US health authorities need to play larger role in cannabis policy 

US health authorities need to play larger role in cannabis policy 

With more Americans using ever-stronger marijuana, a federal advisory panel is calling for a public health approach that’s a big departure from “Just Say No.” Thursday’s report proposes a health-focused strategy with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention taking a larger role in cannabis policy than ever before. “We’d like the federal government to … Read more

CDC recommends updated COVID shots for everyone older than 6 months

CDC recommends updated COVID shots for everyone older than 6 months

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone 6 months old and older should be given an updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-25 immunization campaign, even those previously vaccinated against the disease. The agency’s recommendation on Thursday echoed that of its panel of outside experts, who voted unanimously to recommend the … Read more

US health agency issues dengue virus infection advisory

US health agency issues dengue virus infection advisory

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health advisory warning the public and health care officials about the increasing risk of dengue virus infections in the United States. The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has declared a public health emergency with almost 1,500 cases. There has also been a record 745 … Read more

US birth rate drops after slight post-COVID rebound

US birth rate drops after slight post-COVID rebound

The fertility rate in the United States dropped in 2023, after a slight two-year rebound that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provisional CDC data show that 3.59 million births were recorded in 2023, amounting to 54.4 live births per 1,000 females ages … Read more