Shen Wu Tan

Health experts warn of measles’ spread over holiday travel

Health officials are urging holiday travelers to ensure they are protected against measles amid numerous reports of possible exposure at airports and other public places.

December 23, 2019

Flu has sickened millions and hospitalized thousands more, CDC estimates

The flu has sickened millions and hospitalized thousands across the U.S., with widespread elevated activity reported in most states, the latest tally shows.

December 22, 2019

Researchers predict nearly half of U.S. adults will be obese in a decade

A team of public health researchers predicts that almost half of U.S. adults will be obese and almost a quarter of them will be severely obese by 2030.

December 19, 2019

Marijuana vaping nearly doubles among youth

The number of high school seniors who vaped marijuana in the last 30 days almost doubled this year, from 7.5% to 14% — the second largest one-year jump ever tracked for any substance since a national survey began monitoring drug abuse in 1975.

December 18, 2019

Trump administration moving forward with drug importation plan

The Trump administration released Wednesday a proposed rule that would allow states to import certain prescription drugs from Canada in an attempt to lower drug costs in the U.S.

December 18, 2019

Trump administration proposes new rules to increase organ transplants

The Trump administration proposed new rules Tuesday to increase organ transplants for the more than 113,000 Americans currently on waiting lists.

December 17, 2019

Women make up majority of U.S. medical students for first time

For the first time ever, women make up the majority of U.S. medical school students this year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

December 12, 2019

Samoa vaccinates more than 90% of eligible people against measles

The Samoan Ministry of Health has vaccinated more than 90% of eligible people against measles to combat the ongoing outbreak, as of Wednesday.

December 12, 2019

Santa Claus rides through Montgomery County to raise money for families of sick children

Santa Claus rode through Montgomery County on Wednesday, escorted by police on motorcycles, to raise money for families of children living with rare or serious illnesses whose best hope is to undergo clinical trials and research studies.

December 11, 2019

Hospital residency shortage for medical students fueling doctor decline

Almost 10% of medical school students each year do not get a hospital residency, leaving thousands without the required training to work as physicians and contributing to a growing shortage of doctors in the U.S., medical education professionals say.

December 10, 2019

Flu season strikes earlier than usual

The U.S. is experiencing its earliest start to the winter flu season in more than 15 years, largely due to an influenza strain that has dominated at an unusual time of year.

December 9, 2019

Permanent hair dyes, chemical straighteners to linked to increased risk of breast cancer, study find

Women who use permanent hair dye or chemical straighteners might have an elevated risk of developing breast cancer, national health researchers said in a study published Wednesday.

December 4, 2019

CDC estimates 154,000 Americans have HIV but don’t know it

An estimated 154,000 people with HIV in the U.S. were unaware they had the sexually transmitted disease and, therefore, didn't seek treatment to suppress the virus and prevent its spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

December 3, 2019

Samoan government orders shutdown amid deadly measles epidemic

The government of Samoa on Monday ordered a shutdown later this week amid a growing measles outbreak that claimed five lives in 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 53 in the epidemic.

December 2, 2019

Massachusetts governor signs into law nation’s first statewide ban on flavored tobacco products

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday signed into law the nation's first statewide ban on all flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes.

November 27, 2019

National Vaccine Information Center, Informed Consent Action Network want halt of oral polio vaccine

Vaccination-wary groups are calling for the World Health Organization to halt the use of an oral polio vaccine following reports of 11 new cases of polio attributed to the vaccine in five countries.

November 26, 2019

Massachusetts passes ban on sale of flavored vaping and tobacco products

Massachusetts lawmakers on Thursday passed a ban on the sale of flavored vaping and tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, making the state the first in the nation to approve such wide-ranging legislation.

November 21, 2019

Online shoppers expected to lose millions to holiday shopping scams this year

Consumer privacy researchers say online shoppers are set to lose more money to holiday scams this year than ever before, amid a steep increase in reports of internet shopping scams since 2015.

November 18, 2019

44% of veterans experience chronic pain

Iraq War veteran Zachary Munoz suffers from chronic back pain and the lingering effects of a traumatic brain injury, but he knows he is lucky to be alive.

November 11, 2019

CDC identifies vitamin E oil as ‘strong culprit’ in vaping deaths

Vitamin E oil, an ingredient added to THC e-cigarettes, is a "strong culprit" behind the national outbreak of vaping-related deaths and sicknesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

November 8, 2019