Bird Flu Virus May Survive Aging Process in Raw Milk Cheese

MONDAY, March 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — There's a new reason to steer clear of raw cheese: New research shows it can harbor the infectious bird flu virus for months.

"There is a risk of infection," lead study author Dr. Diego Diel, an associate professor at Cornell University, told CNN. "It obviously depends on the dose, h...

First Patient Cured of Sickle Cell Anemia

For 21 years, Sebastien Beauzile lived with the chronic pain of sickle cell anemia. 

Now, thanks to a groundbreaking genetic treatment, he is the first person in New York to be cured of the disease.

"Sickle cell was like a blockade for me, but now it's just like a wall that I just jumped over," Beauzile said in a report publishe...

FDA Warns of Rising Injuries From Misuse of Laughing Gas

Health officials are warning about a rise in injuries linked to the misuse of nitrous oxide, aka laughing gas.

The gas, which is used medically as a sedative and in whipped cream cans, is now being sold in small, flavored canisters with names such as Cosmic Gas, Galaxy Gas and MassGass.

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administratio...

1 in 3 Children Now Suffer From Chronic Illness

Nearly 1 in 3 children live with a chronic condition that could significantly affect their health for the rest of their lives, a new study says.

Chronic illnesses affected more than 30% of children ages 5 to 17 by 2018, up from around 23% in 1999, researchers report in the journal Academic Pediatrics.

This adds up to about 1...

No Link Between COVID Vaccine During Pregnancy And Birth Defects, Study Says

Pregnant women can get the COVID-19 vaccine without any fear of causing birth defects in their unborn child, a new study says.

Researchers found no link between COVID vaccination in early pregnancy and birth defects, results show.

There were also no differences in birth defect risk between either the Moderna and the Pfizer/BioNTech v...

Death Risk Higher Among People With Arthritis And COPD

Arthritis sufferers who also have COPD have a significantly higher risk of death than those without the chronic breathing disease, a new study says.

People with arthritis and COPD are 41% more likely to die from any cause compared to patients with arthritis alone, researchers reported recently in the Journal of the COPD Foundation...

Depression, Anxiety Common Among Chronic Pain Patients

The blues and the jitters are very common among people battling chronic pain, a new evidence review says.

About 40% of adults with chronic pain have symptoms of depression or anxiety, researchers report in JAMA Network Open.

Women, younger adults and people suffering from fibromyalgia are particularly vulnerable to mood diso...

Steep Decline In Fertility Among U.S. Women Younger Than 30

Young American women are greeting the prospect of pregnancy with a decided “meh,” driving down U.S. fertility rates, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study says.

The actual number of U.S. births declined by 14% between 1990 and 2023, and the fertility rate went down by 23%, according to a paper in the CDC...

Time Of Day, Year Matters For Asthma Testing

The time of day -- or year -- an asthma test takes place can affect its accuracy, a new study says.

Routine asthma testing is more reliable when done in the morning, researchers reported in the journal Thorax.

Starting at 8:30 a.m., the chances of the test accurately detecting a person’s asthma decreases by 8% for ever...

Early Detection of Colon Cancer Is Critical for Women

Colon cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers affecting women today. 

Despite its impact, many women miss early warning signs, mistaking them for everyday digestive issues or menopause. Understanding the risks, symptoms and importance of early screening could be life-saving.

Colon cancer affects both men and women, but women...

Scientists Develop Rapid Bird Flu Detector for Airborne Test

Scientists have created a handheld sensor that can quickly detect bird flu (H5N1) in the air, potentially stopping outbreaks before they spread.

Research published recently in the journal ACS Sensors noted the sensor is low-cost, highly sensitive and works within minutes.

Bird flu spreads when infected respiratory droplets a...

Harvard Profs Sue Trump Administration Over Removal of LGBTQ Research From Website

Two Harvard medical school professors are suing the Trump administration, arguing that their research was unfairly removed from a government-run website.

Their studies, focused on improving patient safety and reducing medical errors, were suddenly removed allegedly because they included terms like “LGBTQ” and “transgender...

White House Pulls CDC Nominee Dr. Dave Weldon Before Senate Hearing

Hours before his scheduled Senate confirmation, the White House has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Weldon, a Republican and former congressman, said he was told Wednesday night that his nomination would not move forward because there were not enough votes for c...

Dr. Oz Accused of Underpaying Medicare Taxes Ahead of Nomination Hearing

Senate Democrats are raising concerns about Dr. Mehmet Oz’s nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), alleging he significantly underpaid Medicare and Social Security taxes in recent years.

A memo from Democratic staffers on the Senate Finance Committee says a review of Oz's tax returns from 2021 to 202...

Low Birth Weight Kids Lag In School Readiness

Most low-birth-weight toddlers are not on track to be ready to attend school, a new study says.

Only one-third of babies born weighing less than 5.5 pounds are ready to attend school by ages 3 to 5, researchers reported in the journal Academic Pediatrics.

They tend to lag in early learning skills, self-regulation and social/...

Playing With Dogs Relieves Stress In Humans And Canines Alike

Playing with a dog for just 15 minutes can significantly reduce a person’s stress, a new study reports.

Stressed students who interacted with a friendly dog reported less stress, had a reduced heart rate and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva, researchers said in the journal PLOS One.

The e...

Nostalgic? It's Better For Friendships, Mental Health

Nostalgia might be met by eyerolls from some, as the emotion might inspire insipid images of rose-tinted glasses, gooey sentimentality and living in a time-lost past.

But people prone to nostalgia have an edge when it comes to their health and well-being, a new study says.

Nostalgic people have more close friends and put more effort ...

Implant, Robotics Can Ease Paralysis From Spinal Cord Injuries

A muscle-stimulating implant combined with a robotic exoskeleton can help restore movement in people paralyzed by a spinal cord injury, a new study says.

The spinal cord implant delivers well-timed electrical pulses to muscles, stimulating natural muscle activity coordinated with supportive robotic movements, researchers reported March 12 ...

AI-Written Doctor's Notes? Patients Don't Mind, Study Says

Patients generally don’t mind getting AI-written notes from their doctor’s office, unless they know the note came from a computer program, a new study says.

Patients shown messages written by either AI, otherwise known as artificial intelligence, or a human doc tended to prefer the responses drafted by AI, although overall sati...

Sugar-Free Slushies Can Make Kids Seriously Ill, Experts Warn

Young kids can become seriously ill after drinking sugar-free slushies containing glycerol, a sugar alcohol used to help maintain the drinks’ icy texture, a new study warns.

Children 7 and younger suffered a sudden sharp drop in blood sugar, reduced consciousness and a build-up of acid in their blood within an hour of downing slushie...