Even as it has become increasingly clear that the bird flu outbreak on the nation’s dairy farms began months earlier — and is probably much more widespread — than previously thought, federal authorities have emphasized that the virus poses little risk to humans. Yet there is a group of people who are at high risk…
Scientists are proposing a new way of understanding the genetics of Alzheimer’s that would mean that up to a fifth of patients would be considered to have a genetically caused form of the disease. Currently, the vast majority of Alzheimer’s cases do not have a clearly identified cause. The new designation, proposed in a study…
When spring turns to summer and warm weather lures more people outside, skin cancer may be at most a distant concern. But experts said it’s important to take the risk seriously. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight are a leading risk factor for skin cancer, which will affect one in five Americans over their lifetime. That…
On Tuesday, the largest credit card companies in the United States reached an agreement with merchants to reduce the so-called swipe fees retailers pay for accepting credit card payments, potentially saving the retailers $30 billion. These fees also help fund the credit card rewards programs that many travelers redeem for things like free flights and…
This week, the actress Olivia Munn shared that she was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer last year, and credited a risk calculator with helping her doctor catch the cancer early. “Ask your doctor to calculate your Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score,” Ms. Munn urged the public in her post. Medical experts are enthusiastic…
Teen pregnancy increases the chances that a young woman will drop out of school and struggle with poverty, research has shown. Teenagers are also more likely to develop serious medical complications during pregnancy. Now a large study in Canada reports another disturbing finding: Women who were pregnant as teenagers are more likely to die before…
Wegovy, the blockbuster weight loss drug, is now approved for a new use: reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular-related death in adults who have heart disease and are overweight or have obesity. The new indication, which the Food and Drug Administration announced on Friday, will pave the way for even more patients…
Nonfat or full-fat, flavored or plain, probiotic or natural — yogurt is already peppered with labels. But you may soon see a new claim on your container: This month, the Food and Drug Administration announced it will allow yogurt makers to say their products may prevent Type 2 diabetes. The F.D.A. said it has found…
Vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus may have caused a few cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological condition, federal health officials said on Thursday. The numbers were small, on the order of two cases per 100,000 vaccinated people or fewer, and much more data is needed to pin down the risk, the officials said. In…
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an expanded recall of dairy products and other foods that may have been contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled products —all with ingredients manufactured by the California-based Rizo López Foods — include cheese, yogurt, sour cream, salad dressings and kits and other foods…
