Officials Examine Deaths After Plasma Donations in Winnipeg

Canadian health officials are investigating the deaths of two people who donated plasma at private clinics in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The deaths happened about three months apart, one in October 2025 and the other in January 2026, according to Health Canada, the federal agency that regulates plasma donation clinics.

One of the donors who...

New Flu Strain Weakened This Year’s Vaccine Protection, CDC Says

Flu activity in the United States is finally slowing down, but health experts say this year’s flu vaccine didn't offer as much protection as officials hoped.

New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the vaccine was only about 25% to 30% effective in preventing illness serious enough to send a...

New EPA Rule Could Loosen Limits on Medical Device Sterilization Gas Emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to loosen limits on emissions of ethylene oxide, a gas used to sterilize many medical devices that is also linked to cancer.

The proposal, announced Friday, would ease pollution rules for about 90 commercial sterilization facilities nationwide.

Ethylene oxide plays an import...

Food Stamp Users Fight Restrictions on Soda and Sweets

Five people who qualify for food stamps are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) because new rules stop them from using their benefits to buy sugary drinks and candy.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., argues the limits are illegal and make it harder for families to manage their food and health ne...

Loneliness, Social Isolation Impact Brain Health Among Women Entering Menopause

Loneliness can impact a woman’s brain health as she begins menopause, a new study says.

Loneliness and social isolation are both linked to the cognitive decline a woman feels as she begins to transition into menopause, researchers recently reported in the journal Menopause.

Further, women experiencing both loneliness a...

Poor Hearing Makes It Harder For Blind Folks To Navigate

Poor hearing can dramatically impact a blind person’s ability to navigate and move around in their daily life, a new study says.

People who’ve gone blind can still use hearing to help them avoid obstacles and reach destinations.

But blind people who also have experienced hearing loss have more difficulty perceiving and lo...