This colorized electron microscope image released by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in March shows avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles (in yellow)
Health News

Heeding the lessons of COVID-19 in the face of avian influenza

Bird flu has been causing a flurry of human infections, especially in U.S. cattle workers. If the virus learns to spread effectively from human to human, it could change the course of history. Even though our weary world already feels maxed out, we have to make room to avert yet another crisis.

Mammogram
Breast Cancer, Prevention, Radiology

How to assess your risk for breast cancer

One in eight American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. A combination of factors can influence your risk.

Some are unmodifiable, such as age, having dense breasts and a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, while others are modifiable, such as physical activity levels, weight and reproductive history.

Vaccination shot vaccine injection child nurse
Child Health, Measles, Newborn and Infant Health, Public Health, Vaccines

Combatting the measles threat means examining the reasons for declining vaccination rates

The anti-vaccine literature is not anti-science. It is filled with statistics and references to scientific studies, although the facts are often wrong. Parents who read this literature need more than the simple reassurance of experts that vaccines are safe and effective. They need to be shown evidence and have confidence that their concerns are being taken seriously.

Screenshot 2025 03 18 at 6.58.52 am
influenza, Influenza/Flu, Politics, Vaccines

Flu deaths rise as anti-vaccine disinformation takes root

Flu-related deaths hit a seven-year high in January and February, the two months that usually account for the height of flu season, according to a Stateline analysis of preliminary federal statistics. There were about 9,800 deaths across the country, up from 5,000 in the same period last year and the most since 2018, when there were about 10,800.

Despite that, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has canceled or postponed meetings to prepare for next fall’s flu vaccine, when experts talk about what influenza strains they expect they’ll be battling.