PBS NewsHour - Health PBS NewsHour

Hospitalizations for COVID are at an all-time low four years after the start of the pandemic, but new variants are in circulation. Meanwhile, bird flu has been found in 36 dairy herds across nine states, though there has been only one confirmed human case so far in 2024. To find out how concerned we should be about all of this, John Yang speaks with epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

America's population is older than it's ever been, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. About 18 percent of Americans are at least 65 years old, a number that's projected to hit 28 percent in 30 years. And as that demographic grows, some of them are reimagining retirement. Ali Rogin reports for our series, "Rethinking Aging." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For former congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, advocating for mental health care is part of his family's legacy. His uncle, President John F. Kennedy, signed the bill that established the nation's community-based mental health care system. Ali Rogin sat down with Patrick Kennedy to discuss his new book, which details the mental health struggles and triumphs of everyday Americans. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In late April, the Biden administration issued new rules designed to keep prosecutors from obtaining medical records of patients who seek legal abortions. The expansion of HIPAA prohibits the disclosure of health information to state officials as part of a criminal investigation. Carmel Shachar, head of the Health Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard University, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Data shows that cases of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer are on the rise. At the same time, social media is inundated with ads and influencers touting products that promise to boost what's broadly called "gut health." How do we separate the facts from the fads? Dr. Shazia Siddique, an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The near-total abortion ban that the Arizona Supreme Court revived this week dates back to 1864, a time when Arizona wasn't a state, slavery was legal and only white men could vote. Many GOP officeholders and candidates scrambled to distance themselves from the law. John Yang speaks with Republican strategist Barrett Marson for more about how party members are navigating the political fallout. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders