Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt says Thursday that, as of January 1, 2006, more than 21 million seniors and people with disabilities will get prescription drug coverage.

This figure includes more than one million Americans who registered for the new stand-alone coverage in the first 28 days it was offered, and another 500,000 are expected to be part of the program by the end of January

Scientists have discovered a gene that appears to contribute to some cases of Tourette's syndrome

Japanese encephalitis claims another 25 lives in India, raising the death toll in South Asia to 1,243 over the last six months, but doctors say new infections are decreasing as monsoon rains ease up, causing fewer puddles for disease-carrying mosquitos to breed in.

About 400 people, mostly children, are being treated for the disease in various hospitals across Uttar Pradesh, the worst hit Indian state where at least 907 deaths have been reported in the region's worst outbreak in decades, says Vijay Shankar Nigam, head of the state's communicable disease department

A study released by environmental groups Thursday shows store-bought swordfish contained mercury levels above the legal limit.

A University of North Carolina Lab found increased mercury concentrations in 24 swordfish samples from supermarket chains, including Safeway, Shaws, Albertsons and Whole Foods

A report released by Health Day News

Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development says, "This year, the adolescent birth rate has reached another record low, the death rate for children aged 1 to 4 is the lowest ever, young children are more likely to receive their recommended immunizations, and fourth graders are scoring better in math