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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Rural families use innovative DNA tool to track pig farm pollution

Environmental Health News

Communities living near factory farms are using a new scientific tool to track pig feces in their homes and fight back. Hana Mensendiek reports for U.S. Right To Know. In short: Residents in Duplin County, North Carolina, worked with Johns Hopkins scientists to create Pig-2-Bac, a tool that identifies pig manure DNA in household dust. The data helps communities prove that fecal waste from nearby factory farms is contaminating their air and homes, strengthening legal cases against polluters.

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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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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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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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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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Parents sue Bucknell alleging hazing led to freshman football player's death

NPR Health

Freshman Calvin "CJ" Dickey Jr., died after his first practice at the university. His parents are suing the school, also alleging staff neglected to account for his sickle cell trait during training.

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Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole Lost Control of Her Business & Almost Lost Her Life

Black Health Matters

Slutty Vegan made the news when its location at Spelman College closed on February 26th and was replaced with Twisted Taco. According to Eater , the restaurant gave the College two days’ notice before its closure; now we know why. In an exclusive interview with People, Slutty Vegan restaurant founder Pinky Cole reveals that she made the difficult decision to relinquish control of the multimillion-dollar company to an assignee (who closed the Spelman location and others).

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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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Could unifying outpatient practices help dismantle structural racism in health care?

Association of Health Care Journalists

Health care segregation isnt just a relic of the past. In 2025, patients of color and those insured through Medicaid often receive care at different outpatient clinics than their white, commercially insured counterparts. This segregation isnt legally mandated but its structurally ingrained, and it has real consequences for health outcomes, medical education, and systemic equity.

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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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