Racial gap in US stroke deaths widened during pandemic
April 20, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The longstanding racial gap in U.S. stroke death rates widened dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, government researchers said Thursday.
Stroke death rates increased for both Black and white adults in 2020 and 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
Study: U.S. gun death rates hit highest levels in decades
November 29, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. gun death rate last year hit its highest mark in nearly three decades, and the rate among women has been growing faster than that of men, according to study published Tuesday.
US overdose deaths may be peaking, but experts are wary
November 16, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Have U.S. drug overdose deaths stopped rising? Preliminary government data suggests they may have, but many experts are urging caution, noting that past plateaus didn't last.
Race gap seen in US infant deaths after fertility treatment
October 19, 2022 GMTBlack-white disparities exist in fertility medicine, reflected in life-and-death outcomes for babies, according to a large study of U.S. births.
Denver homeless program struggles to reduce death rates
October 1, 2022 GMTDENVER (AP) — When people who had been homeless for years moved off the Denver streets and into apartments, they were far less likely to end up in hospital emergency rooms or get locked up in jail.
DEA: Fake pills containing fentanyl helping drive OD deaths
September 27, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — An increasing number of fake prescription pills that contain potentially deadly fentanyl are helping drive overdose death rates to record levels in the U.S., including some now manufactured in rainbow colors designed to look like candy, federal officials said Tuesday.
Widespread disbelief over N. Korea’s tiny COVID death rate
May 27, 2022 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — According to North Korea, its fight against COVID-19 has been impressive: About 3.3 million people have been reported sick with fevers, but only 69 have died.
If all are coronavirus cases, that's a fatality rate of 0.002%, something no other country, including the world's richest, has achieved against a disease that has killed more than 6 million people.
Cancer deaths in Black people drop; still higher than others
May 19, 2022 GMTCancer death rates have steadily declined among Black people but remain higher than in other racial and ethnic groups, a U.S. government study released Thursday shows.
Cancer deaths have been dropping for all Americans for the past two decades because of lower smoking rates and advances in early detection and treatment.
Maine moose survey finds record high death rate from ticks
May 19, 2022 GMTMONSON, Maine (AP) — Infestations of ticks contributed to a record high death rate for young moose tracked by wildlife managers in rural Maine.
Study uncovers clues to rise in uterine cancer death rates
May 5, 2022 GMTA rare but aggressive kind of uterine cancer appears to be driving an increase in U.S. deaths from the disease, particularly among Black women, researchers reported Thursday.
Over eight years, deaths from the aggressive type rose by 2.7% per year, while deaths were stable for the less aggressive kind, their study found.
Arizona health agency: State’s pandemic toll passes 30,000
May 4, 2022 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Arizona on Wednesday reported that its COVID-19 death toll had passed 30,000 fatalities recorded since the pandemic began in early 2020.
The state Department of Health Services' latest weekly report on pandemic statistics added 238 more deaths as the pandemic total increased to 30,189.
Face of Sweden’s virus strategy doesn’t get WHO job
April 20, 2022 GMTSTOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden’s former chief epidemiologist, considered the architect of the country's unconventional response to the coronavirus pandemic, isn’t going to work for the World Health Organization after all.
UK hits record COVID-19 levels; nearly 5 million infected
April 2, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — The prevalence of COVID-19 in the U.K. has reached record levels, with about 1 in 13 people estimated to be infected with the virus in the past week, according to the latest figures from Britain's official statistics agency.
How will COVID end? Experts look to past epidemics for clues
March 10, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the world has seen a dramatic improvement in infections, hospitalizations and death rates in recent weeks, signaling the crisis appears to be winding down.
Virus hospitalizations at lowest point in Alabama since 2021
March 4, 2022 GMTBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are at their lowest point in Alabama since late 2021 in another sign that the latest wave of illness is loosening its grip on the state.
Statistics from the Alabama Department of Public Health showed that 535 people were being treated in state hospitals on Thursday, the fewest since late December when the highly contagious omicron variant was beginning to take hold.
Georgia bill would expand Medicaid coverage for new moms
February 12, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia bill aimed at reducing the state's high death rate for new mothers is advancing.
The state Senate this week unanimously approved legislation that would extend Medicaid coverage for low-income moms in Georgia from six months to a year after they give birth.
Biden aims to reduce cancer deaths by 50% over next 25 years
February 3, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday set a 25-year timeline to cut in half the cancer death rate, a lofty but perhaps unrealistic goal that is meant to “supercharge” an initiative started when he was vice president to eradicate the disease that killed his older son, Beau.
South Carolina sees drop in infant mortality numbers
January 6, 2022 GMTCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's infant mortality rate dropped between 2019 and 2020, but the rate of babies dying before their first birthday is likely still above the national average.
Of the 55,713 babies born in South Carolina in 2020, 364 died within their first year of life, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said in a news release Thursday.
Analysis: Death rates higher in less vaccinated counties
January 3, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Deaths rates in Maine from COVID-19 are three times higher in the state’s less-vaccinated counties compared to counties that are heavily vaccinated, a newspaper reports.
The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram analysis compared highly vaccinated coastal counties Cumberland, Lincoln and Sagadahoc with three counties that are not, Somerset, Piscataquis and Franklin counties.
Virus hospitalizations, school cases increasing in Alabama
December 21, 2021 GMTBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — COVID-19 numbers are again headed in the wrong direction in Alabama, with hospitalizations up more than 50% from a month ago and school cases climbing in the state with the nation's second-highest death rate during the pandemic.
Study: Black, Asian Britons have higher COVID-19 death rates
December 3, 2021 GMTLONDON (AP) — Almost two years into the pandemic, Black people and members of other racial and ethnic minorities in Britain are still dying with the coronavirus at higher rates than white residents, likely because of lower vaccination rates, a government-commissioned report said Friday.
More Black infant deaths push up Indiana newborn death rate
November 28, 2021 GMTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An increased infant mortality rate among Black newborn children contributed to what Indiana health officials found was a slightly higher overall infant mortality rate in the state during 2020.
UK to probe racial bias in medical devices after COVID toll
November 21, 2021 GMTLONDON (AP) — The British government is investigating whether built-in racial bias in some medical devices led to Black and Asian people getting sick and dying disproportionately from COVID-19.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Sunday that the pandemic had highlighted health disparities along race and gender lines.
Indonesia warily weighs holiday travel with virus concerns
October 28, 2021 GMTJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesians are looking ahead warily toward the holiday travel season, anxious for crucial tourist spending but worried an influx of visitors could spread the coronavirus just as its pandemic situation seems to be subsiding.
550 uncounted COVID deaths in Oregon due to ‘computer error’
October 21, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — During the coming weeks Oregon will add around 550 additional COVID-19 deaths — which had not previously been reported due to a “technical computer error” — to its registry, state health officials said on Thursday.
Lower death rates for Black moms is goal of California bill
September 27, 2021 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California has among the lowest death rates nationally among pregnant women and new mothers, but the numbers for Black mothers tell a different story.
They were six times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy than white women from 2014 to 2016 and had a higher rate of death than Black women nationally from 2014 to 2017, the most recent time frame for which data is available.
Alabama leading US in COVID-19 death rate over last week
September 23, 2021 GMTMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has averaged more than 100 deaths a day from COVID-19 over the last week, statistics showed Thursday, giving it the nation's highest death rate over the period even as hospitalizations linked to the coronavirus pandemic continue to decline.
Bulgaria, EU’s least vaccinated nation, faces deadly surge
September 8, 2021 GMTVELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria (AP) — Standing outside the rundown public hospital in Bulgaria's northern town of Veliko Tarnovo, the vaccination unit's chief nurse voices a sad reality about her fellow citizens: “They don’t believe in vaccines.”
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s COVID claim denounced as racist
August 21, 2021 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas' lieutenant governor blamed rising hospitalization and death rates from COVID-19 on unvaccinated Black people — comments that were quickly denounced as racist.
Missouri’s COVID death rate among nation’s worst
August 17, 2021 GMTThe summer surge of COVID-19 is causing a spike in deaths in Missouri, including 124 reported Tuesday.
The state health department said 86 of those deaths were discovered in the department's weekly examination of death certificates from across the state.
Report outlines problems at New Mexico veterans’ home
July 22, 2021 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A lack of oversight within the New Mexico Department of Health likely was a factor in high COVID-19 infection and death rates among residents at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home, according to a review by legislative analysts.
Death rates soar in Southeast Asia as virus wave spreads
July 22, 2021 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Indonesia has converted nearly its entire oxygen production to medical use just to meet the demand from COVID-19 patients struggling to breathe. Overflowing hospitals in Malaysia had to resort to treating patients on the floor.
Colombia reaches 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 as cases surge
June 23, 2021 GMTBOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia reached 100,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 this week, becoming just the tenth country in the world to hit the grim milestone.
The South American nation of 50 million has been registering a growing number of daily cases since April and over the past seven days it had the world’s third-highest per capita death rate from COVID-19, according to data published by Oxford University.
US deaths from heart disease and diabetes climbed amid COVID
June 9, 2021 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. saw remarkable increases in the death rates for heart disease, diabetes and some other common killers in 2020, and experts believe a big reason may be that many people with dangerous symptoms made the lethal mistake of staying away from the hospital for fear of catching the coronavirus.
Haiti fights large COVID-19 spike as it awaits vaccines
June 9, 2021 GMTPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Ever since the pandemic began, Haiti had perplexed experts with seemingly low infection and death rates from COVID-19 despite its rickety public health system, a total lack of vaccines and a widespread disdain for safety measures like masks and distancing.
Coronavirus: critics ask why Taiwan’s death rate is higher than the global pandemic average
June 9, 2021 GMTTaiwan has reported a rapidly rising death toll in the widening coronavirus outbreak that saw a further 275 infections and 25 new deaths on Wednesday.
Greek PM: Vaccine hesitancy driving high death rate
April 28, 2021 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s prime minister has issued an appeal for elderly Greeks to get vaccinated, blaming hesitancy for persistently high rates of death and hospitalization...
COVID-19 pushed total US deaths beyond 3.3 million last year
March 31, 2021 GMTThe COVID-19 pandemic pushed total U.S. deaths last year beyond 3.3 million, the nation’s highest annual death toll, the government reported Wednesday...
In break from region, hard-hit Hungary to loosen lockdown
March 26, 2021 GMTBUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Despite struggling with the worst COVID-19 death rate in the world and record new infections, Hungary announced plans Friday to scale back virus restrictions in coming weeks — even as other countries in hard-hit Central Europe are opting for caution...
The Latest: SKorea to give shots to elders in long-term care
March 11, 2021 GMTSEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea will start administering coronavirus vaccines to hundreds of thousands of elders in long-term care settings this month after authorities approved the use of shots developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for adults 65 years old and older...
Fact check: Governor skips details on pandemic handling
March 10, 2021 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom painted a positive picture of California's response to the pandemic and the state's plans to come out on the other side during his annual State of the State address Tuesday night from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles...
The Latest: Belgium warns daily COVID-19 cases again rising
February 26, 2021 GMTBRUSSELS — Belgian health authorities warned Friday that the number of confirmed coronavirus infections is rising, probably due in part to the fast-spreading variant first found in Britain...
Mexican president says Mexico doing better than US on virus
February 24, 2021 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Tuesday that his country is doing better than the United States in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, even though Mexico’s per capita death rate is probably higher and the country has vaccinated less than 1% of its population...
Rate of new virus infections falling, but deaths remain high
January 23, 2021 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — The rates of new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations are dropping across California, but health officials warn those trends are tempered by very high death rates...
Another record decline reported in US cancer death rate
January 12, 2021 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Researchers on Tuesday reported another record one-year decline in the U.S. cancer death rate, a drop they attribute to success against lung cancer...
Vaccines to go to 50 Illinois counties with top death rates
December 4, 2020 GMTSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The initial delivery of vaccines to prevent COVID-19 in Illinois will be distributed among the 50 counties with the highest death rates per capita, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Friday as the coronavirus claimed an additional 148 lives in the state.
North Dakota’s death rate per capita ranks 10th in country
November 8, 2020 GMTBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's position as the country's COVID-19 leader relative to population showed no signs of improvement Sunday with an 18...
Iowa’s COVID-19 death rate among highest in US, report says
October 23, 2020 GMTIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has among the nation's highest coronavirus death and infection rates and residents should avoid gatherings in most counties to fight the virus, federal experts said this week.
UK expert: Racism not to blame for minorities’ COVID risk
October 22, 2020 GMTLONDON (AP) — A scientist newly appointed as an advisor to the British government has expressed skepticism about focusing on the role of structural racism in the disproportionate effect that the coronavirus has on ethnic minority groups...
South Africa says 12 million ‘probably’ had coronavirus
September 16, 2020 GMTCAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — About 12 million people in South Africa have “probably” been infected with the coronavirus, but that startlingly high number has not caused a similarly high death rate and might indicate a widespread “level of immunity,” the country's health minister says...
Kansas reports highest 7-day spike in new COVID-19 cases
August 26, 2020 GMTTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials on Wednesday reported the highest seven-day jump in new COVID-19 cases since the state confirmed its first positive case, albeit with a declining death rate...
AP FACT CHECK: A more measured Trump doesn’t mean accurate
July 27, 2020 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump in recent days suddenly acknowledged the gravity of the coronavirus pandemic and edged away from some of his most audacious falsehoods about it...
Virus spread, not politics should guide schools, doctors say
July 14, 2020 GMTAs the Trump administration pushes full steam ahead to force schools to resume in-person education, public health experts warn that a one-size-fits-all reopening could drive infection and death rates even higher...
Kazakhstan rejects Chinese warning over pneumonia outbreak
July 10, 2020 GMTMOSCOW (AP) — Kazakhstan health officials on Friday dismissed a Chinese report that the Central Asian country is facing an outbreak of pneumonia that is more deadly than coronavirus...
In France, study shows virus hit African immigrants hardest
July 7, 2020 GMTLE PECQ, France (AP) — Death rates among immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa doubled in France and tripled in the Paris region at the height of France's coronavirus outbreak, according to a study from the French government's statistics agency released Tuesday...
Coronavirus death rate is higher for those with chronic ills
June 15, 2020 GMTDeath rates are 12 times higher for coronavirus patients with chronic illnesses than for others who become infected, a new U...
‘It’s gone haywire’: When COVID-19 arrived in rural America
Cyprus: In fighting virus, politicians listened to experts
April 22, 2020 GMTNICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus has negotiated the coronavirus pandemic with a very low per capita death rate because its government closely followed the advice of medical experts and imposed a strict lockdown early on, the island nation's president said on Wednesday...
Los Angeles study suggests virus much more widespread
April 21, 2020 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — An estimated 320,000 adults in Los Angeles County may have been infected with coronavirus, according to preliminary results of a study that suggests the illness is far more widespread than current testing shows and the death rate is much lower...