Health

More news - Recent news Boar's Head has announced an indefinite closure of its Jarratt, Virginia, deli meat plant following a major listeria outbreak. The outbreak has been linked to nine deaths and affected multiple people in 18 states. The company has identified liverwurst production as the source of the contamination and has decided to permanently cease production. The plant closure affects about 500 employees who will receive severance packages and transfer offers, according to union representatives. Christina Jewett, who monitors the Food and Drug Administration’s food safety efforts, and Teddy Rosenbluth, a health reporter who is currently a Times Fellowship program, continue to provide updates on this ongoing story. You may also be interested in ...

Related media - Recent news Yale University has reached a settlement with a group of patients who suffered severe discomfort during egg retrieval procedures at its fertility clinic, following a scandal involving the improper administration of anesthesia. The lawsuits emerged after allegations that a nurse at the clinic replaced anesthesia with saline, causing painful experiences for many patients. The specific amount paid by Yale to settle these claims remains undisclosed; however, representatives for the plaintiffs described the award as "significant." Legal documents suggest a tentative settlement could amount to about $2 million per affected patient. “This settlement represents a step forward in the healing process for all involved,” said Karen Peart, a Yale spokeswom...

More news - Breaking news Despite cholera being a preventable and low-cost treatable disease, recent data from the World Health Organization indicate a worrying increase in death rates, outpacing the increase in infection rates. Last year saw a 71% increase in cholera-related deaths worldwide, compared to a 13% increase in new cases. Factors such as climate-related disasters and ongoing conflict are exacerbating outbreaks, particularly in regions where there have been no recent cases. Philippe Barboza, head of the cholera programme at the WHO's health emergencies department, expressed dismay at the rapidly rising death rates, highlighting the global disdain for a disease that predominantly affects the poorest populations, without access to clean water. In 2023, more than 4,000...

More news - Breaking news A recent study from the University of Washington, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals significant differences in brain development between adolescent girls and boys following coronavirus-related lockdowns. The research focused on cortical thinning, a normal part of brain maturation in which the brain sheds excess synapses and shrinks its outer layer. This process, which usually begins in late childhood or early adolescence, is known to improve the efficiency of the brain as it matures. However, stress can accelerate this thinning, which is often associated with increased risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Data collected in 2021, as pandemic restrictions eased, indicated that both sexes ...

More news - Latest news Health Update – A new metric, the Body Roundness Index (BRI), is gaining traction as a more accurate indicator of health risks than the traditional body mass index (BMI). Body Mass Index, commonly abbreviated to BMI, calculates a person's health based on their height and weight. Despite its widespread use in health assessments, BMI has faced considerable criticism for its inability to accurately reflect an individual's health, particularly in those with high muscle mass. The limitations of BMI have become more apparent with individuals like Ilona Maher, an American Olympic rugby player. Despite a BMI of 30 that puts her on the edge of obesity, Maher is an elite athlete, demonstrating the metric's inadequacy in properly assessing fitness and health...

More news - Recent news A recent scientific study has uncovered a troubling link between disease-related declines in bat populations and rising infant mortality rates. The research highlights a chain reaction in which the decline in bats, natural predators of insects, has led farmers to increase their use of pesticides to protect crops, inadvertently impacting human health. The study, published in the journal Science, found that counties across the United States that experienced a decline in bat numbers saw a 31 percent increase in insecticide use. This increase in pesticide use correlated with an 8 percent increase in infant mortality in those regions. This research highlights the complex interdependencies in our ecosystems and how wildlife decline can have profound eff...