Health Headlines
Whooping cough cases have doubled in a year, CDC data shows
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Whooping cough cases are on the rise in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.For the week ending April 12, at least 8,064 whooping cough cases have been recorded nationwide. This is more than double the 3,835 cases recorded at the same time last year.Whooping cough, or pertussis, is especially dangerous for babies and young children, and several deaths have been recorded this year.In Washington, health officials confirmed a death in a child under age 5, which is the first in the state since 2011. In Louisiana, two young infants have died from whooping within the past seven months. In Idaho, officials reported an adult resident died from whooping cough in February 2025."Last year, the United ... Read More
RFK Jr. is moving to phase out synthetic food dyes. Are they safe?
(Halfdark/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) -- During a press conference on Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a plan to start phasing out eight synthetic food dyes in the American food supply.HHS and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are looking to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings and to work with food manufacturers to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes used in foods such as cereal, snacks, ice creams and yogurts.Kennedy has previously been vocal about his opposition to artificial dyes, claiming they are harmful and calling for them to be removed from foods and beverages.Studies have linked dyes to behavioral changes as well as to cancer in animals, suggesting this may extend to humans.Some nutritionists ... Read More
Texas measles outbreak surpasses 600 cases with most among children, teens
Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images(AUSTIN, Texas) -- The measles outbreak in western Texas has now reached 624 cases, with 27 new infections confirmed over the last five days.Nearly all of the cases are among unvaccinated individuals or among those whose vaccination status is unknown, according to new data published by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on Tuesday.Currently, 10 cases are among residents who have been vaccinated with one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, while 12 cases are among those vaccinated with two doses.At least 64 measles patients have been hospitalized so far, according to the DSHS, with the majority of cases presenting in children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17, followed by children ages 4 and ... Read More
HHS, FDA move to phase out 8 artificial food dyes in the US
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday a series of measures to phase out eight artificial food dyes and colorings from America’s food supply by the end of next year.Speaking at a news conference, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said the agencies are looking to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings and to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes used in cereal, ice cream, snacks, yogurts and more."Today, the FDA is taking action to remove petroleum-based food dyes from the U.S. food supply and from medications. For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals," he told reporters. ... Read More
Supreme Court hears challenge to Obamacare no-cost preventive health benefits
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Preventive care health benefits provided at no cost to tens of millions of Americans since 2010 under a popular provision of the Affordable Care Act are in the balance Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court as the justices consider whether the government task force behind the mandate to insurers is unconstitutional.Among the services the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force designates for no-cost coverage under the federal health law are statins to lower cholesterol; colonoscopies for 45- to 49-year-olds; preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine to reduce the spread of HIV; medications to lower the risk of breast cancer for women; and lung cancer screenings for smokers.The case was brought by a group of employers and individuals who oppose ... Read More
White House changes COVID.gov web page to page supporting lab leak theory
Web page for https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab-leak-true-origins-of-covid-19/ on April 18, 2025. Via The White House(WASHINGTON) -- The White House has redirected COVID.gov to a new landing page called "Lab Leak: True Origins of COVID-19," which makes a five-point argument for the theory that COVID-19 originated from a mistaken lab leak in Wuhan, China. The new site appears to use theories from the final report of the Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, released in December 2024. There has never been a consensus or a "smoking gun" to explain what started the pandemic.The COVID.gov page, as recently as last week, listed resources for testing, treatment, and vaccination against COVID-19, as well as information for Long COVID.The five pieces of evidence put forth by the ... Read More
Michigan reports first confirmed measles outbreak since 2019
Brandon Bell/Getty Images(MONTCALM COUNTY, Mich.) -- Michigan is reporting the state’s first measles outbreak since 2019, defined as at least three or more related cases, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).Three cases were confirmed in Montcalm County, according to a MDHHS statement.Almost 25% of children under 3 years of age in Montcalm County have not received their first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to the MDHHS vaccination data. The state is reporting a total of seven cases so far this year, including those infected in the outbreak.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has separately confirmed at least five other states with measles outbreaks, including Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Kansas and Indiana.Nationwide, ... Read More
RFK Jr. lays out new studies on autism, shuts down ‘better diagnoses’ as a cause
Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- On the heels of a new report showing that rates of autism diagnoses have again increased, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he was determined to find the "environmental exposures" behind the rise and directed the National Institute of Health to launch new studies into "everything" -- from mold to obesity -- that could potentially be a factor.Kennedy, who prioritizes autism as one of the chronic illnesses he's determined to tackle in his aim to "Make America Healthy Again," ardently pushed back against the explanation that a broadening definition of autism spectrum disorder is a meaningful contributor to more autism diagnoses.Kennedy said he wanted to "move away" from the idea that "the ... Read More
4 states aim to prevent food stamps recipients from using program to buy candy, soda
Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Governors in several states have recently announced plans to eliminate some unhealthy foods from their food stamps programs, creating momentum for a key component of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda.The governors of Arkansas, Idaho and Indiana on Tuesday all said they would submit a waiver to the United States Department of Agriculture requesting permission to prevent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients from using the money to buy candy and soft drinks.The move follows a similar announcement from the governor of West Virginia last month.Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, whose department oversees SNAP, has said she would approve such waivers. She appeared at a press conference ... Read More
Measles cases linked to Texas outbreak reach 561, with 20 new infections confirmed
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images(AUSTIN, Texas) -- The measles outbreak in western Texas continues to grow, with 561 confirmed cases, according to new data published Tuesday.This is an increase of 20 new cases over the last five days.Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).Four of the cases are among residents who have been vaccinated with one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Seven cases are among those vaccinated with two doses.At least 58 people with measles have been hospitalized so far.Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases, followed by children ... Read More
US reports highest number of measles cases since 2019: CDC
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The U.S. has recorded the highest number of measles cases since 2019, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data published Friday.There are now 712 confirmed measles cases across 24 states, an increase of 105 cases from the prior week, the CDC said.There were 1,274 reported cases in all of 2019.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. ... Read More
RFK Jr. claims curve is flattening in Texas measles outbreak. Does the data agree?
Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images(AUSTIN, TX) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seemed to imply in recent days that the measles outbreak in western Texas was slowing down.In a post on X on Sunday, Kennedy remarked on the second death linked to the outbreak, which occurred in an unvaccinated school-aged child.About 10 minutes later, Kennedy edited the post to add that the curve has been flattening since early March, when he started sending in reinforcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- supplying clinics with vaccines and other medications."Since that time, the growth rates for new cases and hospitalizations have flattened," he wrote.However, data from the Texas Department of State Health Services showed that cases are ... Read More
Measles cases in Texas outbreak surpass 500 with 24 new infections confirmed over last 5 days
Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images(AUSTIN, Texas) -- The measles outbreak in western Texas is continuing to grow, with 24 new cases confirmed over the last five days, according to data published Tuesday.Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).Three of the 505 cases are among residents who have been vaccinated with one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Seven cases are among those vaccinated with two doses.At least 57 measles patients have been hospitalized so far, DSHS said.Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases, followed by children ages 4 and under.Gaines County, ... Read More
HHS and EPA looking into changes to nation’s fluoride guidance
Will Matsuda for The Washington Post via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Monday he plans to assemble a task force and ultimately change the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance to stop recommending adding fluoride.His comments came during a press conference in Utah, which just became the first state to ban fluoride from drinking water systems.The Associated Press was the first to report Kennedy's intended changes to the CDC guidance.The CDC currently recommends the use of fluoride to prevent cavities.If Kennedy, who has been outspoken in his support for removing fluoride from water, directs the CDC to change its guidance, it could lead to more cities and states removing fluoride ... Read More
2nd child with measles dies in Texas, according to state health officials
Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images(LUBBOCK, TEXAS) -- A second child in Texas has died of measles, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services."The school-aged child who tested positive for measles was hospitalized in Lubbock and passed away on Thursday from what the child’s doctors described as measles pulmonary failure," the statement said, in part. "The child was not vaccinated and had no reported underlying conditions."The University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, said the child had been receiving care for "complications of measles while hospitalized" and also emphasized, as the state health department did, that the child was unvaccinated with no underlying conditions.An unvaccinated school-aged child also died of measles in Texas in late February, according to the Texas Department of ... Read More
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