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The measles outbreak in southwest Kansas is officially over, but the threat of new cases remains, state health officials announced Thursday.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said that two full incubation periods — 42 days — have passed since the last confirmed case.

With no active outbreak in the region, the health ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The vaccination rate for Orange County kindergarteners hit a 20-year low this year, and experts fear that with fewer children immunized, outbreaks of infectious diseases are likely.

The percentage of pupils entering kindergarten fully vaccinated also has plummeted across the state and in other Central Florida counties, ...Read more

In simple terms, pediatricians save children, while Bobby Kennedy kills children. And so the dangerous quack Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is now attacking the American Academy of Pediatrics, which dared to issue guidance recommending that children under age 2 be given the COVID-19 vaccine, in contrast to the fatally ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've recently been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. I'm trying to understand what IBD is and how it will affect me. Will I need surgery?

ANSWER: Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is an umbrella term for a group of chronic conditions that cause inflammation and swelling in the digestive tract. It primarily includes ...Read more

A recent visit to my old stomping grounds in California took us to a wine and cheese tasting at my favorite winery. And what a treat to see the owners, Bill and Mary, who are old friends. Both are doing well and looking much younger than their years.

When we said our goodbyes, Bill asked me to take a look at some promising research he had come ...Read more

Heading into the respiratory illness season, states and clinicians are working to encourage pregnant patients to get COVID-19 vaccinations, even though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services no longer recommends that they should.

Along with being older and having an underlying health condition, pregnancy itself is a risk factor. ...Read more

Maryland is the first state to tap into an old fund connected to the Affordable Care Act to help solve a new problem: helping pay the expenses of patients who travel to Maryland for an abortion.

With abortion now restricted or illegal in 22 states, jurisdictions like Maryland have become a destination for patients from as close as neighboring ...Read more

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The immune system is meant to protect the body from infection and disease. But with age, it can become less capable of doing so. However, Mayo Clinic researchers have found that some older people maintain "immune youth" – a new term coined by Mayo researchers to explain a young immune system in someone over age 60.

"We ...Read more

Medicare enrollees who buy the optional Part D drug benefit may see substantial premium price hikes — potentially up to $50 a month — when they shop for next year’s coverage.

Such drug plans are used by millions of people who enroll in what is called original Medicare, the classic federal government program that began in 1965 and added a ...Read more

A third person in Idaho has tested positive for the measles this month.

Public health officials announced Wednesday that the third case, confirmed in an unvaccinated child in Bonner County, has no known link between the case in Kootenai County. There also was a case in Bonneville County earlier this month. “Without any link between these two ...Read more

If you regularly struggle to get a good night’s rest, you’ve probably tried a variety of strategies, such as meditating or journaling. However, your eating habits also play a significant role in the quality of your sleep. Here are six fruits to consider adding to your diet to support better sleep.

1. Kiwi

Thanks to high levels of melatonin...Read more

As wildfires become more frequent due to climate change and drier conditions, more of us and more of our communities are at risk for harm. Here is information to help you prepare and protect yourself and your family.

How does wildfire smoke affect air quality?

Wildfire smoke contributes greatly to poor air quality. Just like pollution from ...Read more

Q: Do sweetened foods and drinks affect my metabolism?

A: Sweeteners (even sugar-free options) can have an impact on your metabolic health. Sugar-sweetened products like sodas, desserts, and many processed foods are high in calories and can lead to weight gain when consumed in excess. Over time, high sugar intake is linked to increased risks of...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve had some foot issues, and I heard that shockwave therapy might be appropriate. How does it work? And how can it help?

ANSWER: This noninvasive treatment uses sound waves to transmit energy to tissues to help with the healing process. You may hear it referred to as extracorporeal shockwave treatment. Extracorporeal means...Read more

People thinking about starting a business or retiring early — before they’re old enough for Medicare — may want to wait until November, when they can see just how much their Affordable Care Act health insurance will cost next year. Sharp increases are expected.

Premiums for ACA health plans, also known as Obamacare, which many early ...Read more