2015 Event Water pollution in Rio de Janeiro may pose health hazards to participants in the Summer 2016 Olympics; the World Health Organization has asked the International Olympic Committee to expand its list of tested substances to protect the athletes 2015 Event Nike and distributor Apple settle a consumer lawsuit over false advertising for the Nike FuelBand; Nike claimed that the band could accurately track a user's health, but the device was not capable of performing the advertised functions 2015 Event Health insurance company Aetna announces that it will pay $37 billion for Humana in a combination of stock and cash; the new company will be better positioned to compete against larger rivals such as Anthem 2015 Event The U.S. Supreme Court upholds key provisions of Obamacare, including premium subsidies for about 6.4 million people enrolled in the federal health insurance exchange 2015 Event CVS Health will pay $1.6 billion to take over the pharmacy and clinic business of Target; CVS will continue existing operations within the Target stores 2015 Event Blues legend B.B. King dies at age 89 after battling health issues related to diabetes and high blood pressure 2015 Event The World Health Organization declares Liberia free of the Ebola virus after a period of 42 days with no new cases, which is twice the normal quarantine duration; over 4,700 people perished in the nation during the epidemic 2015 Event Officials find that Andreas Lubitz, co-pilot of downed Germanwings Flight 4U 9525, had mental and physical health problems that he hid from the airline; a doctor's note was found excusing him from work on the day that he crashed the plane 2015 Event Health care and personal security records of 11 million customers have been stolen from Premera Blue Cross; the health care insurer operates mainly in the U.S. states of Washington and Alaska, but customers in other states may also be affected 2015 Event The last Ebola patient in Liberia, a 58-year-old English teacher, has been released; the nation will be declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization if no new cases of the virus emerge in the next 42 days 2015 Event Hackers steal personal data on up to 80 million customers of health insurance provider Anthem, Inc.; though free credit monitoring is being offered to victims, such monitoring won't detect or prevent medical identity theft 2015 Event Officials at the World Health Organization state that the number of new Ebola cases is rapidly declining, signaling a reversal of the epidemic; however, preventive measures and safety protocols are still needed in Ebola-infected nations 2015 Event Hosni Mubarak, former president of Egypt, may be freed after the nation's high court overturned the sole remaining verdict against him for embezzling public funds; Mubarak has been serving his three-year prison term in a hospital due to poor health 2014 Event Scottish health officials report the nation's first case of Ebola after diagnosing a health care worker returning from Sierra Leone; the worker did not manifest symptoms until her arrival in Scotland and is currently in stable condition 2014 Event Botswana doctor Matshidiso Moeti will serve as new director of the World Health Organization office in Africa; Moeti will be instrumental in prevention of additional Ebola outbreaks and in restoration of health care facilities in Ebola-hit nations 2014 Event The World Health Organization reports that the rate of Ebola infection is slowing in Liberia, with hospitals now at less than full capacity; the slowdown is attributed to a campaign to educate citizens on safe burial practices 2014 Event Australia bans all visas from the Ebola-hit nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone; the nation's officials state that this is required to preserve public health, but health experts have criticized the policy 2014 Event North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not attend festivities for today's North Korean Workers' Party holiday; Kim has not made any public appearances since early September, raising questions regarding his whereabouts and his health 2014 Event Wal Mart announces that, due to the Affordable Care Act, it will increase health benefit costs for all employees and end health benefits for its 30,000 or so workers with fewer than 30 hours per week; the changes will take place in January 2015 2014 Event As the Ebola epidemic spreads, the World Health Organization (WHO) has requested Ebola vaccine doses from GlaxoSmithKline (Glaxo); the company offered the vaccine to WHO in March, but the offer was rejected because the vaccine had not been tested on humans 2014 Event Community Health Systems Inc., a private hospital company, reveals that Social Security numbers and other personal data were stolen for 4.5 million patients in April and June; the company believes the attack is the work of Chinese hackers 2014 Event Tobacco company R. J. Reynolds must pay over $23 billion in resolution of a lawsuit filed by the widow of a man who died from lung cancer at age 36; the suit accused the company of hiding the health risks and habit-forming nature of cigarettes 2014 Event After nearly 40 years on the throne, King Juan Carlos of Spain is abdicating and installing his son Felipe; unfavorable opinion, health issues and investigation of daughter Cristina in a public funds theft scandal have taken their toll on the king 2014 Event Budget director Sylvia Mathews Burwell is nominated to replace Kathleen Sebelius as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services 2014 Event The U.S. announces that it is on track to enroll 7 million people in government-mandated health insurance programs by the deadline at midnight 2014 Event Beijing issues air pollution warnings, advising limited outdoor activity as particulate concentration (PM 2.5) measures 309, over 12 times the World Health Organization standard 2014 Event 29-term U.S. Rep. John Dingell announces that he will retire at the end of his current term; the 87-year-old congressman says that his health is fine, but the hostile climate in Congress means that he can no longer do his job effectively 2014 Event A measles outbreak is declared in Metro Manila; the Philippine Department of Health reports 1,724 cases as of December 14, and 71 people in one hospital alone died in 2013 2013 Event Shanghai officials deliver the highest level health warning as a record level of smog shrouds the city; hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled 2013 Event During the first month of its release in October, the U.S. government reports that 106,185 people signed up for health insurance; only 26,794 signed up using the failed website, HealthCare.gov 2013 Event Palestinian investigators claim their former leader, Yasser Arafat, did not die of old age or ill health; they believe Israel killed him because his exhumed body contained high levels of the radioactive element polonium-210 2013 Event The first federal health study reporting on the use of sleeping pills reveals that 8.6 million Americans take prescription sleeping pills 2013 Event A controversial bill passes in Brazil's Chamber of Deputies; the bill regulates the distribution of royalties generated from oil exploration, with 75% of funds directed to education only 25% of the funds going to health 2013 Event In Belgium, King Albert II abdicates his throne to son, Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, due to health reasons 2013 Event The World Health Organization announces that the Novel coronavirus 2012, the newly discovered coronavirus, also referred to as Saudi SARS, can be transmitted from person-to-person contact 2013 Event In southwest China, environmental and health concerns among residents are raised when 1,000 dead ducks pulled from the Sichuan River 2013 Event In Washington state, six tanks are reported to be leaking radioactive waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation; the leak has not posed an immediate health risk 2013 Event Citing frail health, Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation effective February 28, 2013; he is the first Pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415 2013 Event The air pollution in Beijing reaches levels deemed hazardous to human health 2012 Event The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act is signed into law by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III 2012 Event Rick Majerus, the head basketball coach at Saint Louis University, announces his retirement due to health issues 2012 Event The novel coronavirus alert is lifted by the World Health Organization after they determine the virus, which originated in Saudi Arabia, is not highly contagious 2012 Event A novel corona virus found in a Qatari man returning from Saudi Arabia is investigated by the World Health Organization, prompting the announcement of a global alert 2012 Event The U.S. Surgeon General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Army Secretary, release a new U.S. national strategy to prevent suicides; the strategy uses Facebook as a tactic 2012 Event The Vietnamese government asks for help from the World Health Organization after an outbreak of an unidentified fatal disease occurs in Quang Ngai Province 2012 Event A Harvard Medical School study claims that red meat increases the risk of death and has additional negative health implications 2011 Event Health authorities begin slaughtering 17,000 chickens after a carcass infected with H5N1 is found at a poultry market in Hong Kong 2011 Event A report claiming nearly all research on chimpanzees is scientifically unjustified causes the U.S. National Institute of Health to place a moratorium on new studies using chimpanzees 2011 Event Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs resigns over poor health issues; Tim Cook takes over as CEO 2011 Event President Obama's health insurance mandate from his Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is struck down by the U.S. court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 2011 Event The World Health Organization claims over 5 million Ethiopian are susceptible to developing cholera due to the breakout of acute watery diarrhea 2011 Event The World Health Organization announces the E. coli strain responsible for the 2011 E.coli O104:H4 outbreak had never before been isolated from patients 2011 Event After scientists reviewed studies on cell phone safety, the World Health Organization classifies cell phone radiation as a carcinogenic hazard, possibly carcinogenic to humans 2011 Event A plan to prevent the spread of artemisinin-resistant malaria is launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 Event The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 is passed by the U.S. House of Representatives 1996 Death Helen Rosenthal, Teacher/health administrator, dies at 47 1994 Event Israel and PLO initialed accord giving autonomy to Palestinians in West Bank in education, health, taxation, social welfare and tourism 1994 Death Federica Montseny, anarchist and Spanish minister of Health (1936), dies at 80 1991 Death Kimberly Bergalis, got AIDS from health care worker, dies at 23 1991 Death Frank Yerby, U.S. writer (Health Card, The Dahomean), dies at 75 1989 Event Fins ministry of Public health installs sex vacation to thwart stress 1987 Death L. T. Coggeshall, medical scientist and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 1956 - 1958, dies at 86 1986 Event Federal health officials announce AZT will be available to AIDS patients 1980 Event Department of Health and Human Services begins operation 1980 Event World Health Organization announced smallpox had been eradicated 1966 Event All U.S. cigarette packs have to carry "Caution Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health" 1965 Event President Johnson signs a bill requiring cigarette makers to print health warnings on all cigarette packages about the effects of smoking 1964 Birthday Michael Johns, born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, health care executive, conservative policy analyst, former federal government official for the United States 1964 Event FTC rules health warnings must appear on all cigarette packages 1964 Event U.S. report "Smoking and Health" connects smoking to lung cancer 1964 Event 1st government report warning smoking may be hazardous to one's health 1958 Birthday Alan Milburn, born in Tow Law, County Durham, politician, Labor Party, Member of Parliament for Darlington, served in Cabinet as Secretary of State for Health, resigned, rejoined Cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1954 Birthday Michael O'Brien, born in Worcester, England, Mike O'Brien, politician, Labor Party, since 1992, serves as Member of Parliament for North Warwickshire, served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs, became Minister of State for Health Services, 2009 1953 Event Department of Health, Education and Welfare created 1953 Event Albert W. Dent, elected president of National Health Council 1953 Event Oveta Culp Hobby becomes 1st at Health, Education, and Welfare 1953 Event Department of Health, Education and Welfare established 1951 Birthday Earl Howe, born in England, British politician, Conservative, front bench member, House of Lords, Health spokesman 1950 Event Mental health wing of Mercy Hospital burns, kills 41 (Davenport Ia) 1949 Birthday Helen Rosenthal, British teacher/health administrator 1948 Event U.N.'s World Health Organization forms 1948 Event Britain's National Health Service Act begins 1948 Event World Health Organization forms by U.N. 1948 Birthday Virginia Bottomley, British minister of state health 1940 Birthday Anthony Fauci, U.S. health official 1939 Birthday Marian Wright-Edelman, health care president, Childrens Defense Fund 1938 Birthday Elizabeth H "Rina" Venter, South African minister of Health care 1935 Event 1st premature baby health law in U.S. (Chicago) 1934 Birthday Dame Anne Poole, chief nursing officer, Department of Health 1934 Birthday Christopher France, British permanent secretary, Department of Health 1933 Birthday Louis W. Sullivan, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 1989 - 1993 1932 Birthday Sister Vince Otto, mental health activist 1931 Birthday Margaret Heckler, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 1983-85 1930 Birthday Morag Timbury, director, Central Public Health Laboratory 1930 Birthday Robin Buchanan, CEO, NHS Supplies Auth, Wessex Regional Health Auth 1930 Event William Howard Taft, resigns as chief justice for health reasons 1927 Event Ban Johnson, in failing health, retires as AL president 1919 Birthday Richard Selwyn Francis Schiling, professor of occupational health 1918 Birthday Irene Vorrink, Dutch minister, health and environment 1918 Birthday Faye Glenn Abdellan, U.S. government official, health services 1918 Birthday Otis R Bowen, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 1985 - 1989 1913 Event Dutch 1st Chamber accepts Health laws 1912 Event British National Health Insurance Act goes into effect 1911 Birthday Richard Selwyn Francis Schiling, professor of occupational health 1905 Birthday Robert Houben, Belgian CVP-minister of Public health, 1958 1904 Death John Simon, public health pioneer, dies 1901 Birthday Rene Jules Dubos, France, U.S. microbiologist/author, Health and Disease 1866 Event New York Legislature forms New York City Metropolitan Board of Health 1855 Event Louisiana establishes 1st health board to regulate quarantine 1824 Birthday Elisha Harris, U.S., physician/found American Public Health Assoc 1821 Birthday Mary Baker Eddy, founded Christian Science, Science and Health 1798 Event U.S. Public Health Service forms and U.S. Marine Hospital authorized 1594 Birthday Johan van Beverwijck, Dutch physician/writer, Treasure of Health
