Voters in Red and Blue States Repudiate Lenient Drug Policies
Californians voted for tougher penalties for dealers. Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota rejected proposals to legalize marijuana. Massachusetts denied a measure allowing possession of psychedelics.
F.D.A. Wants to Pull Ineffective Decongestant From Stores
It was added to cold and flu remedies in the 1990s when another ingredient went behind the counter over illicit meth lab concerns.
Richard Pazdur, FDA Cancer Chief, Discusses 25 Years of Innovation
Dr. Richard Pazdur for 25 years has overseen innovations in the treatment of deadly diseases at the agency.
A Door Is Unlocked, and 43 Monkeys Make a Bid for Freedom
Dozens of rhesus macaques escaped a research facility in South Carolina. They’re still on the lam.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Foe of Drug Makers and Regulators, Is Poised to Wield New Power
President-elect Donald Trump has encouraged him to “go wild on health” but has not made clear what role Mr. Kennedy will play.
No E. Coli Found in Samples of McDonald’s Beef Patties, Officials Say
The company said it would put Quarter Pounders back on the menu, without the raw onions that were considered the likely source of the bacteria.
Why Is Harris So Passionate About Abortion Rights? Her Past Work Holds Clues.
For a politician who has been criticized for shifting positions on some issues, this is an area where she has shown unwavering conviction.
Trump’s Embrace of RFK Jr. Puts Fluoride, Vaccines and Obamacare on the Agenda
Donald Trump’s pledge to let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “go wild on health” has put three issues on the agenda in the final days of the 2024 campaign.
Cost of Mpox Shot Deters Americans at Risk, Critics Say
The epidemic in Africa continues to grow, prompting fears of another outbreak in the U.S. But the vaccine is no longer free, and vulnerable people are going without.
Can John Green Make You Care About Tuberculosis?
With a forthcoming nonfiction book and an online army of Nerdfighters, the young-adult author aims to eliminate an entirely curable global scourge.
Heart-Valve Patients Should Have Earlier Surgery, Study Suggests
The results of a new clinical trial have overturned the “wait and see” approach that cardiologists have long favored for symptom-free patients.
Does Kamala Harris Back Free Health Care for Illegal Immigrants?
Donald Trump and other Republicans have said repeatedly that she does. Her history on the issue is complicated.
Richard A. Cash, Who Saved Millions From Dehydration, Dies at 83
He worked alongside another doctor to show that a simple rehydration therapy could check the ravages of cholera and other diarrhea-inducing diseases.
1 in 4 Child Deaths After E.R. Visits Are Preventable, Study Finds
If every emergency room in the United States were fully prepared to treat children, thousands of lives would be saved and the cost would be $11.84 or less per child, researchers found.
From AI to Musk’s Brain Chip, the F.D.A.’s Device Unit Faces Rapid Change
The new director overseeing medical devices will confront criticisms about hasty approvals as she ushers in revolutionary technology.
How a Second Trump Term Could Recast Public Health
Breaking up the C.D.C., moving funds from the N.I.H. — conservatives have floated changes should Mr. Trump regain office.
Sugar Rationing Lowered Diabetes and Hypertension in British Children
British data shows that children conceived and born during a period of sugar rationing were less likely to develop diabetes or high blood pressure later in life.
Librarians Struggle With Mental Health After Traumatic Events at Work
As libraries become public stages for social problems — homelessness, drug use, mental health — the people who work there are burning out.
Ozempic and Wegovy Ease Knee Osteoarthritis Pain in Large Study
A large trial showed that semaglutide, sold as Ozempic for diabetes and as Wegovy for obesity, was better than any current medications in alleviating symptoms.
Was Stone-Age Scandinavia Struck by Plague?
New research by geneticists hints at the deadly work of Yersinia pestis 5,000 years ago.
Despite Covid ‘Amnesia,’ the Pandemic Simmers Beneath the 2024 Race
Dueling Trump and Harris rallies outside Atlanta offer a case study in how anger and anxiety over Covid-19, a proxy for the larger debate over trust in government, have shaped the 2024 race.
What Ants and Orcas Can Teach Us About Death
A philosopher journeys into the world of comparative thanatology, which explores how animals of all kinds respond to death and dying.
The Rebellious Scientist Who Made Kamala Harris
The presidential candidate’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was a breast cancer researcher whose egalitarian politics often bucked a patriarchal lab culture.
How Taxpayers Are Helping Health Insurers Make Even Bigger Profits
Local governments often face extra fees when employees get out-of-network medical care, but some don’t track the insurance charges or even know about them.
Why Heat Waves of the Future May Be Even Deadlier Than Feared
The body’s cooling defenses fail at lower “wet bulb” temperatures than scientists had estimated.
Fatal Drug Overdoses Are Dropping. Not Everyone Is Spared.
Federal officials have celebrated a striking drop in drug overdoses across the country. But state-level data shows that Black people are suffering significantly worse outcomes than white people.
Medicare or Medicare Advantage? A Guide for 2025
Open enrollment for Medicare plans began on Oct. 15 and ends on Dec. 7. Here’s what older Americans need to know about the key differences when shopping for health insurance.
A Trans Researcher’s Pursuit of Better Data on Detransition
Kinnon MacKinnon leads the world’s largest study on people who stop or reverse their gender transitions, a group embroiled in intense political fights.
E. Coli Outbreak Tied to McDonald’s Widens to 75 People in 13 States
Health officials say that recalls of onions — the suspected source of the contamination — would help lessen the risk to consumers. Other major fast-food chains have also stopped offering onions.
Malaria Is Surging in Ethiopia, Reversing a Decade of Progress Against the Disease
Climate change, civil conflict and growing resistance to insecticides and treatments are all contributing to an alarming spread of cases.
Onions Recalled in Deadly E.Coli Outbreaks Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders
The deadly outbreak spurred removal of onions by a major food supplier in the Mountain West. Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut have stopped serving onions with their menu offerings at various locations.
What Drugmakers Did Not Tell Volunteers in Alzheimer’s Trials
Genetic tests showed that certain patients were predisposed to brain injuries if they took the drugs. That information remained secret.
U.S. Study on Puberty Blockers Goes Unpublished Because of Politics, Doctor Says
The leader of the long-running study said that the drugs did not improve mental health in children with gender distress and that the finding might be weaponized by opponents of the care.
E. Coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders
The C.D.C. said that nearly 50 people had become ill and one person had died from the deadly bacteria, which the agency tied to an ingredient in one of the fast food chain’s burger items.
First Sickle Cell Gene Therapy Patient, 12, Leaves Hospital
After 44 days, Kendric Cromer, 12, left the hospital. While his family feels fortunate that he was the first to receive a treatment, their difficult experiences hint at what others will be up against.
Biden to Propose That Insurers Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control
The new rules under the Affordable Care Act would include emergency contraception, a newly approved nonprescription birth control pill, spermicides and condoms.
States Revive Lawsuit to Sharply Curb Access to Abortion Pill
The Supreme Court ruled in June that the original plaintiffs, anti-abortion doctors and groups, did not have standing to sue. Now three states are trying to continue the legal fight.
Frozen Waffle Products Are Recalled Over Listeria Risk
Some products were sold under the brands of major retailers like Kroger, Price Chopper and Walmart. No illnesses so far have been linked to the waffles.
In L.A., Street Psychiatrists Offer the Homeless a Radical Step Forward
The crisis of homelessness is pushing American psychiatry to places it has not gone before — like sidewalk injections of antipsychotics.
Sammy Basso, Advocate for Progeria Research, Is Dead at 28
One of only about 150 people known to have the rare fatal condition, he traveled internationally to raise awareness and participated in the search for a cure.
Ananda Lewis, Former MTV V.J., Says She Has Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Lewis, the host of the 1990s MTV show “Hot Zone,” tried to fight her illness without undergoing a double mastectomy. She says she is responding well after resuming treatment.
Veterans Dept. Investigating Acadia Healthcare for Insurance Fraud
Several federal agencies are investigating whether the large chain of psychiatric hospitals held patients without medical justification.
These Tiny Worms Account for at Least 4 Nobel Prizes
A staple in laboratories worldwide, C. elegans is “an experimental dream,” said one scientist.
Sperm Can’t Unlock an Egg Without This Ancient Molecular Key
Using Google’s AlphaFold, researchers identified the bundle of three sperm proteins that seem to make sexual reproduction possible.
Columbia Cancer Surgeon Notches 5 More Retractions for Suspicious Data
Dr. Sam Yoon and a collaborator duplicated images across their research studies over many years. The collaborator has left Columbia.
On Drug Prices, Harris Pushes for Deeper Cuts While Trump Offers Few Specifics
Both have campaigned for lower prescription costs. Kamala Harris has promised to expand President Biden’s policies. Donald Trump is a wild card.
Could Weight-Loss Drugs Help Get People Back to Work? The U.K. Wants to Find Out.
The British government announced a multimillion dollar pharmaceutical partnership with Eli Lilly, including a trial that will study the impact of a weight-loss drug on work and productivity.
Therapeutic Food Shortage Puts African Children at Risk of Starvation, U.N. Agency Says
Supplies of a highly nutritious treatment are running out, according to UNICEF.
3% of American High Schoolers Identify as Transgender, First National Survey Finds
A survey by the C.D.C. found high rates of sadness, bullying and suicide attempts among transgender and gender-questioning teenagers.
Harris Releases Medical Information From White House Doctor, Daring Trump
Vice President Kamala Harris released a letter from her doctor saying that she is in “excellent health,” as her campaign tries to capitalize on the lack of health information shared by her rival.
Fisher-Price Recalls ‘Snuga Swings’ Linked to Five Infant Deaths
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall, which one of its commissioners said was “doomed to fail.”
TikTok Faces Lawsuits From 13 States Around Teens and Mental Health
More than a dozen states sued TikTok on Tuesday for creating an app designed to be addictive to children and teenagers.
The Cutting-Edge Hearing Aids That You May Already Own
Apple is preparing to turn its AirPods Pro 2 into easy-to-use aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Does Your School Use Suicide Prevention Software? We Want to Hear From You.
Concerned about anxiety and depression among students, some schools are monitoring what children type into their devices to detect suicidal thinking or self-harm.
Nobel Prize in Chemistry Goes to 3 Scientists for Predicting and Creating Proteins
The Nobel, awarded to David Baker of the University of Washington and Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper of Google DeepMind, is the second this week to involve artificial intelligence.
Modern Love Stories That Changed Readers’ Lives
For 20 years, Modern Love has recorded peoples’ lives. The column has also had real-life reverberations on readers.
Florida IV Plant Spared From Storm, Company Says
Milton threatened a Daytona Beach site that produces one-fourth of the nation’s IV medical solutions, which were already in short supply because of storm damage in North Carolina.
Hospitals and Nursing Homes Close or Put Up Flood Barricades
Medical facilities in Florida have plenty of experience with hurricanes, but officials are aware that Milton may bring more damage than past storms.
U.S. Races to Replace IV Fluid Supplies After Hurricane Helene
Officials are looking to foreign sources to ease shortages of IV bags caused by Hurricane Helene as hospitals begin rationing fluids to protect the sickest patients.
Harris Proposes a Medicare Plan to Provide Home Care, Vision and Hearing Ben
The vice president’s health care plan is meant to help Americans who are struggling to find affordable home care for themselves or aging relatives.
Harris Proposes a Medicare Plan to Provide Home Care, Vision and Hearing Benefits
The vice president’s latest health care plan is meant to help Americans who are struggling to find affordable home care for themselves or their aging loved ones.
How Can I Cut PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals?’
They’re almost everywhere. And they’re bad. But there are some things you can do to avoid them.
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Honors Ambros and Ruvkun for MicroRNA Discovery
The prize was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA, which helps determine how cells develop and function.
Stories of Marijuana’s Little-Known Harms: ‘It Took Over Everything’
A growing number of marijuana users in the U.S. are experiencing severe health problems like these.
Nighttime Depression Is a Real Thing
There are lots of reasons your mood might tank at night. Here’s how to address the bedtime blues.
Rwanda’s Doctors and Nurses Hit Hard by Deadly Marburg Virus
The Health Ministry has reported that 80 percent of the infected are health care professionals.
‘Mom, I Want to Live’: A Young Girl Battles War and Cancer
Sonya Liakh was diagnosed with eye cancer at age 2. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted her treatment, her family faced a desperate struggle.
As America’s Marijuana Use Grows, So Do the Risks
The drug, legal in much of the country, is widely seen as nonaddictive and safe. For some users, these assumptions are dangerously wrong.
As Bird Flu Spreads, Two New Cases Diagnosed in California
Both patients were dairy workers whose illnesses were mild. Investigators are continuing to evaluate the contacts of a Missouri patient who had no exposure to animals.
What to Know About the Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak
In Rwanda, 11 deaths have been reported from this rare but deadly disease. Two people tested negative in Germany this week.
What to Know About Test Alternatives to Colonoscopies for Colon Cancer Screening
Doctors can provide alternative forms of screening for colon and rectal cancer but sometimes have a good reason to stick with the colonoscope.
Gilead Agrees to Allow Generic Version of Groundbreaking H.I.V. Shot in Poor Countries
Many middle-income countries are left out of the deal, widening a gulf in access to critical medicines.
Officials Cast Doubt on a Dementia Drug, but Human Trials Continue
The S.E.C. alleged shortcomings in research said to support the drug, and its developer agreed to a $40 million settlement. Some experts wonder why clinical trials have not been stopped.
Risk of Heart Defects Higher in Babies Conceived With I.V.F.
The birth defects were more likely, but still very uncommon, in infants conceived through certain fertility treatments, a large study found.
Breast Cancer Continues to Rise Among Younger Women, Study Finds
Death rates are declining among U.S. women with breast cancer. But the disease is turning up more often in women under age 50.
The Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
Health experts, gathering at the U.N., have begun to shift their focus to try to provide access to basic drugs in countries where preventable deaths from infections occur too frequently.
California Sues Hospital for Denying Patient an Emergency Abortion
The state said that despite a doctor’s recommendation and state law, a Catholic hospital declined to provide an abortion because fetal heart tones were present.
Acadia Healthcare Says It Faces New Federal Investigations
Shares of the company, one of the largest chains of for-profit psychiatric hospitals, were down 25 percent at one point.
Viewfinders Make Fall Foliage Pop for the Colorblind in Virginia
Specialized viewfinders installed across state parks let visitors with red-green colorblindness see more distinct colors.
Rabies Death in Minnesota Linked to Exposure to Bat, Officials Say
The death, which was reported on Friday, is only the fifth fatal human rabies case in Minnesota since 1975, health officials said.
After Your Death, Who Takes Care of the Dog?
A pet trust designates a new guardian for companion animals and sets aside funds for their care. Better yet, it’s legally binding.
Biden Officials Stave Off Sticker Shock on Medicare Drug Premiums
Federal regulators spent billions of dollars to avoid a spike in costs for older Americans that could have been politically damaging to the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Possible Cluster of Human Bird-Flu Infections Expands in Missouri
Seven people in contact with a patient hospitalized with bird flu also developed symptoms, the C.D.C. reported. Some are undergoing further tests.
F.D.A. Approves a New Antipsychotic Drug
Available antipsychotic treatments work by blocking dopamine receptors. The new drug, Cobenfy, takes a different approach.
A Patchwork of Cannabis Laws Creates Health Risks, Study Finds
A new report calls for public education and closing of legal loopholes to keep the public safe.
Therapy Notes Are Accessible to Patients. Is That a Good Thing?
Health care systems have been putting therapists’ progress reports online, much to the surprise (and anger) of some patients.
Lawmakers Seek Inquiry Into F.D.A. Device Chief’s Potential Conflicts
A top medical device regulator’s work overlapped at times with his wife’s legal representation of clients with business before the agency.
That Message From Your Doctor? It May Have Been Drafted by A.I.
Overwhelmed by queries, physicians are turning to artificial intelligence to correspond with patients. Many have no clue that the replies are software-generated.
Plastic Waste and Toxic Sludge: A Sweep of a Messy Beat
The Climate reporter Hiroko Tabuchi is interested in all the things we take for granted about our environment.
Was It Really a Hot Zone Summer?
From Covid to dengue, viral outbreaks seemed to be popping up all over. But maybe Americans are just more attuned to threats now.
Nasal Flu Vaccine Is Approved for At-Home Use
The F.D.A. authorized AstraZeneca’s treatment to be given outside a health care setting, although it will still need a prescription.
Widowed and Looking for Love, Like the Golden Bachelorette
“The Golden Bachelorette” offers a glimpse at how dating changes after losing the love of your life. This is what it’s really like.
F.T.C. Accuses Drug Middlemen of Inflating Insulin Prices
The case takes aim at the major pharmacy benefit managers, agency officials said, claiming that they favored more expensive insulin products and forced patients to pay more.
Drug Overdose Deaths Are Dropping. The Reasons Are Not Perfectly Clear.
The decrease across the country is a major breakthrough in efforts to reverse the effects of fentanyl. Researchers and health officials say there is no easy explanation for the trend.
Michel Siffre, 85, Dies; Descended Into Caves to Study the Human Mind
He was a pioneer in chronobiology, the study of how our bodies understand the passage of time.
Who Is Liv Schmidt, and Why Was She Barred From TikTok?
Liv Schmidt has inspired debates with videos that some believe encourage disordered eating. One social media site tried to remove her.
John A. Clements Dies at 101; His Research Saved Thousands of Babies
He identified the cause of a respiratory condition that was killing 10,000 infants a year in the United States. Then he helped design a drug that slashed those mortality rates.
Research Leading to Ozempic Honored by 2024 Lasker Awards
Three scientists were recognized by the Lasker Awards for their work on the GLP-1 hormone. Others were honored for work to stop H.I.V. and for immune system discoveries.
What R.F.K. Jr.’s Alliance With Trump Could Mean for Public Health
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long voiced doubts about vaccine safety, has hopes of influencing federal health policy. Could he finally get the chance?
‘Golden Bachelorette’ Is Far From Reality, Say Older Women
The series is selling a fantasy. But straight women in their 60s and 70s say the dating scene is anything but rosy.
Deep Links Between Alcohol and Cancer Are Described in New Report
Scientists continue to rethink the idea that moderate drinking offers health benefits.
W.H.O. Authorizes Mpox Vaccine, Clearing Way for Use in Africa
The decision is a crucial step in getting shots to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the center of the outbreak.
First Day of a ‘New Life’ for a Boy With Sickle Cell
Kendric Cromer, 12, is among the first patients to be treated with gene therapy just approved by the F.D.A. that many other patients face obstacles to receiving.
How Does Pregnancy Change the Brain? Clues Are Emerging.
As hormones surge, some brain areas shrink in what scientists say may be a fine-tuning that helps mothers bond with and care for their babies.
Dr. George Berci, Whose Innovations Changed Surgery, Dies at 103
He conceived many of the techniques and tools that have revolutionized minimally invasive operations and procedures.
On Broadway, a Covid Switcheroo: Marsha Mason in for Mia Farrow
Mason, an associate director of the comedy, which opened on Broadway last week, will step in as Patti LuPone’s counterpart.
Today’s Parents: ‘Exhausted, Burned Out and Perpetually Behind’
The surgeon general is warning about parents’ stress, a sign that intensive parenting may have become too intense for parents.
Three Medical Practices That Older Patients Should Question
Some treatments and procedures become routine despite lacking strong evidence to show that they’re beneficial. Recent studies have called a few into question.
Missouri Bird Flu Case Raises Prospect of Human Transmission
A close contact of someone with bird flu became ill on the same day, the C.D.C. reported. But the second person was not tested, and the cause of the illness is unknown.
Boar’s Head Shuts Down Virginia Plant Tied to Deadly Listeria Outbreak
The company said that the site would close indefinitely and that it would permanently stop making liverwurst. Union officials said the plant’s 500 workers would be given severance and offered relocation.
This Chatbot Pulls People Away From Conspiracy Theories
In a new study, many people doubted or abandoned false beliefs after a short conversation with the DebunkBot.
Elevated Lead Levels Found in Cinnamon Products, New Study Shows
Consumer Reports found lead in a variety of products, at a time when federal regulators are seeking authority from Congress to combat the problem of heavy metals in foods.
Mushroom-Laced Candy Recall Highlights F.D.A.’s Limited Safety Role
More than 150 people were sickened from products sold at smoke and vape shops, providing evidence of the lax regulation of new food items.
The Chatbot Will See You Now
Americans are already turning to A.I. for health information in large numbers, new research suggests.
Cholera Deaths Soar Worldwide Despite Being Easily Preventable
Fatalities spiked 71 percent last year, far outpacing the 13 percent rise in cases, the World Health Organization said.
‘Imminent Threat’ Found at Boar’s Head Plant 2 Years Before Listeria Outbreak
U.S. inspectors listed serious problems in 2022 that could have resulted in strict measures like a pause in production. But the plant continued operating, and some conditions persisted.
Teen Girls’ Brains Aged Rapidly During Pandemic, Study Finds
Neuroimaging found girls experienced cortical thinning far faster than boys did during the first year of Covid lockdowns.
Why New York’s Animal Wet Markets Unnerve Some Scientists
Urban wet markets are fertile grounds for viral transmission, experts say. Outbreaks of bird flu have already occurred.
Broken Again. A National Advocate for Drug Recovery Relapses.
William Cope Moyers told the world he had it all figured out after beating his addiction to crack cocaine. But then a dentist gave him an opioid pain killer.
Hiking Trail in Hawaii Closes After Norovirus Outbreak
Four people tested positive for the virus, which causes a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness, officials said. The trail was recommended to remain closed until at least Sept. 19.
Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Egg Recall by Wisconsin Farm
Officials said 65 people in nine states have been infected in the outbreak, which has been traced to an egg farm. No deaths have been reported.
The Pivotal Decision That Led to a Resurgence of Polio
In 2016, the global health authorities removed a type of poliovirus from the oral vaccine. The virus caused a growing number of outbreaks and has now arrived in Gaza.
Missouri Reports Bird Flu in a Patient Without a Known Risk
Previous human infections occurred in workers on farms. But community transmission of the virus remains unlikely for now, experts said.
Time to Say Goodbye to the B.M.I.?
The body mass index has long been criticized as a flawed indicator of health. A replacement has been gaining support: the body roundness index.
Surprising New Research Links Infant Mortality to Crashing Bat Populations
Without bats to eat insects, farmers turned to more pesticides, a study found. That appears to have increased infant deaths.
Why Relief Agencies Are Rushing Polio Vaccines to Gaza
A wider outbreak in the conflict zone would be difficult to contain and could spread far, experts fear.
6 European Cities Where You Can Swim in the Wild
Looking to take a dip in or near a city center? Here are some urban areas that have successfully opened up waterways for swimmers.
An Agonizing Dilemma: When Obesity Prevents a Joint Replacement
Many doctors say it is too dangerous to perform the common surgeries on people with high body mass indexes, but patients say they are facing discrimination.
Rethinking Addiction as a Chronic Brain Disease
Some researchers argue that the roles of social environment and personal choice have to be considered in order to make progress in treating people addicted to drugs.
Cuomo to Testify to Congress on Nursing Home Deaths During Pandemic
The former New York governor, who has already testified behind closed doors to the Republican-led House panel investigating the coronavirus pandemic, has agreed to appear on Sept. 10.
Trump Called for I.V.F. to Be Free. How Would That Work?
Getting the expensive fertility treatments covered would be possible, but an uphill battle, health policy experts said.
What’s in Your Fridge? What to Know About the Boar’s Head Listeria Recall
Seven million pounds of Boar’s Head meats have been recalled since late July, when reports of serious illnesses and deaths began to occur.
Dialysis May Prolong Life for Older Patients. But Not by Much.
In one recent study, the challenging regimen added 77 days of life after three years. Often, kidney disease can be managed in other ways.
How a Leading Chain of Psychiatric Hospitals Traps Patients
Acadia Healthcare is holding people against their will to maximize insurance payouts, a Times investigation found.
Alastair Carruthers, 79, Dies; Pioneered the Cosmetic Use of Botox
With his wife, Dr. Jean Carruthers, he conducted hundreds of studies on the wrinkle-erasing properties of the neurotoxin that causes botulism. The work revolutionized beauty care.
Boar’s Head Plant Tied to 9 Listeria Deaths Had Mold, Leaky Pipes and Flies
Federal inspectors cited continuing problems at a deli meat plant in Virginia that was linked to an outbreak of listeria, records indicate.
Obesity Drug Wegovy Prevents Covid Deaths, Study Suggests
People taking Wegovy were not protected from infection. But in a large trial, their death rates were markedly lower, for reasons that are not clear.
The State That Chose to Cover Obesity Drugs for Its Poor, but Not Its Own Employees
The widespread use and enormous expense of blockbuster drugs like Wegovy are forcing state governments to make painful choices.
No Vaccines, Tests or Treatments: Congo Lacks Tools to Confront Mpox
The country at the center of a global health emergency is struggling even to diagnose cases and provide basic care.
Death Toll Rises to 9 From Listeria Linked to Boar’s Head Meats, C.D.C. Says
Six new deaths were reported in a nationwide outbreak that started in May. The C.D.C. is advising people not to eat any recalled products.
The Mosquito-Borne Virus Keeping People Indoors at Night
Recent infections from the Eastern equine encephalitis virus are worrying health officials. Severe cases can be deadly or leave lasting injuries.
Why Is the Loneliness Epidemic so Hard to Cure?
Maybe because we aren’t thinking about it in the right way.
Covid Normalcy: No Tests, Isolation or Masks
For many, Covid is increasingly regarded like the common cold. A scratchy throat and canceled plans bring a bewildering new critique from friends: You shouldn’t have tested.
Polio Vaccines Arrive in Gaza, but Distributing Them Is the Next Challenge
UNICEF is pushing for a pause in the fighting to allow health workers to get two doses to every child, after Gaza recorded its first polio case in 25 years.
Hong Kong Defends Sex Ed Advice That Includes Playing Badminton
Top officials in the Chinese territory have defended new sex education guidance that critics call regressive. Young people are amused.
Dr. Anthony Fauci Recovering From West Nile Virus Infection
The former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases had been hospitalized and was expected to make a full recovery, a spokeswoman said.
A New Treatment for Severe Allergic Reactions — Without the Needle
A nasal spray can tamp down potentially fatal reactions, a boon to the many patients in crisis who fear using EpiPens.
Sex Therapists Hear About These Issues a Lot
We asked nearly a dozen experts in sex and intimacy for the advice they repeat again and again. For starters, they said, don’t get so hung up on how often you have, or want, sex.
Psychedelics May Give the Living a Glimpse Into Near-Death States
A survey revealed similarities between these two altered states of consciousness.
Why Mpox Vaccines Aren’t Flowing to Africans in Desperate Need
Drugmakers have supplies ready to ship that are necessary to stop a potential pandemic. But W.H.O. regulations have slowed access.
Geri Taylor, a Voice for Alzheimer’s, Is Dead at 81
She turned her diagnosis into a command to live life passionately, leading to a 12-page New York Times profile and a new career as a public speaker.
FDA Approved New Covid Shots. But Who Will Get Them?
Many older Americans, including those in nursing homes, aren’t getting booster shots.
Thailand Confirms Its First Case of New, Deadlier Mpox Version
The Clade Ib version of the virus had not been detected outside Africa until last week, when a case in Sweden raised concerns about a wider outbreak.
Congress Presses Health Insurance Regulators on ‘Troubling’ Billing Tactics
Lawmakers are zeroing in on MultiPlan, a firm that has helped insurers cut payments while sometimes leaving patients with large bills.
How U.S. Farms Could Start a Bird Flu Pandemic
The virus is poised to become a permanent presence in cattle, raising the odds of an eventual outbreak among people.
A Personalized Brain Pacemaker for Parkinson’s
In a new frontier for deep brain stimulation, researchers used A.I. to develop individualized algorithms, which helped a skateboarder and other patients with Parkinson’s disease.
He Regulated Medical Devices. She Represented Their Makers.
Ethics rules barred Dr. Jeffrey E. Shuren from working on matters involving clients of his wife’s law firm. But he did not always step aside.
Philippines Reports First Mpox Case Since W.H.O. Declared Global Emergency
It was not clear if the patient had contracted the new, potentially more deadly strain of the disease, which first appeared outside of Africa in Sweden last week.
Revenues Down and Stock Battered as Data Firm Faces Scrutiny
MultiPlan has helped big health insurers make billions by reducing reimbursements for medical bills, but its business model is now being questioned.
As Bird Flu Spreads, Disease Trackers Set Their Sights on Pets
Like most countries, the U.S. has no comprehensive national system for monitoring disease in companion animals — which leaves pets and people at risk.
A Virtuoso Cellist’s Painstaking Path From Long Covid Back to the Stage
For over three years, long Covid has presented Joshua Roman with health challenges — and has indelibly shaped the music he makes.
Leonard Hayflick, Who Discovered Why No One Lives Forever, Dies at 96
A biomedical researcher, he found that normal cells can divide only a certain number of times before they age — which, he said, explained aging on a cellular level.
The Painkiller Used for Just About Anything
In huge numbers, older people are taking gabapentin for a variety of conditions, including itching, alcohol dependence and sciatica. “It’s crazy,” one expert said.
Tell us: Have you been forgoing Covid tests?
It’s the fifth summer of Covid, and most people seem eager to move on. We want to understand the pervasiveness of the ignorance-is-bliss attitude.
How to Help With a Panic Attack
This week a meteorologist stepped away from a live broadcast when he noticed familiar feelings of panic start to arise. We can all learn from how he and his colleagues handled it.
How Did Mpox Become a Global Emergency? What’s Next?
The virus is evolving, and the newest version spreads more often through heterosexual populations. Sweden reported the first case outside Africa.
A.L.S. Stole His Voice. A.I. Retrieved It.
In an experiment that surpassed expectations, implants in a patient’s brain were able to recognize words he tried to speak, and A.I. helped produce sounds that came close to matching his true voice.
Unresponsive Brain-Damaged Patients May Have Some Awareness
Many patients thought to be in vegetative or minimally conscious states may be capable of thought, researchers reported.
They All Got Mysterious Brain Diseases. They’re Fighting to Learn Why.
Doctors in Canada have identified dozens of patients with similar, unexplained symptoms — a scientific puzzle that has now become a political maelstrom.
Biden Awards $150 Million in Research Grants as Part of Cancer ‘Moonshot’
President Biden has had a deep personal interest in cancer research since his son Beau died of an aggressive brain cancer in 2015.
How to Protect Your Mail-Order Prescriptions From Extreme Heat
High temperatures and humidity can alter the components in many home-delivery medications, rendering them less effective. Here’s what to look for.
Older Adults Do Not Benefit From Moderate Drinking, Large Study Finds
Virtually any amount increased the risk for cancer, and there were no heart benefits, the researchers reported.
I.V.F. Threats in Alabama Drive Clinics to Ship Out Embryos
A court ruling that deemed frozen embryos “children” has motivated some patients and clinics to move embryos out of red states.
Childhood Vaccines Aren’t Just Saving Lives. They’re Saving Money.
Over the past three decades, routine immunizations have prevented 1.1 million deaths and saved the United States $540 billion, the C.D.C. estimated.
What Killed Harmony Ball-Stribling?
One woman’s death reveals the myriad ways in which social and economic factors endanger pregnant women in the United States.
Howie Cohen, Whose Alka-Seltzer Ads Spawned Catchphrases, Dies at 81
A copywriter, he and a partner in 1972 came up with “Try it, you’ll like it” and “I can’t believe I ate that whole thing.” Soon, sales were, well, fizzing.
J. Robin Warren, Who Proved That Bacteria Cause Ulcers, Dies at 87
He endured skepticism but won a Nobel Prize for his work upending the conventional wisdom that stress, diet or alcohol caused the painful condition.
FDA Declines to Approve MDMA Therapy, and Seeks Further Study
The agency said there was insufficient data to allow the use of a treatment for PTSD that involves the drug known as Ecstasy.
About 400 Million People Worldwide Have Had Long Covid, Researchers Say
The condition has put significant strain on patients and society — at a global economic cost of about $1 trillion a year, a new report estimates.
Veterans and Lawmakers Lobby for Approval of MDMA Therapy
The F.D.A. is poised to rule on the therapeutic use of the club drug Ecstasy, a potential watershed moment in the nascent field of psychedelic medicine.
For Some With Autism, a Watch Factory Is the Perfect Job
“It’s not just the focus in the first 10 pieces,” the owner said. “It’s being able to maintain that kind of a focus when you’re doing No. 400 and No. 401.”
A Psychiatrist’s Livestreams With a Twitch Streamer Raises Ethical Questions
Did Dr. Alok Kanojia’s livestreamed conversations with a troubled video game champion cross an ethical line?
Health Officials Urge Doctors to Address I.U.D. Insertion Pain
As videos describing the procedure as agonizing spread on social media, new guidelines advise physicians to consider various anesthetics.
E.P.A. Pulls Pesticide Dacthal From the Market Over Health Concerns
The herbicide, used widely on crops including broccoli and onions, can cause low birth weight and impaired brain development, regulators said.
Study Puts a $43 Billion Yearly Price Tag on Cancer Screening
The estimate focused on five cancers for which there is medically recommended screening — breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate — and found that colonoscopies accounted for most of the costs.
A Prescription for Physicians: Listen to the Patient’s Story
In “Telltale Hearts,” a new memoir, Dr. Dean-David Schillinger traces the links between narrative and well-being.
When Elder Care Is All in the Stepfamily
Adult children are less likely to assist an aging stepparent, studies show. A growing “step gap” in senior care worries experts.
Canadian Doctors Warn Against Private Medicine as a Cure for the System’s Ills
The Canadian Medical Association has called for a ban on payments for procedures long covered by public systems and is warning about contracting services out.
In an Italian Village, a Mayor Walks Off the Wine and Everyone Joins In
Luciano Fregonese, the mayor of a town in Italy known for Prosecco, started walking to counter the calories he consumed at social obligations. His jaunts have become a sensation.
How Olympic Injuries Break Bodies
With years of fractures, surgeries, hardware and pain, Olympians can list their injuries as readily as their achievements.
Why Are So Many Americans Choosing to Not Have Children?
It’s probably not selfishness, experts say. Even young adults who want children see an increasing number of obstacles.
Pediatricians Warn Against Overuse of Tongue-Tie Surgeries
In a new report, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that breastfeeding problems were rarely caused by infant tongue-ties.
Are Electric Cars Worth the Money?
They can be, but it depends on your driving habits. We break it down for you.
F.D.A. Approves Blood Test for Colon Cancer Detection
While not a perfect alternative to colonoscopies, experts hope the test could lead to more people getting screened for colorectal cancers.
A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer’s 90% of the Time, Study Finds
It was much more accurate than primary care doctors using cognitive tests and CT scans. The findings could speed the quest for an affordable and accessible way to diagnose patients with memory problems.
Breast Cancer Survival Not Boosted by Double Mastectomy, Study Says
A large study showed that for most patients, having both breasts removed after cancer was detected in one made no difference.
For Epidemics to Cross Oceans, Viruses on Ships Had to Beat the Odds
In the era when people traveled by sailing ship and steamer, illnesses usually burned themselves out before boats reached shore, a new study finds.
Western Wildfire Smoke Reaches the East Coast
Wildfire smoke from the Western United States and Canada is blowing across the Northeast, lowering air quality and endangering vulnerable populations.
Rabies is Spreading in South African Seals, Scientists Say
The outbreak may be the first ever documented in marine mammals.
Bird Flu Is Spreading. Why Aren’t More People Getting Tested?
Even as the H5N1 virus evolves, gaps remain in the nation’s contingency plans for human testing, scientists say.