The big picture: The virus, which has now spread among dairy cattle in 16 states, was detected in 645 California dairies — almost half of them in the last 30 days.
A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with a severe infection from H5N1 bird flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.
Why it matters: It's the first case of severe bird flu resulting in a hospitalization in U.S. and the first tied to exposure to a backyard flock, officials reported.
Just over a third of U.S. psychologists say they don't accept any type of health insurance, according to the American Psychological Association's latest annual provider survey.
Why it matters: The lack of mental health professionals in insurer networks can make it difficult for Americans to access counseling or other behavioral care.
After years of dire warnings about Americans' diet, the political winds appear to be shifting to a more critical view of what we eat.
Why it matters: The concerns were evident at a Senate health committee hearing this month as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle dug into the connection between ultra-processed foods and obesity and chronic illness.
U.S. voters between the ages of 18 and 29 were more likely than their elders to accept the recent killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, new polling found.
The big picture: The reaction to Thompson's death and suspected shooter Luigi Mangione have captivated America. The event has laid bare public outrage towards the insurance industry, curiosity about Mangione's digital footprint and a blatant lack of empathy from people online.
Scientists are sounding new alarms about man-made organisms whose constituent molecules are mirror images of what's found in nature and could pose unprecedented risks to humans, animals and the environment.
Why it matters: While the ability to create "mirror life" is probably at least a decade away, researchers already have synthesized mirror-image biological systems that could be used in the development of new drugs.
President Biden is making a final push to build on the Affordable Care Act, extending the enrollment period for marketplace coverage that kicks in Jan. 1 as sign-ups lag.
Why it matters: ACA enrollment has hit new record highs each year of the Biden administration. But those gains are on shaky ground as the Trump administration prepares to take over in January.
