President Donald Trump has picked a former investor and critic of health regulations to oversee the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives has passed a redrawn congressional map that creates up to five new winnable GOP seats in Congress.

Health secretary Robert F.

President Trump's nominee to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is getting ready to appear before Congress.

COVID-19 rates are plunging among migrants crossing the border from Mexico as the Biden administration faces a decision to end or extend sweeping restrictions on asylum that are aimed at limiting the virus’ spread.

Migrants are once again seeking asylum in Canada after the country lifted a 20-month ban.

Federal health agencies on Tuesday called for an immediate pause in use of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine after 6 people in the United States developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination, officials said.

The U.S. recommendation to “pause” use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine set off a chain reaction worldwide and dealt a setback to the global vaccine campaign.

The CDC says its tests found vitamin E acetate in samples taken from 29 patients who were sick with vaping-related illness in 10 states. In September, New York health officials linked cases of severe lung illness to vitamin E acetate in cannabis-containing vaping products. At the time, investigators said it was "a key focus" of the state's investigation into the illnesses. An investigation into the link between vaping and severe lung illnesses has yielded the discovery of extremely high levels of the chemical vitamin E acetate in nearly all cannabis-containing vaping products that were analyzed, New York health officials said Thursday. Until the investigation is complete, the CDC suggests people refrain from using all vaping products with THC, no matter where people buy them.

Mary Kerrie's death hasn't yet been counted in the CDC's total. Only after her death did the Davis family learn that Mary Kerrie had continued buying and using THC cartridges in Georgia. If and when it is announced, Mary Kerrie's death could be the fourth, potentially making Georgia's death count the highest in the United States. Mary Kerrie's legacyThe Davis family and Mary Kerrie's friends want her to be remembered for the good she brought into their lives. The Davis family attributes part of the blame for Mary Kerrie's death to a lack of regulation by the US Food and Drug Administration.

(CNN) - The federal investigation into what exactly is causing a peculiar outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries nationwide could continue for months. Last week, the FDA warned consumers to stop using THC vaping products as investigations into vaping-related lung injuries and deaths continue. The CDC on Friday released updated guidance for health workers caring for people with vaping-related lung injuries. In the guidance, the CDC refers to the e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury by a new acronym, EVALI. Schuchat said on Friday that a "handful" of lung injury patients have been readmitted to hospitals from five to 55 days after they were discharged.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(CNN) - The US Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to stop using THC vaping products as investigations into vaping-related lung injuries and deaths continue. "We're strengthening our message to the public in an updated consumer alert stating that they should not use vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of the cannabis plant," Sharpless said in the statement. "Additionally, consumers who choose to use any vaping products should not modify or add any substances such as THC or other oils to products purchased in stores and should not purchase any vaping products, including those containing THC, off the street or from other illicit channels," he said, adding that "according to recent findings, most of the patients impacted by these illnesses reported using THC-containing products, suggesting THC products are playing a role in the these illnesses." For those who choose to continue using vaping products, particularly those containing THC, Sharpless urged monitoring for symptoms and promptly seeking medical attention if people have concerns about their health. While the cause of the outbreak remains unknown, "we found that about 78% reported using THC containing products," she said.

Copyright 2019 CNN(CNN) - Nebraska health officials on Monday announced the state's first death due to severe lung disease linked to vaping, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed deaths to 14. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the death occurred in May -- before the outbreak was officially recognized this summer. "Once the problem was recognized, states quickly ramped up surveillance and found current cases, but have also discovered cases that occurred before the August outbreak." A specific cause of the nationwide outbreak of lung injuries remains unknown, but health officials are zeroing in on potential clues. "However, we do not know whether the only risky substance for lung injury is the THC-containing products."

Of more than 500 patients who offered information on what substances they used, nearly 77% reported THC-containing products, while nearly 57% reported nicotine-containing products. Health officials identified 234 unique vaping products across 87 brand names. In some cases, patients were found to have used THC products who initially said they hadn't. Multiple avenues are being tested for, including cutting agents or adulterants that might be added to vaping products. "However, we do not know whether the only risky substance for lung injury is the THC-containing products."

On Wednesday, the Georgia Department of Public Health also reported one death. The person in Georgia had a history of "heavy nicotine vaping," but did not report a history of vaping other substances, such as THC, the Georgia Department of Public Health announced on Wednesday. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order directing the state's health department to establish "emergency regulations" forbidding the sale of flavored vaping products in the state. Earlier this month, Michigan banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and New York banned most flavored e-cigarettes. On the national front, the FDA has been working on a compliance policy related to enforcing premarket authorization requirements for flavored e-cigarettes, excluding tobacco flavored.

This is the United States' eighth death linked to severe lung injury and illness tied to e-cigarettes. CDC health officials said on Thursday they expect more deaths to be reported. But health officials emphasized Thursday that not all people who became ill had used THC, and many had used multiple substances. Symptoms of vaping illnessSome people -- especially youth and young adults, women who are pregnant and adults who do not currently smoke -- should not vape, CDC officials said. Health officials urged people not to buy vaping products off the street or modify them.

Last year saw the highest number of cases of acute flaccid myelitis so far -- 233 confirmed cases in 41 states. So far this year, there have been 11 confirmed cases in eight states out of 57 patients under investigation. The CDC estimates it affects fewer than 1 or 2 in a million children each year in the United States. "AFM is a devastating illness for patients and their families," Dr. Anne Schuchat, CDC's principal deputy director, told reporters Tuesday. The CDC escalated its response to the illness, more than doubling the number of staffers working on AFM late last year.