Canada has three times as many measles cases as US
Canada has faced 4,206 measles cases this year, according to a government website, with 1,450 in Alberta, 2,301 in Ontario and 140 in British Columbia. However, the government also said 3,878 of the total cases were confirmed.
According to the CDC, there have been 1,333 confirmed cases in the U.S. in 2025, with Texas having the highest number of cases out of all of the 50 states at over 700.
The current U.S. government, especially Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been facing scrutiny over its approach to vaccination, with Kennedy previously expressing vaccine skepticism.
In April, Kennedy touted the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the 'most effective' method to stop measles spreading amid a visit to Texas with the family of an 8-year-old girl who was killed by the disease.
'The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,' Kennedy wrote in a post on the social platform X at the time. 'I've spoken to Governor Abbott, and I've offered HHS' continued support.'
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
RFK Indefinitely Postponed A Critical Meeting — And It Could Have 'Devastating Effects' On All Of Us
It's hard to keep track of the funding cuts, layoffs, vaccine recommendation changes and other major shake-ups happening within the country's federal public health organizations at the hands of the Trump administration and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health and human services secretary. One of the latest changes is RFK Jr's postponement of a preventive health panel meeting by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which was scheduled for July 10 and the rumored dismissal of all task force members, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The USPSTF sets guidelines for preventive health screenings for conditions such as diabetes, depression and cancer in children and adults. Insurance companies are then required to cover these screenings based on the USPSTF's guidelines. This news comes not long after Kennedy postponed the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which sets vaccine recommendations, and replaced the entire committee with individuals known to spread vaccine and health misinformation, according to earlier HuffPost reporting. The changes to the USPSTF meeting and task force members is worrisome for a few reasons and could directly impact your health. Here's what doctors want you to know: This task force sets preventive screening recommendations. Changes or delays to the meeting schedule can mean missed diagnoses or changes to what insurance companies cover. The United States Preventive Services Task Force, which was formed in 1984, is a group of non-partisan volunteers who are 'nationally recognized experts' in the fields of primary care, prevention and evidence-based medicine, according to the USPTF website. All members are screened for biases, are chosen through public nomination and appointed by the Health and Human Services secretary. They serve four-year terms with new task force members rotating in each year. 'The cancellation of this specific task force ... is going to affect every American if [Kennedy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services does] what they did to the ACIP and fire or remove the 16 independent medical experts who really scour the literature and then grade the evidence for each of their recommendations,' Dr. Anita Patel, a pediatric critical care doctor in Washington, D.C., told HuffPost. Once again, this hasn't been done yet, but it is allegedly in the works. One of the significant roles of the task force is to make recommendations and guidelines for preventative care services such as mammograms, colonoscopies, depression screenings and more, said Patel. Insurance companies are then required to cover these screenings and services as part of the Affordable Care Act. Doctors across the country also follow these guidelines when recommending health services for patients. In response to the reports of the dismissal of current task force members, the American Medical Association sent a letter to RFK Jr. in support of the task force in which they said, 'USPSTF plays a critical, non-partisan role in guiding physicians' efforts to prevent disease and improve the health of patients by helping to ensure access to evidence-based clinical preventive services.' Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) also backed the task force by introducing a resolution that underscores the importance of the group, according to NPR. 'If the [task force] is unable to continue its work, this could have devastating effects on access to preventive services,' Dr. Oni Blackstock, a primary care physician and executive director of Health Justice, a racial and health equity consultancy, told HuffPost via email. 'We [already] know millions of Americans are at risk for losing their Medicaid,' Blackstock said, referring to the nearly $1 trillion cuts in Medicaid as part of the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill. 'Now, many others who have insurance coverage will be at risk for losing no-cost coverage of preventive care services,' added Blackstock. It's worth knowing that the meeting is currently postponed; it's not clear when it will happen instead, and who will be part of the task force when that time comes. But, as of now, what the task force recommends hasn't changed. 'Canceling the USPSTF meeting without a clear plan to reschedule puts essential, evidence-based health guidance at risk, including continued access to preventive services that millions of Americans rely on, from cancer and diabetes screenings to depression checks to support for breastfeeding,' Dr. David Higgins, a pediatrician and preventive medicine specialist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, told HuffPost via email. Any delays to the task force's meeting schedule can also cause issues. 'Delays or disruptions can mean delayed diagnoses, missed opportunities for early treatment, and ultimately, worse health outcomes,' added Higgins. Not only do these changes threaten the guidance from the task force, but they 'affect whether a patient catches their cancer early enough or a person with chronic heart disease gets optimal treatment,' he noted. The task force was recently criticized for being 'woke,' which some experts think is why it's being targeted now. 'Unfortunately, this [postponement] fits a troubling pattern of political interference in scientific and public health processes,' Higgins said. Just a few days after Kennedy told panel members that the preventive health meeting was postponed, 'The American Conservative' published an essay titled 'Time for Kennedy to Kill the USPSTF.' The article claimed the task force is 'woke' and follows 'left-wing ideological orthodoxy' and is part of the 'deep state,' among other things. 'The claim that the task force is driven by 'woke' ideology is a political talking point, not a reflection of how the USPSTF actually operates,' said Higgins. 'Their work is based on a rigorous review of scientific evidence. Identifying and addressing disparities in health outcomes is part of delivering high-quality care,' Higgins added. It's well-established that certain demographics do have worse health care outcomes; Black people have higher rates of maternal mortality than other groups, upward of 50% of Latinx folks are predicted to be diagnosed with diabetes, Black people are 30% more likely to have asthma than white people and the list goes on. The task force should be considering how race and gender impacts health outcomes. Blackstock noted that USPSTF hasn't always done this, but that is changing. 'It's lacked community voices and, for a long time, didn't focus on health equity or racism's impact on health and was not focused on ensuring diverse representation among its members,' Blackstock said. Recently, though, this has changed, and the task force has worked to address these issues, Blackstock added. 'It has taken steps to formalize the use of inclusive language, and to flag if data is missing for a population, particularly those that are minoritized,' Blackstock said. The group is also piloting an equity checklist that helps integrate equity throughout the screening recommendation process, Blackstock noted. These recent steps put a target on USPSTF's back, she said. 'I believe this is why the [task force] is being targeted, because it is paying attention to health inequities and racism's harmful effects on health,' Blackstock said. Patel added that USPSTF isn't taking care away from white Americans. Instead, it's 'trying to level the playing field so that everyone got equal care,' Patel noted. 'But, of course, [critics of the task force] saw the term 'diversity' or 'equity' and really tried to blow up one part of a much larger organization to play to their base and say, 'Hey, these guys are woke idiots,'' Patel said. USPSTF is now trying to advance medicine and make sure everyone, no matter where they live or what they look like, has access to preventive health screenings. The task force is here to 'take out the inherent racism that we've had in medicine for decades that has been really unduly perpetuated,' Patel noted. While racism does certainly still exist in medicine, awareness allows medical professionals to address any biases and make sure everyone gets the care they deserve regardless of their race, socioeconomic background or ethnicity, Patel noted. 'It's an evil thing to walk back all of these medical and diversity advancements that we've made in the past decade just because they want to pander to their base. It's unconscionable,' Patel said. Related... Experts Say Trump's Big Bill Will Shut Down This 1 Type Of Hospital — And It'll Impact Multitudes COVID Cases Are Rising This Summer, But Not All The Data Shows It — Here's Why RFK Jr. Keeps Telling A Flat-Out Lie About Childhood Vaccines — And Doctors Are Sick Of It Solve the daily Crossword
Condé Nast Traveler
2 hours ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Ear Protection for Kids to Wear at Concerts, Fireworks, and Sporting Events
There's a reason your child covers their ears every time you walk past a construction site. Little ears are sensitive—and they're especially vulnerable in the presence of fireworks, race cars, and screaming Taylor Swift fans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB)—the typical volume of a hair dryer—can cause permanent hearing damage, even for adults. Now imagine your child at a Fourth of July firework festival, where pyrotechnics displays can top 150 dB, and you understand why packing ear protection is just as crucial as sunscreen and snacks. 'Our ears are always on,' says Dr. Brian J. Fligor, a pediatric audiologist, author of Understanding Childhood Hearing Loss, and president of Tobias & Battite Hearing Wellness in Boston. 'Hearing is crucial for our language development and navigation of the world. That's why we must protect children's hearing from birth.' The good news? Today's earmuffs—over-the-ear headsets that help block noise—are lightweight, comfortable, and stylish enough that most kids won't put up a fight over wearing them. They're also designed to lower the decibel level without muffling or distorting sound entirely. (The goal is volume reduction, not total silence.) Dr. Fligor advises using protection any time an event is loud enough to startle a child or requires shouting in order to be heard. He also recommends it when riding ATVs, snowmobiles, or other powersport vehicles where engines are not particularly well-muffled. And while hearing protection is not necessary on commercial flights, he absolutely recommends muffs for smaller bush and prop planes, or when attending a jet flyover show. If you're not sure how to gauge the noise risk in any given situation, there's an app for that: Decibel X sound meter for iOS and Android offers a real-time frequency analyzer for spot checks. We asked Dr. Fligor, a father of four, along with other travel-savvy parents about the muffs that work best for their kids and why. Below, the best kid-approved picks for the ultimate ear protection. FAQ: What should I look for to find the best ear protection for kids? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Aim for a minimum noise reduction rating (NRR) of 22 to 27 dB for general use, says Dr. Fligor. For especially loud environments—like fireworks shows or racing events—higher is better. What ages need ear protection? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Exposure to loud noise—anything over 85 dB—can cause permanent hearing damage in children and adults alike, which is why it's so essential to protect our hearing from birth onward. Proactive protection for kids is especially important because they are less likely to self-regulate and move away from noise if it gets too loud. Which type of ear protection is better for kids: earplugs or earmuffs? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron For babies, toddlers, and grade schoolers, over-the-ear muffs are the safest and easiest option. They're more comfortable, stay in place better, and don't pose a choking hazard the way earplugs might. Dr. Fligor advises against using earplugs for children until they are old enough to report accurately on their comfort and effectiveness, typically around age seven or older. For tweens and teens, high-fidelity earplugs like Loop or Etymotic work well because they dampen volume without distorting sound (ideal for concerts). How can I tell if the ear protection fits correctly? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron 'Earmuffs should form a snug but gentle seal around the ears without any gapping,' says Dr. Fligor. That means the cups are large enough to fit around the entire ear— including the flap of cartilage around the edge, called the pinna—and sit along the jaw. If they slip forward or the ears poke out, it's not tight enough. If they leave indentations or the child complains about pressure, it's too tight. To double check the fit, ask your child to shake their head while wearing them: If the earmuffs shift easily or slide off, they're too loose. Dr. Meter Noise-canceling earmuffs $19 $16 (16% off) Amazon These have been my earmuffs of choice since my three-year-old son, Julian, begrudgingly wore them trackside at the Indy 500 earlier this year. The snug fit took some getting used to (my toddler hates winter hats, too, which is unfortunate considering we live in Minnesota), but he later requested—no, demanded!—the 27 dB muffs during a 20-minute Fourth of July fireworks display in Waunakee, Wisconsin. Caroline Lewis, a luxury travel advisor in Boston, reported similarly positive experiences with these for her four-year-old son, Grant. 'We use them every year for our town parade, which has a lot of revolutionary war reenactors shooting off muskets,' she says. Grant also wears the muffs when Lewis's husband uses a blender or vacuums the house. In addition to being comfortable, she says Grant liked that he could choose his own color. He chose safety yellow, she says, so he could 'be like a construction worker.' Puro Sound Labs PuroCalm earmuffs $29 Puro Sound Labs Designed for ages 3 to 16, these earmuffs offer an NRR of 27 dB. They only come in one color (Halloween orange), but the craftsmanship is top notch. My son has flung them across the room in several fits of iPad-all-done rage, and they still function like new. We've also begun experimenting with Puro's JuniorJams, kid-scaled headphones that limit harmful volumes above 85 dB. The built-in mic is helpful for online learning and the headphones last up 22 hours before needing a USB-C charge. Peltor 3M earmuffs $67 Amazon Dr. Fligor is a fan of kid muffs made with the same high-quality materials as adult muffs, particularly for activities where firearms are heard. Peltor has been around for ages and it's his go-to brand for his own children. 'Comfort is king,' says Dr. Fligor. 'If it's not comfortable, it's not going to be used.' These cushioned muffs are designed for kids ages five and up and feature low-profile cups, a soft wire headband, and protection up to 27 dB. Alpine Muffy baby ear protection $30 Amazon $35 Alpine Maria de la Guardia, the Bangkok-based principal director of The Big Picture Bureau LLC, has been using these muffs on her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sophia, since she was six weeks old. The ultra-comfy style is specifically designed for children up to 48 months, with a safe attenuation of 24 dB and an adjustable, non-slip headband that does not put pressure on the fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby's skull). The muffs come in a lovely selection of pastel colors as well as basic black. De la Guardia says Sophia has worn the muffs on numerous flights, during an outdoor concert in Abu Dhabi, and while watching a fireworks display in Malaysia. As an 'independent, headstrong toddler,' she even tries to put them on herself. Alpine also makes a Muffy Kids version for ages 5 to 16 with an NRR of 25 dB and an even broader range of colors. Banz Baby earmuffs $30 Banz $30 Amazon Sari Bellmer, an herbalist and founder of Heilbron Herbs in Asheville, North Carolina, has owned Banz muffs since her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Ursa, was a newborn. 'We were actively remodeling our house when I went into labor—and she still wears them and loves them,' says Bellmer. They came in handy, too, after Hurricane Helene stormed through her region last year and the family was 'running chainsaws nonstop' in the aftermath. The Banz models have a foam-cushioned adjustable headband designed specifically for little ones up to two, offer a NRR of 26 dB, and come in more than a dozen colors. Banz also makes kids' earmuffs for ages 5 to 10 in a variety of prints, including stars and stripes, graffiti doodles, and butterflies.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Got the sniffles? Here's what to know about summer colds, COVID-19 and more
Summer heat, outdoor fun ... and cold and flu symptoms? The three may not go together in many people's minds: partly owing to common myths about germs and partly because many viruses really do have lower activity levels in the summer. But it is possible to get the sniffles — or worse — in the summer. Federal data released Friday, for example, shows COVID-19 is trending up in many parts of the country, with emergency department visits up among people of all ages. Here's what to know about summer viruses. How much are colds and flu circulating right now? The number of people seeking medical care for three key illnesses — COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — is currently low, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu is trending down and RSV was steady this week. But COVID-19 is trending up in many mid-Atlantic, southeast, Southern and West Coast states. The expectation is that COVID-19 will eventually settle into a winter seasonal pattern like other coronaviruses, but the past few years have brought a late summer surge, said Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of California Davis Children's Hospital. Other viruses circulating this time of year include the one that causes 'hand, foot and mouth' disease — which has symptoms similar to a cold, plus sores and rashes — and norovirus, sometimes called the stomach flu. Do viruses spread less in the summer? Many viruses circulate seasonally, picking up as the weather cools in the fall and winter. So it's true that fewer people get stuffy noses and coughs in the summer — but cold weather itself does not cause colds. It's not just about seasonality. The other factor is our behavior, experts say. Nice weather means people are opening windows and gathering outside where it's harder for germs to spread. But respiratory viruses are still around. When the weather gets too hot and everyone heads inside for the air conditioning, doctors say they start seeing more sickness. In places where it gets really hot for a long time, summer can be cold season in its own right. 'I grew up on the East Coast and everybody gets sick in the winter,' said Dr. Frank LoVecchio, an emergency room doctor and Arizona State University researcher. 'A lot of people get sick in the summer here. Why is that? Because you spend more time indoors.' Should you get another COVID-19 booster now? For people who are otherwise healthy, timing is a key consideration to getting any vaccine. You want to get it a few weeks before that big trip or wedding, if that's the reason for getting boosted, doctors say. But, for most people, it may be worth waiting until the fall in anticipation of winter cases of COVID-19 really tick up. 'You want to be fully protected at the time that it's most important for you,' said Dr. Costi Sifri, of the University of Virginia Health System. People at higher risk of complications should always talk with their doctor about what is best for them, Sifri added. Older adults and those with weak immune systems may need more boosters than others, he said. Are more younger kids getting sick with COVID-19? Last week, the CDC noted emergency room visits among children younger than 4 were rising. That makes sense, Blumberg said, because many young kids are getting it for the first time or are unvaccinated. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in May that the shots would no longer be recommended for healthy kids, a decision that health experts have said lacks scientific basis. The American Academy of Pediatrics still endorses COVID-19 shots for children older than 6 months. How else can I lower my risk? The same things that help prevent colds, flu and COVID any other time of the year work in the summer, doctors say. Spend time outside when you can, wash your hands, wear a mask. And if you're sick, stay home. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
