RFK Jr. Spurs FDA Resignations; Chatbot to User: ‘Please Die’; Dating Apps and STIs

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FDA staff members are considering leaving after president-elect Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS Secretary. (NBC News)

Meanwhile, the stocks of several vaccine makers fell after the anti-vaccine activist was selected to oversee the FDA and CDC. (NBC News)

Measles cases globally grew to more than 10 million last year, a 20% increase over the year prior, as vaccination coverage has yet to return to pre-COVID levels, researchers reported in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

U.S. hospitals made improvements in infection control and safety, according to the Leapfrog Group’s fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grades; see which states ranked highest and lowest.

Three-fourths of U.S. adults are now overweight or have obesity, with nearly 260 million predicted to be overweight or obese by 2050. (The Lancet)

Military suicides among active-duty personnel increased in 2023, continuing a trend. (Military.com)

Trump nominated veteran and former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Politico)

In a conversation about the challenges and solutions for aging adults, Google’s Gemini chatbot told a user: “You are a drain on the earth. Please die.” (CBS News)

The FDA expanded the indication of a neuromodulation device (Nerivio) for migraine treatment to include children ages 8 years and up, maker Theranica announced.

Chewing xylitol gum in pregnancy reduced the occurrence of preterm and low-birthweight deliveries in Malawi. (Med)

College dating app users are more likely to have tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). (Frontiers in Reproductive Health)

Market concentration among health insurers increased from 2011 to 2022, a U.S. Government Accountability Office report found.

Meanwhile, more than 3 million Americans are at risk of losing their health insurance at the end of 2025 if Congress does not renew Affordable Care Act subsidies. (Newsweek)

Children at higher risk of flu complications are being underprescribed antivirals, according to the CDC. (MMWR)

Medical King recalled over 200,000 adult bed assistant rails after a reported death. (AP)

NASA said that despite reports to the contrary, an astronaut stranded on the international space station is in “incredible health.” (New York Times)

A federal appeals court ruled that an Indiana law banning gender-affirming care for minors should remain in effect. (The Hill)