Health

Oral polio vaccines have helped drive wild poliovirus to near extinction but can rarely mutate into vaccine-derived strains; a newer, more stable oral vaccine reduces that risk though rare recombinant viruses have been detected.

Bird feeders can concentrate and spread infections among visiting wild birds; common illnesses named include salmonellosis, aspergillosis, avian pox, trichomonosis, and mycoplasmosis.

Ground turmeric can be used to make tea, and using a strainer or tea ball helps keep fine sediment out of the cup.

Studies report that people who stop GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy typically regain much of the lost weight within about 1.5 years, and improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol tend to reverse.

A survey of about 9,600 mothers in 12 European countries found more than two-thirds felt mentally overloaded, with roughly one-third reporting anxiety and 20% reporting depression.

Jieun Yoo shaved her head before chemotherapy caused her hair to fall out, and later announced that her cancer is in remission.

Palisades Charter High School reopened its West Los Angeles campus one year after the January 2025 wildfires; community members lined streets and school groups greeted students as classes resumed.

State health officials reported 789 measles cases in South Carolina, making it the largest U.S. outbreak in nearly 30 years; most cases are among unvaccinated people and at least 18 people have been hospitalized.

Costco members can access discounted telehealth and outpatient services through a partnership with the healthcare marketplace Sesame that began in 2023. The program lists prices upfront and includes options such as a $29 virtual primary care visit and therapy sessions starting around $79.

Jennifer Breheny Wallace writes in her book 'Mattering' that feeling like you matter is a basic human need tied to well‑being, and the interview cites research suggesting even an hour a week with supportive people can boost resilience.

The U.S. Education Department and Health and Human Services have referred Minnesota to the Justice Department after concluding the state violated Title IX by permitting males to compete in girls’ sports; the referral could lead to the loss of federal education and health funding.

An exclusive excerpt from Jennifer Breheny Wallace's book Mattering defines the feeling of mattering, reports six years of research linking it to resilience in young people, and offers practical examples such as the 'cornerman' idea and a volunteer-running partnership.

A University of Bonn trial reported that people with metabolic syndrome who ate mainly oatmeal for two days while consuming about half their usual calories experienced nearly a 10% drop in LDL cholesterol compared with a calorie-restricted control group.

CMS proposed payment and policy updates for 2027 affecting Medicare Advantage and Part D, including a projected 0.09% average increase in Medicare Advantage payments and changes to risk adjustment and star ratings; public comments on the Advance Notice are due Feb. 25, 2026.

Dermatologists note hypochlorous acid, an antimicrobial naturally produced by white blood cells, can calm inflammation and is gentle for sensitive skin; reviewers and a dermatologist have highlighted Prequel's hypochlorous acid spray for soothing redness and irritation.

Vitamin B-12 helps protect nerve function, memory and mood, and deficiency is common — affecting about 6% of Americans under 60 and roughly 20% of those over 60.

Lancaster University has been awarded almost £11m to establish a community-focused Mental Health Research Group, one of five across England funded through a £55m NIHR investment. The programme aims to move research out of clinical settings and work alongside local groups to develop more preventative, accessible care.

This flu season has been unusually active, with the CDC reporting about 19 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths so far; a large University of Surrey study of 36,200 people found that severe vitamin D deficiency was linked to a higher chance of hospitalization for respiratory infections, and hospitalization risk fell modestly as vitamin D levels rose.

A University of Chicago study reported that adults who met a five-a-day fruit-and-vegetable guideline and ate complex carbohydrates saw an average 16% improvement in sleep quality within 24 hours; the article's author then tried the approach for one week and reported fewer nighttime awakenings and faster sleep onset.

Roche reported that its weekly shot CT-388 produced 18% more weight loss than placebo in a mid-stage trial, and nearly half of high-dose participants lost 20% or more of their body weight by week 48.

Unsealed autopsy findings describe medical and movement details for the four University of Idaho students killed in November 2022, and the accused, Bryan Kohberger, later pleaded guilty and received a life sentence.

Researchers using data from nearly 2,900 people in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing report that grandparents who provided childcare scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests than those who did not.

A hidden camera was discovered in a staff-only bathroom at Kaiser Permanente's West Los Angeles hospital, and police say an employee was arrested and has been formally charged.

Santa Barbara deputies arrested a Los Angeles certified nursing assistant on Jan. 20 on multiple felony charges related to alleged sexual abuse of dependent and elderly patients; he is being held on $100,000 bail.

A Cochrane review of 73 randomized trials with nearly 5,000 adults found that exercise produced effects similar to antidepressants or psychotherapy for mild to moderate depression in the available studies, though direct comparisons were limited; authors and clinicians noted it is important to discuss treatment options with a healthcare provider.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children receive vaccines for 18 diseases, while the CDC's revised federal schedule now recommends universal vaccination against 11 diseases.

UNICEF and the WFP report that the fragile ceasefire has improved food access and allowed over 10,000 aid trucks into Gaza, while many children still face malnutrition, unsafe shelter and ongoing threats to their lives.

William Foege, a former CDC director and a leading figure behind the effort to eradicate smallpox, died on January 24 at age 89.

Harvard public health researcher Cindy Leung told PBS that many people on SNAP face limited grocery choices and tight budgets that make following the Dietary Guidelines’ advice to eat whole, minimally processed foods difficult. She said the Thrifty Food Plan that underlies SNAP assumes time and resources many families lack, and that benefits often run out before the end of the month.

NHS England will lower the FIT threshold for home bowel cancer screening from 120 to 80 micrograms of blood per gram, and estimates this could detect about 600 additional early cancers and identify 2,000 more high-risk polyps each year.