PUBLIC HEALTH

Jun 06 2026POLITICS

How a new rule is changing job security for thousands of government health workers

A recent change in federal employment rules now lets managers remove about 8, 000 health workers—many involved in policy decisions—more easily. These employees work across agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration. Their ne

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Jun 06 2026RELIGION

Religious leaders and their mixed feelings about vaccines and baby tests

In a city in eastern Turkey, researchers talked to 200 Muslim clerics to see how they felt about two health topics: vaccines and a quick blood test newborns get right after birth. The clerics filled out a long survey about their own health habits, their views on childhood and adult vaccines, and the

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Jun 05 2026HEALTH

Ticks on the Island: A New Allergy Threat

The summer playground of Martha’s Vineyard is now a hotspot for tiny creatures that can change how people eat. The problem isn’t ordinary ticks; it’s a species called the lone star tick that can trigger alpha‑gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat and dairy. The island’s residents now have to think tw

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Jun 05 2026ENVIRONMENT

Wildfires are undoing years of cleaner air in the U. S.

For over a decade, the U. S. had been making steady progress in reducing ground-level ozone—a harmful pollutant that damages lungs and triggers breathing problems. Between 2003 and 2015, average ozone levels dropped by about 0. 65 parts per billion each year. But around 2015, something changed. Wild

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Jun 05 2026HEALTH

Public health tools weakened after COVID backlash

After COVID-19, many states cut back on tools used to fight outbreaks. Laws in over half the states now make it harder to declare emergencies. Some states even need lawmakers to approve health orders. This slows down responses when diseases spread fast. Staff cuts and funding drops weakened health

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Jun 04 2026ENVIRONMENT

California’s New Pesticide Rule Backfires: More 1, 3-D Used Even After Safety Limits

California officials claimed a January 2024 rule would lower cancer risk from the chemical 1, 3‑dichloropropane (1, 3‑D) by cutting the amount that reaches the air. Instead, data show growers applied a million more pounds last year than before the rule or in 2024. Kern and San Joaquin counties saw t

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Jun 04 2026HEALTH

Public restrooms matter more than you might think

San Diego is considering shutting down many public restrooms to save money. At first glance, that might seem like no big deal. Who really needs a public bathroom every day? But look closer and the picture changes completely. Public restrooms are part of the city’s invisible safety net. They keep ger

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Jun 03 2026HEALTH

Why Congo’s Ebola Numbers Dropped Suddenly

Health officials in Congo have adjusted their Ebola case numbers after tests showed many sick people didn’t actually have the virus. The count dropped from over 900 suspected cases to just 116, with 321 confirmed infections and 48 deaths. Some patients had fevers or other infections that looked like

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Jun 02 2026HEALTH

A Silent Spread of Measles in Delta County

Delta County now faces a new measles case that shows the virus may be moving around without anyone noticing. The child, who never left Colorado and had no known links to other confirmed infections, likely caught it from someone who did not get tested. This lack of tracing means exposed people are le

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Jun 02 2026HEALTH

Michigan’s Vaccine Waiver Shift: What Parents Need to Know

The state is asking parents in several counties to give their babies the measles shot earlier than usual because new cases are rising fast. The virus can cause serious brain damage, hearing loss, and even death. This problem is happening while more parents are choosing not to vaccinate their child

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