Latest KFF Health News Stories
House GOP Members Allege Health Officials Dodged Public Records Laws
Republican lawmakers continue their push to try to link covid’s origins with U.S. research groups. Meanwhile, the United States has joined other Western unions in pressing for agreement on pandemic response rules.
California Flu Spike Investigated; H5N1 Infects Alpacas In Idaho
At the point in the flu season when levels should be decreasing, wastewater monitoring in Northern California has found unusual spikes. Health officials are investigating if avian flu is playing a role. Meanwhile, the virus is having an impact on alpaca and chicken flocks in other parts of the country.
Adults Who Help A Tennessee Minor Get An Abortion Will Face Prosecution
Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a bill that, starting July 1, would criminalize actions by a nonparental adult in transporting a minor to get an abortion or to access abortion pills. The measure is expected to face judicial challenge.
Giving Babies Peanuts Can Reduce Chance Of Developing Allergy: Study
The latest study backs up previous findings that introducing peanut products during infancy and consuming them regularly to age 5 can reduce the risk of peanut allergies.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Viewpoints: AI Is Worsening The Medical Misinformation Crisis; Telehealth Needs Closed Captioning
Editorial writers discuss misinformation, telehealth, pandemic treaties, and more.
In Lawsuit, Uvalde Families Accuse 3 Companies Of Cultivating Criminality
Gunmaker Daniel Defense, Meta, and Activision all “knowingly exposed [the mass shooter] to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems, and trained him to use it,” the lawsuit contends.
Health Network In Florida Gave Patients’ Data To Meta, Lawsuit Alleges
Other news from around the nation is on cesarean sections outside of hospitals, childhood vaccine requirements, “just brutal” heat in Phoenix, and more.
Who Should Prescribe Methadone? Industry Leaders Sound Off At Summit
At issue is a bill from Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) that would wrest methadone from the control of specialized clinics and allow any board-certified addiction doctor or addiction psychiatrist to prescribe the medication directly to patients, Stat reports.
After ‘Pandemic Treaty’ Fails, WHO Assembly Eyes Future Preparedness
The weeklong meeting of the World Health Assembly kicked off Monday in Geneva. Other related news is on summer covid, the new FLiRT subvariants, long covid patients of color, and more.
Study: Raw Milk Contaminated With Bird Flu Virus Infects Mice
Reuters reports on the study, which was published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Other related news is on dairy cows, an experimental mRNA vaccine, and more.
Abortion Pills Will Soon Be Illegal Without A Prescription In Louisiana
Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill Friday that will put mifepristone and misoprostol in the same controlled-substance category as opioids. The law takes effect Oct. 1.
Moms Exposed To Forever Chemicals May Put Child At Risk For Obesity
A study examining the childhood obesity epidemic keys in on the effect of endocrine disruptors in utero. Other news stories look at the promises and pitfalls of popular weight loss drugs.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on psychiatry, pink noise, “forever chemicals,” a blood scandal, and more.
CDC Analysis Suggests Stroke Rates Are Rising Once Again
Stat reminds us that strokes had been seeing a “steady decline among all Americans,” as it notes new CDC data now shows that trend reversing. The WHO, meanwhile, underlines the addictive health threat from vapes.
Lawmakers Argue Whether Farm Bill Would Slash States’ SNAP Benefits
As Reuters reports, the proposed legislation would not reduce current levels of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, but would freeze the list of covered products, and the values allowed to purchase them, at their present levels.
No Health Risk Found From Cloud-Brightening Climate Experiment
The University of Washington experiment, which sprays sea salt into the air in an effort to help cool the planet, doesn’t present a health risk. Separately, reports say that oil refineries are now pumping out less toxic benzene than they used to.
Viewpoints: Marijuana Can Reform Senior Health Care; Crisis Pregnancy Centers Should Come To An End
Editorial writers discuss medical marijuana, crisis pregnancy centers, reproductive rights, and more.
Jury Rejects Illinois Woman’s Claim That Zantac Causes Cancer
This case in Chicago is the first of thousands of lawsuits with essentially the same argument, Reuters reminds us. Meanwhile reports also tackle the tricky question of who, exactly, is going to get the $1.1 billion payout from the Philips sleep apnea suit?
