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New York Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Palantir's Collection of Disease Data at C.D.C. Stirs Privacy Concerns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's plans to consolidate data on diseases like measles and polio are raising concerns about patient privacy, delays in spotting long-term trends and ways the Trump administration may use the information. The agency told state officials earlier this week that it would shift disease information to a new system managed by Palantir, the data analysis and technology firm co-founded by Peter Thiel. The change is not entirely unexpected. The Covid pandemic revealed that the C.D.C.'s data systems were antiquated, hobbling the country's response in the crucial early months. A plan to modernize and consolidate the agency's data systems began during the Biden administration. But news that the Trump administration has expanded Palantir's work across the federal government in recent months, allowing it to compile detailed information about Americans, has introduced a new layer of anxiety and mistrust among state and local officials about sharing data with the C.D.C. Palantir's systems, including those at the C.D.C., rely on a platform called Foundry that could merge information from different agencies. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health all use Foundry. Some officials worry that a sprawling data collection system could expose or endanger people with sensitive health needs, like gender care, reproductive health care or disabilities. Some labor and other advocacy groups have tried to block the Trump administration from sharing data across agencies. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A common killer bug is endangering Americans: ‘Pandemic in plain sight'
Five years after the worldwide hyperfocus on COVID-19 began, some are concerned about the next pandemic — whether it could be caused by influenza, bird flu or another pathogen. Too easily overlooked are non-influenza, non-COVID viruses and bacteria that are burgeoning and spreading unchecked — both in the U.S. and around the world. While they may not cause the next pandemic, they do cause a lot of illness and death. One such bacteria is Streptococcus Group A, an old enemy that colonizes the throat and tonsils of close to 20% of U.S. children, according to Dr. Joshua Osowicki, team leader and senior research fellow at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia. Cdc Warns Of Increase In Invasive Strain Of Strep Throat In Us This problematic bacterial strain is easily treated with penicillin drugs when it causes a clinical infection, Osowicki told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of this article.) But the problem, he said, is that because the bacteria may be harbored, the diagnosis isn't always found early enough. Read On The Fox News App Scarlet fever and rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease can result from recurrent or untreated strep — and they are on the increase again in areas without adequate medical care, including parts of the U.S. "Rheumatic heart disease is a chronic, non-infectious illness that occurs after untreated group-based streptococcal infections — and almost certainly after multiple untreated, group-based streptoococcus infections," Osowicki said. Strep Throat Infections Have Spiked Above Pre-covid Highs, Says Report: 'We've Missed Cases' His research reveals that the prevalence of a life-threatening invasive version of strep Group A — which can include deep-rooted skin infections, sepsis, meningitis and deadly pneumonia — is on the rise around the world. The aggressive skin infections, which are associated with intravenous drug use, can lead to the need for repeated surgeries, along with antibiotics. In the U.S., there have been more than double the annual incidents of invasive Group A strep in 10 states, affecting about 35 million Americans between 2013 and 2022, with 21,000 cases and about 2,000 deaths, according to Osowicki. "In many ways, it's a pandemic in plain sight," he said of Group A strep, adding that close to a billion people likely experience symptomatic disease from the bacteria each year. The important thing with group A strep, according to the doctor, is that antibiotic resistance isn't the primary issue. "Group A strep is reliably killed by penicillin — and has been since 1941 when penicillin was introduced," Osowicki noted. "The point is that it actually does its damage in severe, life-threatening cases before the patient receives antibiotics. There's this period where it is too hard to diagnose and treatment comes too late." In those cases, he said, the patients need ICUs, surgery and "the most intensive treatment we have to offer." Among patients over the age of 65 or so, a quarter of them will die with this form of the disease, according to Osowicki. There is not currently a vaccine for Group A strep. While the more common form of strep throat and minor skin infections are "less scary," Osowicki warned of the dangers of overlooking the more invasive version of the disease. Exposure To Toxin Increases Colorectal Cancer Risk Among Younger Adults, Study Finds "We look away sometimes from the life-threatening infections that we struggle to prevent, diagnose and treat, (until) these become the front-page sepsis cases that you see in the newspaper many weeks of the year," he said. "They're headline-catching cases. They're the cases like Rory Staunton in New York, whose tragic death (in 2012 from sepsis) really triggered the state census mandates across the U.S." The need for an effective vaccine is clear — both for invasive strep and the more common variety. Osowicki and others in his group are working hard on developing them. "The current thrust of my research is all vaccine-related," he shared. "We do what are called human challenge trials, where we deliberately infect healthy adult volunteers with group A strep, painting it on their tonsils. And we do that in a very careful way, in an inpatient environment." The researchers also provide early antibiotic treatments and collect throat swabs, blood and saliva to study how the human-only pathogen works and to explore ways to stop it. "The ultimate goal is that it becomes a really high-powered platform to establish the efficacy of vaccines," said Osowicki. There are many vaccine candidates in various stages of development, from the protein-adjuvant kind (like Shingrix or the Novavax COVID vaccine) to the MRNA platform and various other kinds, the researcher said. "We're working with every vaccine company that has a group-based streptococcal vaccine candidate in development," he said. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter There are up to 10 different group-based strep vaccines in development, ranging from entirely pre-clinical vaccines that have never seen a person to vaccines that have been tested in phase 1 trials, Osowicki noted. He said he is concerned about vaccine skepticism, particularly after the COVID pandemic, which can keep people from trusting the emerging science. Still, the researcher is excited about the future of the strep A vaccine and others, though he expects it could take at least five to 10 years before a worthy candidate reaches doctors' offices. For more Health articles, visit The new vaccine will be geared toward adults with skin infections, as well as the many millions of children who are at risk of both mild and severe disease. The goal, Osowicki said, is to "create a vaccine that the world wants, that the world accepts, that the world says is safe, and that will help our children." Visit to donate or to learn more about MCRI's important article source: A common killer bug is endangering Americans: 'Pandemic in plain sight'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
More babies born to women over 40 than teens for first time in US history
The teen pregnancy epidemic could be waning, data suggests. For the first time in U.S. history, more women over the age of 40 are having kids compared to teen moms, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This reflects the trend of more Americans either opting not to have kids or postponing them until later. Americans Are Having Fewer Babies As Birth Rate Hits Historic Low, Cdc Reveals The total number of U.S. births declined by 14% between 1990 and 2023, according to the March 2025 report. During this time, birth rates among females younger than 20 decreased by 73%, marking the steepest percentage drop of all age groups. Read On The Fox News App This resulted in a decline from one in eight teen births in 1990 to one in 25 in 2023. Women between 20 and 24 also had 44% fewer births from 1990 to 2023, while they dropped by 23% among 25- to 29-year-olds. Egg-freezing Is 'Exploding' Among Some Age Groups – Here's What Women Must Know The number of births among women aged 30 to 34 increased by 24%. Women between 35 and 39 experienced a steep 90% increase in births. Women 40 and older marked a new high for birth rates, seeing a 193% surge from 1990 to 2023. In 1990, women over 40 accounted for 1.2% of births. In 2023, that percentage had increased to 4.1%. Women over 30 accounted for more than one-half of births (51.4%) in 2023, compared to only three in 10 births in 1990. The CDC found that these age-specific changes caused a shift in maternal age distributions. Pregnant Women Struggle To Find Care In 'Maternity Deserts,' New Study Finds In 1990, females younger than 30 accounted for seven in 10 births (69.8%). But in 2023, this age group accounted for less than one in two (48.6%). "The magnitude of the decrease in birth rates among females younger than 30 was greater than the magnitude of the increase in rates among women 30 and older, resulting in declining overall fertility rates," the CDC commented in the report. "The decline in fertility rates over the past few decades results from declining rates among females younger than 30, coupled with smaller increases in rates among older women." Dr. Ashley Wiltshire of the Columbia University Fertility Center in New York commented on this shift in fertility in an interview with Fox News Digital. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "This shift is likely due to the combination of advancements in both contraception methodologies and assisted reproductive technology (ART)," she said. "The goal of both entities is to improve the overall reproductive autonomy for all women — from those who do not want to conceive to those who do." This includes people who seek out single parenthood, those in same-sex relationships and those who delay childbearing for personal or medical reasons, Wiltshire added. For more Health articles, visit As egg freezing and embryo banking become more popular among women in their late 20s and 30s, Wiltshire agreed that these methods can "greatly increase an individual's odds of conceiving at later ages." "Additionally, donor egg is also a commonly utilized treatment option that can significantly improve the odds of pregnancy and livebirth later in life," she article source: More babies born to women over 40 than teens for first time in US history
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump announces plan to chop down magnolia tree purportedly planted by Andrew Jackson: 'Must come to an end'
President Donald Trump announced plans to chop down a tree that was said to have been planted by former President Andrew Jackson. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said that he was working with "the wonderful people at the National Park Service" to make "tremendous enhancements to the White House, thereby preserving and protecting History!" "One of the interesting dilemmas is a tree planted many years ago by the Legendary President and General, Andrew Jackson," Trump described. "It is a Southern Magnolia, that came from his home, The Hermitage, in Tennessee. That's the good news!" "The bad news is that everything must come to an end, and this tree is in terrible condition, a very dangerous safety hazard, at the White House Entrance, no less, and must now be removed," he continued. Trump Nominates Susan Monarez To Become The Next Cdc Director, Says Americans 'Lost Confidence' In Agency The historic tree will be chopped down in coming days, and Trump wrote that it will be replaced "by another, very beautiful tree." Read On The Fox News App "The Historic wood from the tree will be preserved by the White House Staff, and may be used for other high and noble purposes!!!" the president added. Jackson, who served as president from 1829 to 1837, reportedly planted two magnolia trees near the White House in honor of his wife Rachel, who died in 1828. But according to the National Park Service's (NPS) website, the trees' connection to Old Hickory is debatable. "Historical photographic documentation shows that magnolias first appeared at this location near the South Portico in the 1860s, still the trees are attributed to President Jackson," the agency explained. Impeachment Articles Hit Judge Who Ordered Trump To Stop Deportation Flights "In 2006, the trees were designated as Witness Trees by the National Park Service, having borne witness to many 'significant historic and cultural events,'" the NPS described. "The base of the trees also took the brunt of a Cessna airplane crash which targeted the White House in September 1994 and were subject to significant branch removal and pruning in December 2017." Initial reactions to Trump's announcement were mixed on social media, though supporters of the president largely supported the decision. "I am a tree expert by trade, I've worked with trees for three decades now… these [magnolia] trees have notoriously soft wood that can become dry and brittle with age," one X user wrote. "I wouldn't be anywhere near that thing." "Be prepared for the left to treat this like WW3," another joked. "He is trying to lie his head off and rewrite or destroy history!" a Trump critic wrote. "The tree is much more important than Trump will EVER be!"Original article source: Trump announces plan to chop down magnolia tree purportedly planted by Andrew Jackson: 'Must come to an end'
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Screen time blamed for cross-cultural drop in birth rates
Whether it's dating apps, doom-scrolling, delayed rites of passage, lofty living expenses or straying from pro-family values, Americans are having fewer babies – and they're not the only ones falling victim to the trend. Could phones be to blame? A recent Vox article proposed the idea in contrast with more politically-charged theories, like the one taking aim at "crazy cat ladies," commonly floating around. "In America, for example, over half of 18-to-34-year-olds are neither in a steady relationship nor living with a partner. Furthermore, most single Americans don't feel much pressure to find a partner. Half say they're not even looking," the article reads. Americans Are Having Fewer Babies As Birth Rate Hits Historic Low, Cdc Reveals Writers Noel King and Miles Bryan chalk up that widespread singleness to the library of entertainment at our fingertips – at least to some extent. Read On The Fox News App Video games, TikTok, social media, Netflix and even PornHub are on the shortlist of culprits keeping people in front of their smartphone screens and away from the outside world. "Why venture out when everything is at your fingertips, from Netflix to Zoom meetings?" they ask, pointing to a 2023 study on the state of American men, finding that 65% reported "no one knows me well." The trend appears to be hitting Gen Zers aged 18-23 the hardest, with survey data showing the age group with the lowest percentage of men in stable, committed relationships (37%) and the highest rate of men uninterested in finding a romantic partner (30%). Japan's Birth Rate Plummets To Historic Low For Eighth Consecutive Year, Prompting Calls For Action Other age groups – zillennials (aged 24-30), millennials (aged 31-37) and elder millennials (38-45) – each had over 40% of men in relationships, with 20% or less not interested in finding a relationship. King and Bryan say the trend isn't isolated to the United States either. "It is absolutely global," they write. Global Fertility Rates May Become Too Low To Sustain Population Levels, Study Says "Last year, I was in Mexico and lots of different Mexican little towns, and mothers would say the biggest problem here is that our teenage sons are spending all their time in their bedroom. And I'll hear the same stories in little Indian villages, in Bangladeshi villages, all these people being hooked on hyper-engaging media." A quick Google search uncovers headlines about "Europe's fertility crisis" or Japan's birth rate "plummeting to a new low," among others. In contrast, Uzbekistan and Georgia have seen an uptick in fertility rates, King and Bryan reported. As governments push for higher birth rates – incentivizing couples to have more children and actively encouraging couples to meet – the duo argues that they're taking the wrong approach altogether. "Most governments are putting the cart before the horse, by focusing on couples," they wrote. "If I'm right, that the problem is technology, this hyper-engaging media, distracting us, and driving this digital solitude, which ultimately prevents people from forming couples, then we need to think: Well, we have various options. Could we regulate technology in some way? Could we introduce further restrictions? Or what can we do in schools to ensure that we're fostering social skills?"Original article source: Screen time blamed for cross-cultural drop in birth rates
