Erika Edwards

4 weeks ago | nbcnews.com | Erika Edwards

One in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by their eighth birthday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. The finding, based on an analysis of medical records from 2022, reflects a dramatic rise in autism over the past two decades. Previous CDC reports showed that 1 in 54 8-year-olds had been diagnosed with autism in 2016. In 2000, it was 1 in 150.

1 month ago | nbcnews.com | Erika Edwards

Another child with measles in Texas has died, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed late Saturday night, though the exact cause of death is under investigation. This would be the second pediatric death amid a fast-growing outbreak that’s infected nearly 500 people in Texas alone since January. An adult in New Mexico is also suspected of dying from measles. HHS Secretary Robert F.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Erika Edwards

Another child with measles in Texas has died, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed late Saturday. The school-age girl was recently diagnosed with the viral disease and died at University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, the hospital said in a statement Sunday morning. "The child was receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized," the statement said.

1 month ago | nbcnews.com | Erika Edwards

Six young children at a Lubbock, Texas, day care center have tested positive for measles — a dreaded scenario with the potential to accelerate an already out-of-control outbreak that has spread to at least two other states. More than a dozen other states and Washington, D.C. are dealing with cases of measles unrelated to Texas. On Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services said the toll rose to 481 confirmed cases, a 14% jump over last week.

1 month ago | nbcnews.com | Erika Edwards

Smoking rates in the United States are at historic lows and fewer people are dying from tobacco-related lung cancer — in part because the federal government has pumped millions of dollars into research and attention-grabbing anti-smoking campaigns, as well as resources to help smokers quit.