Latest Health News

A rural Ugandan community is a hot spot for sickle cell disease. But one patient gives hope

May. 12, 2024 02:08 AM EDT

MBALE, Uganda (AP) — Barbara Nabulo was one of three girls in her family. But when a sister died, her mother wailed at the funeral that she was left with just one and a half daughters. The half was the ailing Nabulo, who at age 12 grasped her mother’s meaning. "I...

Local governments struggle to distribute their share of billions from opioid settlements

May. 12, 2024 00:58 AM EDT

Settlement money to help stem the decades-long opioid addiction and overdose epidemic is rolling out to small towns and big cities across the U.S., but advocates worry that chunks of it may be used in ways that don't make a dent in the crisis. As state and local governments navigate...

First person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant dies nearly 2 months later

May. 11, 2024 21:17 PM EDT

BOSTON (AP) — The first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has died nearly two months after he underwent the procedure, his family and the hospital that performed the surgery said Saturday. Richard “Rick” Slayman had the transplant at Massachusetts...

A cyberattack forces a big US health system to divert ambulances and take records offline

May. 10, 2024 21:50 PM EDT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in 19 states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records. An Ascension spokesperson said it...

NYC policy on how long migrant families can stay in shelters was 'haphazard,' audit finds

May. 10, 2024 18:48 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City policy imposing 60-day limits on shelter stays for migrant families was rolled out haphazardly over the past six months — with issues such as the city failing to notify pregnant women they may be exempt, a new audit by the city's comptroller has found. ...

Specialty lab exec gets 10-year prison term for 11 deaths from tainted steroids in Michigan

May. 10, 2024 18:07 PM EDT

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan judge sentenced the former executive of a specialty pharmacy to at least 10 years in prison Friday for the deaths of 11 people who were injected with tainted pain medication, part of a meningitis outbreak that affected hundreds across the U.S. in 2012. ...

Kansas' governor vetoes a bill for extending child support to fetuses

May. 10, 2024 17:11 PM EDT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Democratic governor on Friday vetoed a bill aimed at ensuring that child support payments cover fetuses, a measure critics saw as a move by anti-abortion groups toward giving them the same rights as the mothers-to-be carrying them. The measure scuttled...

US pledges money and other aid to help track and contain bird flu on dairy farms

May. 10, 2024 17:09 PM EDT

U.S. health and agriculture officials pledged nearly $200 million in new spending and other efforts Friday to help track and contain an outbreak of bird flu in the nation's dairy cows that has spread to more than 40 herds in nine states. The new funds include $101 million to...

Here's what to know about conservatorships and how Brian Wilson's case evolved

May. 10, 2024 17:07 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge put Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson under a court conservatorship to oversee his personal and medical affairs after the legendary songwriter's doctor reported that he has a major neurocognitive disorder. The judge on Thursday appointed two longtime...

Marcus Armstrong pays tribute to cancer patients with special paint job for Indy Grand Prix

May. 10, 2024 14:50 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Marcus Armstong's No. 11 Honda-powered car will come with all the usual trimmings for this weekend's Indianapolis Grand Prix — speed, sponsors and a shiny new paint job. The second-year driver also will be carrying a message of hope. Chip...