Sat.Mar 29, 2025 - Fri.Apr 04, 2025

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Collins 'concerned' budget language could lead to Medicaid cuts

The Hill

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who will be one of the Democrats top political targets in 2026, says she is concerned about language in the budget resolution that she fears could result in substantial cuts to Medicaid benefits. I'm concerned about the instruction to the House Committee for $880 billion, it's the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, because I don't see how you can get to that amount without cutting Medicaid benefits, Collins told reporte

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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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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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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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Record high can't afford health care: Gallup

The Hill

The share of U.S. adults who have recently been unable to afford health care has reached a new high, according to new report published by Gallup, with Black and Hispanic adults accounting for much of the increase. The Gallup report, conducted in partnership with the nonprofit West Health, found that 11 percent of U.S. adults roughly 29 million have recently been unable to afford or access quality health care.

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We know nanoplastics are a threat -- this new tool can help us figure out just how bad they are

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

While the threat that microplastics pose to human and ecological health has been richly documented and is well known, nanoplastics, which are smaller than one micrometer (1/50th the thickness of an average human hair), are far more reactive, far more mobile and vastly more capable of crossing biological membranes. Yet, because they are so tiny and so mobile, researchers don't yet have an accurate understanding of just how toxic these particles are.

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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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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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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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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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National Public Health Week starts Monday, celebrating 30 years of public health

Public Health Newswire

APHA hosting webinar events throughout week

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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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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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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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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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Caregiving can test you, body and soul. It can also unlock a new sense of self

NPR Health

Helping a sick family member over months or years can be an enormous strain. It can also disrupt your identity. Psychologists say embracing this change can open up new ways for caregivers to cope.

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HHS staff to brief House committee following massive agency layoffs

The Hill

House Democrats on the Energy and Commerce committee are demanding a hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F Kennedy Jr. about the massive layoffs happening at his agency. But so far, GOP leadership has committed to a staff-level briefing only, according to a spokesperson for Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.). Health subcommittee ranking member Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) in a statement Thursday said a staff briefing isnt enough.

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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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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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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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Medical cannabis may help reduce cravings and improve recovery outcomes

News Medical Health Sciences

A new pilot study from UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University examined how medically supervised cannabis use in a residential recovery home may support people in treatment for substance use challenges.

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Looming budget cuts: What to know when covering Medicaid for older adults 

Association of Health Care Journalists

Cuts to Medicaid could be devastating for a huge portion of low-income people over 65. This joint federal-state program is under a microscope as Congress debates the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and how to offset tax cuts. If the budget passes, it needs to be offset by $880 billion in cuts, making Medicaid a prime target. Many of the proposed budget cuts could reduce or eliminate funding for services like home care, transportation to medical appointments, medication assistance and significantly impac

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The head of Africa CDC thought news of a U.S. aid freeze must be 'a joke.' Now what?

NPR Health

Dr. Jean Kaseya is now figuring out how to cope with the new foreign aid landscape.

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New FDA commissioner signed off on vaccine chief's ouster: Reports 

The Hill

Newly sworn-in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary signed off on the plan to push out the agencys top vaccine official, Peter Marks, in one of his first acts as chief, according to multiple reports. Marks, who led the FDAs vaccine division for more than eight years, resigned on Friday as director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

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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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AIIMS (Delhi) performs rare keyhole surgery for pancreatic cancer in a child 

The Hindu

AIIMS Delhi performs first laparoscopic Whipple operation on 11-year-old girl with rare pancreatic tumour, ensuring complete cure.

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