Health News

(WASHINGTON) -- On the last day to enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plans in most states, President Donald Trump presented his own ideas for a health care plan that left some health policy experts that spoke to ABC News with unanswered questions.Trump has long been asked for a health care plan amid sustained criticism of the ACA, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama. "The […]

(ATLANTA) -- Flu activity continues to remain elevated across the United States, according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC estimates there have been at least 18 million illnesses, 230,000 hospitalizations and 9,300 deaths from flu so far this season.Currently, 14 states are seeing "very high" levels of flu-like illnesses while 19 states are seeing "high" levels, CDC data shows.At least 15 flu-associated deaths […]

(NEW YORK) -- The U.S. is close to reaching at least 1,000 measles cases for the third time in eight years.At least 72 new measles cases have been confirmed in the last week, according to updated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.So far this year, there have been total of 982 cases in 26 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, […]

(NEW YORK) -- As measles continues to spread across the U.S., with outbreaks popping up around the country, public health experts have been stressing the importance of getting vaccinated to stop the spread of disease.This has involved local doctors and health department workers going into outbreak areas to offer the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.The MMR vaccine is typically a two-dose series given first at 12-15 months old and again at 4-6 years […]

(NEW YORK) -- Two bills having to do with abortion are making their way through the Wyoming legislature.The first bill, HB0126, dubbed the Human Heartbeat Act, prohibits abortion if cardiac activity is detected in the fetus, which is around six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they're pregnant.If cardiac activity is detected, an abortion can only be performed in the case of a medical emergency, meaning if the life of […]

(NEW YORK) -- A Texas appeals court will hear arguments on Thursday in a civil lawsuit brought against a woman accused by the state of illegally providing abortions in the Houston area.Maria Margarita Rojas allegedly provided abortions in violation of the state's abortion ban and was practicing medicine without a license at a network of clinics in northwestern Houston, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.Last year, a lower court […]

(WASHINGTON) -- Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will take over as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a White House official and sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.Bhattacharya will continue in his current duties as NIH director until a permanent CDC director is nominated and confirmed, according to the White House official.He replaces Jim O'Neill, who served as […]

(WASHINGTON) -- The Trump administration walked back an Obama-era environmental decision that has been the legal basis for establishing federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Thursday it was rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding, which determined that six key greenhouse gases threaten human health and welfare.The regulations that resulted cover everything from vehicle tailpipe emissions to the release of greenhouse gases from power plants and […]

(SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C.) -- At least 99 new measles cases are being reported in South Carolina amid the state's outbreak.This brings the total number of cases in the state to 310. There are currently 200 people in quarantine, according to health officials.The outbreak has been ongoing as state health officials continue to push for vaccinations. The majority of cases are located around Spartanburg County."The number of those in quarantine does […]