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How smoking fell to lowest level ever and other public health wins

How smoking fell to lowest level ever and other public health wins

Cuts to public health threaten gains on flu, TB, syphilis, and smoking.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Measles and other consequences of a leaderless CDC

Measles and other consequences of a leaderless CDC

Vaccine policy is mired in confusion, states are losing public health funding, and measles is spreading as the Trump administration struggles to find a new CDC director.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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We’re taking too many antibiotics. And we need to make more of them.

We’re taking too many antibiotics. And we need to make more of them.

What to know: New research shows that even a single course of antibiotics may disturb the body. Dentists may be over-prescribing antibiotics. And the FDA is moving to address a shortage of one of our oldest antibiotics: penicillin.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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How ICE and hospitals are failing at infection control

How ICE and hospitals are failing at infection control

As the size of ICE detention facilities grows, so do the risks of Legionella bacteria and measles, mumps, and tuberculosis outbreaks. Hospitals are also falling short of infectious disease prevention.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Medicaid cuts over fraud claims punish those who need care the most

Medicaid cuts over fraud claims punish those who need care the most

Government officials must be rigorous stewards of the public’s money. But when it comes to programs that people's lives depend on, the bar for suspending funding should be extremely high.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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U.S. may be slowing rollback of vaccine policy ahead of midterms

U.S. may be slowing rollback of vaccine policy ahead of midterms

Despite the increasing prominence of the anti-vaccine movement on social media and in politics, polls conducted in the past few months show that the American public still thinks highly of immunization efforts. The damage done this year could be long-lasting.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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AI can be a transformative health tool. It can also cause real harm.

AI can be a transformative health tool. It can also cause real harm.

As AI systems grow more capable, many experts are wondering whether the risks outweigh the benefits. Some of those risks are distant, but catastrophic. Others are happening right now at a smaller scale.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Why Americans are living longer: It’s not protein and pricey scans.

Why Americans are living longer: It’s not protein and pricey scans.

The biggest gains have come from improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene, followed by medical interventions, such as vaccines and antibiotics.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Why I’m optimistic about the future of U.S. public health

Why I’m optimistic about the future of U.S. public health

This is a time of great upheaval, but it’s also an opportunity for improvement. We’ve got to try.

Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
Dr. Jay K. Varma, Healthbeat
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Q&A: An HIV doctor who refused to censor data at the CDC

Q&A: An HIV doctor who refused to censor data at the CDC

John Weiser resigned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after deciding not to remove data on transgender people.

Amy Maxmen
Amy Maxmen
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Measles approaches 2,000 cases in U.S. as scientists study links between outbreaks

Measles approaches 2,000 cases in U.S. as scientists study links between outbreaks

Scientists are conducting genetic analyses to see if the measles outbreak that started in Texas is still spreading from state to state. It’s a contentious question, because the findings may determine whether America loses its measles-free status.

Amy Maxmen
Amy Maxmen
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Liver cancer has disappeared in children. Thank the hep B vaccine.

Liver cancer has disappeared in children. Thank the hep B vaccine.

A CDC advisory committee is considering limiting access to the hepatitis B vaccine, which has been recommended for newborns since 1991.

Kelly Johnson
Kelly Johnson