A new study from Italy adds to a mountain of evidence that a mercury-based preservative once used in many vaccines doesn't hurt children, offering more reassurance to parents. ...more

January 26, 2009

Two Florida fire departments are dumping their fire-resistant uniform pants amid concerns that the fabric used is toxic. ...more

January 16, 2009

Sam Silverman is co-captain of his high school football team - a safety accustomed to bruising collisions. But that's nothing compared with the abuse he gets for being a vegetarian. ...more

January 12, 2009

Sam Silverman is co-captain of his high school football team - a safety accustomed to bruising collisions. But that's nothing compared with the abuse he gets for being a vegetarian. ...more

January 12, 2009

The Pasco County Health Department issued a rabies alert today after a stray cat tested positive for the disease. ...more

January 10, 2009

Teen pregnancies increased 7 percent in Florida from 2005 to 2006, according to a federal report released Wednesday. The state had the 17th highest rate of teen births among the states. ...more

January 8, 2009

Mississippi now has the nation's highest teen birth rate, displacing Texas and New Mexico for that lamentable title, a new federal report says. ...more

January 7, 2009

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu each year. Of those, about 200,000 people require hospitalization and 36,000 ultimately die. But imagine if, in addition to the stresses of cold and flu season, American health providers were annually confronted with widespread outbreaks of malaria or a host of other diseases that could spread into the United States due to global warming. ...more

January 3, 2009

Smokers making a New Year's resolution to quit can get help from Tobacco Free Florida. Callers to the toll-free Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW who enroll in counseling are able to choose from patches, gum and lozenges - a combination that doubles the chances a smoker will quit. ...more

December 31, 2008

Tampa General Hospital's Family Care Center will administer flu shots on a first-come, first-served basis from 1 to 4 p.m. The supply of vaccine is limited and will be available only to people 18 or older. ...more

December 16, 2008