As Drugstores Close, Older People Are Left in ‘Pharmacy Deserts’

Shuttered drugstores pose a particular threat to older adults, who take more medications than younger people and often rely on pharmacies for advice.

Democrats highlight a casualty of the spending fight: funding to combat pediatric cancer.

What Are ‘Healthy’ Foods? The F.D.A. Updates the Labeling Terms.

The Food and Drug Administration released final rules on labeling foods as “healthy,” tightening limits for sugar, sodium and saturated fat.

Trump’s Return May Worsen Financial Woes for Global Health Institutions

The U.S. provides nearly half of the aid for global health, including childhood vaccination, H.I.V. treatment and disease surveillance.

California Declares an Emergency Over Bird Flu in Cattle

Officials have discovered the virus in 645 dairy herds, more than in any other state so far.

He Built a Wellness Empire While Adventuring With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Dr. Mark Hyman, a “functional medicine” proponent and longtime friend of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is finding powerful allies in his bid to treat disease with blood tests and supplements.

A Rift in Trump World Over How to Make America Healthier

Statements by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk tap into a dispute over whether lifestyle changes or drugs are a better way to treat obesity.

Tiny Coffins: Measles Is Killing Thousands of Children in Congo

Problems with getting vaccines to families have left many children unvaccinated and in danger of contracting the virus.

What Kennedy Has Said About the Polio Vaccine in Recent Years

President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for health secretary has suggested that the polio vaccine cost more lives than it saved and that the vaccine did not wipe out the disease in the U.S.

Alabama Woman Receives Nation’s Third Pig Kidney Transplant

The patient, Towana Looney, was in better health than previous recipients, and her case could signal progress toward solving the organ-supply shortage.

‘Life-Changing’ Psychedelics, for When Life Is Ending

People are turning to psilocybin, ketamine and other treatments for palliative care.

Are Childhood Vaccines ‘Overloading’ the Immune System? No.

Vaccines today are more efficient and contain far fewer stimulants to the immune system than some used decades ago.

What the Polio Vaccine Has Meant for Public Health

A lawyer working with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has asked the F.D.A. to withdraw approval of the current shot because it hasn’t been tested against a placebo. Scientists say such a test would be unethical.

Health Protections for Migrant Children in Custody Are Set to Expire

A 2022 legal settlement established requirements to protect the health of minors detained at segments of the southern border. It ends nine days after Donald Trump takes office.

Kennedy’s Lawyer Has Asked the F.D.A. to Revoke Approval of the Polio Vaccine

Aaron Siri, who specializes in vaccine lawsuits, has been at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s side reviewing candidates for top jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Six Childhood Scourges We’ve Forgotten About, Thanks to Vaccines

Most Americans, including doctors, have no memory of the devastating diseases that routinely threatened children until the 1960s.

How to Talk to Your Teen About Pornography

Odds are your adolescent has already encountered online pornography. Your role is to openly address it, scholars say.

Could Cats Become a Carrier of Bird Flu?

A new study highlights the need for public health officials to ramp up bird flu surveillance in our feline companions.

F.D.A. Tries Last-Ditch Move to Slash Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

The agency is asking the White House, in the final days of the Biden era, to move ahead with plans to drastically reduce the addictive substance in traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Health Panel Endorses New Option for Cervical Cancer Screening

Starting at 30, women can collect their own vaginal samples for HPV testing at a doctor’s office.

Read the Letter From Nobel Laureates Urging That Mr. Kennedy Not Be Confirmed

More than 75 laureates have written an open letter describing Mr. Kennedy’s selection for H.H.S. secretary as detrimental to public health.

Nobel Laureates Urge Senate to Turn Down Kennedy’s Nomination

Elevating Mr. Kennedy to secretary of H.H.S. “would put the public’s health in jeopardy,” more than 75 laureates wrote.

Spying on Student Devices, Schools Aim to Intercept Self-Harm Before It Happens

New technology alerts schools when students type words related to suicide. But do the timely interventions balance out the false alarms?

Sex, a Hex and a Sick Child Offer Clues to an Epidemic’s Birth

In a remote Congolese town, a medical mystery led to the discovery of alarming changes in the mpox virus and, eventually, to a global health emergency.

Payments Are Going Digital, but Many Seniors Still Rely on Cash

“We’re putting another burden on the elderly that we don’t have to,” one researcher said.

Fraud and Fakery at the Country’s Largest Chain of Methadone Clinics

Acadia Healthcare falsifies records at its methadone clinics and enrolls patients who aren’t addicted to opioids, a Times investigation found.

In Mexico, Heat Waves Are Even Killing Younger Adults

It’s not just the elderly. More than three-quarters of heat-related deaths in Mexico occurred among people younger than 35, researchers reported.

U.S. Milk to Be Tested for Bird Flu Virus

New federal rules call for testing unpasteurized milk from dairy processors and for farm owners to provide details that would help officials identify and track cases more easily.

Insurer Reverses Policy That Would Have Limited Anesthesia Periods

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield officials had planned to roll out the changes nationwide but said they were misunderstood.

E.P.A. Again Seeks Limits on a Harmful Pesticide

After a court overturned a ban, the agency has proposed restricting chlorpyrifos to 11 food crops, illustrating the limits of federal regulation.

Brian Thompson Was a Veteran Executive at UnitedHealthcare

Mr. Thompson managed a division that employs about 140,000 people and offers insurance plans to employers and individuals.

Most Rural Hospitals Have Closed Their Maternity Wards, Study Finds

Labor and delivery units are losing money and struggling to find staff, in rural areas and large cities alike.

McDonald’s E. Coli Outbreak Declared Over

Federal health agencies closed their investigations into the bacterial outbreak that sickened 104 people and was linked to onions on the fast-food chain’s signature Quarter Pounders.

Five Questions to Ask Your Doctor When Weighing a Hysterectomy

Many patients are confused about what their surgeons are planning. Here’s how to get the details.

You Had a Hysterectomy. What Did the Doctor Leave Behind?

Patients often are in the dark about which organs remain and which were removed — particularly the ovaries, which profoundly influence lifelong health.

Long a ‘Crown Jewel’ of Government, N.I.H. Is Now a Target

The agency long benefited from broad bipartisan support. But Republican criticism has intensified, and new choices for top health posts hope to upend the organization.

Cucumbers Are Recalled After Salmonella Sickens People in 19 States

At least 68 people have fallen ill in the outbreak believed to be linked to cucumbers sold in the United States and Canada, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

A. Cornelius Baker, Champion of H.I.V. Testing, Dies at 63

Working inside the government and out, he lobbied to improve the lives of people with H.I.V. and AIDS, particularly those who belonged to minority groups.

Dr. Dave Weldon, Trump’s C.D.C. Pick, Was Not on Anyone’s Radar

But over the years, the former congressman’s views have often aligned with those of his potential boss, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — particularly on vaccine safety.

Nursing Home Industry Wants Trump to Rescind Staffing Mandate

A Biden administration rule that imposed minimum rules on nursing levels may not survive, even though many homes lack enough workers to maintain residents’ care.

Hoping for Allies Among Trump’s Health Picks, Pharma Faces Hostility

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other candidates for top health posts are at odds with the drug industry, setting the stage for tense battles over regulatory changes.

On Big Pharma, Food and Agriculture, These Are Kennedy’s Unexpected Bedfellows

When it comes to weeding out corporate influence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ideas often align best with some of Trump’s loudest critics.

New Drug Causes 20 Percent Weight Loss in Early Amgen Results

The drug, which is named MariTide and delivered in a monthly injection, is some time away from being sold.

Trial of Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug Halted After Disappointing Results

Cassava Sciences said that its drug did not significantly reduce cognitive decline in 1,900 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Trump’s Choices for Health Agencies Suggest a Shake-Up Is Coming

The picks to oversee public health have all pushed back against Covid policies or supported ideas that are outside the medical mainstream.

So Many Days Lost at the Doctor’s Office

Medical care can be wearying and time-consuming, especially for seniors. Researchers are beginning to quantify the burdens.

Trump Chooses Dr. David Weldon, a Former Congressman, to Lead the C.D.C.

In selecting a doctor who is skeptical of vaccine safety, the president-elect is emphasizing his commitment to reforming the role of federal health agencies in radical ways.

Dr. Martin Makary Chosen to Head the F.D.A.

A frequent Fox News commentator, Dr. Makary has a penchant for challenging the medical establishment, and stirred pandemic concerns with his views on Covid immunity and vaccine mandates.

Kennedy Doesn’t Like Ozempic. Here’s What He Can Do About It.

President-elect Donald J. Trump is set to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, where he would have limited power over drugs.

Alcohol Deaths Have More Than Doubled in Two Decades, Study Finds

Americans are dying of illnesses related to alcohol at roughly twice the rate seen in 1999.

What’s Behind the Remarkable Drop in U.S. Overdose Deaths

Experts are puzzling over which interventions are saving lives. The evolving illicit supply itself may hold important clues.

Bacteria Found in Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste, Inspectors Say

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter, but not a recall, after microorganisms were found in water samples and finished toothpaste products.

Medicaid May Face Big Cuts and Work Requirements

Republicans in Congress are eyeing cuts to Medicaid, which could threaten health coverage for tens of millions of poor Americans.

Civil War Toll Much Worse in Confederate States, New Estimates Show

An analysis of newly released 19th-century census records offers more insight into the conflict’s costs.

5 Ways R.F.K. Jr. Could Undermine Lifesaving Childhood Vaccines

If he is confirmed as H.H.S. secretary, the longtime vaccine critic would be in a position to change the government’s immunization recommendations and delay the development of new vaccines.

Orders for Morning-After Pills and Abortion Pills Rise After Trump’s Election

Some women are stocking up on the medications, saying they are concerned that the new administration could take steps to restrict access.

Wyoming’s Abortion Bans Are Unconstitutional, Judge Rules

The ruling found that two state laws — one barring use of abortion pills, and one banning all forms of abortion — violated the state Constitution’s “fundamental right to make health care decisions.”

Pancreatic Cancer Surge May Be Less Worrisome Than It Seemed

A rise in the disease in younger people was not followed by an increase in deaths, a study found, and might be a sign of overdiagnosis.

A.I. Chatbots Defeated Doctors at Diagnosing Illness

A small study found ChatGPT outdid human physicians when assessing medical case histories, even when those doctors were using a chatbot.

First U.S. Case of Spreading New Mpox Type Reported in California

The unidentified patient had recently returned from Africa, where the virus has caused a deadly epidemic, health officials said.

Why Kennedy Sees an ‘Epidemic’ of Chronic Disease Among Children

Trends in child health are in fact worrisome, and scientists welcome a renewed focus on foods and environmental toxins. But vaccines and fluoride are not the cause.

Kennedy’s Vow to Take On Big Food Could Alienate His New G.O.P. Allies

Processed foods are in the cross hairs of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but battling major companies could collide with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s corporate-friendly goals.

Americans Have Regained Modest Trust in Scientists, Survey Finds

A sharp partisan divide remains over how involved researchers should be in policy decisions.

U.S. Regulators Seek to Block UnitedHealth’s $3.3 Billion Purchase of Home Care Company

The Justice Department and four Democratic state attorneys general argued that United’s takeover would limit competition and harm consumers needing home or hospice care.

At Long Last, the Surge in S.T.I.s May Be Leveling Off

Rates of gonorrhea declined in 2023, while diagnoses of syphilis and chlamydia held roughly steady, according to new C.D.C. data.

Kennedy’s F.D.A. Wish List: Raw Milk, Stem Cells, Heavy Metals

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s advisers on health, is taking aim at the agency’s oversight on many fronts.

As the Pandemic Deepened, Americans Kept Drinking More

Excessive drinking persisted in the years after Covid arrived, according to new data.

For Older Unmarried Couples, Caregiving Obligations Can Be Murky

What should be expected of an intimate partner when a companion suffers a health crisis? Seniors and their families increasingly confront the question.

Voters in Red and Blue States Repudiate Lenient Drug Policies

Californians voted for tougher penalties for dealers. Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota rejected proposals to legalize marijuana. Massachusetts denied a measure allowing possession of psychedelics.

He’s the F.D.A.’s Cancer Chief, Not a Fortune Teller

Dr. Richard Pazdur for 25 years has overseen innovations in the treatment of deadly diseases at the agency.

F.D.A. Proposes Removing Ineffective Nasal Decongestant From Stores

It was added to cold and flu remedies in the 1990s when another ingredient went behind the counter over illicit meth lab concerns.

Cost of Mpox Shot Deters Americans at Risk, Critics Say

The epidemic in Africa continues to grow, prompting fears of another outbreak in the U.S. But the vaccine is no longer free, and vulnerable people are going without.

From A.I. to Musk’s Brain Chips, the F.D.A.’s Device Unit Faces Rapid Change

The new director overseeing medical devices will confront criticisms about hasty approvals as she ushers in revolutionary technology.

1 in 4 Child Deaths After E.R. Visits Are Preventable, Study Finds

If every emergency room in the United States were fully prepared to treat children, thousands of lives would be saved and the cost would be $11.84 or less per child, researchers found.

Being Sugar-Deprived Had Major Effects on These Children’s Health

British data shows that children conceived and born during a period of sugar rationing were less likely to develop diabetes or high blood pressure later in life.

How Public Health Could Be Recast in a Second Trump Term

Breaking up the C.D.C., moving funds from the N.I.H. — conservatives have floated changes should Mr. Trump regain office.

Obesity Drug Shows Promise in Easing Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

A large trial showed that semaglutide, sold as Ozempic for diabetes and as Wegovy for obesity, was better than any current medications in alleviating symptoms.

Does Kamala Harris Back Free Health Care for Illegal Immigrants?

Donald Trump and other Republicans have said repeatedly that she does. Her history on the issue is complicated.

Heart-Valve Patients Should Have Earlier Surgery, Study Suggests

The results of a new clinical trial have overturned the “wait and see” approach that cardiologists have long favored for symptom-free patients.

Why Is Harris So Passionate About Abortion Rights? Her Past Work Holds Clues.

For a politician who has been criticized for shifting positions on some issues, this is an area where she has shown unwavering conviction.

McDonald’s Says Tests Rule Out Beef Patties as Source of E. Coli Outbreak

The company said it would put Quarter Pounders back on the menu, without the raw onions that were considered the likely source of the bacteria.

A Trans Researcher’s Pursuit of Better Data on Detransition

Kinnon MacKinnon leads the world’s largest study on people who stop or reverse their gender transitions, a group embroiled in intense political fights.

E. Coli Outbreak Tied to McDonald’s Widens to 75 People in 13 States

Health officials say that recalls of onions — the suspected source of the contamination — would help lessen the risk to consumers. Other major fast-food chains have also stopped offering onions.

Why Heat Waves of the Future May Be Even Deadlier Than Feared

The body’s cooling defenses fail at lower “wet bulb” temperatures than scientists had estimated.

Malaria Is Surging in Ethiopia, Reversing a Decade of Progress Against the Disease

Climate change, civil conflict and growing resistance to insecticides and treatments are all contributing to an alarming spread of cases.

As Bird Flu Spreads, Additional Human Infection Is Reported in Missouri

Two people sharing a home caught the virus without known exposure to animals. More than 30 human cases have been reported in the United States.

Onion Recall Linked to E. Coli and McDonald’s Spreads to Other Fast Food Chains

A deadly outbreak spurred removal of onions by a major food supplier in the Mountain West. Taco Bell, KFC, Burger King and Pizza Hut have stopped serving onions at various locations.

What Drugmakers Did Not Tell Volunteers in Alzheimer’s Trials

Genetic tests showed that certain patients were predisposed to brain injuries if they took the drugs. That information remained secret.

E. Coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders

Nearly 50 people have become ill and one person has died, amid infections that may have been caused by slivered onions, the C.D.C. reported.

F.D.A. Names a New Chief of Medical Devices

Patient advocates hope Dr. Michelle Tarver will lead the agency to focus more on safety and less on rapid approvals.

New Stroke Recommendations Call Out Risks Unique to Women

In a first, the guidelines link poor pregnancy outcomes to stroke and call on doctors to exercise greater vigilance.

Bruce Ames, 95, Dies; Biochemist Discovered Test for Toxic Chemicals

The Ames Test offered a fast and inexpensive way to identify carcinogens, leading to the banning of chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects.

Life Without Sickle Cell Beckons Boy Who Completed Gene Therapy

After 44 days, Kendric Cromer, 12, left the hospital. While his family feels fortunate that he was the first to receive a treatment, their difficult experiences hint at what others will be up against.

States Revive Lawsuit to Sharply Curb Access to Abortion Pill

The Supreme Court ruled in June that the original plaintiffs, anti-abortion doctors and groups, did not have standing to sue. Now three states are trying to continue the legal fight.

Under an L.A. Freeway, a Psychiatric Rescue Mission

The crisis of homelessness is pushing American psychiatry to places it has not gone before — like sidewalk injections of antipsychotics.

Sammy Basso, Advocate for Progeria Research, Is Dead at 28

One of about 150 people known to have a rare condition that causes rapid aging, he sought to raise awareness and participated in the search for a cure.

Therapeutic Food Shortage Puts African Children at Risk of Starvation, U.N. Agency Says

Supplies of a highly nutritious treatment are running out, according to UNICEF.

The Cutting-Edge Hearing Aids That You May Already Own

Apple is preparing to turn its AirPods Pro 2 into easy-to-use aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Thousands of hospital and nursing home patients were displaced.

But overall, health care facilities have fared better than expected.

Florida IV Fluid Plant Spared From Storm, Company Says

Milton threatened a Daytona Beach site that produces one-fourth of the nation’s IV medical solutions, which were already in short supply because of storm damage in North Carolina.

U.S. Races to Replenish Storm-Battered Supplies of IV Fluids at Hospitals

The F.D.A. has authorized shipments from overseas plants to ease shortages of IV bags caused by Hurricane Helene as hospitals begin rationing fluids to protect the sickest patients.

Does Your School Use Suicide Prevention Software? We Want to Hear From You.

Concerned about anxiety and depression among students, some schools are monitoring what children type into their devices to detect suicidal thinking or self-harm.

On Drug Prices, Harris Pushes for Deeper Cuts While Trump Offers Few Specifics

Both have campaigned for lower prescription costs. Kamala Harris has promised to expand President Biden’s policies. Donald Trump is a wild card.

3% of American High Schoolers Identify as Transgender, First National Survey Finds

A survey by the C.D.C. found high rates of sadness, bullying and suicide attempts among transgender and gender-questioning teenagers.

Harris Proposes Medicare Benefits for Home Care, Vision and Hearing

The vice president’s health care plan is meant to help Americans who are struggling to find affordable home care for themselves or aging relatives.

Discovery in Tiny Worm Leads to Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2 Scientists

The prize was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA, which helps determine how cells develop and function.

As Bird Flu Spreads, Two New Cases Diagnosed in California

Both patients were dairy workers whose illnesses were mild. Investigators are continuing to evaluate the contacts of a Missouri patient who had no exposure to animals.

‘It Took Over Everything’: Stories of Marijuana’s Little-Known Risks

A growing number of marijuana users in the U.S. are experiencing severe health problems like these.

What to Know About the Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak

In Rwanda, 11 deaths have been reported from this rare but deadly disease. Two people tested negative in Germany this week.

You’re Due for a Colonoscopy, but What if You Don’t Want It?

Doctors can provide alternative forms of screening for colon and rectal cancer but sometimes have a good reason to stick with the colonoscope.

Trump Promised to Release His Medical Records. He Still Won’t Do It.

If elected again, he would become the oldest president by the end of his term. Yet he is refusing to disclose even basic health information.

Gilead Agrees to Allow Generic Version of Groundbreaking H.I.V. Shot in Poor Countries

Many middle-income countries are left out of the deal, widening a gulf in access to critical medicines.

Officials Cast Doubt on a Dementia Drug, but Human Trials Continue

The S.E.C. alleged shortcomings in research said to support the drug, and its developer agreed to a $40 million settlement. Some experts wonder why clinical trials have not been stopped.

Breast Cancer Continues to Rise Among Younger Women, Study Finds

Death rates are declining among U.S. women with breast cancer. But the disease is turning up more often in women under age 50.

California Sues Hospital for Denying Patient an Emergency Abortion

The state said that despite a doctor’s recommendation and state law, a Catholic hospital declined to provide an abortion because fetal heart tones were present.

Patient Exposed to Bat in Minnesota Dies From Rabies, Officials Say

The death, which was reported on Friday, is only the fifth fatal human rabies case in Minnesota since 1975, health officials said.

After Your Death, Who Takes Care of the Dog?

A pet trust designates a new guardian for companion animals and sets aside funds for their care. Better yet, it’s legally binding.

Biden Officials Stave Off Sticker Shock on Medicare Drug Premiums

Federal regulators spent billions of dollars to avoid a spike in costs for older Americans that could have been politically damaging to the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Possible Cluster of Human Bird-Flu Infections Expands in Missouri

Seven people in contact with a patient hospitalized with bird flu also developed symptoms, the C.D.C. reported. Some are undergoing further tests.

Risk of Heart Defects Higher in Babies Conceived With I.V.F.

The birth defects were more likely, but still very uncommon, in infants conceived through certain fertility treatments, a large study found.

F.D.A. Approves the First New Schizophrenia Drug in Decades

Available antipsychotic treatments work by blocking dopamine receptors. The new drug, Cobenfy, takes a different approach.

Acadia Hospitals Reach $20 Million Settlement With Justice Dept.

The F.B.I. is also investigating the large chain of psychiatric hospitals for holding patients longer than what is medically necessary.

The Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance

Health experts, gathering at the U.N., have begun to shift their focus to try to provide access to basic drugs in countries where preventable deaths from infections occur too frequently.

Lawmakers Seek Inquiry of F.D.A. Device Chief’s Potential Conflicts

A top medical device regulator’s work overlapped at times with his wife’s legal representation of clients with business before the agency.

That Message From Your Doctor? It May Have Been Drafted by A.I.

Overwhelmed by queries, physicians are turning to artificial intelligence to correspond with patients. Many have no clue that the replies are software-generated.

Was It Really a Hot Zone Summer?

From Covid to dengue, viral outbreaks seemed to be popping up all over. But maybe Americans are just more attuned to threats now.

Nasal Flu Vaccine Is Approved for At-Home Use

The F.D.A. authorized AstraZeneca’s treatment to be given outside a health care setting, although it will still need a prescription.

F.T.C. Accuses Drug Middlemen of Inflating Insulin Prices

The case takes aim at the major pharmacy benefit managers, agency officials said, claiming that they favored more expensive insulin products and forced patients to pay more.

Research That Led to Obesity Drugs Wins Major Medical Prize

Three scientists were recognized by the Lasker Awards for their work on the GLP-1 hormone. Others were honored for work to stop H.I.V. and for immune system discoveries.

What R.F.K. Jr.’s Alliance With Trump Could Mean for Public Health

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long voiced doubts about vaccine safety, has hopes of influencing federal health policy. Could he finally get the chance?

Deep Links Between Alcohol and Cancer Are Described in New Report

Scientists continue to rethink the idea that moderate drinking offers health benefits.

How Does Pregnancy Change the Brain? Clues Are Emerging.

As hormones surge, some brain areas shrink in what scientists say may be a fine-tuning that helps mothers bond with and care for their babies.

First Day of a ‘New Life’ for a Boy With Sickle Cell

Kendric Cromer, 12, is among the first patients to be treated with gene therapy just approved by the F.D.A. that many other patients face obstacles to receiving.

Three Medical Practices That Older Patients Should Question

Some treatments and procedures become routine despite lacking strong evidence to show that they’re beneficial. Recent studies have called a few into question.

Missouri Bird Flu Case Raises Prospect of Human Transmission

A close contact of someone with bird flu became ill on the same day, the C.D.C. reported. But the second person was not tested, and the cause of the illness is unknown.

W.H.O. Authorizes Mpox Vaccine, Clearing Way for Use in Africa

The decision is a crucial step in getting shots to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the center of the outbreak.

Boar’s Head Shuts Down Virginia Plant Tied to Listeria Deaths

The company said that the site would close indefinitely and that it would permanently stop making liverwurst. Union officials said the plant’s 500 workers would be given severance and offered relocation.

This Chatbot Pulls People Away From Conspiracy Theories

In a new study, many people doubted or abandoned false beliefs after a short conversation with the DebunkBot.

Elevated Lead Levels Found in One-Third of Cinnamon Samples

Consumer Reports found lead in a variety of products, at a time when federal regulators are seeking authority from Congress to combat the problem of heavy metals in foods.

Dr. Chatbot Will See You Now

Americans are already turning to A.I. for health information in large numbers, new research suggests.

Cholera Deaths Soar Worldwide Despite Being Easily Preventable

Fatalities spiked 71 percent last year, far outpacing the 13 percent rise in cases, the World Health Organization said.

‘Imminent Threat’ Found at Boar’s Head Plant 2 Years Before Fatal Listeria Outbreak

U.S. inspectors listed serious problems in 2022 that could have resulted in strict measures like a pause in production. But the plant continued operating, and some conditions persisted.

Doctors Give Black Women Unneeded C-Sections to Fill Operating Rooms, Study Suggests

Healthy Black women with low risk factors were far more likely to get C-sections than white women with similar medical histories, a large new study found.

Yale Settles With Patients Who Sued Over Painful Egg Retrievals

Patients received “substantial” payments, their lawyers said, and the clinic agreed to staffing changes.

Teen Girls’ Brains Aged Rapidly During Pandemic, Study Finds

Neuroimaging found girls experienced cortical thinning far faster than boys did during the first year of Covid lockdowns.

Bird Flu Has Already Appeared in New York’s Animal Markets. What’s Next?

It’s not just rural farms. Urban animal markets are fertile grounds for viral transmission, experts say.

How a Maine County Jail Helped Prisoners Blunt Opioid Cravings

A sheriff fought to give prisoners addicted to opioids a shot that suppresses cravings for a month. Upon release, they were more likely to continue treatment.

The Pivotal Decision That Led to a Resurgence of Polio

In 2016, the global health authorities removed a type of poliovirus from the oral vaccine. The virus caused a growing number of outbreaks and has now arrived in Gaza.

Broken Again. A National Advocate for Drug Recovery Relapses.

William Cope Moyers told the world he had it all figured out after beating his addiction to crack cocaine. But then a dentist gave him an opioid pain killer.

Mushroom-Laced Candy Recall Highlights F.D.A.’s Limited Safety Role

More than 150 people were sickened from products sold at smoke and vape shops, providing evidence of the lax regulation of new food items.

Missouri Reports Bird Flu in a Patient Without a Known Risk

Previous human infections occurred in workers on farms. But community transmission of the virus remains unlikely for now, experts said.

Time to Say Goodbye to the B.M.I.?

The body mass index has long been criticized as a flawed indicator of health. A replacement has been gaining support: the body roundness index.

Teenage E-Cigarette Use Drops to a 10-Year Low

The percentage of middle and high school students reporting that they vaped tobacco products declined to about a third of the peak levels in 2019, a new survey shows.

An Agonizing Dilemma: When Obesity Prevents a Joint Replacement

Many doctors say it is too dangerous to perform the common surgeries on people with high body mass indexes, but patients say they are facing discrimination.

Rethinking Addiction as a Chronic Brain Disease

Some researchers argue that the roles of social environment and personal choice have to be considered in order to make progress in treating people addicted to drugs.

Dialysis May Prolong Life for Older Patients. But Not by Much.

In one recent study, the challenging regimen added 77 days of life after three years. Often, kidney disease can be managed in other ways.

What’s in Your Fridge? What Is Known About the Deli Meat Listeria Recall

Seven million pounds of Boar’s Head meats have been recalled since late July, when reports of serious illnesses and deaths began to emerge.

Trump Called for I.V.F. to Be Free. How Would That Work?

Getting the expensive fertility treatments covered would be possible, but an uphill battle, health policy experts said.

An Obesity Drug Prevents Covid Deaths, Study Suggests

People taking Wegovy were not protected from infection. But in a large trial, their death rates were markedly lower, for reasons that are not clear.

Boar’s Head Plant Tied to 9 Deaths Had Mold, Leaky Pipes and Flies

Federal inspectors cited continuing problems at a deli meat plant in Virginia that was linked to an outbreak of listeria, records indicate.

Why Relief Agencies Are Rushing Polio Vaccines to Gaza

A wider outbreak in the conflict zone would be difficult to contain and could spread far, experts fear.

No Vaccines, Tests or Treatments: Congo Lacks Tools to Confront Mpox

The country at the center of a global health emergency is struggling even to diagnose cases and provide basic care.

The Mosquito-Borne Virus Raising Alarms in the Northeast

Recent infections from the Eastern equine encephalitis virus are worrying health officials. Severe cases can be deadly or leave lasting injuries.

Alastair Carruthers, 79, Dies; Pioneered the Cosmetic Use of Botox

With his wife, Dr. Jean Carruthers, he conducted hundreds of studies on the wrinkle-erasing properties of the neurotoxin that causes botulism. The work revolutionized beauty care.

On the Covid ‘Off-Ramp’: No Tests, Isolation or Masks

For many, Covid is increasingly regarded like the common cold. A scratchy throat and canceled plans bring a bewildering new critique from friends: You shouldn’t have tested.

Why Mpox Vaccines Aren’t Flowing to Africans in Desperate Need

Drugmakers have supplies ready to ship that are necessary to stop a potential pandemic. But W.H.O. regulations have slowed access.

New Covid Shots Were Approved. But Who Will Get Them?

Many older Americans, including those in nursing homes, aren’t getting booster shots.

Psychedelic Drugs May Give a Glimpse Into Near-Death Experiences

A survey revealed similarities between these two altered states of consciousness.

Geri Taylor, a Voice for Alzheimer’s, Is Dead at 81

She turned her diagnosis into a command to live life passionately, leading to a 12-page New York Times profile and a new career as a public speaker.

How U.S. Farms Could Start a Bird Flu Pandemic

The virus is poised to become a permanent presence in cattle, raising the odds of an eventual outbreak among people.

He Regulated Medical Devices. His Wife Represented Their Makers.

Ethics rules barred Dr. Jeffrey E. Shuren from working on matters involving clients of his wife’s law firm. But he did not always step aside.

A New Treatment for Severe Allergic Reactions — Without the Needle

A nasal spray can tamp down potentially fatal reactions, a boon to the many patients in crisis who fear using EpiPens.

A Personalized Brain Pacemaker for Parkinson’s

In a new frontier for deep brain stimulation, researchers used A.I. to develop individualized algorithms, which helped a skateboarder and other patients with Parkinson’s disease.

The Painkiller Used for Just About Anything

In huge numbers, older people are taking gabapentin for a variety of conditions, including itching, alcohol dependence and sciatica. “It’s crazy,” one expert said.

A Virtuoso Cellist’s Painstaking Path From Long Covid Back to the Stage

For over three years, long Covid has presented Joshua Roman with health challenges — and has indelibly shaped the music he makes.

Tell Us: Have You Been Forgoing Covid Tests?

It’s the fifth summer of Covid, and most people seem eager to move on. We want to understand the pervasiveness of the ignorance-is-bliss attitude.

How Your Cat or Dog Could Warn of a Bird Flu Outbreak

Like most countries, the U.S. has no comprehensive national system for monitoring disease in companion animals — which leaves pets and people at risk.

Revenues Down and Stock Battered as Data Firm Faces Scrutiny

MultiPlan has helped big health insurers make billions by reducing reimbursements for medical bills, but its business model is now being questioned.

How Did Mpox Become a Global Emergency? What’s Next?

The virus is evolving, and the newest version spreads more often through heterosexual populations. Sweden reported the first case outside Africa.

A.L.S. Stole His Voice. A.I. Retrieved It.

In an experiment that surpassed expectations, implants in a patient’s brain were able to recognize words he tried to speak, and A.I. helped produce sounds that came close to matching his true voice.

Unresponsive Brain-Damaged Patients May Have Some Awareness

Many patients thought to be in vegetative or minimally conscious states may be capable of thought, researchers reported.

W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency Over New Mpox Outbreak

The epidemic is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus has now appeared in a dozen other African countries.

How to Protect Your Mail-Order Prescriptions From Extreme Heat

High temperatures and humidity can alter the components in many home-delivery medications, rendering them less effective. Here’s what to look for.

Hot Summer Threatens Efficacy of Mail-Order Medications

The temperatures inside delivery trucks can reach twice the recommended threshold, but federal rules on drug storage conditions do not apply to the booming world of mail-order delivery.

Older Adults Do Not Benefit From Moderate Drinking, Large Study Finds

Virtually any amount increased the risk for cancer, and there were no heart benefits, the researchers reported.

Three Studies of MDMA Treatment Retracted by Scientific Journal

The psychedelic treatment, for PTSD, was rejected last week by government regulators.

I.V.F. Threats in Alabama Drive Clinics to Ship Out Embryos

A court ruling that deemed frozen embryos “children” has motivated some patients and clinics to move embryos out of red states.

What Killed Harmony Ball-Stribling?

One woman’s death reveals the myriad ways in which social and economic factors endanger pregnant women in the United States.

F.D.A. Declines to Approve MDMA Therapy, Seeking More Study

The agency said there was insufficient data to allow the use of a treatment for PTSD that involves the drug known as Ecstasy.

J. Robin Warren, Who Proved That Bacteria Cause Ulcers, Dies at 87

He endured skepticism but won a Nobel Prize for his work upending the conventional wisdom that stress, diet or alcohol caused the painful condition.

Childhood Vaccines Aren’t Just Saving Lives. They’re Saving Money.

Over the past three decades, routine immunizations have prevented 1.1 million deaths and saved the United States $540 billion, the C.D.C. estimated.

About 400 Million People Worldwide Have Had Long Covid, Researchers Say

The condition has put significant strain on patients and society — at a global economic cost of about $1 trillion a year, a new report estimates.

You’ve Lost Weight Taking New Obesity Drugs. What Happens if You Stop?

Many patients are eager to discontinue Wegovy or Zepbound when their weight loss plateaus. But doctors say it’s difficult to go cold turkey.

Veterans and Lawmakers Lobby in Bipartisan Push for MDMA Therapy

The F.D.A. is poised to rule on the therapeutic use of the club drug Ecstasy, a potential watershed moment in the nascent field of psychedelic medicine.

What Causes Dangerous Inflammation in Children With Covid?

The sometimes fatal condition, MIS-C, may be driven in part by a misdirected immune system, a new study finds.

Health Officials Urge Doctors to Address IUD Insertion Pain

As videos describing the procedure as agonizing spread on social media, new guidelines advise physicians to consider various anesthetics.

The Gamer and the Psychiatrist

Did Dr. Alok Kanojia's livestreamed conversations with a troubled video game champion cross an ethical line?

Sadness Among Teen Girls May Be Improving, C.D.C. Finds

A national survey found promising signs that key mental health measures for teens, especially girls, have improved since the depths of the pandemic.

Study Puts a $43 Billion Yearly Price Tag on Cancer Screening

The estimate focused on five cancers for which there is medically recommended screening — breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate — and found that colonoscopies accounted for most of the costs.

When Elder Care Is All in the Stepfamily

Adult children are less likely to assist an aging stepparent, studies show. A growing “step gap” in senior care worries experts.

A Prescription for Physicians: Listen to the Patient’s Story

In “Telltale Hearts,” a new memoir, Dr. Dean-David Schillinger traces the links between narrative and well-being.

Why Are So Many Americans Choosing to Not Have Children?

It’s probably not selfishness, experts say. Even young adults who want children see an increasing number of obstacles.

F.D.A. Approves Blood Test for Colon Cancer Detection

While not a perfect alternative to colonoscopies, experts hope the test could lead to more people getting screened for colorectal cancers.

Pediatricians Warn Against Overuse of Tongue-Tie Surgeries

In a new report, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that breastfeeding problems were rarely caused by infant tongue-ties.

A Blood Test Accurately Diagnosed Alzheimer’s 90% of the Time, Study Finds

It was much more accurate than primary care doctors using cognitive tests and CT scans. The findings could speed the quest for an affordable and accessible way to diagnose patients with memory problems.

For Epidemics to Cross Oceans, Viruses on Ships Had to Beat the Odds

In the era when people traveled by sailing ship and steamer, illnesses usually burned themselves out before boats reached shore, a new study finds.

Rabies Is Spreading in South African Seals, Scientists Say

The outbreak may be the first ever documented in marine mammals.

Breast Cancer Survival Not Boosted by Double Mastectomy, Study Says

A large study showed that for most patients, having both breasts removed after cancer was detected in one made no difference.

Halting the Bird Flu Outbreak in Cows May Require Thinking Beyond Milk

A new study paints a complex picture of the outbreak, suggesting that the virus could be spreading in multiple ways and that it is not always mild in cows.

A Disease That Makes Children Age Rapidly Gets Closer to a Cure

Progress in the quest to help progeria patients suggests that gene editing techniques may help treat other ultrarare conditions.

At Least 2 Dead in Listeria Outbreak Tied to Deli-Sliced Meat

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 28 people had been hospitalized with listeria infections across a dozen states.

Is Bird Flu Spreading Widely to Farm Workers? A Small Study Offers Some Reassurance

Officials found no evidence of silent infections in 35 Michigan dairy workers, but experts noted that much more data was necessary.

Some Seniors Readily Step Back. Some Never Will.

Researchers are only beginning to understand why some people embrace retirement while others won’t even consider it.

Which Weight Loss Drug Should You Choose (if You Get to Choose)?

As patients consider drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound and Mounjaro to treat obesity, experts say the choices are not so simple.

Executives Depart Cassava, Maker of Disputed Alzheimer’s Drug

The chief executive and a lead scientist stepped down weeks after a federal grand jury filed fraud charges against a research collaborator.

A Daily Pill to Prevent S.T.I.s? It May Work, Scientists Say.

A common antibiotic, doxycycline, greatly reduced cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia when taken every day, a study found.

Vaccines Significantly Reduce the Risk of Long Covid, Study Finds

In the first two years of the pandemic, the rate of long Covid was starkly lower among people who were vaccinated, researchers reported.

Long Covid and Vaccination: What You Need to Know

A new study adds to evidence that the shots can reduce the chances of developing one of the most dreaded consequences of Covid.

This Is Literally Your Brain on Drugs

A small new study shows reactions in the brain in people who were given psilocybin in a controlled setting.

Moving in Childhood Contributes to Depression, Study Finds

A study of more than a million Danes found that frequent moves in childhood had a bigger effect than poverty on adult mental health risk.

Bird Flu Is Spreading. Why Aren’t More People Getting Tested?

Even as the H5N1 virus evolves, gaps remain in the nation’s contingency plans for human testing, scientists say.

About Our Investigation Into Cord Blood Banks

Some families pay thousands of dollars to store their children’s stem cells with the hope of a healthier future for them. But Sarah Kliff, an investigative health care reporter for The New York Times, explains that the cells are rarely useful and are sometimes contaminated.

What Parents Should Know About Cord Blood Banking

Millions of parents have paid to bank blood from their infants’ umbilical cords. But storage companies have misled them about the cells’ promise.

Promised Cures, Tainted Cells: How Cord Blood Banks Mislead Parents

Families pay thousands of dollars to store their children’s stem cells with the hope of a healthier future. But the cells are rarely useful, and sometimes contaminated.

Is Cutting Off Your Family Good Therapy?

Encouraged on social media, many Americans are estranging themselves from their families as a therapeutic step.

Do You Have Concerns About Embryo Storage? We Want to Hear From You.

We’re reporting on the challenges that fertility clinics face as they store a growing number of frozen embryos.

Why Does a Routine Test of Newborns Reward ‘Pink’ Skin?

The Apgar test grades infants in five areas, including skin tone. Babies of color score lower, and may be subjected to unnecessary treatment.

Why Nursing Home Residents Still Suffer Despite Tough State Laws

The Biden administration set stringent new federal staffing rules. But for years, nursing homes have failed to meet the toughest standards set by states.

How to Find a Good, Well-Staffed Nursing Home

Here are the telltale signs to look for in nursing homes to avoid, and resources that can point to better places.

Methodology for Analysis of Nursing Home Staffing

More than a million public records were used to assess whether nursing homes were meeting state staffing minimums.

In Constant Battle With Insurers, Doctors Reach for a Cudgel: A.I.

As health plans increasingly rely on technology to deny treatment, physicians are fighting back with chatbots that synthesize research and make the case.

States and Creditors for Purdue Pharma Threaten Sacklers With Gush of Lawsuits

Legal maneuverings followed a Supreme Court ruling last month that denied the Sackler family immunity from liability over its role in the opioid crisis.

Second Patient to Receive a Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Has Died

Lisa Pisano, 54, lived with the organ for 47 days. She was the first patient to receive both a heart pump and an organ transplant, doctors said.

F.T.C. Slams Middlemen for High Drug Prices, Reversing Hands-Off Approach

In a report, the regulator sharply criticized pharmacy benefit managers, a turnaround from its longstanding tolerance of their practices.

Children With Autism Carry Unique Gut Flora, Study Finds

The research, which builds on previous work, eventually may lead to a more objective diagnostic tool, scientists said.

The Killer Stalking Sri Lanka’s Men

Climate change and contaminated water have combined to create an epidemic of kidney disease.

Your Brain Holds Secrets. Scientists Want to Find Them.

Many Americans plan to donate their organs for transplants or their bodies for medical science. Few realize that there’s a growing need for their brains, too.

The first vaccine for malaria received major regulatory approval in 2015.

After years of delay, millions of malaria vaccines are being supplied to children in Africa. Tens of thousands died waiting.

New Drug Approved for Early Alzheimer’s

The drug, Kisunla, made by Eli Lilly, is the latest in a new class of treatments that could modestly slow cognitive decline in initial stages of the disease but also carry safety risks.

Your Hologram Doctor Will See You Now

A Texas hospital is experimenting with hologram technology for doctors to see patients. Some health care experts wonder if it’s beneficial.

How Does Bird Flu Spread in Cows? Experiment Yields Some ‘Good News.’

Scientists say that findings from a small experiment lend hope the outbreak among dairy cattle can potentially be contained.

Biden Administration Opposes Surgery for Transgender Minors

The statement followed a report in The Times that a federal health official had urged the removal of age minimums from treatment guidelines for transgender minors.

Embattled Alzheimer’s Researcher Is Charged With Fraud

Hoau-Yan Wang, a professor at City College, published studies supporting simufilam, now in advanced clinical trials.

The ruling is likely to stymie public health initiatives, experts said.

New Covid Shots Recommended for Americans 6 Months and Older This Fall

As the virus continues to mutate, the C.D.C. urged Americans to roll up their sleeves again for annual vaccinations.

Purdue Opioid Settlement on Verge of Collapse After Supreme Court Ruling

Plaintiffs and the company vowed to renegotiate but the talks will be challenging after the court struck down a provision the Sacklers had insisted on in exchange for $6 billion.

Federal Officials Revise Recommendations for R.S.V. Vaccine

Among Americans aged 60 to 74, only those with certain health conditions need to receive the shots, the agency concluded.

Biden Officials Pushed to Remove Age Limits for Trans Surgery, Documents Show

Newly released emails from an influential group issuing transgender medical guidelines indicate that U.S. health officials lobbied to remove age minimums for surgery in minors because of concerns over political fallout.

In States That Won’t Pay for Obesity Drugs, ‘They May as Well Have Never Been Created’

Public employees in West Virginia who took the drugs lost weight and were healthier, and some are despondent that the state is canceling a program to help pay for them.

Turning 26 and Struggling to Find Health Insurance? Tell Us About It.

The New York Times and KFF Health News are looking into a dreaded “adulting” milestone: finding your own medical insurance at 26.

Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Crisis

Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for a multipronged effort to reduce gun deaths, modeled on campaigns against smoking and traffic fatalities.

Their Job Is to Help You Grieve Your Pet

Though still rare, social workers in animal hospitals are growing in their ranks.

Why You’re Paying Your Veterinarian So Much

People have grown more attached to their pets — and more willing to spend money on them — turning animal medicine into a high-tech industry worth billions.

New Drug Provides Total Protection From H.I.V. in Trial of Young African Women

An injection given just twice a year could herald a breakthrough in protecting the population that has the highest infection rates.

Our Reporter on How Pharmacy Benefit Managers Work

Pharmacy benefit managers are driving up drug costs for millions of people, employers and the government. New York Times pharmaceutical reporter, Rebecca Robbins, explains how.

Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the heat, doctors warn.

Researchers Say Social Media Warning Is Too Broad

Some scientists who study youth mental health say the evidence does not support the notion that social media is harmful per se.

South Africa Runs Out of Insulin Pens as Global Supply Shifts to Weight-Loss Drugs

The shortage highlights a widening gulf in the standard of care for people with diabetes, most of whom live in low-income countries.

Doctors Test the Limits of What Obesity Drugs Can Fix

“Obesity first” doctors say they start with one medication, to treat obesity, and often find other chronic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, simply vanish.

Bird Flu Is Infecting Cats (and the Occasional Dog). Here’s What to Know.

A few “reasonable precautions” can help people keep their pets safe from the H5N1 virus, experts say.

A Bird-Flu Pandemic in People? Here’s What It Might Look Like.

There is no guarantee that a person-to-person virus would be benign, scientists say, and vaccines and treatments at hand may not be sufficient.

Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms

Dr. Vivek Murthy said he would urge Congress to require a warning that social media use can harm teenagers’ mental health.

More Women in Africa Are Using Long-Acting Contraception, Changing Lives

Methods such as hormonal implants and injections are reaching remote areas, providing more discretion and autonomy.

Pregnant, Addicted and Fighting the Pull of Drugs

Many pregnant women who struggle with drugs put off prenatal care, feeling ashamed and judged. But as fatal overdoses rise, some clinics see pregnancy as an ideal time to help them confront addiction.

Medical Experts Alarmed by Out-of-Hospital Cesareans in Florida

A new state law will permit surgeons to perform cesarean deliveries in “advanced birth centers,” despite the risk of complications.

In Homes With Children, Even Loaded Guns Are Often Left Unsecured

Firearms often are not stored safely in U.S. homes, a federal survey found. At the same time, gun-related suicides and injuries to children are on the rise.

Advisory Panel of Experts Endorses F.D.A. Approval of New Alzheimer’s Drug

The modest benefits of the treatment, donanemab, made by Eli Lilly, outweigh the risks, the panel concluded unanimously.

Law Enforcement Unit Is Formed to Crack Down on Illegal E-Cigarettes

Agents from various federal agencies will focus on unauthorized candy-flavored and nicotine-laden vapes that have flooded the U.S. market from overseas.

Personal Conflicts, Even Violence, Are Not Uncommon in Long-Term Care

Arguments, verbal abuse and aggression are not unusual in elder care settings. Better staffing and training can ease the tensions, experts say.

Cancer Researchers Begin Large Long-Term Study of Black Women

The American Cancer Society hopes to enroll 100,000 women and follow them for three decades to discover what’s causing higher case and death rates.

Hunter Biden’s Addiction Upended His Family. Has Your Family Had Similar Woes?

His marriage fell apart as his addiction to crack cocaine deepened. The Times would like to speak with families shaken by a loved one’s drug addiction.

F.D.A. Advisers Recommend a New Covid Vaccine Formula for the Fall

The panel endorsed targeting a variant of the coronavirus that is now receding, though some officials suggested aiming at newer versions of the virus that have emerged in recent weeks.

The Bird Flu Virus Adapted to Sea Mammals. It May Not Be Done Yet.

Huge die-offs of elephant seals occurred after the virus gained nearly 20 troublesome new mutations, scientists found.

New Report Underscores the Seriousness of Long Covid

The National Academies said the condition could involve up to 200 symptoms, make it difficult for people to work and last for months or years.

F.D.A. Panel Rejects MDMA-Aided Therapy for PTSD

An independent group of experts expressed concerns that the data from clinical trials did not outweigh risks for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Transplanted Pig Kidney Is Removed From Patient

The organ, from a genetically modified animal, failed because of a lack of blood flow, surgeons said, but did not appear to have been rejected by the body.

What Is MDMA Therapy and What Are Its Risks?

An F.D.A. advisory panel dealt a setback to those seeking treatment for PTSD, citing health risks of the illegal drug and study flaws.

F.D.A.’s Review of MDMA Cites Health Risks and Study Flaws

The agency’s staff analysis suggests that approval of the illegal drug known as Ecstasy for treatment of PTSD is far from certain, with advisers meeting next week to consider the proposed therapy.

Bird Flu Has Infected a Third U.S. Farmworker

The worker had respiratory symptoms, unlike the first two. But the risk to the public remains low, federal health officials said.

PTSD Has Surged Among College Students

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among college students rose to 7.5 percent in 2022, more than double the rate five years earlier, researchers found.

Health Officials Tried to Evade Public Records Laws, Lawmakers Say

N.I.H. officials suggested federal record keepers helped them hide emails. If so, “that’s really damaging to trust in all of government,” one expert said.

Sue Johnson, Psychologist Who Took a Scientific View of Love, Dies at 76

She believed the bond between adults was as sustaining as that between parent and child, and developed a therapy to strengthen and repair broken relationships.

Inside the Factory Supplying Half of Africa’s Syringes

In Kenya, Revital Healthcare is manufacturing medical products that Africa needs to take charge of routine health care and respond to outbreaks.

Bird Flu Virus Found in Beef Tissue

Muscle from a sick dairy cow tested positive for the virus. The meat did not enter the commercial food supply, which officials said remained safe.

Countries Fail to Agree on Treaty to Prepare the World for the Next Pandemic

Negotiators plan to ask for more time. Among the sticking points are equitable access to vaccines and financing to set up surveillance systems.

Younger Adults Are Missing Early Warning Signs of Colon Cancer

A new analysis of dozens of studies has identified the most common warning symptoms in adults under 50, whose rates of colon and rectal cancer are on the rise.

Raw Milk Containing Bird-Flu Virus Can Sicken Mice, Study Finds

The results bolster evidence that virus-laden raw milk may be unsafe for humans.

F.D.A. Panel Endorses Safety of Colon-Cancer Blood Test

The Guardant Health Shield test, one committee member said, “is better than nothing for patients who are getting nothing, but it is not better than a colonoscopy.”

Fallout From Cyberattack at Ascension Hospitals Persists, Causing Delays in Patient Care

For two weeks at the 140-hospital system, doctors and nurses have had little access to digital records for patient histories, resorting to paper and faxes to treat people.

Abortion Pills May Become Controlled Substances in Louisiana

A bill that is expected to pass would impose prison time and thousands of dollars in fines on people possessing the pills without a prescription.

A Second Dairy Worker Has Contracted Bird Flu, C.D.C. Reports

The new case, in a Michigan farmworker, did not suggest that bird flu was widespread in people, health officials said, adding that the risk to the general public remained low.

Despite Setback, Neuralink’s First Brain-Implant Patient Stays Upbeat

Elon Musk’s first human experiment with a computerized brain device developed significant flaws, but the subject, who is paralyzed, has few regrets.

Dr. Paul Parkman, Who Helped to Eliminate Rubella, Dies at 91

He also identified the virus, which can cause infants to be born with severe physical and mental impairments as well as causing miscarriages and stillbirths.

In the House of Psychiatry, a Jarring Tale of Violence

At the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting, a patient described a restraint that haunts him, more than eight years later.

The Disease Detectives Trying to Keep the World Safe From Bird Flu

When a child in a small Cambodian town fell sick recently, his rapid decline set off a global disease surveillance system.

Does Legalizing Cannabis Increase Adolescent Use? This Expert Found Mixed Results.

Contrary to expectation, a major study found that weed use among minors was lower in states where the drug was legal.

Farm Animals Are Hauled All Over the Country. So Are Their Pathogens.

Tens of millions of farm animals cross state lines every year, traveling in cramped, stressful conditions that can facilitate the spread of disease.

Study Suggests Waiting Longer Before Withdrawing Life Support

A review of a limited number of cases of unresponsive patients with severe traumatic brain injuries raised questions about a custom of making a decision within 72 hours.

F.D.A. Approves Drug for Persistently Deadly Form of Lung Cancer

The treatment is for patients with small cell lung cancer, which afflicts about 35,000 people in the U.S. a year.

C.D.C. Warns of a Resurgence of Mpox

A deadlier version of the infectious disease is ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the type that caused a 2022 outbreak among gay and bisexual men is regaining strength.

U.S. Suspends Funding for Group at Center of Covid Origins Fight

The decision came after a scorching hearing in which lawmakers barraged EcoHealth Alliance’s president with claims of misrepresenting work with Chinese virologists.

Did You Have Syphilis When You Were Pregnant? We Want to Hear From You.

Congenital syphilis has risen significantly in the United States. The Times would like to talk to women who experienced the condition when pregnant and learn how they dealt with it.

Overdose Deaths Dropped in U.S. in 2023 for First Time in Five Years

Preliminary numbers show a nearly 4 percent decrease in deaths from opioids, largely fentanyl, but a rise in deaths from meth and cocaine.

Emma Seppälä Has Thoughts on How to Avoid Kneejerk Decisions

The psychologist studies how to recognize emotions and cope with them. She learned the hard way.

When Families Fight Over a Relative With Dementia, It’s Time to Call in the Mediator

Trained negotiators can help families struggling with vexing elder-care issues.

Hilary Cass Says U.S. Doctors Are ‘Out of Date’ on Youth Gender Medicine

Dr. Hilary Cass published a landmark report that led to restrictions on youth gender care in Britain. U.S. health groups said it did not change their support of the care.

Patient Dies Weeks After Kidney Transplant From Genetically Modified Pig

Richard Slayman received the historic procedure in March. The hospital said it had “no indication” his death was related to the transplant.

Nancy Neveloff Dubler, Mediator for Life’s Final Moments, Dies at 82

A bioethicist, she pioneered bedside methods for helping patients, their families and doctors deal with anguishing life-and-death decisions in a high-tech age.

Herbert Pardes, Who Steered the Growth of a Giant Hospital, Dies at 89

A psychiatrist, he ran New York-Presbyterian after a landmark merger, improving its patient care and finances and raising money to expand its footprint across the region.

How Poor Tracking of Bird Flu Leaves Dairy Workers at Risk

Farmworkers have been exposed to milk infected with the bird flu virus. But there has been virtually no testing on farms, and health officials know little about who may be infected.

Milton Diamond, Sexologist and Advocate for Intersex Babies, Dies at 90

He pushed back against doctors who recommended surgery on infants born with ambiguous genitalia, arguing for acceptance of diversity.

Environmental Changes Are Fueling Human, Animal and Plant Diseases, Study Finds

Biodiversity loss, global warming, pollution and the spread of invasive species are making infectious diseases more dangerous to organisms around the world.

Locks of Beethoven’s Hair Offer New Clues to the Mystery of His Deafness

Using powerful technologies, scientists found staggering amounts of lead and other toxic substances in the composer’s hair that may have come from wine, or other sources.

Kris Hallenga, Who Urged Early Breast Cancer Screenings, Dies at 38

After being diagnosed when she was 23, she became determined to educate other young people about early detection.

Study Suggests Genetics as a Cause, Not Just a Risk, for Some Alzheimer’s

People with two copies of the gene variant APOE4 are almost certain to get Alzheimer’s, say researchers, who proposed a framework under which such patients could be diagnosed years before symptoms.

First Patient Begins Newly Approved Sickle Cell Gene Therapy

A 12-year-old boy in the Washington, D.C., area faces months of procedures to remedy his disease. “I want to be cured,” he said.

Are We Talking Too Much About Mental Health?

Recent studies cast doubt on whether large-scale mental health interventions are making young people better. Some even suggest they can have a negative effect.

Widening Racial Disparities Underlie Rise in Child Deaths in the U.S.

New research finds that the death rate among Black youths soared by 37 percent, and among Native American youths by 22 percent, between 2014 and 2020, compared with less than 5 percent for white youths.

New Mutations Identified in Bird Flu Virus

A genetic analysis sheds light on when the outbreak began, how the virus spread and where it may be going.

Covid Vaccine Side Effects: 4 Takeaways From Our Investigation

Thousands of Americans believe they experienced rare but serious side effects. But confirming a link is a difficult task.

Thousands Believe Covid Vaccines Harmed Them. Is Anyone Listening?

All vaccines have at least occasional side effects. But people who say they were injured by Covid vaccines believe their cases have been ignored.

Robert Oxnam, China Scholar Beset by Multiple Personalities, Dies at 81

Through psychotherapy, recounted in a memoir, he learned that he had 11 personalities, or fractured parts of his identity. One of them told of childhood abuse.

Pasteurized Dairy Foods Free of Live Bird Flu, Federal Tests Confirm

But the scope of the outbreak among cattle remains uncertain, and little human testing has been done.

Senators Slam UnitedHealth’s C.E.O. Over Cyberattack

Several lawmakers questioned whether the company had become so large — with tentacles in every aspect of the nation’s medical care — that the effects of the hack were outsize.

Aspirin Can Prevent a Deadly Pregnancy Complication. Why Aren’t Women Told?

Women at risk for extreme high blood pressure should take a daily baby aspirin. But their doctors don’t always tell them.

In Reversal, Expert Panel Recommends Breast Cancer Screening at 40

Some researchers said the advice did not go far enough. The panel also declined to recommend extra scans for women with dense breast tissue.

Philips Settles CPAP Breathing Device Lawsuits for $1.1 Billion

Thousands of people with sleep apnea and other illnesses had sued the company, claiming flawed devices were harming them.

Physical Fitness Linked to Better Mental Health in Young People

A new study bolsters existing research suggesting that exercise can protect against anxiety, depression and attention challenges.

U.S. Lags Behind Other Countries in Hepatitis-C Treatment

Despite an arsenal of drugs, many Americans are still unaware of their infections until it’s too late. A Biden initiative languishes without Congressional approval.

Federal Officials Find No Live Bird Flu Virus in Initial Milk Tests

The early results suggest that pasteurization is killing the H5N1 virus in milk, something that regulators were not certain of.

Biden Delays Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

The proposal had been years in the making, in an effort to curb death rates of Black smokers targeted by Big Tobacco. In an election year, the president’s worries about support among Black voters may have influenced the postponement.

At Least Three Women Were Infected With H.I.V. After ‘Vampire Facials’

The women underwent the cosmetic procedure at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico.

One in Five Milk Samples Nationwide Shows Genetic Traces of Bird Flu

There is no evidence that the milk is unsafe to drink, scientists say. But the survey result strongly hints that the outbreak may be widespread.

Penny Simkin, ‘Mother of the Doula Movement,’ Dies at 85

As a childbirth educator and maternal advocate, she promoted a profession that provides comfort to women giving birth and offers postpartum care as well.

F.D.A. Approves Antibiotic for Increasingly Hard-to-Treat Urinary Tract Infections

Pivmecillinam, which has been used in Europe for decades, will become available next year to women 18 and older.

Dairy Cows Transported Between States Must Now Be Tested for Bird Flu

Since a new form of bird flu arrived in 2022, federal officials have sought to reassure Americans that the threat to the public remained low.

Grandmother Becomes Second Patient to Receive Kidney From Gene-Edited Pig

NYU Langone Health surgeons performed the transplant after implanting a mechanical heart pump in the severely ill patient.

Bird Flu Outbreak in Cattle May Have Begun Months Earlier Than Thought

A single spillover, from a bird to a cow, led to the infections, a review of genetic data has found.

Fragments of Bird Flu Virus Discovered in Milk

The milk poses virtually no risk to consumers, experts said. But the finding suggests that the outbreak in dairy cows is wider than has been known.

Abortion Data Wars: States and Cities Debate How Much Information to Collect

Some states with Republican-controlled legislatures want more data, while some controlled by Democrats want less, fearing it could be used to target patients or providers.

Joel Breman, Who Helped Stop an Ebola Outbreak in Africa, Dies at 87

Part of a team flown in to fight the deadly virus in 1976, Dr. Breman also worked to stamp out tropical diseases like smallpox, malaria and Guinea worm.

Lori and George Schappell, Long-Surviving Conjoined Twins, Die at 62

They were distinct people who pursued different lives. “Get past this already, everybody,” Lori said, “get past it and learn to know the individual person.”

Bird Flu Is Infecting More Mammals. What Does That Mean for Us?

H5N1, an avian flu virus, has killed tens of thousands of marine mammals, and infiltrated American livestock for the first time. Scientists are working quickly to assess how it is evolving and how much of a risk it poses to humans.

‘Aging in Place, or Stuck in Place?’

Homeownership is not the boon to older Americans that it once was.

Scientists Fault Federal Response to Bird Flu Outbreaks on Dairy Farms

Officials have shared little information, saying the outbreak was limited. But asymptomatic cows in North Carolina have changed the assessment.

Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Often Go Untreated for Parents on Medicaid

Among those with substance use disorders who have been referred to child welfare, less than half received medication or counseling.

Some Older Women Need Extra Breast Scans. Why Won’t Medicare Pay?

Mammography can miss tumors in women with dense breasts, so their doctors often include ultrasound or M.R.I. scans. Patients often wind up paying the bill.

Scotland Pauses Gender Medications for Minors

The change followed a sweeping review by England’s National Health Service that found “remarkably weak” evidence for youth gender treatments.

Millions of Girls in Africa Will Miss HPV Shots After Merck Production Problem

The company has told countries that it can supply only 18.8 million of the 29.6 million doses it was contracted to deliver this year.

W.H.O. Broadens Definition of Airborne Diseases

After a drawn-out global controversy over the coronavirus, the W.H.O. has updated its classification of how pathogens spread through the air.

Long-Acting Drugs May Revolutionize H.I.V. Prevention and Treatment

New regimens in development, including once-weekly pills and semiannual shots, could help control the virus in hard-to-reach populations.

Sleep Apnea Reduced in People Who Took Weight-Loss Drug, Eli Lilly Reports

The company reported results of clinical trials involving Zepbound, an obesity drug in the same class as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy.

David Egilman, Doctor Who Took On Drug Companies, Dies at 71

His testimony as an expert witness in some 600 trials helped plaintiffs win billions of dollars in cases involving malfeasance by pharmaceutical makers.

Chinese Company Under Congressional Scrutiny Makes Key U.S. Drugs

Lawmakers raising national security concerns and seeking to disconnect a major Chinese firm from U.S. pharmaceutical interests have rattled the biotech industry. The firm is deeply involved in development and manufacturing of crucial therapies for cancer, cystic fibrosis, H.I.V. and other illnesses.

National Sciences Academy Asks Court to Strip Sackler Name From Endowment

Millions in Sackler donations sat dormant, rising in value as the opioid epidemic raged and as other institutions distanced themselves from the makers of a notorious painkiller.

Were You Stuck With a Big Vet Bill? Tell Us About It.

We want to hear from pet owners about their experiences taking their animals to the vet, and how they paid for their animals’ care.

The Push for a Better Dengue Vaccine Grows More Urgent

A public research institute in Brazil has proved a new shot protects against the disease, but can’t make it fast enough to stop the huge outbreak sweeping Latin America.

Global Stockpile of Cholera Vaccine Is Gone as Outbreaks Spread

One company is going to great lengths to build it up, but it will be years before it returns to the minimum level.

24 Hours at a Makeshift Refuge for Migrants in the California Wilderness

The campsite, run by a 22-year-old volunteer, became a first stop for people seeking food, water and warmth as they waited to be apprehended by border authorities.

The History Behind Arizona’s 160-Year-Old Abortion Ban

The state’s Supreme Court ruled that the 1864 law is enforceable today. Here is what led to its enactment.

Youth Gender Medications Limited in England, Part of Big Shift in Europe

Five European countries have recently restricted hormone treatments for adolescents with gender distress. They have not banned the care, unlike many U.S. states.

Seriously, Now Is the Time to Stop Kissing Sick Birds

A citizen-science collaboration in New York has turned up a half-dozen birds infected with the avian flu virus.

Should Alcoholic Beverages Have Cancer Warning Labels?

Ireland will require them starting in 2026, and there are nascent efforts elsewhere to add more explicit labeling about the health risks of drinking.

Large Scientific Review Confirms the Benefits of Physical Touch

Premature babies especially benefited from skin-to-skin contact, and women tended to respond more strongly than men did.

Teen Drug Use Habits Are Changing, For the Good. With Caveats.

Dr. Nora Volkow, who leads the National Institutes of Drug Abuse, would like the public to know things are getting better. Mostly.

Is Bird Flu Coming to People Next? Are We Ready?

Unlike the coronavirus, the H5N1 virus has been studied for years. Vaccines and treatments are available should they ever become necessary.

Glasses Improve Income, Not Just Eyesight

A study found that when older workers in Bangladesh were given free reading glasses, they earned 33 percent more than those who had not.

Judge Orders Timely Housing for Migrant Children Waiting at Border

The decision established that minors at open-air sites were in legal custody of the Department of Homeland Security and thus must receive safe shelter, even if they had not yet been formally processed.

A.L.S. Drug Relyvrio Will Be Taken Off the Market, Its Maker Says

Results of a large clinical trial found the treatment did not work any better than a placebo.

An Ozempic Relative Slowed Parkinson’s Disease in a Small Study

The trial lasted only one year but offered embers of hope to some experts.

Patient With Transplanted Pig Kidney Leaves Hospital for Home

Richard Slayman, 62, is the first patient to receive a kidney from a genetically modified pig. Two weeks after the procedure, he was well enough to be discharged, doctors said.

The Organ Is Still Working. But It’s Not in a Body Anymore.

Perfusion keeps a donated organ alive outside the body, giving surgeons extra time and increasing the number of transplants possible.

What to Know About the Bird Flu Outbreak in Dairy Cows

The infections, which include one associated human case, add another worrying wrinkle to a global outbreak that has devastated bird and marine mammal populations.

Hospitals Must Get Written Patient Consent for Pelvic Exams, H.H.S. Says

In a letter to teaching hospitals, the federal health agency said that institutions could lose Medicare funding if they didn’t comply.

Why Are Older Americans Drinking So Much?

The pandemic played a role in increased consumption, but alcohol use among people 65 and older was climbing even before 2020.

Bacteria That Cause Meningitis Are Spreading Again, C.D.C. Warns

More than 140 cases have been reported so far this year, far exceeding last year’s pace, federal health officials said.

4 Things You Need to Know About Health Care Cyberattacks

Despite the explosion in ransomware hacks like the one against Change Healthcare, regulation is spotty and few new safeguards have been proposed to protect patient data, vulnerable hospitals and medical groups.

Heart Pump Is Linked to 49 Deaths, the F.D.A. Warns

The agency faulted the device maker for delayed notice of mounting complications, citing increasing reports of how use of the device perforated the walls of the heart.

‘A Chance to Live’: How 2 Families Faced a Catastrophic Birth Defect

Cases of trisomy 18 may rise as many states restrict abortion. But some women choose to have the babies, love them tenderly and care for them devotedly.

Health Concerns Mount for Migrant Children at Outdoor Waiting Sites

A federal judge is expected to rule soon on whether the government must provide shelter, food and medical care to minors while they await processing.

Ninja, Video Gaming Star on Twitch, Reveals Skin Cancer Diagnosis

The gamer, Tyler Blevins, said a mole removed from his foot during a recent checkup with a dermatologist was found to be a melanoma.

Use of Abortion Pills Has Risen Significantly Post Roe, Research Shows

Two new studies show fast-growing use of the pills on the eve of the Supreme Court’s consideration of a case seeking to ban or restrict them.

Patients Hate ‘Forever’ Drugs. Is Wegovy Different?

The new obesity drugs might be an exception to a chronic, deadly problem: the failure to stick with medication.

Doctors Say Diagnosis of Catherine’s Cancer Is a Familiar Scenario

The Princess of Wales did not reveal the type of cancer she has, but oncologists say the disease is often identified during other procedures.

What’s Next for the Coronavirus?

Scientists studying the virus’s continuing evolution, and the body’s immune responses, hope to head off a resurgence and to better understand long Covid.

The Psychedelic Evangelist

A Johns Hopkins scientist was known for rigorous studies of psychedelics. Was he a true believer?

Surgeons Transplant Pig Kidney Into a Patient, a Medical Milestone

The man continues to improve, doctors said. Organs from genetically engineered pigs one day may make dialysis obsolete.

Following Measles Outbreaks, Officials Grow Wary of Renewed Threat

Cases this year have already topped the total in 2023. Unvaccinated travelers account for most infections.

Eclipses Injured Their Eyes, and the World Never Looked the Same

A number of case studies published after recent total solar eclipses highlight the importance of safe viewing.

The Unbearable Vagueness of Medical ‘Professionalism’

Since its inception, this murky term has straddled the dual role of disciplining and inspiring.

When Medicaid Comes After the Family Home

Federal law requires states to seek reimbursement from the assets, usually homes, of people who died after receiving benefits for long-term care.

Kent Campbell, Pivotal Figure in the Fight Against Malaria, Dies at 80

Among his accomplishments in a four-decade career in public health, he helped pioneer programs providing bed nets in Africa.

‘Dune: The Popcorn Bucket’ Has a Surprise Ending

What’s in the $24.99 tub, exactly? Lindsay Moyer, a nutritionist, reviews the contents of the movie-snack “vessel.”

Teen Pregnancy Linked to Premature Death, Study Finds

A large analysis in Canada finds that teenagers who had babies were twice as likely to die before age 31.

A Blood Test Shows Promise for Early Colon Cancer Detection

Many patients are reluctant to undergo colonoscopies or conduct at-home fecal tests. Doctors see potential in another screening method.

Overdose or Poisoning? A New Debate Over What to Call a Drug Death.

Grieving families want official records and popular discourse to move away from reflexive use of “overdose,” which they believe blames victims for their deaths.

Microplastics Are a Big Problem, a New Film Warns

At SXSW, a documentary traces the arc of plastics in our lives, and highlights evolving research of the potential harm of its presence in our bodies.

Howard Hiatt, 98, Dies; Steered Public Health Toward Greater Accountability

A physician, scientist and academic, he brought together experts across disciplines to focus on the economic, political and social causes of poor health, not just the biological factors.

With Cyberattack Fix Weeks Away, Health Providers Slam United

Hospitals, doctors and clinics expressed frustration that they will have to wait even longer for reimbursements after hackers paralyzed the largest U.S. billing clearinghouse.

A.L.S. Drug Relyvrio Fails Clinical Trial and May Be Withdrawn From the Market

Leaders of the treatment’s manufacturer, Amylyx, said they would announce their plans for it within eight weeks.

F.D.A. Delays Action on Closely Watched Alzheimer’s Drug

Eli Lilly’s donanemab was expected to be approved this month, but the agency has decided to convene a panel of independent experts to evaluate the drug’s safety and efficacy.

Female Genital Cutting Continues to Increase Worldwide

Campaigns in some countries have reduced the practice, but it remains widespread in those with high rates of population growth.

How a Sudden Halt to In Vitro Fertilization Shook Alabama Couples

Many suffered setbacks after the State Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos were children. “Someone else’s opinion changed my future,” one woman said.

When Teens Visit Doctors, Increasingly the Subject is Mental Health

A new study provides further evidence of the challenges that adolescents and young adults face.

F.D.A. Urges Recall of Cinnamon Brands Tainted by Lead

The agency tested 75 types of cinnamon after hundreds of children were poisoned by the spice in applesauce. It found some lead in cinnamon brands sold at some dollar stores and other markets.

Top Senators Urge Stores to Stop Selling Illicit Vapes

Lawmakers want shopkeepers to remove e-cigarettes that were not authorized by the F.D.A. Retailers say it is not that simple.

One Twin Was Hurt, the Other Was Not. Their Adult Mental Health Diverged.

A large study of “discordant twins,” in which only one suffered abuse or neglect, adds to evidence linking childhood trauma to adult illness.

After 217 Covid Vaccines, Man Had No Side Effects and Robust Immunity

Media accounts of a German man’s extreme vaccination history spurred researchers to analyze his immune responses.

Alabama’s I.V.F. Protection Law Will Reopen Clinics but Curb Patient Rights

Here’s what to know about the legislation, which the Legislature approved overwhelmingly on Wednesday.

Cyberattack Paralyzes the Largest U.S. Health Care Payment System

The hacking shut down the nation’s biggest health care payment system, causing financial chaos that affected a broad spectrum ranging from large hospitals to single-doctor practices.

Powerful Psychedelic Gains Renewed Attention as a Treatment for Opioid Addiction

New research is stirring interest in ibogaine, which appears to help ease the agony of detox and prevent relapse. Used in other countries, it remains illegal in the U.S.

What to Know About Ibogaine

Some researchers hope the drug, still illegal in the United States, may be considered as a treatment for addiction, PTSD and brain injuries.

An Antibiotic After Sex Greatly Reduced Syphilis and Chlamydia Cases

New cases fell by half in just over a year, San Francisco health officials reported.

First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Will Be Available Soon

Opill will cost $19.99 per month or $49.99 for a three-month supply.

Apparently Healthy, but Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s?

New criteria could lead to a diagnosis on the basis of a simple blood test, even in the absence of obvious symptoms.

More Screen Time Means Less Parent-Child Talk, Study Finds

For each additional minute spent with an electronic device, toddlers said less, heard less and had fewer back-and-forth exchanges with adults.

Paid Family Caregivers in Indiana Face Steep Cutbacks

Now that federal pandemic-era funds are shrinking, states like Indiana are ending or curtailing programs that finance home care by relatives of seriously ill children and adults.

C.D.C. Shortens Isolation Period for People With Covid

Americans with Covid or other respiratory infections may return to daily activities if they don’t have a fever and their symptoms are improving.

CVS and Walgreens Will Begin Selling Abortion Pills This Month

The pill mifepristone will be available with a prescription at pharmacy counters in a few states to start.

Alcohol-Related Deaths Surge to Nearly 500 a Day, C.D.C. Says

Spikes of fatalities linked to drinking that began with the Covid pandemic were not an anomaly. An estimated 178,000 people died in 2021 from similar causes.

R.S.V. Vaccines May Slightly Increase Risk of Rare Neurological Condition

Federal health officials presented data hinting at a link to Guillain-Barré syndrome, but said the connection was still uncertain.

Guy Alexandre, Transplant Surgeon Who Redefined Death, Dies at 89

His willingness to remove kidneys from brain-dead patients increased the organs’ viability while challenging the line between living and dead.

Vaccines Didn’t Turn Back Mpox, Study Finds. People Did.

Behavior change among gay and bisexual men was more important than shots in curbing the spread, researchers concluded.

Nursing Home Staffing Shortages and Other Problems Persist, U.S. Report Says

Infection control lapses, severe staffing shortages and lowering vaccination rates have continued to plague many facilities beyond the pandemic.

Frequent Marijuana Use May Raise Risk of Heart Attack, Study Suggests

A new study analyzed several years of surveys on increases in marijuana and cannabis consumption.

Long Covid May Lead to Measurable Cognitive Decline, Study Finds

People with long Covid symptoms scored slightly lower on a cognitive test than people who had recovered. But long Covid patients who eventually got better scored as well as those whose symptoms did not last long.

Older Americans Should Get Another Covid Shot This Spring, C.D.C. Says

The agency recommended another round of vaccinations for Americans ages 65 and older.

A Fading Weapon in the H.I.V. Fight: Condoms

Some H.I.V. experts worry that the public health focus on prevention medication has accelerated a decline in condom use.

What to Know about Lead Exposure in Children

Hundreds of children sickened from high levels of lead in applesauce pouches last year put a spotlight on lapses in the food-safety system.

How to Spot Kawasaki Disease in Your Child

Cases of this rare, potentially dangerous childhood illness are growing in the U.S. It is often mistaken for scarlet fever, tick-borne diseases or common viruses. Here’s what to look for.

A Doctor’s Lifelong Quest to Solve One of Pediatric Medicine’s Greatest Mysteries

For 40 years, Dr. Jane Burns has been working to find the cause of Kawasaki disease, an illness that can lead to aneurysms and heart attacks. Her work has brought together a most unlikely team.

A Cyberattack on a UnitedHealth Unit Disrupts Prescription Drug Orders

For a week, people have been waylaid at pharmacies after a unit of the nation’s largest insurer was shut down by a possible ransomware assault.

Your Inhalers and EpiPens Aren’t Very Healthy for the Environment

For eco-conscious consumers of personal medical devices, recycling options are limited. Some companies are trying to change that.

Can Your Personal Medical Devices Be Recycled?

Inhalers, EpiPens, home tests for flu or Covid, mouth guards. They accumulate in our homes, and recycling methods and advice can be tricky to pin down.

Drug Drastically Reduces Children’s Reactions to Traces of Food Allergens

Xolair cuts the risk of dangerous reactions after exposure to minute amounts of allergens, researchers reported. But people taking it still must avoid risky foods.

What to Know About Xolair and Food Allergies

The drug does not completely prevent reactions, but it can reduce the risks posed by trace amounts of food allergens.

Severe Frostbite Gets a Treatment That May Prevent Amputation

The F.D.A. recently approved the first therapy for patients in danger of losing their toes, fingers and other exposed parts of the body.

As Medicaid Shrinks, Clinics for the Poor Are Trying to Survive

The end of a pandemic-era policy that barred states from pushing people off Medicaid is threatening the financial stability of the U.S. safety net.

Major Embryo Shipping Company Halts Business in Alabama

The decision means I.V.F. patients who want to transfer frozen embryos to another state may not be able to do so.

N.Y. Attorney General Urges Stricter Warnings for Asthma Drug

The A.G., Letitia James, called on the F.D.A. to redouble efforts to alert doctors about potential side effects of Singulair and to consider discouraging use of the drug for children.

Accidents, Lax Rules and Abortion Laws Now Imperil Fertility Industry

Fertility clinics are routinely sued by patients for errors that destroy embryos, as happened in Alabama. An effort to define them legally as “unborn children” has raised the stakes.

A Quarter of Smokers Quit Under Menthol Bans, Study Finds

As public health groups pressure the Biden administration to impose a ban on menthol cigarettes, research suggests similar moves in other countries have led to lower smoking rates.

Abortion Shield Laws: A New War Between the States

Doctors in six states where abortion is legal are using new laws to send abortion pills to tens of thousands of women in states where it is illegal.

Alabama Says Embryos in a Lab Are Children. What Are the Implications?

A ruling by the state’s Supreme Court could change common practices at fertility clinics in the state and possibly nationwide.

War and Illness Could Kill 85,000 Gazans in 6 Months

Even under the most optimistic scenario, an immediate cease-fire, an additional 6,500 Gazans could perish, scientists estimated.

Study of Patients With a Chronic Fatigue Condition May Offer Clues to Long Covid

N.I.H. researchers found notable differences between the immune systems and other physiological functions of patients with ME/CFS and those of healthy patients.

Alabama Rules Frozen Embryos Are Children, Raising Questions About Fertility Care

The ruling raises worrisome legal issues for would-be parents far beyond Alabama whose hopes for children may depend on in vitro fertilization.

Old and Young, Talking Again

A society in which members of different generations do not interact “is a dangerous experiment,” said one researcher.

75 Hard Has a Cultish Following. Is It Worth All the Effort?

Thousands of people each year partake in the 75-day program meant to build “mental toughness,” according to its creator, but health experts caution the program may be too rigid and intense.

More Young People Are on Multiple Psychiatric Drugs, Study Finds

Polypharmacy, a prescribing practice that some experts warn can be unsafe, is becoming more commonplace.

Botched I.V.F. Liquid Destroyed Embryos, Lawsuits Claim

Patients have filed eight lawsuits against CooperSurgical, a major fertility company, which has recalled the faulty product.

Lactation Consultant Group Investigates Tongue-Tie Advocate

Mothers have complained that Melanie Henstrom, a lactation consultant in Boise, Idaho, pressured them to get their babies’ tongues lasered by a dentist.

Abortions by Telemedicine and Mailed Pills Are Safe and Effective, Study Finds

Researchers analyzed the experiences of more than 6,000 women and found the method to be 98 percent effective and safe for 99 percent of patients.

Did Faulty Products Impact Your Fertility Treatment?

Tell us about your I.V.F. experience.

U.S. Agencies Open Inquiry Into Generic Drug Shortages

The F.T.C. and H.H.S. are examining the tactics of group purchasing organizations that generic industry executives say have led to scarce supplies of treatments like chemotherapy.

Can Your Cat Give You the Plague?

Human cases are rare in the United States, but in some Western areas cats that hunt rodents can become infected — and even pass on the disease to their owners.

Some Pregnant Women and Infants Received the Wrong R.S.V. Shots

Doctors and pharmacists seem to be confused by the guidelines. And the brand names aren’t helping.

Man Dies in First Known Fatal Case of Alaskapox

Alaska state health officials said that a man died last month of the virus, which occurs mostly in small mammals and causes lesions. There have been seven reported human cases since 2015.

C.D.C. Considers Ending 5-Day Isolation Period for Covid

Americans may be advised that it’s safe to return to regular routines after one day without a fever.

Children Born to Mothers With Pregnancy Complications Face Higher Heart Risks

Pregnant women with diabetes or high blood pressure have children who are more likely to develop signs of heart trouble years later, new research finds.

Brazil Has a Dengue Emergency, Portending a Health Crisis for the Americas

Record numbers of cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been reported in the Southern Hemisphere summer, and the surge is likely to move north.

Memory Loss Requires Careful Diagnosis, Scientists Say

A federal investigator said that President Biden had “poor memory” and “diminished faculties.” But such a diagnosis would require close medical assessment, experts said.

Journal Retracts Studies Cited in Federal Court Ruling Against Abortion Pill

The journal found that the studies, which had suggested that medication abortion is unsafe, included incorrect factual assumptions and misleading presentation of the data.

Brooke Ellison, Prominent Disability Rights Advocate, Is Dead at 45

One of the first quadriplegic Harvard graduates, she became an author, professor and powerful voice for disabled people.

Staggering Rise in Catheter Bills Suggests Medicare Scam

Seven medical supply companies made suspicious claims involving thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, an advocacy group found.

H.I.V. Groups Warn of Privacy Risks in How C.D.C. Tracks Virus Samples

Since 2018, the agency has mandated tracking the genetic signatures of viruses collected from people with H.I.V., a practice known as molecular surveillance.

More Adolescent Boys Have Eating Disorders. Two Experts Discuss Why.

For the longest time, researchers focused on diagnosing and treating girls, but that is changing.

Many Transgender Americans Face Stigma and Financial Hardship, Survey Finds

The survey of more than 92,000 transgender and nonbinary Americans also found that the vast majority were satisfied with their decision to transition.

Federal Records Show Increasing Use of Solitary Confinement for Immigrants

A new report based on records from the Trump and Biden years found the average length of solitary detainment was longer than the duration the U.N. says can constitute torture.

One Arm or Two? How You Get Vaccinated May Make a Difference.

Receiving multidose vaccinations in both arms, instead of just one, may increase the immune response, new research suggests.

When the Biggest Student Mental Health Advocates Are the Students

With the number of adolescents struggling with mental health rising, student-led clubs have come to provide support amid a dearth of resources.

Cancer Diagnosis Like King Charles’s Is Not Unheard-Of

While Buckingham Palace released little information on Charles’s diagnosis, some cancer experts not involved in his care have seen the illness detected during other routine medical procedures.

After Police Kill Unarmed Black People, Sleep Worsens — but Only for Black People

Black people in the U.S. were far more likely to report harmfully low sleep in the months after a killing compared with white people surveyed during that time.

Users of New Weight Loss Drug Had Lower Blood Pressure in Study

The patients used tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro or Zepbound, but researchers could not distinguish the effect of the drug from the effects of weight loss.

How Psychiatry Broke the Top 40

Pop stars are increasingly incorporating references to therapy and mental illness in their lyrics.

When a Spouse Goes to the Nursing Home

The move to a long-term care facility is often difficult but necessary for frail patients. For their partners, it can mean a new set of challenges.

Medical Meditation? Clinical Yoga? Alternative Therapies Go Mainstream.

More than one-third of American adults now supplement or substitute mainstream medical care with treatments long considered alternative.

Six Reasons Why It’s So Hard to Get Your Weight-Loss Drugs

An array of obstacles makes it difficult for patients to obtain Wegovy or Zepbound. Finding Wegovy is “like winning the lottery,” one nurse practitioner said.

Why Do Women Have More Autoimmune Diseases? Study Points to X Chromosome

The molecules that silence a woman’s second X chromosome can confuse the immune system, a new study suggests.

A Lead Scare Strikes Stanley Tumblers, but You Don’t Need to Worry

There is some lead in the sealing material used in the cup, the company says. But experts say it’s inaccessible to people drinking from one, and caution that at-home lead tests are unreliable.

Syphilis Is Soaring in the U.S.

Cases have risen by 80 percent since 2018, the C.D.C. reported. But chlamydia remains far more common.

Experimental Drug Cuts Off Pain at the Source, Company Says

Vertex Pharmaceuticals said its medicine could address moderate to severe acute pain, and might be able to avoid the risk of addiction.

Teen Drug and Alcohol Use Linked to Mental Health Distress

Substance use by adolescents may prove valuable in identifying the presence of underlying disorders, a new study suggests.

Philips Suspends U.S. Sales of Breathing Machines After Recall

Under a settlement with regulators, the company must revamp some operations before resuming sales of its CPAP and ventilator devices in the United States.

The Man in Room 117

Andrey Shevelyov would rather live on the street than take antipsychotic medication. Should it be his decision to make?

Pet Dragons Linked to Rare Salmonella Strain in U.S. and Canada

Dozens of people, including babies, were sickened, according to a C.D.C. study that highlighted the risks of snuggling with the strikingly scaly lizards, many of which carry salmonella bacteria in their gut.

Phones Track Everything but Their Role in Car Wrecks

Distracted driving is a worsening problem, safety experts say. Yet there is still no definitive database of the number of crashes or fatalities caused by it.

Nitrogen Hypoxia: What to Know About This New Method of Execution

Alabama will be the first state to use nitrogen in an execution. If it goes smoothly, other states are likely to follow.

Naomi Feil, Who Promoted Empathy as a Response to Dementia, Dies at 91

She trained caregivers to “validate” the delusions of older people with dementia, rather than try to wrest them into the real world.

Europe Faces a Measles Outbreak

When vaccinations begin to lag, as they did during the pandemic, measles is often the first disease to resurge. “It’s the canary in the coal mine,” one expert said.

F.D.A. Issues Warning of Cancer Risk Linked to CAR-T Therapies

The agency has reviewed reports of cancer patients whose treatments resulted in the development of secondary blood cancers. Several companies will be required to carry the new warning.

Gene Therapy Allows an 11-Year-Old Boy to Hear for the First Time

The genetic treatment targeted a particular kind of congenital deafness and will soon be tried in children who are younger.

Top Cancer Center Seeks to Retract or Correct Dozens of Studies

A British biologist and blogger discovered faulty data in many studies conducted by top executives of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Berish Strauch, Path Breaker in Reconstructive Surgery, Dies at 90

He developed a wide variety of procedures and devices to reattach or replace vital body parts, including the first inflatable prosthetic penis.

The Heart Surgery That Isn’t as Safe for Older Women

Coronary artery bypass grafting, the most common cardiac procedure in the United States, was studied mostly in men. Women are paying the price.

With Harsh Anti-L.G.B.T.Q. Law, Uganda Risks a Health Crisis

The country had made great progress against H.I.V. Now terrified patients have fled clinics, and experts fear a resurgence.

Nancy E. Adler, Who Linked Wealth to Health, Dies at 77

She documented the powerful role that education, income and self-perceived social status play in a person’s health and longevity.

What to Know About the Federal Law at the Heart of the Latest Supreme Court Abortion Case

The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, known as EMTALA, requires hospitals to provide medically necessary care to stabilize patients in emergency situations.

King Charles’s Prostate Treatment Is Common Among Men His Age

When medicine does not ease an enlarged prostate, known also as BPH, a common surgery with few risks is often used.

Claire M. Fagin, Powerful Advocate for Nurses and Nursing, Dies at 97

“It is really hard,” a colleague said, “to identify anyone who has had a larger impact on nursing than Claire.”