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New measles case identified in Snohomish County infant

Public Health Insider

Snohomish county reported a positive measles case in a Snohomish County infant. The infant was likely exposed to measles during recent travel abroad. People who were at certain locations in Snohomish and King counties may have been exposed to measles. Read the blog for locations of potential exposure. The post New measles case identified in Snohomish County infant appeared first on PUBLIC HEALTH INSIDER.

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Widespread firings start at federal health agencies including many in leadership

NPR Health

Staffers began receiving termination notices this morning as part of a major restructuring at HHS. Some senior leadership are on their way out too.

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Inside the Career Club: April 2025 Updates

Public Health Blog

Tell us what you thought of this episode – send us a text!

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Why we keep going

Your Local Epidemiologist

Today thousands of health workers at the CDC and FDA lost their jobs—effective immediately. Some found out when they tried to badge in, only to be denied entry. Twelve senior leaders were offered reassignment—with just 24 hours to decide. In other words, fired without being formally fired. It’s cruel and unnecessary—and that’s the point.

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Analysis raises concerns about potential misuse of atrazine weedkiller in US Midwest

Environmental Health News

Editor's note: This story was originally published by The New Lede and is republished here with permission. Corn growers across Midwestern states appear to be flouting regulations aimed at protecting important waterways from contamination with toxic atrazine weedkiller, according to an analysis of satellite imagery and field data that comes as US regulators ponder changes to rules for use of the pesticide.

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Staff working on childhood lead exposure and cancer clusters fired from CDC

The Hill

Staff members who fought childhood lead exposure and those who worked on cancer clusters were among those fired from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a now former employee told The Hill. The entire permanent staff of the Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice was cut, according to one person who was among the approximately 200 fired from the division.

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HHS guts the teams that fulfill public records requests for health agencies

NPR Health

Despite promises for 'radical transparency,' HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. laid off many staff on teams that fulfill public records requests at health agencies.

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Three rural NC counties map out paths to reducing overdose deaths

NC Health News

By Jaymie Baxley Across rural North Carolina, the opioid epidemic has left a devastating mark overdose deaths have surged, families have been shattered and communities have struggled to find resources to fight the crisis. More than 4,440 overdose-related deaths were reported across the state in 2023, with rural counties accounting for about 41 percent of the toll.

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Q&A with Anthony Anderson: “I Got Real About my Type 2 Diabetes—and I Never Looked Back”

Black Health Matters

As we look toward a healthier new year, Black Health Matters sat down with Anthony Anderson for a candid conversation about his personal journey with type 2 diabetes. While he is known for his acting, Anderson is using his voice to illuminate a critical health issue affecting more than 34 million Americans1a condition he himself navigates: type 2 diabetes.

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Ousted FDA vaccine director calls Kennedy's start 'very scary'

The Hill

Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official pressured to resign over his disagreements with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., warned in an interview published Friday that Kennedy's tenure at the HHS has been "very scary" so far. Marks announced his resignation toward the end of March, reportedly having been given the choice to be fired or resign.

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Exception to laws of thermodynamics

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

A team of researchers led by a physics graduate student recently made the surprising discovery of what they call a 'shape-recovering liquid,' which defies some long-held expectations derived from the laws of thermodynamics. The research details a mixture of oil, water and magnetized particles that, when shaken, always quickly separates into what looks like the classically curvaceous lines of a Grecian urn.

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As measles cases rise, some parents become vaccine enthusiasts

NPR Health

Vaccine hesitancy has been growing in the U.S. in recent years. But as Texas measles cases rise and other states report outbreaks too, some parents want their kids to get their shots early.

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Ragging in Telangana medical colleges: A rite of passage or a lifetime of scars?

The Hindu

Despite anti-ragging laws, medical colleges in Telangana remain hotspots for hazing. From verbal humiliation to physical abuse, first-year students endure unspoken harassment, fearing retaliation and institutional indifference. Weak enforcement, deep-rooted power dynamics and poor mental health support keep the vicious cycle alive.

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Collision, mantle convection and Tethyan closure in the Eastern Mediterranean

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Published online: 01 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s43017-025-00653-2 Closure of the Tethys Seaway marked the last connection between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans. This Review explores how mantle convection and associated volcanic activity caused Tethys Seaway closure and discusses the implications for ocean circulation, faunal diversification and climate.

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New program helps gun violence survivors connect with journalists

Association of Health Care Journalists

A new program is helping journalists produce more impactful stories on gun violence by making the violence survivor community more readily accessible. The Survivor Connection, launched in February by The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting (PCGVR), promises to facilitate more empathetic, ethical and impactful news reporting in the city by bridging a gap between journalists and the survivor community, according to a news release.

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World's smallest pacemaker is activated by light

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

Smaller than a grain of rice, new pacemaker is particularly suited to the small, fragile hearts of newborn babies with congenital heart defects. Tiny pacemaker is paired with a small, soft, flexible wearable patch that sits on the patient's chest. The wearable patch detects irregular heartbeats and automatically emits pulses of light. The light then flashes on and off at a rate that corresponds to the correct pacing.

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Major deal wipes out $30 billion in medical debt. Even backers say it's not enough

NPR Health

Undue Medical Debt is retiring unpaid medical bills for 20 million people. The debt trading company that owned them is leaving the market.

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Atlanta allergies: Hardwood trees driving ‘extremely high’ pollen counts

HEALTHBEAT

Public health, explained: Sign up to receive Healthbeats free Atlanta newsletter here. That pollen you see on your car might not be whats making your eyes water and nose run, an Atlanta allergist told Healthbeat on Friday, the 10th consecutive day of extremely high pollen counts. Its pine tree pollen that coats Atlanta cars and windowsills in a sunny shade of yellow, but the pollens that fuel allergies here come mostly from hardwood trees like oak, birch, sycamore, and hickory, allergist Dr.

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When it comes to obesity-related cancers, where you shop for food matters

Science Daily - Public Health

Obesity is at epidemic proportions in the United States where more than 40% of adults are obese and more than 70% are overweight. One common policy intervention to tackle this urgent issue is to try to improve diet quality by increasing local grocery stores that offer healthy options. However, this is not a silver bullet, but researchers are not sure why.

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Legislative battle continues over how to address health care costs in North Carolina

NC Health News

By Grace Vitaglione Lindsi Franklins son, Isaac, was 9 years old in June 2024 when doctors found an abscess in his stomach and a section of diseased bowel. He was diagnosed with severe Crohns disease Isaacs immune system had decided that his own intestines were an enemy. Franklins insurance company required prior approval before covering the medications Isaac needed a process that took months, Franklin said.

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Medicare won't cover anti-obesity GLP-1 drugs as Biden admin proposed

The Hill

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Friday it will not be finalizing a rule proposed by the Biden administration that would have allowed Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries access to anti-obesity drugs such as the highly in-demand GLP-1 medications. In November last year, the Biden administration proposed a new rule that would allow drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound to be covered by Medicare and Medicaid, expanding access for roughly 3.4 million Medicare users and about 4

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Crumbling trust in American institutions: A MAHA activist takes on Girl Scout cookies

NPR Health

A controversial study raised the specter that Girl Scout cookies are unsafe. Authorities say they are safe, but the whole saga highlights a breakdown of trust in American institutions.

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Top Scientists Issue Urgent Warning on Fossil Fuels

BU School of Public Health Blog

environmental safety Top Scientists Issue Urgent Warning on Fossil Fuels In a new review, Mary Willis, Jonathan Buonocore, and other environmental health experts present a bevy of evidence that details how fossil fuels are harmful to humans, wildlife, and the environment, and identifies ways to transition to clean, renewable energy. March 31, 2025 Twitter Facebook In a new review published in the peer-reviewed journal Oxford Open Climate Change , top scientists issued an urgent warning that foss

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Public Spaces Make Room for Autism

Black Health Matters

Autism can cause individuals to experience the world differently. Due to sensory sensitivity, they can face challenges traveling to and enjoying certain activities. Lights, sounds, crowds, and other factors can cause them to have adverse experiences in specific environments. But airlines, cruise ships, theme parks, and entertainment venues see the value of accommodating this untapped audience.

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Why the Quality of Community Health Assessments Matters: Insights from Kentucky’s PHAB-Accredited LHDs 

JPHMP Direct

Variation in the quality of Community Health Assessments and Improvement Plans among Kentuckys local health departments reveals opportunities for strengthening collaboration, evidence-based strategies, and equity-focused public health efforts. The post Why the Quality of Community Health Assessments Matters: Insights from Kentuckys PHAB-Accredited LHDs first appeared on JPHMP Direct.

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Poor air quality increases depression risk

The Hill

A new study indicates that long-term exposure to air pollutants could directly correlate to an increased risk for depression. The study published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology and conducted by Harbin Medical University and Cranfield University examined the link to depressive symptoms in a Chinese adult population and six common air pollutants over 7 years.

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On top of layoffs, HHS ordered to cut 35% of spending on contracts

NPR Health

Federal health agencies have to slash their spending by more than a third, on top of the 10,000-person staffing cuts.

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How the ACA changed health insurance for the better

Association of Health Care Journalists

Most Americans may be unaware that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) dramatically improved almost the entire U.S. health insurance system. Fifteen years ago, when Congress passed the ACA (officially the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ), journalists and consumers recognized that the law provided Americans with health insurance choices that were previously nonexistent.

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Marion County Public Health Uses PHIG to Launch First Paid Internship Program

PHIG Partners

With PHIG funds, the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) launched its first paid internship program in spring 2024. MCPHD initially partnered with Indiana Universitys Fairbanks School of Public Health and has grown to include more interns and schools. In the summer of 2024, MCPHD hired an Internship Coordinator to streamline internship processes and support the goal of creating a pipeline for students to pursue public health careers.

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Pregnancy linked to lower long COVID risk in study of over 70,000 women

News Medical Health Sciences

Pregnant women who contract SARS-CoV-2 may have a lower risk of developing Long COVID than matched non-pregnant women.

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Bipartisan senators unveil measure providing flexibility in school lunch milk options

The Hill

A bipartisan trio in the Senate unveiled a proposal Wednesday to require schools to offer nondairy milk options at lunch to accommodate students who are lactose intolerant or have other dietary restrictions. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has long required school lunches to include milk on all trays in order for schools to be reimbursed for the meals.

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A midwife says of the aid cuts in Afghanistan: 'No one prioritizes women's lives.'

NPR Health

With the abrupt shutdown of USAID funding, many clinics, including those serving women in remote areas, have shuttered. Midwives are reporting that mothers and babies are dying as a result. (Image credit: Victor J.

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Despite criticism, the ACA has helped more Americans access health insurance 

Association of Health Care Journalists

Many discussions about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) include a list of ways the law has failed to help Americans get more affordable and comprehensive health insurance. Whats left out, therefore, are all the ways the law has helped Americans get better coverage and improved health. This is the third story in a series. In the first two parts of this series on the ACA ( here and here ), we reported on how Americans have benefited from the law, known officially as the Patient Protection and Afforda

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Dallas County Health and Human Services Leverages PHIG Funding to Support Community-Based Organizations

PHIG Partners

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) leveraged the flexibility of PHIG funding to provide mini-grants of up to $10,000 to community-based organizations (CBOs) and providers, supporting outreach, transportation assistance, and testing programs to address barriers to HIV services. Unlike traditional processes requiring lengthy approvals, PHIG allowed DCHHS to collaborate with CBOs to create a tailored grant program that met local needs, fostering stronger community ties.

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