Latest Public 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...

Sewage spill closes waters along 2 miles of Los Angeles beaches

May. 10, 2024 13:04 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A long stretch of Los Angeles coastal waters was under a closure order Friday after a large spill of untreated sewage into a creek that empties into the ocean. The spill began Wednesday and about 14,400 gallons flowed into Ballona Creek before it was stopped at...

Bread loaves recalled in Japan after 'rat remains' were found

May. 09, 2024 11:22 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Loaves of bread have been taken off store shelves in Japan after the remains of “a small animal” believed to be a rat were found. Production of the bread was halted at a Tokyo factory, with 104,000 packages being recalled, according to Pasco Shikishima Corp. ...

Editorial Roundup: Indiana

Apr. 30, 2024 07:26 AM EDT

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. April 27, 2024. Editorial: Motorists need strategies, not scare campaigns, to reduce driving distractions More than 40,000 people in the U.S. were killed last year in vehicle crashes, according to preliminary data from the National Highway...

Less alcohol, or none at all, is one path to better health

Apr. 29, 2024 17:26 PM EDT

It’s wine time. Beer Thirty. Happy hour. Five o’clock somewhere. Maybe it's also time to rethink drinking? Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart, but better research methods have thrown cold water on that. “Drinking...

CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles

Apr. 29, 2024 10:31 AM EDT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three women who were diagnosed with HIV after getting “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed New Mexico medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles, federal health officials...

Minneapolis smokers to pay some of the highest cigarette prices in US with a $15 per-pack minimum

Apr. 25, 2024 15:54 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Smokers in Minneapolis will pay some of the highest cigarette prices in the country after the City Council voted unanimously Thursday to impose a minimum retail price of $15 per pack to promote public health. The ordinance not only sets a floor price. It prevents...

Chipotle reverses protein policy, says workers can choose chicken once again

Apr. 25, 2024 13:51 PM EDT

Chipotle says its employees can choose chicken once again. Last week, the chain asked its U.S. and Canadian employees to temporarily select another protein for their work meals to preserve the company's supply of chicken. The directive applied to both corporate staff and restaurant...

Congo questions Apple over knowledge of conflict minerals in its supply chain

Apr. 25, 2024 12:30 PM EDT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Congo ’s government is questioning Apple about the tech company’s knowledge of “blood minerals” from a conflict zone in the African country that could be smuggled into its supply chains and is demanding answers within three weeks. A group of...

Climate change is bringing malaria to new areas. In Africa, it never left

Apr. 25, 2024 12:23 PM EDT

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — When a small number of cases of locally transmitted malaria were found in the United States last year, it was a reminder that climate change is reviving or migrating the threat of some diseases. But across the African continent malaria has never left, killing or sickening...