
PBS News Hour - Health
The latest medical news, analysis and reporting. (Updated periodically) PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Episodes
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The latest medical news, analysis and reporting. (Updated periodically) PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Reading the feed…
Three days after a catastrophic wall of water, mud and rock tore through Nepal's Himalayan valleys, the scale of the disaster is still coming into focus. At least 579 people are now confirmed dead, nearly 2,000 remain missing, and the danger is not over. Authorities are closely watching lakes formed in the wake of the glacier collapse, amid fears of further flooding. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
There have been several promising developments lately in cancer research and treatment, including a new drug approved by the FDA this week for advanced pancreatic cancer. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The scale of the disaster in the Himalayas is becoming clearer a day after catastrophic flooding tore through parts of Nepal and Tibet. Scientists believe the disaster was likely triggered by the collapse of a glacier, unleashing a torrent of water, mud and debris that swept away entire communities. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dan Shugar of the waterSHED Lab at the University of Calgary. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The medical community is trying many approaches to help push back against the advance of Alzheimer's and dementia. One leading institution is taking a different and unconventional approach to supplement the traditional treatments. Special Correspondent Megan Thompson reports for our coverage of the intersection of health and arts, part of our CANVAS series. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Craig Fugate led the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the Obama administration through record-breaking disaster years. On our PBS News podcast, "Settle In," Amna Nawaz spoke with Fugate about how climate change has upended disaster response, and about criticism that the agency has been politicized in recent years. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
A devastating flood in Nepal and Tibet has left a trail of death and destruction. Torrential rains sent a wall of mud and debris crashing through communities with little warning. Geoff Bennett reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
This week, a Texas court heard arguments in a legal fight between a California couple and their surrogate over a newborn with a serious heart condition. The case has drawn the attention of anti-abortion activists pushing for new restrictions on surrogacy. Amna Nawaz discussed the case with Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter for The 19th News. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related threat in the U.S. In Phoenix, heat kills more people than homicides each year. So the city is turning to an unlikely lifesaver: bags of ice. And the fire department is creating a new model in the battle against heatstroke. For our series, Tipping Point, Ben Tracy of Climate Central shows how this low-tech approach is saving lives. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Just over three years ago, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century devastated the Hawaiian island of Maui. New research suggests the toll of the disaster may be far greater than the lives lost and property burned. Stephanie Sy reports on a landmark study aiming to track how wildfires continue to affect survivors' health long after the flames are gone. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
At least one in four NFL players has CTE when they die, according to a new study that examined the brains of former pro players. CTE is a brain disease thought to be caused by years of sustained head trauma and can only be diagnosed after an autopsy of the brain. Amna Nawaz spoke with Dr. Chris Nowinski of the Concussion and CTE Foundation, and a co-author of this study. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
It's been 18 months since the Trump administration made cuts to foreign aid. One of the countries hardest-hit is Afghanistan. The five years since the U.S. withdrawal have been grim for the people there, and Refugees International attributes over 160 deaths during the last 18 months to cuts in aid. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen and videographer Eric O'Connor report. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
An investigation by the Center for Investigative Reporting has revealed that glyphosate is being sprayed in California forests at record levels by timber companies and the U.S. Forest Service. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, kills vegetation that competes with young trees. The weedkiller has been the subject of lawsuits alleging exposure caused cancer. Nate Halverson reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
President Trump has tapped one of his top White House health policy aides, Dr. Heidi Overton, to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Overton has been a strong supporter of the president's health agenda, including efforts to overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule, changes that have drawn sharp criticism from medical experts. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Lauren Gardner of Politico. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
It doesn't have sharp teeth or claws, but the mosquito kills more people than any other animal on earth. As the climate warms, mosquito season is lasting longer, giving them more time to spread dangerous diseases. Ben Tracy with Climate Central reports on why the insects are thriving, and the surprising way scientists are fighting back. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worsen, with the number of confirmed cases climbing to over 4,600. At least 2,100 people have died, a death toll that was reached almost three times faster than the outbreak over a decade ago. William Brangham discussed the crisis with epidemiologist Dr. Anne Rimoin, director of the Center for Global Health Security at UCLA. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus is the leading cause of death in young Asian elephants. One baby elephant is at the center of an effort that could transform how the disease is managed in these gentle giants worldwide. Deema Zein reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Correction: In this segment, we misstated the year Major General Qasem Soleimani was killed. We should have said 2020, as the on-screen graphic indicated. We regret the error. The News Hour has confirmed the Washington Post's reporting on extraordinary, secret security measures taken to protect President Trump. The president switched planes not once, but twice while leaving last month's NATO summit in Turkey. A transfer from the legacy Air Force One to a smaller aircraft, by way of a catering truck, had not been known until now. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs
Puerto Rico is facing yet another crisis as major cities are rationing water for residents due to severe drought conditions. This problem is also exposing the island's aging water infrastructure and lack of immediate government action, leaving many frustrated. For more on how families are coping and what officials are saying, Deema Zein spoke with investigative reporter Laura Perez Sanchez. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
New satellites are being used in Greece to help fight another vicious wildfire season there. The technology is helping crews spot and contain fires. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports from the town of Mati, near Athens. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The murder trial of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy has brought attention to a rare but severe mental health condition. Clancy killed her three children and attempted suicide in 2023. Her defense says she was experiencing postpartum psychosis, which can affect one's grip on reality, but prosecutors say she acted intentionally. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Dr. Julia Riddle. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
One of the deadliest forms of cancer for women may not start where we once believed. Researchers now know nearly all fatal ovarian cancers begin in the fallopian tubes, not the ovaries. Stephanie Sy discusses with Dr. Rebecca Stone, a professor in the Johns Hopkins Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, how this understanding is important for patient care. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Firefighters in eastern Washington are struggling to gain the upper hand on the wildfires devastating the Spokane area. The three blazes have forced tens of thousands to flee and destroyed more than 700 buildings. Authorities arrested a man suspected of starting the fire considered to be the most destructive. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Dave Upthegrove, Washington commissioner of public lands. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
This year is becoming one of the worst for U.S. wildfires in at least a decade. There have been more fires and more acreage burned at this point in the year compared to any in the last ten. With fire seasons growing longer, early detection is critical. Special correspondent Ben Tracy of Climate Central reports on how AI is being used to spot fires faster. It's part of our series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
A new program in Charlotte, North Carolina, is using the arts to tackle loneliness and social isolation. Paul Solman reports on prescriptions for art instead of medicine for our series at the intersection of art and health, part of our CANVAS coverage. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Firefighters are battling a series of blazes that began this weekend in Washington state and are continuing to burn in and around Spokane, the state's second most populous city. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds of buildings have been destroyed. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy