Sales of raw milk appear to be on the rise, despite an outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows. Federal officials warn about the health risks of drinking raw milk at any time, but especially during the outbreak. Weekly sales of raw cow's milk have jumped compared with the same periods last year. That's according retail market research data show. Raw milk farmers say they can't keep unpasteurized products in stock. Some people claim that raw milk has health benefits, but multiple studies show it is one of the riskiest foods people can consume.
New research bolsters a push to use sewage to track more diseases in the U.S. Wastewater testing does a good job at detecting mpox infections. That's according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Thursday. It found that over the course of a week, there was a 32% likelihood the tests would detect the presence of at least one person infected with mpox in a population ranging from thousands to millions. The testing is now a staple of COVID-19 tracking. And CDC is now using it for flu and RSV too. Soon, the agency plans to start watching for germs that are resistant to antibiotics and some food poisoning bugs.
Across the planet, animals and the diseases they carry are shifting locations as temperatures rise thanks to climate change. And it's not just animals alone: Ticks, mosquitos, bacteria, algae, even fungi are on the move, shifting or expanding their historical ranges to adapt to climatic conditions that are evolving at an unprecedented pace. The changes create conditions ripe for human illness. Researchers have begun piecing together a patchwork of evidence that illuminates the formidable threat climate-driven diseases currently pose to human health — and the scope of the dangers to come.
For the first time in three decades, the American Kennel Club says the U.S. has a new favorite dog breed. The club announced Wednesday that the French bulldog became the nation's most prevalent purebred dog last year. Frenchies ousted Labrador retrievers from the top spot after a record 31 years. Owners describe the push-faced, perky-eared, droll little bulldogs as comical, friendly and loving companions. Yet their popularity worries fans and critics alike. Frenchies have been targeted in thefts, and there's concern that demand is engendering quick-buck breeders and unhealthy dogs. Besides Frenchies and Labs, the AKC's other top 10 breeds are golden retrievers, German shepherds, poodles, bulldogs, Rottweilers, beagles, dachshunds and German shorthaired pointers.
