Health and Nutrition
Can a vibrating belt fend off bone density loss?
There's a lot of buzz about low-intensity vibration, which can mimic some of the effects of exercise. The FDA approved a vibration belt for people at risk of osteoporosis, and a p…
Ebola cases rise in Congo, as government revives travel restrictions
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented pace, Africa CDC warns.
Texas has detected a flesh-eating parasite in livestock after 60 years
Texas officials announced they have detected the New World screwworm in livestock, the first evidence of the parasite in that state in decades.
When U.S. foreign aid changed, AIDS workers in Africa felt it
In South Africa and Mozambique, health care providers say cancellation or redirection of U.S. PEPFAR funding under the Trump administration have already endangered vulnerable peop…
South Africa rolls out game-changing HIV shot amid funding shortfalls
A new twice-yearly HIV prevention injection could transform South Africa's fight against the epidemic — but U.S. aid cuts and limited doses threaten to slow its impact.
What will it take to get a vaccine for the Ebola strain driving the current outbreak?
There is an effective vaccine for Ebola — but not for the variety spreading rapidly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Trials are going on for several candidates. How long will …
Some students with disabilities rely on screens at school. What happens if they're banned?
Some students with disabilities rely on assistive technology to learn, and they worry it could be swept up in the movement to get screens out of schools.
With World Cup set to begin, public health officials hope to defend against germs
The World Cup gets underway next week and millions will pack huge stadiums to watch. Public health officials will be watching too, only they're looking for germs that could spread…
Weakened public health powers could hamper states' outbreak responses
Public health experts are worried that states are less prepared to respond to the Ebola outbreak and other infectious disease threats because many weakened their public health aut…
Ultraprocessed foods are the new Tobacco War
Research published in the American Journal of Public Health details the connection between ultra processed foods and the tobacco industry when it comes to production, strategy and…
Trying to solve problems with insurance, tattoo artists and breast cancer survivors
Some women who undergo arduous treatments due to breast cancer turn to nipple and areola tattoos as a way to reconnect with their bodies, but not all insurance covers the process.
People with cancer or HIV could lose Medicaid under new work rules, advocates say
Adults on Medicaid will be required to work 80 hours per month. The Trump administration says people who are sick will have to prove they are too sick to work to be exempt from th…
Trump administration shares new work requirements for Medicaid recipients
The Trump administration this week released guidance for states on the work rules many Americans on Medicaid will need to abide by in order to be eligible for benefits on Jan. 1.
Ebola vaccine candidates being fast-tracked to target rare strain
Three vaccine candidates are being fast-tracked to target the Ebola species spreading in Central Africa. Big organizations and companies are behind the effort, but logistics are c…
Heat, bugs, germs: U.S. public health prepares for the World Cup
For months ahead of the World Cup, states and cities have been preparing to protect travelers and local communities from potential threats including foodborne illness and infectio…
Trump administration puts out strict Medicaid work rules
Work rules for sick people on Medicaid will be stricter than advocates had hoped. The Trump administration released its guidance for states, which have to stand up the new bureauc…
Is bovine colostrum really 'liquid gold' for gut health?
Wellness influencers are promoting supplements of cow colostrum, the first milk that mammals produce after giving birth, for advancing immunity and a healthy gut. Does science bac…
Why is Michigan loosening its rules for parents wanting to exempt kids from vaccines?
A decade ago, Michigan had high rates of parents not vaccinating their children, so it required them to attend an in-person education class to get an exemption. It worked — until …
Is bovine colostrum really 'liquid gold' for gut health?
Baby calves rely on it to build up their immune systems and gut. And now marketers are promoting it for humans. Here's what scientists say.
Experimental pill promises new hope for deadly pancreatic cancer
A novel pill helped people with advanced pancreatic cancer live longer, researchers reported Sunday, raising hopes of long-needed better treatments for one of the deadliest types …
The biggest permanent desert lake threatens with rising waters and hungry crocs
Kenya's Lake Turkana is the world's largest permanent desert lake. Its waters have long sustained hundreds of thousands. Now the lake is facing multiple threats — and threatening …
Amid a slew of chemical accidents, the agency that investigates them is under threat
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with former member of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board Rick Engler about the current state of chemical safety following a string of incidents in the U.S.
Pancreatic cancer was once considered almost untreatable. A new drug is offering hope
A new drug for pancreatic cancer gives some hope for one of the most dire types of cancer.
Common myths about gut health
Marketers sell all kinds of tests and supplements to fix your gut health. But is any of this actually worth spending money on?