As coronavirus cases across the United States drop, nearly half of the 500 million free COVID tests offered by the federal government have gone unused, according to the White House. It said Americans have placed 68 million orders for packages of four free rapid tests per family, but about 46% of the tests are still…  read on >  read on >

Who hasn’t had the urge to trace their roots by buying consumer genetic testing kits? But in a new report, researchers warn that you may come across some unexpected, and potentially troubling, information if you discover relatives this way. “If you’re going to participate in one of these services, you should be ready to learn…  read on >  read on >

FRIDAY, Feb, 25, 2022Mass cullings have been implemented as a highly contagious form of avian flu has swept across the eastern half of the United States in recent weeks, killing both farmed poultry and wild birds. “It’s very concerning, given how quickly this thing is accelerating,” Henry Niman, a biochemist in Pittsburgh who studies the…  read on >  read on >

Many folks have been waiting over two years for the chance to hear live music and see sports in person again, but if you plan to attend events you still need to protect yourself against COVID, an expert says. “We are doing much better and our viral numbers are improving rapidly and dramatically, so that’s…  read on >  read on >

You’ve just delivered your second or third child, and you’re ready to close the door on any future pregnancies. Does it matter whether you choose to use an IUD or have your tubes tied? It turns out that IUDs are nearly as effective as having your tubes tied in preventing unwanted pregnancies and cause fewer…  read on >  read on >

A drug developed for an autoimmune disease shows promise in treating a potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition in children who’ve had COVID-19, researchers say. The rare condition is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). It typically develops weeks to months after a child has had mild or even asymptomatic COVID-19. “Working collaboratively, we’ve been able…  read on >  read on >

Expectant U.S. women died in greater numbers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, either during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth, a new federal study reports. This increase hit Black women particularly hard. They had a maternal death rate about three times that of white women, according to the U.S. National Center for…  read on >  read on >

More than 90% of free at-home COVID-19 tests ordered through a federal government website have been shipped in an “unprecedented” effort, the Biden administration’s senior adviser on testing said Tuesday. “It’s a lot of firsts. It’s the biggest test acquisition in history. It’s the fastest delivery of anything to this number of households,” said Dr.…  read on >  read on >