Latest Health News
Cigna Announces Layoffs of 2,000 Positions
Cigna plans to cut about 2,000 positions by end of February, less than 3% of its global workforce. The healthcare company is streamlining operations amid industry pressures.
National Cancer Institute Studies Ivermectin for Cancer Treatment
The NCI is investigating ivermectin's ability to kill cancer cells following numerous reports and interest. NCI Director Anthony Letai confirmed preclinical studies on its properties.
CDC Reports 8 More Pediatric Flu Deaths, Total at 60
FluView shows eight additional pediatric deaths last week, raising the season total to 60, with 90% unvaccinated. CDC estimates 22M illnesses, 280K hospitalizations, 12K deaths overall.
Flu Vaccination Linked to 18% Lower Heart Attack Risk
A meta-analysis in BMC Public Health found influenza vaccination associated with significantly lower myocardial infarction odds. This highlights cardiovascular benefits of flu shots.
Measles Exposures Reported in DC and Disneyland
DC Health reported measles cases exposing visitors at Basilica, airport, subway from Jan 21-Feb 2. A second case linked to Disneyland Park on Jan 22 amid dropping European activity.
IRBM Discovers Potent Zika Virus Protease Inhibitor
IRBM announced a novel allosteric inhibitor targeting Zika NS2B-NS3 protease, effective in preclinical models. Published in Nature Communications, it shows potential against other flaviviruses like dengue.
WHO Reviews Progress on Immunization Agenda 2030
WHO Executive Board stressed integrating immunization into primary care amid funding declines. Priorities include surveillance, outbreak response; concerns over hesitancy and misinformation raised.
AI System Interprets Brain MRIs in Seconds for Emergencies
University of Michigan AI reads brain MRIs rapidly, identifying neurological conditions and urgent cases. Trained on hundreds of scans, it flags emergencies accurately.
US Cancer Survival Rates Fell During Early COVID Years
Cancer survival dropped in the first two years of the COVID pandemic, per CIDRAP analysis. Disruptions likely impacted diagnostics and treatments.
South Korea Boosts Medical School Admissions by 3,340
South Korea to increase medical school spots from 2027 to address physician shortage. Aims to improve healthcare workforce capacity.
Mediterranean Diet Linked to Lower Stroke Risk
Long-term study shows women following Mediterranean diet had much lower stroke risk, especially with plant foods, fish, olive oil. Red meat and saturated fats reduced.
Breakthrough Advances in Diabetes Research
Major scientific advances in diabetes signal historic treatment shifts and better patient care. Focus on new therapies and long-term management.