Health News

(WASHINGTON) -- Flu activity is starting to decline nationwide, according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC estimated on Friday that there have been at least 19 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths from flu so far this season.Currently, seven states are seeing "very high" levels of flu-like illnesses while 23 states are seeing "high" levels, CDC data shows.At least 12 flu-associated deaths were reported among children this […]

(NEW YORK) -- Flu activity is increasing across the country, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.New York City is seeing some of the highest levels of flu-like activity across the country. States including Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Texas are seeing "moderate" activity of respiratory illnesses. All other states are seeing low or very low levels.The CDC estimates that there have […]

(WASHINGTON) -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Thursday a series of proposed actions to limit access to gender-affirming care for minors.It comes after HHS released a final version of its report on pediatric gender-affirming care last month, claiming it found "medical dangers posed to children," which received pushback from medical groups.Speaking at press event, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said doctors providing gender-affirming care for minors are endangering lives and […]

(NEW YORK) -- High blood pressure and body mass index, or BMI, may be directly linked to the increased risk of developing vascular dementia, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.This is the strongest evidence to date showing a direct relationship between BMI and the increased risk of developing vascular dementia, a risk heavily influenced by elevated blood pressure, according to the study.Researchers […]

(NEW YORK ) -- Fewer people are dying from heart disease, but the condition is still the leading cause of death in the U.S., a new report from the American Heart Association (AHA) finds.Although death rates from heart disease have dropped for the first time in the past five years, it still kills more Americans than any other condition, according to the report, published early Wednesday in the journal Circulation.Annual […]

(NEW YORK) -- The American Red Cross declared a severe emergency blood shortage on Monday and called on people to donate.The humanitarian organization, which says it's the largest supplier of blood products for hospitals and for patient need in the U.S., said the demand from hospitals has outpaced the available supply of blood.Dr. Courtney Lawrence, divisional chief medical officer at American Red Cross, told ABC News that almost one-third of […]

(SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C.) -- At least 88 new measles cases in South Carolina have been confirmed amid the state's outbreak, bringing the total number of infections to 646, state health officials said Tuesday.The majority of cases have been found in the Upstate region and around Spartanburg County, which sits on the border with North Carolina.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All […]

(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 […]

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. Megan Varner/Bloomberg via Getty Images (ATLANTA) -- Flu activity continues to remain elevated across the U.S., 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.This is a developing story. […]