The CDC has added a third U.S. measles death to its national tracker as cases pass 4,400, and Pennsylvania is warning physicians about congenital measles for the first time in decades. Here are six things to know:
Public Health
HHS announced Oct. 20 a national plan to improve kidney disease care as part of Make America Health Again’s focus on chronic disease. Approximately 37 million American adults have kidney disease, but many lack a diagnosis. The plan, unveiled by…
The flu season is off to a severe and early start, with outpatient visits for flu-like illness already reaching levels rarely seen this time of year. As of early October, the rate of outpatient visits for flu-like illness was tracking…
The National Institutes of Health awarded about 56,600 extramural grants in fiscal 2026, roughly 7,500 fewer than in fiscal 2024, according to an Oct. 15 analysis from the Association of American Medical Colleges. The AAMC based its analysis on publicly…
As a primary care physician who also is a hospital CEO, Susan Ehrlich, MD, occupies rare air. According to a 2025 McKinsey survey, only about 15% of CEOs across healthcare organizations have clinical backgrounds; that figure includes health systems and…
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Flu season is off to an unusually early start, with wastewater surveillance, emergency department data and local health departments from Virginia to California all indicating increased virus activity. An earlier-than-usual rise does not guarantee a worse season, but on nearly…
The U.S. has recorded 4,410 confirmed measles cases this year, and the CDC is sending staff to Pennsylvania, where the nation’s largest outbreak has caused five confirmed measles-associated deaths. Here are four outbreak updates to know: Separately, Kenya confirmed four…
The share of flu tests coming back positive rose from 3.9% to 5% in the week ending Oct. 10, the CDC’s first FluView report of the 2026-27 season shows. ED visits and outpatient visits for flu also climbed. Seasonal flu…
HHS has declared public health emergencies in Florida and Alabama following Hurricane Isaias, allowing hospitals and other healthcare providers affected by the storm to access temporary federal regulatory flexibilities. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued the declarations Oct. 13,…
Flu activity in California is running weeks ahead of a typical season, and emergency departments are feeling it first. Four California health systems told Becker’s what they are seeing so far: more ED visits and positive tests, admissions rising and…