Health News

(NEW YORK) -- At least 13 new measles cases have been confirmed in Pennsylvania since Friday, bringing the total so far this year to 903, according to Monday's update from the state health department.Cases have been recorded in 39 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. At least 176 people have been hospitalized, and four measles-associated deaths have been reported, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) said.Two of the deaths were among unvaccinated […]

(NEW YORK) -- Insomnia may be linked to an increased risk of stroke, dementia and several mental health conditions, a new study finds.Researchers from Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland analyzed approximately 20 comprehensive review studies, involving millions of participants across multiple countries, to evaluate the impact of insomnia on health. The study, published Sunday in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, found that insomnia was linked to a 26% increased risk of […]

A sign for the Food And Drug Administration is seen outside of the headquarters on July 20, 2020 in White Oak, Maryland. (Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) (NEW YORK) -- At least 55 people have been sickened in a salmonella and E. coli outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts in 15 states, health officials said Friday.At least 4 people have been hospitalized.The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control […]

(BOSTON) -- About 4,000 registered nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston voted "overwhelmingly" on Thursday to authorize an open-ended strike.The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), which represents the nurses, said this could be the largest open-ended registered nurse (RN) strike in state history.No strike date has been set yet. Before it occurs, the nurses will be legally required to give 10 days' notice. If the strike is held, […]

(WASHINGTON) -- Dr. Heidi Overton is appearing before a Senate committee on Thursday for her confirmation hearing as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.Overton was nominated in August by President Donald Trump, who described her in a post on social media as a "ROCKSTAR in my Administration."She is sitting before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee, where she is likely to face questions about […]

(NEW YORK) -- Missouri health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at Busch Stadium and nearby local businesses in St. Louis and the larger county.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) said the possible exposures occurred between Sept. 12 and Sept. 14 and included local bars, a cafe, a restaurant, a sandwich shop, a grocery store and a convenience store.The health department said exposed individuals should […]

(NEW YORK) -- Merck and Moderna announced Wednesday that a personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine succeeded in a large, late-stage trial among high-risk patients with melanoma.The individualized vaccine, when paired with the existing immunotherapy, Keytruda, is the first and only combination regimen that demonstrated success in potentially extending melanoma patients' lifespans.In Phase 3 trials, the regimen significantly reduced the risk of cancer returning or spreading. The trial was conducted among patients […]

(NEW YORK) -- Eating more ultra-processed foods is linked to higher health risks, including death, according to a new study published in Family Medicine and Community Health. Researchers found that consuming higher amounts of ultra-processed foods increased the risk of heart disease, strokes, obesity, diabetes, depression and anxiety, digestive issues, and cancer. Ultra-processed foods contain “significant amounts of added sugars, salts, fats” and can be hyper-palatable, meaning they are engineered to taste […]

(NEW YORK) -- Los Angeles County is seeing the highest number of West Nile virus cases in nearly a decade, health officials said Monday.The county has reported 100 cases so far this year. This is the highest figure since 2017 when 268 cases were recorded for the entire season. The number of current cases is also greater than the five-year average during the same period, according to the Los Angeles County Department […]