Health
Chronological wire record. Latest transmission first.
World Sexual and Reproductive Health Month 2026 begins
The World Health Organization is leading a month-long observance that began on Sept. 1, focused on awareness of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
NHS to Offer Free Cholesterol Tests in England
The NHS has announced that people aged 40 to 84 will be able to receive free cholesterol tests at high-street pharmacies across England.
Nearly half of routinely updated CDC surveillance databases paused in 2025, raising outbreak readiness concerns
Researchers report that many CDC health surveillance databases stopped or delayed updates in 2025, with gaps concentrated in vaccination and vaccine-preventable disease tracking—prompting warnings about weakened outbreak detection.
India says it has contained a Nipah virus outbreak as some countries tighten screenings
India’s health ministry said it has contained a Nipah outbreak after identifying two cases since December and tracing nearly 200 contacts, all testing negative. The news prompted heightened monitoring and airport screening measures in parts of Asia.
Medicare targets Botox and 14 other drugs for next round of price negotiations, KFF Health News reports
CMS has identified 15 drugs—including Botox and diabetes medication Trulicity—for Medicare price negotiations that will set prices for 2028. The selection extends a program created by the Inflation Reduction Act, with negotiations aimed at some of the costliest medicines for Medicare.
Study warns CDC data gaps after nearly half of key surveillance databases paused or delayed updates in 2025
Researchers report that many CDC surveillance datasets that previously updated routinely stopped or slowed in 2025, with vaccination-related information disproportionately affected. Public health leaders say the gaps could delay outbreak detection and weaken trust in federal health guidance.
About 31,000 Kaiser Permanente workers launch open-ended strike in California and Hawaii
Thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare employees walked off the job in an open-ended strike, with union leaders citing demands centered on wages and staffing. Picket lines formed at facilities across California and at one hospital in Hawaii, marking another major labor disruption in a U.S. healthcare system already strained by worker shortages and rising costs.
About 31,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and healthcare professionals strike in California and Hawaii
Thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses and other healthcare professionals walked off the job in California and Hawaii in a labor dispute over staffing and compensation. The strike, organized by UNAC/UHCP, was set to begin at 7 a.m. PT and continue until an agreement is reached, putting renewed focus on workforce pressures in large U.S. health systems.
31,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers strike across California and Hawaii over staffing and pay
Kaiser Permanente nurses and other clinicians walked off the job Monday in an open-ended strike, citing chronic understaffing, compensation concerns, and patient-care delays; Kaiser says it has offered its strongest national wage proposal ever.
CMS outlines 2027 Medicare Advantage rate methodology with a 0.09% net average payment increase and key risk-model changes
CMS released its CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice, projecting a net average payment increase of 0.09% (about $700 million) if finalized, while pointing to larger underlying effects once risk-score trends are considered. The policy update sets up a high-stakes comment period as insurers warn of downstream impacts on benefits and costs.
AAP issues 2026 child vaccine schedule as CDC guidance shifts; pediatricians warn against confusion
The American Academy of Pediatrics released its 2026 vaccine schedule and urged parents to stick with long-standing immunization protections, even as the CDC’s 2026 schedule reduced the number of vaccines universally recommended. Pediatricians say the AAP schedule reflects decades of evidence and is designed for U.S. public health realities.
Norovirus spreads fast and hits hardest in crowded settings; experts stress hygiene and hydration
Norovirus outbreaks can flare quickly in places like nursing homes, schools and cruise ships. Federal health information highlights how the virus spreads, common symptoms and why handwashing and surface cleaning matter—especially for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.