Health Archives

Family matters: Why genetic cancer testing is important

September 24, 2025 12:01 PM ABC 17 News Team

When someone in your family is diagnosed with cancer, it can raise questions. Is it a coincidence, or is there something that runs in the family that makes others more likely to get it too? For Jodi, whose mother was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 51, and whose maternal grandfather was diagnosed with the same disease at 55, those questions were top of mind from a young age. Her family history instilled a fear of the unknown — was she at elevated risk too?

The slow, powerful work of bridging the women’s health gap

September 24, 2025 11:37 AM Stacker

When Carolyn Thomas suffered her first heart attack in 2008, she was in her fifties, a distance runner and as fit as can be. Yet the doctor in the ER diagnosed her with acid reflux, sent her home without treatment and told her she simply needed to rest.

CDC votes to restrict combo MMRV vaccine options

September 21, 2025 10:14 AM Marie Moyer

Parents may need to consider booking multiple doctors’ appointments to get children their recommended immunizations after CDC advisers voted to restrict the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for younger children on Thursday.

Nearly 100 MU football fans assisted for ‘heat-related concerns’ at Saturday’s game

September 15, 2025 10:36 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Nearly 100 football fans were assisted by MU Health Care teams at Faurot Field on Saturday for “various heat-related concerns,” an MU Health Care spokesman wrote in an email on Monday. Spokesman Eric Maze wrote that University Hospital treated 34 patients on Saturday for heat-related illnesses. High temperatures led to the university

Florida plans to end vaccine mandates statewide, including for schoolchildren

September 3, 2025 1:05 PM CNN Newsource

By Deidre McPhillips, Shawn Nottingham, CNN (CNN) — Florida will move to end all vaccine mandates in the state, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday. The move would make Florida the first state to end a longstanding – and constitutionally upheld – practice of requiring certain vaccines for school students. The state health

Local pharmacies and health care providers prepare for new COVID-19 regulations

September 2, 2025 7:44 PM Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Some local pharmacies and health care providers are working to determine their vaccination protocols after new federal regulations limit who can receive them. The Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall and winter season. The regulations now state that Americans will be required to get a prescription

Jessie J postpones tour, saying she’s having more surgery after breast cancer diagnosis

August 29, 2025 5:12 AM CNN Newsource

By Issy Ronald, CNN British singer Jessie J has announced she must undergo a second surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer, forcing her to postpone her upcoming tour. “Unfortunately, I have to have a second surgery, nothing too serious, but it has to be done before the end of the year, and unfortunately that

Telehealth network helps Boone Health provide faster support to sexual assault survivors

August 22, 2025 6:45 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Tuesday announced the launch of a statewide telehealth network designed to help hospitals that do not have Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners available onsite. The department released training for the Sexual Assault Forensic Exams via Telehealth Network in August 2024 to support hospital staff across the state. Hospitals have until Jan.

Limited number of ‘brain-eating’ amoeba cases leads to hurdles in treatment, health experts say

August 14, 2025 12:17 PM ABC 17 News Team

By Alison Patton COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A health expert claims there is no “documented guideline” for treating a rare brain infection that the Department of Health and Senior Services said on Wednesday could have been contracted by someone at the Lake of the Ozarks. University of Missouri infectious disease expert Dr. Christian Rojas Moreno described

DHSS: Person diagnosed with ‘brain-eating’ infection may have been at Lake of the Ozarks

August 13, 2025 1:31 PM Ryan Shiner, Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services claims someone who contracted a rare brain infection may have been water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks. A Wednesday press release from the DHSS says a Missouri resident has a laboratory-confirmed infection of Naegleria fowleri, which is a microscopic single-celled free-living ameba

Missouri students are heading back to school, but immunization rates continue to lag

July 31, 2025 5:11 PM Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) In less than a month, students across Missouri will be preparing to head back to the classroom for the 2025-2026 school year. As the new school year approaches in Missouri, state health officials are urging parents and guardians to check their child’s vaccination status, warning that falling immunization rates could lead to

Nurse accused of stealing fentanyl from University Hospital

July 29, 2025 4:54 PM Ryan Shiner

Editor’s note: Woodard’s name has been corrected. Her employment history with MU Health Care was added on Wednesday. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An Oklahoma woman who worked as a nurse at University Hospital was charged on Friday after she was accused of stealing fentanyl from the hospital earlier this year. Amanda Woodard, of Sperry, Oklahoma, was

How one controversial study shaped 20 years of menopause care

July 21, 2025 11:39 PM Stacker

Hone Health reports that the controversial 2002 WHI study misled menopause care, linking HRT to breast cancer and causing treatment declines.

No signed deal yet for Anthem, MU Health Care; but senate leader hints at possible agreement

July 11, 2025 8:18 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Negotiations are still ongoing between MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, but a state senator is alleging they could be close to a deal. A spokesman with MU Health Care told ABC 17 News in an email that the hospital system talked with Anthem throughout the day on Friday,

Recall announced for bread sold at Missouri Walmarts, Kroger stores

July 11, 2025 4:05 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Harford Bakery, Inc. is recalling six lots of “Lewis Bake Shop Artisan Style 1/2 Loaf” because the bread may have “undeclared hazelnuts,” according to a press release on the FDA’s website. The product was sent to Walmart and Kroger stores in Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama

Olivia Munn, who has been open about her breast cancer journey, says her mom was diagnosed, too

July 9, 2025 1:22 PM CNN Newsource

By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN (CNN) — Olivia Munn has for more than a year been speaking out about the importance of a breast cancer risk assessment test that helped lead to her diagnosis in 2023, and she has now shared that the same test also led to her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. Munn said in

Anthem claims ‘initial progress has been made’ with MU Health Care following Senate committee hearing Monday

June 30, 2025 8:38 PM Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Monday’s Missouri Senate committee hearing brought University of Missouri Health Care and Anthem to the table, but not to a solution, as both groups walked away without a clear plan to cover the health care of thousands of Mid-Missourians. In testimony, both MU Health Care and Anthem claimed to have made

Columbia Parks and Rec asks for feedback ahead of Albert-Oakland Aquatic Center renovations

June 27, 2025 7:04 PM Keriana Gamboa

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Renovations planned for the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center are aimed to improve accessibility and enhance the experience for families, according to city officials. City officials on Friday afternoon held a public input meeting at the pool and will be accepting input online through July 24. Proposed renovations at the Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic

Boone County touts youth program gains, calls for mental health support in annual report

June 25, 2025 7:30 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. Boone County’s Community Services Department reported a nearly tenfold return on investment through its Children’s Services Fund, according to its 2024 annual report. The annual report, which began in 2014, evaluates services funded by the 2012 voter-approved sales tax, which supports programs for Boone County youth ages 19 and younger. Between 2019-23, the

Anthem says talks stay stalled with MU Health Care as both sides post big financial gains

June 24, 2025 7:43 PM Mitchell Kaminski

Editor’s note: Additional financial information about Anthem was added on June 25, 2025, as was information from an updated statement provided by MU Health Care. A paragraph describing the timeframe in which operating gains occurred for MU Health Care has been corrected. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield says negotiations with MU Health