Nature walks. Dance classes. Volunteering. These are among the social activities being prescribed across at least 30 programs in the U.S. Social prescribing — or the practice of connecting people with nonclinical activities that target underlying concerns such as isolation, stress and access to healthy foods — is a well-known concept in Britain and is increasingly stirring interest in the U.S., experts told The New York Times in an April 17 report. 

For the first time, the majority of U.S. adults say they are not getting enough sleep, a recent Gallup poll found.

In recent months, parts of the U.S. have reported outbreaks of pertussis, or whooping cough. While some regional outbreaks are expected each year, health officials are underscoring the importance of boosters in adults to protect infants from severe illness, NBC News reported April 17. 

The Biden administration launched a new global health security strategy April 16 to prepare for future outbreaks, pandemics or biological threats. 

The FDA has removed social media posts decrying the use of ivermectin for treating COVID-19 following a court ruling, Bloomberg News reported April 16.

Vaccines are in development that target the bird flu strain that infected a Texas resident, an HHS official told Politico in an April 12 report. Earlier this month, state and federal officials confirmed a person in Texas who had worked on a dairy farm tested positive for H5N1. 

The CDC is working with the FDA to investigate at least 19 reports of harmful reactions linked to counterfeit or mishandled Botox injections in nine states. Nine of the patients were hospitalized, the agency said. 

 Last year, New York City saw 24 cases of human leptospirosis — the highest number in a single year. Six cases have been reported so far this year, the city's department of health and mental hygiene said in an April 12 health advisory. 

Viral hepatitis is the second leading cause of death among non-COVID-19 communicable diseases in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

Nearly one-third of U.S. measles cases reported since 2020 have occurred this year, the CDC said in an April 11 report. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders on April 9 released a draft proposal for legislation that calls for $10 billion in mandatory funding over the next 10 years to address long COVID-19, which affects millions of Americans. 

The CDC is investigating fake Botox injections that have hospitalized at least four people in two states, NBC News reported April 10.

Google searches about "hurt eyes" spiked following the total solar eclipse, suggesting that some people are worried about possible injuries, NBC News reported April 8.

The highest prevalence of Type 1 diabetes is among middle-aged and older adults, though data on these populations remain sparse, according to a study by Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

Only Texas and Kansas were anticipated to see a growth in COVID-19 infections as of March 30, the CDC said.

The CDC is warning clinicians and state health departments to watch for bird flu cases after a Texas resident was infected, presumably from dairy cattle.

While health officials say the threat avian flu poses to humans remains low, the situation is being closely monitored and taken "very seriously," the CDC director told ABC News in an April 3 report — days after a person in Texas tested positive for bird flu.

A person in Texas has tested positive for bird flu, state and federal health officials confirmed April 1. The individual is believed to have been exposed to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with the H5N1. 

Measles cases have increased sharply in the U.S. over the past week, new CDC data shows. 

The CDC is warning an invasive meningococcal strain is on the rise and disproportionately affects people ages 30 to 60.