ABC Health

1st measles case of the year in South Dakota as CDC updates travel guidance

Wednesday, June 4 by ABC News

(MEADE COUNTY, SD) -- South Dakota has reported its first case of measles this year. The state is now the 33rd in the country to confirm a measles case, with at least 1,088 cases reported nationally so far this year.An adult who recently traveled... Read More.

Most US counties saw decline in childhood MMR vaccination rates: Report

Wednesday, June 4 by ABC News

(NEW YORK) -- Most counties in the United States have seen a decline in childhood measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates over the last five years, according to a new report published Monday.Researchers from Johns Hopkins University looked at data from 2,066 counties across... Read More.

Another COVID-19 variant is rising abroad. Doctors say theres no need to panic

Thursday, May 29 by ABC News

(NEW YORK) -- Cases of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, a descendent of the Omicron variant, are on the rise in some parts of the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).Currently, there are not enough cases in the United States to register... Read More.

RFK Jr. cuts COVID vaccine recommendation for healthy kids, pregnant women — and why it matters

Wednesday, May 28 by ABC News

(WASHINGTON) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced the removal of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization schedule for "healthy children and pregnant women" -- a move that could alter guidance for... Read More.

Why are more than 300 people in the US still dying from COVID every week?

Sunday, May 25 by ABC News

(NEW YORK) -- More than five years after the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in the United States, hundreds of people are still dying every week.Last month, an average of about 350 people died each week from COVID, according to data from the... Read More.

Measles cases reach 1,046 in US as infections confirmed in 30 states: CDC

Friday, May 23 by ABC News

(NEW YORK) -- Measles cases have reached 1,046 as the virus continues spreading across the United States, according to data updated Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Cases have been confirmed in 30 states including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,... Read More.

FDA plans to limit COVID shots to those over 65 or with high-risk conditions

Wednesday, May 21 by ABC News

(WASHINGTON) -- In a major policy change, the Food and Drug Administration has announced a plan to limit access to future COVID-19 shots only to people over 65 years old or those with an underlying health condition.This change would apply to any future updated... Read More.

Florida becomes 2nd state to ban fluoride from public drinking water

Friday, May 16 by ABC News

(DADE CITY, Fla) -- Florida became the second state in the country after Utah to ban local governments from adding fluoride to their public water systems.Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill at Simpson Lakes in Dade City -- about 38 miles northeast of Tampa --... Read More.

Measles cases reach 1,024 in the US as infections confirmed in 30 states: CDC

Friday, May 16 by ABC News

(WASHINGTON) -- The number of measles cases in the U.S. has risen to 1,024, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data published Friday.Cases have been confirmed in 30 states: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,... Read More.

RFK Jr. says people should not take medical advice from him, defends HHS cuts during congressional hearings

Thursday, May 15 by ABC News

(WASHINGTON) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of the nation's most publicly recognized vaccine skeptics, took a softened approach on vaccines when he answered questions before a House committee Wednesday morning, saying, "I don't think people should be taking... Read More.