Selena Simmons-Duffin

The new Texas law bans abortions after a "fetal heartbeat" is detected, usually about six weeks into pregnancy. But doctors say that's not an actual medical term and it's being used inaccurately.

The Biden administration has announced nearly $85 million in funding for youth mental health awareness, training, and treatment.

Mask mandates and other interventions can help stop a surge, even where vaccination rates are low, say scientists who've reviewed states' data. When the measures start and how long they last matters.

When his friends started to get sick after a week of parties, Michael Donnelly started keeping track. His work — and his community's willingness to help — led the CDC to a major pandemic discovery.

A statistician compiled data to share with the CDC after friends kept testing positive after a week in Provincetown, Mass. It spurred an investigation that changed how officials saw the delta variant.

Millions of people who need insurance are eligible for free health care plans. A special enrollment period is ending on Aug. 15. Here's how to sign up in time.

About 13 million uninsured people in the U.S. are eligible for free health insurance plans. They have two weeks left to apply.

The CDC wants vaccinated people to wear masks indoors if the coronavirus is spreading widely where they live. Find out the level of virus transmission in your county.

New estimates show the U.S. is on track to see a big rise in cases and more than triple the number of deaths by October.

Fully vaccinated Olympic athletes and members of Congress have tested positive for the virus. Should you be worried? How common are breakthrough infections, and are they rising?

The CDC warns new COVID-19 cases are on a sharp rise, up 70%, fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant. Officials expect more spread in the nation's unvaccinated population.

The highly contagious delta variant is causing a surge in new cases. Here's what you need to know about how to keep yourself and your family safe.

They don't qualify for Medicaid in their states, but earn too little to be eligible for subsidized ACA health plans. It's a gap in health care coverage, and some politicians are trying to fix it.

Bad news for parents of young kids: summer colds are back. Things like strategic mask wearing during story time or homework with a sick child can help prevent you from catching and spreading the cold.

Run-of-the-mill runny noses and coughs are back, after a break during the pandemic's height, when so many of us were circulating less and wearing masks. Here's how to keep household viruses at bay.

Many tools and strategies learned in the fight against COVID-19 can also work to stop the spread of routine respiratory viruses kids routinely pick up and pass around.

Despite a massive hiring push last year, health agencies around the U.S. failed to contain the pandemic through contact tracing. Health leaders reflect on lessons learned and what's next.

Contact tracing transformed in 2020 from a routine part of public health work to a massive effort to contain COVID-19. Experts from the CDC and public health departments reflect on lessons learned.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shifted its stance this week on the need to wear masks if you're vaccinated. What's that mean for kids? For travel? For work? Experts weigh in.

A new Harvard poll shows that only half of Americans trust the CDC — other health agencies were rated even lower. During a pandemic, trust is critical to the success of a public health response.