Coverage for breast cancer early detection varies
Nearly 400,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, according to the American Cancer Society, with women at a 1-in-8 risk of developing the disease. Advocacy groups are continuing to push for early detection and treatment, which save lives and money. Experts say...
This Halloween, be safe when trick-or-treating by watching for cars
The scariest things lurking around the corner on Halloween aren’t monsters or ghosts. According to doctors, it’s cars. Halloween is one of the deadliest days of the year for pedestrians, especially for kids. “There’s a lot of focus on the risks of candy that might be a little misplaced,” said...
New limits, oversight for Pa.’s medical marijuana doctors proposed in response to Spotlight PA investigation
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Health would be empowered to impose new limits on doctors who want to practice in the state’s medical marijuana...
As walking pneumonia cases rise nationally, how does Western Pa. fare?
With cold and flu season heating up, cases of walking pneumonia are increasing across the United States. But is the illness on the rise in Western Pennsylvania as well? Local health care experts shared mixed thoughts. What is it? Walking pneumonia is a mild lung infection that can be caused...
McDonald’s says onions from California grower linked to deadly E. coli outbreak
A California grower was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli food poisoning outbreak at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus. McDonald’s officials said...
Officials find no evidence bird flu is spreading between people after Missouri investigation
NEW YORK — Health officials said Thursday that there’s no evidence bird flu is spreading between people after investigating a mysterious infection in Missouri. The illness reported last month was different from the 30 other bird flu infections in people in the U.S. so far this year. Those cases have...
EPA imposes stricter standards to protect children from exposure to lead paint
WASHINGTON — Two weeks after setting a nationwide deadline for removal of lead pipes, the Biden administration is imposing strict new limits on dust from lead-based paint in older homes and child-care facilities. A final rule announced Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency sets limits on lead dust on floors...
What to know about E. coli and the McDonald’s outbreak
A food poisoning outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders was caused by a common type of E. coli bacteria that can cause serious illness and death. Particularly vulnerable are young children, older people or those with weakened immune systems. About 50 people have fallen ill in the McDonald’s outbreak, and...
Women in states with bans are getting abortions at similar rates as under Roe, report says
Women living in states with abortion bans obtained the procedure in the second half of 2023 at about the same rate as before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to a report released Tuesday. Women did so by traveling out of state or by having prescription abortion...
Walking pneumonia cases up sharply among children
ATLANTA — Cases of “walking pneumonia” have been rising sharply in the United States since the spring, especially among young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said it’s closely tracking the recent surge of these infections to better understand any changes in the illnesses...
Deadly E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders sickens dozens in 10 states
E. coli food poisoning linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including one person who died and 10 who were hospitalized, federal health officials said Tuesday. The death was reported in an older person in Colorado, and one child has been hospitalized...
Hospitals’ IV fluid shortage may impact surgeries for weeks
Surgery schedules around the country may be washed out for several more weeks while a crucial IV and sterile fluids factory remains shut down for hurricane-related damage. People often plan non-emergency surgeries in the fall and early-winter months when their insurance coverage will pick up more of the bill, but...
Escalating medication errors pose grave risks for Pennsylvania patients
A Pittsburgh-area woman died after having an allergic reaction to an antibiotic she was given not once, but twice, during surgery to repair a hernia. During the first surgery, the procedure was halted because of the allergic reaction. The second time, the surgeon insisted she get the antibiotic because he...
3 states renew effort to reduce access to the abortion drug mifepristone
Three states are renewing a legal push to restrict access to the abortion medication mifepristone, including reinstating requirements it be dispensed in person instead of by mail. The request from Kansas, Idaho and Missouri filed Friday would bar the drug’s use after seven weeks of pregnancy instead of 10 and...
CDC reports record drop in drug overdose deaths
WASHINGTON — Drug overdose deaths dropped a record amount during the past year, according to provisional data the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Wednesday. The CDC reported 94,758 individuals died because of drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending May 2024 — a 15% drop from the previous...
Millions of pounds of chicken, turkey recalled in listeria scare
If you have ready-to-eat chicken and turkey products in your fridge, you might want to make sure they aren’t among the products that have been recalled due to possible listeria contamination. Millions of pounds of recalled foods produced by BrucePac, a pre-cooked meat producer out of Oklahoma, were sold at...
Urgent wait for treatments: The race against time in the fight against FSHD, a genetic muscle disorder
Mark J. Christman continues to wait, but time is of the essence. Ongoing research and clinical trials are underway, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved any treatments to stop the progression or increase muscle mass in people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a genetic disorder...
Man settles suit against ex’s friends accused of helping her get abortion pills in Texas
A Texas man’s first-of-its kind lawsuit against three women who he alleged helped his ex-wife obtain pills to induce an abortion in 2022 has been settled, according to court documents. A notice to dismiss the lawsuit was filed Thursday by Jonathan Mitchell, a notable anti-abortion attorney, on behalf of the...
UPMC names new president, CEO of health plan
Mary Beth L. Jenkins will be UPMC Health Plan’s next president and CEO starting Jan. 1, the health care provider announced Friday. She will also serve as president of UPMC Insurance Services Division and executive vice president of UPMC. “Mary Beth’s forward-thinking work within UPMC’s successful integrated health care delivery...
Company recalls nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry dishes for listeria contamination
A company is recalling nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products made at an Oklahoma plant because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria that can cause illness and death. BrucePac of Woodburn, Oregon, recalled the roughly 5,000 tons of ready-to-eat foods this week after U.S. Agriculture Department...
Twin boys born conjoined celebrate 1st birthday after separation surgery
PHILADELPHIA — Twin brothers who were born conjoined recently celebrated their first birthday after undergoing successful separation surgery. Amari and Javar Ruffin, whose family lives in Philadelphia, were born via cesarean section on Sept. 29, 2023. The brothers — who shared part of their sternum, diaphragm, abdominal wall and liver...
Don’t expect human life expectancy to grow much more, researcher says
NEW YORK — Humanity is hitting the upper limit of life expectancy, according to a new study. Advances in medical technology and genetic research — not to mention larger numbers of people making it to age 100 — are not translating into marked jumps in lifespan overall, according to researchers...
A peek inside human brain shows a way it cleans out waste
WASHINGTON — A unique peek inside the human brain may help explain how it clears away waste like the kind that can build up and lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Brain cells use a lot of nutrients which means they make a lot of waste. Scientists have long thought the brain...
Financier’s $4M gift helps Duquesne University create new nursing simulation lab
A nearly $4 million gift will enable Duquesne University to open a second nursing simulation lab on its campus, which also enrolled its inaugural class in osteopathic medicine this fall. The Joanne Barkett Conway Simulation Center is scheduled to open in 2026 on the sixth floor of Fisher Hall, university...
Don’t fall for fake dentists offering veneers and other dental work on social media
WASHINGTON — If you have stained or chipped teeth, you might be considering veneers, customized teeth coverings that can restore a photogenic smile without more extensive dental work. But dentists warn that these pricey cosmetic enhancements are at the center of a worrisome online trend: unlicensed practitioners without proper training...
