Friday that it has selected 15 drugs, including the hugely popular medications Ozempic and Wegovy, used for diabetes and weight loss, as well as some blockbuster cancer medications and other drugs, for its second round of price talks.  Together with the first 10 drugs that the Biden administration targeted for its Medicare Drug…

Companies say they are working to update their products to comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s decision Wednesday to ban the artificial food dye Red 3, after the agency said it was revoking the additive’s authorization over concerns it was causing cancer in rats. While the agency says that studies show…

The Food and Drug Administration is moving to cut out addictive nicotine from cigarettes, according to a long-awaited proposed regulation released Wednesday. The rule aims to force the nearly 12% of Americans still using combustible tobacco products to switch to less dangerous alternatives, like vaping electronic cigarettes or using nicotine lozenges, or quit altogether while…

A year after the American Academy of Pediatrics flagged what it described as “questionable marketing practices” by makers of formulas for older infants and toddlers, Abbott Laboratories is being sued over how it pitches such products.  Abbott, a health care products conglomerate based in Illinois, is misleading parents and other caregivers about the nutritional value…

The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday it had decided to revoke Red 3’s authorization to be added to foods, over concerns about how the food coloring dye has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals.  FDA officials have telegraphed the decision for months. While the agency has long said that it did not think…

Consuming more than one drink a day results in a steep increase of the risk of premature death, a new federal review has concluded. The draft report was published Tuesday ahead of a major update to influential federal guidelines on how much alcohol Americans should drink. “In the United States, males and females have a…

How to stop the spread of norovirus in your home How to stop the spread of norovirus in your home 02:13 This winter’s wave of norovirus infections has reached levels that are now more than double last season’s peak, in figures published Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracking the notorious stomach…

More than 20 million egg-laying chickens in the U.S. died last quarter because of bird flu, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows, marking the worst toll inflicted on America’s egg supply since the outbreak began.  The record number of chicken deaths, which includes those birds culled when infection is discovered in a flock,…

What to know about health risks from California wildfire smoke – CBS News Watch CBS News CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook joins “CBS Mornings” to discuss growing air quality concerns in Southern California as the wildfires continue to burn. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events,…

Food and Drug Administration officials turned up dozens of violations at a McDonald’s supplier linked to a deadly outbreak of E. coli that led to more than a hundred infections and a sweeping recall of onions used in the fast food chain’s products, including its Quarter Pounder burgers.  The violations, detailed in an inspection report…

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the majority of justices decided that the right to an abortion should be left up to individual states. Two years later, thousands of Americans in parts of the U.S. with strict abortion bans are deciding to leave those states, new research finds.  Following the Dobbs…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is for the first time setting guidelines for levels of lead in processed baby foods such as jarred fruits and vegetables. Part of an effort to reduce exposure to a toxic metal that causes developmental and neurological issues in children, the action announced on Monday offers only voluntary —…

A new strain of norovirus now makes up a majority of outbreaks nationwide, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new strain’s emergence, found spreading throughout the country and on cruise ships, offers a possible explanation for the past month’s steep wave of infections from the stomach bug.  Scientists call…

New Delhi — Indian officials have confirmed the vast nation’s first cases of human metapneumovirus, often called HMPV, with seven people said to have contracted the virus as of Tuesday, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research. Two of the HMPV infections were reported in the central Indian city of Nagpur on Tuesday, while two…

A Louisiana resident has died after being hospitalized with bird flu, the state’s health department announced Monday, marking the first U.S. death from the H5N1 virus. “The patient was over the age of 65 and was reported to have underlying medical conditions,” Louisiana’s health department said in a statement, saying that health officials still judge…

First bird flu death in U.S. reported in Louisiana – CBS News Watch CBS News For the first time, bird flu has claimed a human life in the U.S. Louisiana’s health department says the patient was over the age of 65 and reportedly had underlying health problems. Be the first to know Get browser notifications…

Michael Moss breaks down new FDA rules for “healthy” food labels – CBS News Watch CBS News Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Moss explains the FDA’s new rules for “healthy” food labels, limits on added sugars, and the push for alcohol warning labels. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events,…

Emergency room visits with influenza are now “very high” nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday, in this week’s update on the winter respiratory virus season. This season’s wave of flu cases is arriving later than it has in the past two years. After the COVID-19 pandemic, annual waves of influenza during…

U.S. Surgeon General warns of link between alcohol, cancer – CBS News Watch CBS News The U.S. Surgeon General has called for new warning labels on alcoholic beverages that warn of a link between drinking and cancer. The announcement sent shares of alcohol stocks tumbling, but such labels are still a long way off, especially…

Surgeon general calls for cancer warning on alcohol – CBS News Watch CBS News The U.S. surgeon general is now recommending a new label on alcohol products that warns of the risks of cancer, similar to the warning labels on cigarettes. A new advisory says alcohol consumption is one of the leading preventable causes of…

Breast cancer rates rising fastest in younger women, study finds – CBS News Watch CBS News New research reveals breast cancer rates are increasing faster among younger women than any other group. Elaine Quijano reports on the findings. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not…

Foodborne illness concerns are up, a public health expert explains why Foodborne illness concerns are up, a public health expert explains why 04:21 Bags of broccoli florets sold at Walmart stores in 20 U.S. states are being recalled after random testing found listeria in one sample of the product, according to a notice published earlier…

Here’s what to know about Medicare’s new spending cap – CBS News Watch CBS News This year, a new spending cap on medication goes into effect for the first time for people on Medicare. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder explains its impact. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news,…

Los Angeles county public health officials have issued a new warning to pet owners to stop feeding dogs and cats raw pet food after the H5N1 bird flu virus was found in product samples. “The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising residents to not feed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food sold…

Gardners Candies is recalling Cappuccino Meltaway Bars sold nationwide because they may contain undeclared cashews, which can pose serious or life-threatening reactions in people with tree nut allergies.  The Tyrone, Pennsylvania-based candy maker initiated its recall after discovering the “tree nut-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of tree nuts,”…

Dr. Leana Wen said Sunday that the lack of testing for bird flu doesn’t mean that the virus isn’t alive in humans, and that she feels the federal government “should have learned our lesson from COVID” and should be proactive in making tests available for Americans — and not wait for labs to characterize the…

How horses are helping to heal people’s mental and physical health – CBS News Watch CBS News Horse-powered therapy at the Legacy Ranch outside of Chicago has helped people with mental, occupational and physical challenges on their road to recovery. Charlie De Mar reports on how the ranch is literally and physically getting folks back…

Manufacturers of baby powder and cosmetic products made with talc will have to test them for asbestos under a proposal announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency’s proposal comes at the directive of Congress, which passed legislation requiring the FDA take action last year.  A known human carcinogen, asbestos is found in…

Why some children are turning to GLP-1 weight loss drugs – CBS News Watch CBS News A growing number of young people are receiving prescriptions for GLP-1 weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Janet Shamlian examines why. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not…

FDA issues highest-level recall for Costco eggs over salmonella risk – CBS News Watch CBS News The FDA has raised the level of a Costco egg recall, warning of the risk of severe illness or death due to potential salmonella contamination. Over 10,000 cartons of Kirkland brand organic eggs sold at stores across the South…

Expert tips to support your immune system and stay healthy this winter – CBS News Watch CBS News With flu levels rising, Dr. Rabia De Latour shares ways to support your immune system and stay healthy during the holidays. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting….

How to avoid the flu, other seasonal viruses during holiday gatherings – CBS News Watch CBS News Seasonal illnesses are increasing just days away from the holidays. The CDC reports positive flu tests are up 9% in the most recent week and cases of whooping cough are six times last year’s rate. Dr. Susannah Hills,…

Concerning new flu numbers ahead of holiday gatherings – CBS News Watch CBS News Thirteen states reported “high” or “very high” levels of flu-like illness last week, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s double the number of states from the week before. Ali Bauman reports. Be the first to know…

California declares emergency after severe U.S. case of H5N1 bird flu – CBS News Watch CBS News A Louisiana patient is critically ill with severe respiratory symptoms from H5N1 bird flu, marking the 61st U.S. human case this year. California has declared a state of emergency. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder explains the…

Mass. woman recovering from burns warns about tabletop fire pit dangers Mass. woman recovering from burns warns about tabletop fire pit dangers 01:54 Americans are being urged not to buy or use liquid-burning portable firepits sold for tabletops and other uses following the deaths of two people and dozens of injuries.  Sold as tabletop firepits,…

Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety, recalls and ultra-processed foods 06:24 Frito-Lay is recalling a limited number of 13 oz. bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration citing the risk that some consumers could experience a “life-theatening allergic reaction” due to…

Tom Contos is an avid runner. When he started experiencing rectal bleeding in March, he thought exercise could be the cause and tried to ignore it. But he became increasingly worried when the bleeding continued for weeks. The Chicago health care consultant contacted his physician at Northwestern Medicine, who referred him for a diagnostic colonoscopy,…

2 sisters both receive heart transplants, 7 years apart 2 sisters both receive heart transplants, 7 years apart 02:18 CHICAGO (CBS) — Two sisters have grateful hearts after they both received heart transplants at the same age—seven years apart. Younger sister Meredith Everhart and older sister Abbey Cannon are now bonded by a genetic condition…

Johannesburg — For weeks it was dubbed simply “Disease X.” But the mysterious flu-like disease that has killed more than 143 people — mainly women and young children — in the Democratic Republic of Congo has finally been identified. “The mystery has finally been solved,” Congo’s health ministry declared in a statement on Tuesday. “It’s a…

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, remains popular with the public, garnering the approval of 54% of U.S. adults, according to a recently released Gallup poll. But experts say that may not insulate the federal health insurance program from change as President-elect Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans look to renew $4 trillion…

Author Emily Oster on sugar and its impact on kids – CBS News Watch CBS News Author Emily Oster talks about new research linking early sugar exposure to chronic diseases. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

The Food and Drug Administration has not formally reevaluated the safety of a food dye called Red 40 in over a decade, the agency’s top food official said this month when asked about renewed worries over its potential behavioral health effects. The agency has launched a new effort to take a second look at some…

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued an apparent warning Friday to Robert F. Kennedy, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Health and Human Services Department, after The New York Times reported that one of Kennedy’s top advisers had filed petitions to revoke the approval of a polio vaccine and several other shots.  “Anyone seeking…

Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety, recalls and ultra-processed foods 06:24 Certain MadeGood granola bars sold nationwide by retailers including Amazon and Walmart are being recalled because they may contain pieces of metal, Riverside Natural Foods said in a notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration….

A second infant has died in an 8-state listeria outbreak related to recalled Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, according to federal health officials. The products were sold online and at retail locations nationwide, according to federal health officials. Nineteen cases are confirmed, with 17 hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…

Health insurance costs are far outpacing inflation, leaving more consumers on the hook each year for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. At the same time, some insurers are rejecting nearly 1 in 5 claims. That double whammy is leaving Americans paying more for coverage yet sometimes feeling like they’re getting less in return, experts…

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus could be close to cure for blindness University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus could be close to cure for blindness 00:39 Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus received up to $46 million in a grant to help develop an innovative treatment to cure blindness. The Advanced Research…

At least 364 pertussis infections were reported to health authorities last week, according to figures published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking the worst Thanksgiving week for whooping cough in recent decades. This tops the previous Thanksgiving record of 228 cases of pertussis which were reported for the week ending Nov….

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield backs off plans to limit coverage of anesthesia Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield backs off plans to limit coverage of anesthesia 01:44 Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said Thursday that the health insurance provider is reversing a policy that was set to go into effect in February that would have…

Doctors who accept Medicare could face another pay cut in 2025, AMA says Doctors who accept Medicare could face another pay cut in 2025, AMA says 03:28 In the U.S., having health insurance is necessary, but not sufficient to ensure access to affordable medical care.  While the U.S. lacks a universal health care system like…

CEO killing surfaces anger aimed at health insurance industry – CBS News Watch CBS News While investigators haven’t locked down a motive for the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the killing has triggered a wave of anger and criticism on social media. Much of it is aimed, not at the shooter, but at…

Inman, South Carolina — From medicine to milkshakes, Kempson Rexall drugstore has been a staple in the small community of Inman, South Carolina, since 1905. The nearest hospital is about a half-hour drive away, so in a family medical moment, many of the town’s 3,200 residents often call here first. “This store means the world…

Sen. Bernie Sanders praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s message on food issues Thursday, and said he had not made up his mind on whether he would oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Kennedy to head the nation’s health agencies. In an interview with CBS News correspondent Natalie Brand, the independent Vermont senator said that he…

Kinshasa, Congo – Congo’s health minister said Thursday the country’s government was on alert over a mystery flu-like disease that has killed dozens of people in recent weeks, nearly half of whom were children. Authorities have so far confirmed 71 deaths, including 27 people who died in hospitals and 44 in the community in the southern…

Federal officials are urging people not to eat recalled cucumbers, as well as salads and wraps that could contain the product, amid an investigation into an outbreak of salmonella that has sickened at least 68 people in 19 U.S. states and sent 18 to the hospital.  Three companies have recalled cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A….

BOSTON – A new program in Boston is trying to improve the labor and delivery experience for expectant Black mothers and mothers of color, who often find their voices aren’t always heard by hospital staff. Harder for Black moms to advocate At 35, Latoya Baskin was thrilled to be pregnant with her first child, Jason,…

This year’s winter surge of influenza and COVID-19 has yet to arrive for most of the country, data published this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows, with trends so far a fraction of what they were at this time last year.  “COVID-19 activity remains low and is stable in most areas….

Florida considering overhaul of child labor laws Florida considering overhaul of child labor laws 02:17 Federal investigators found nearly a dozen children to be working dangerous, overnight shifts at Seaboard Triumph Foods’ pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, Iowa, the Department of Labor announced. Employed by Guymon, Oklahoma-based sanitation contractor Qvest, 11 kids allegedly used…

Jane Fonda with a secret of aging well – CBS News Watch CBS News A Yale study showed that older people with more positive beliefs about aging lived an average of 7.5 longer than people who equated aging with disease and decline. Actress and activist Jane Fonda and anti-ageism advocate Ashton Applewhite present “Sunday Morning”…

Are there really risks to putting fluoride in public water supplies? – CBS News Watch CBS News President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., says fluoride can cause health problems and wants it removed from our drinking water. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder,…

Ryan Wettstein Nauman was inconsolable one evening last December. After being put down for bed, the 3-year-old from Peoria, Illinois, just kept crying and crying and crying, and nothing would calm her down. Her mother, Maggi Wettstein, remembered fearing it could be a yeast or urinary tract infection, something they had been dealing with during…

A monthslong process to decide the federal government’s food recommendations for the next five years is now set to stretch well into 2025. That timing means Biden officials will miss their opportunity to lock in new guidelines before the Trump administration takes over.  Switching terms in the middle of an update is unprecedented in recent…

New White House rule would make weight loss drugs available for people on Medicare and Medicaid – CBS News Watch CBS News A New White House proposal would make Medicare and Medicaid cover GLP-1 weight loss drugs for people who are obese. The move would expand affordable access to the drugs to some 7.4 million…

11/12: CBS Morning News 21:32 Costco recalled nearly 80,000 pounds of store-brand butter last month because the product’s label was missing a key ingredient: milk.  The wholesaler recalled 79,200 pounds of two varieties of butter — 46,800 pounds of its Kirkland Signature Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter, and 32,400 pounds of Kirkland Signature Salted Sweet Cream…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has outlined a number of promises to “Make America Healthy Again” under President-elect Donald Trump, vowing to combat an “epidemic” of chronic diseases that he has described as an “existential” threat to America’s future. All are under the banner of fighting what Kennedy sees as a common thread behind a broad…

A study to personalize nutrition guidance just for you – CBS News Watch CBS News From the four food groups to the Food Pyramid, the U.S. government has long offered guidance to Americans hoping to eat a healthier diet. But there’s growing scientific consensus that when it comes to eating healthy, all of us respond…

It’s been said the best meals come from the heart, not from a recipe book. But at this USDA kitchen, there’s no pinch of this, dash of that, no dollops or smidgens of anything. Here, nutritionists in white coats painstakingly measure every single ingredient, down to the tenth of a gram. Sheryn Stover is expected…

Mike Duggan announcing political plans, Corewell Health workers take union vote and more top stories Mike Duggan announcing political plans, Corewell Health workers take union vote and more top stories 04:00 (CBS DETROIT) — Dave Coulier, best known as “Uncle Joey” on the ABC sitcom “Full House,” announced Wednesday morning that he has been diagnosed with…

Nearly 4 in 10 seniors have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine so far this year, new survey data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests, marking a steep increase in vaccination rates compared with the same time last year.  The data from the CDC’s National Immunization Survey estimates that 37.6% of Americans ages…

Canada’s Bestar has agreed to a more than $16 million civil penalty for failing to report a defect in its wall beds until after one person was killed and more than a dozen others injured, some seriously, federal officials say. Starting in September of 2014 and continuing through 2022, Bestar received numbers of reports that the…

Organic carrots recall amid E. coli outbreak Organic carrots recalled after E. coli outbreak leads to 1 death 01:09 Organic carrots and celery sold at Whole Foods Market in five states are being recalled amid a deadly E. coli outbreak that has stricken 39 people in 18 states. The recall, posted Thursday by the Food…

What to know about bird flu amid dozens of human cases in U.S. – CBS News Watch CBS News CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder joins “CBS Mornings” to discuss the latest on bird flu as new cases raise alarms among health officials. There have been 53 confirmed human cases across seven states this…

Advisers to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are weighing a significant rewrite to the Food and Drug Administration’s rules governing food additives, to fulfill Kennedy and President-elect Donald Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” pledge to get toxic chemicals out of the food supply.  The proposed crackdown, which is still in its early stages and will need…

When Savannah Meadows had lunch last October with her mother, Sharon Turcott, Meadows was “all smiles,” the mother told CBS News.  “Maybe she’s turned a corner,” Turcott recalled thinking about her daughter, who had been struggling with serious mental illness. The next morning, she received a scheduled email: “Mom, if you’re reading this, I’m probably…