Health News

(NEW YORK) -- A few months ago, a measles outbreak seemed poised to overwhelm the northern region of South Carolina.More than 100 infections were being reported every week, with the total eventually surpassing that of last year’s record-setting outbreak in Texas.However, after six months and nearly 1,000 cases, the outbreak took a dramatic turn in the right direction.Over the weekend, the South Carolina Department of Public Health said no new […]

(NEW YORK) -- Cigarette smoking among U.S. adults continues to fall to record low levels as e-cigarette use rises, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published early Thursday.Nearly 10% of adults in the U.S. smoked cigarettes in 2024, the report found. This is down from about 11% in 2023, CDC data shows.Rates of cigarette use have dramatically fallen since a landmark 1964 Surgeon General […]

(NEW YORK) -- With a busy travel season approaching, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that additional measles cases in the U.S. can be expected over the next few months.The agency sent the alert to state and local health departments, reminding them to report measles cases to the CDC within 24 hours and to have measles cases reported in hospitals and to public health authorities.The CDC has encouraged public […]

(NEW YORK) -- Earlier this week, pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its partner Valneva announced that an experimental Lyme disease vaccine showed more than 70% efficacy in late-stage clinical trials.The candidate, PF-07307405, showed 73.2% efficacy in reducing confirmed cases of Lyme disease cases after the fourth and final dose was administered when compared to a placebo.However, the companies said there were fewer than anticipated cases of Lyme disease during the trial period and […]

(NEW YORK) -- As heart, kidney and metabolic problems progress to more advanced stages, a person's risk of developing several cancers also rises sharply, a new study finds.Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a disorder that occurs when heart disease, kidney problems and metabolic issues including obesity and diabetes all happen together, according to the American Heart Association.About one in three U.S. adults have at least three risk factors for CKM syndrome, the AHA says.Researchers […]

Bottles of children's ibuprofen, made for Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., are being recalled due to the potential presence of a foreign substance. (NIH) (NEW YORK) -- Nearly 90,000 bottles of children's ibuprofen are being voluntarily recalled due to the potential presence of a foreign substance.According to a notice from the Food and Drug Administration, Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. received complaints from customers who reported “a gel-like mass and black particles” in the […]

Psilocybin mushrooms stand ready for harvest in a humidified "fruiting chamber" in the basement of a private home on July 28, 2023 in Fairfield County, Connecticut. (John Moore/Getty Images) (NEW YORK) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday it is issuing national priority vouchers to three companies to help fast-track the review of certain psychedelic medications.The companies are studying psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder […]

(NEW YORK) -- When Jessica Chamberlain went to sign up for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for 2026, she not prepared for the sticker shock.Last year, Chamberlain was paying $59.67 in monthly premiums. This year, she would be paying nearly $100.The 43-year-old mother of two from Illinois said she was floored to see her monthly premiums were nearly doubling."I can't afford that as a single mom […]

Close up of senior woman using cannabis at home (Getty/Emilija Manevska) (WASHINGTON) -- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on Thursday reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug.The order moves marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, putting state-licensed medical marijuana in the same category as some pain medications, ketamine and testosterone.While this change aligns federal guidelines with many state laws, marijuana is still illegal at […]