Measles cases and deaths surged worldwide last year, according to a new report from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that points to a worsening immunization gap that most affects kids in poor countries.
The big picture: Global immunization efforts that were disrupted during the pandemic haven't fully recovered, exposing countries to greater threat from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Rates of cancer deaths among children and teens fell precipitously over the last decade, driven by advances against childhood leukemia in particular, new CDC research shows.
Why it matters: While the number of new cancers are up across all age groups, this study shows the progress that has been made in helping the youngest patients survive cancer.
Congress appears destined to end the year without renewing expired federal pandemic preparedness programs after questions about emergency stockpiles, drug shortages and cracks in the nation's health security system got subsumed in COVID-19 politics.
Why it matters: Reauthorizing the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act was billed as a must-do early this year, after the pandemic exposed gaps in countermeasures and disease surveillance.
The Biden administration's plan to establish national staffing minimums at nursing homes is shaping up to be a tricky political balancing act.
Why it matters: President Biden has vowed to "crack down" on nursing homes, which were at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, but his staffing proposal has split members of his own party while facing broadopposition from Republicans.
The words "clean" and "natural" might look appealing on cosmetic labels, but those adjectives mean squat when it comes to what's in the product and how it's made.
Why it matters: There's little stopping manufacturers and marketers of cleansers, makeup and other grooming products from using misleading language to sell to consumers concerned about harmful ingredients and the environment.
President Biden said Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday agreed to take steps to crack down on companies in China that produce chemical precursors for fentanyl.
Why it matters: An epidemic of fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S. is worsening as bipartisan consensus erodes about the causes and possible solutions.
Exposure to common pesticides is associated with lower sperm concentrations in men around the world, according to research published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Sperm densities in men across the Western world have fallen rapidly since the early 1970s. Some scientists have suspected that synthetics chemicals that disrupt the body's hormonal system have contributed to the decline, though the precise causes are not fully known.
The next Republican president could effectively ban most abortions through a simple policy change at the Department of Justice, experts and advocates on both sides of the abortion debate say.
Why it matters: While Republicans disagree about whether to pursue a national abortion ban that would face long odds in Congress, a GOP president may be able to unilaterally curb access to medication abortion across the country using an obscure 19th-century law.
Scientific information and data analytics giant Elsevier is partnering with a medical startup to give doctors the ability to use generative AI to access the most up-to-date medical research as they treat patients in real time.
Why it matters: Experts say the adoption of AI could dramatically improve the quality of care patients receive — while also lowering costs, cutting wait times and expanding access.
The demographics of eating disorders are shifting younger, now most commonly affecting teens between 14 and 18 years old, according to a new analysis.
Why it matters: The data, based on a FAIR Health repository of 43 billion private health insurance claims, sheds new light on an uptick in eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among teens.
Despite being known as Turkey Day, food lovers know that it's the sides that can make or break a Thanksgiving dinner. With so many options to choose from, the Axios team wants to know — what are your top-tier side dishes?
What's happening: We want you to vote for your favorite side dishes! We've matched up 20 classic and regional sides to choose from. Axios readers' winning dishes will be announced on Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving.
