Taco Bell sales have fallen sharply since the national cyclospora outbreak, but the company's executives said they're already noticing signs of a rebound.
Why it matters: Health officials have identified more than 11,000 confirmed or suspected cases of the parasite, which can cause "explosive" diarrhea.
The Senate health committee approved the nomination of Erica Schwartz for Centers for Disease Control director Thursday, a step toward refilling the depleted ranks of the Trump administration's health care leadership.
The committee also approved the nomination of Sean Kaufman, who's in line for assistant secretary for preparedness and response and had been in trouble because of past anti-vaccine statements.
Why it matters: The votes showed Republicans, at least, are still willing to accept the administration's assurances about the nominees even though committee chair Bill Cassidy has made it clear he's uneasy with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s policies.
Senate Democrats released a white paper Wednesday detailing their goals for overhauling private health insurance and asking for feedback to help them translate those goals into policy.
Why it matters: The effort signals a radical revamp of how insurance is structured and regulated, with a particularly strong emphasis on lowering patients' costs across the board.
I grew up just outside of London, in a small town called Ilford. I went to regular public school, and for years I thought I was stupid.
Teachers and kids thought I was stupid. I got awful grades, and when I compared my spelling, handwriting or grammar to anyone else, I confirmed that something was wrong.
My parents scraped together the money to get a test. Unfortunately, these tests are ridiculously expensive. Back then especially, but even now, most people can't afford them. Luckily my parents pulled together the money and got me tested — and wow.
Dr. Anthony Fauci faced dozens of questions and theatrics Wednesday before the Senate's Homeland Security Committee.
Why it matters: Fauci, who led the nation's infectious disease response during the COVID pandemic, has remained a polarizing political figure, and his handling of the pandemic faces renewed scrutiny after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) released more than 1,000 pages of the doctor's personal diary this week.
Anthony Fauci, who led the nation's infectious disease efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, invoked the Fifth Amendment on Wednesday and declined to answer questions from a Senate committee investigating the origins of the coronavirus.
Homeland Security Chair Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said the committee will vote on a contempt resolution against Fauci next week.
Why it matters: Fauci said Paul was trying to get him to say something that could put him in legal jeopardy. Paul said his use of the Fifth Amendment was "unsupported" since former President Biden preemptively pardoned Fauci before leaving office.
The nation's largest known cyclospora outbreak is straining Americans' trust in the food safety system — and could undermine the healthy-foods messaging from the Trump administration.
Why it matters: It arrives as the administration urges Americans to eat more whole foods, even as health experts say recent cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure responsible for detecting outbreaks.
