United States: The total annual carbon dioxide emissions from unnecessary imaging scans for Medicare patients reaches 129 metric kilotons, which could operate a community of 70,000 people for one year. 

Unnecessary Imaging Scans 

As per the researcher Elizabeth Rula, executive director of the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute in Reston, VA, “Our analysis demonstrates the potential to meaningfully reduce our carbon footprint by decreasing unnecessary imaging orders,” US News reported. 

Research analysis was conducted to examine image scanning data from traditional Medicare programs that supported around 30 million patients from 2017 to 2021. 

Previous research indicates that around 26% of imaging tests given to Medicare beneficiaries should not have been prescribed. 

Carbon Emissions 

Researchers conducted a study review to evaluate the number of wasteful imaging procedures while determining related carbon dioxide emission levels. 

All imaging scans produced immense carbon dioxide emissions where MRIs reached 136 kilotons, CT scans reached 178 kilotons, X-rays yielded 46 kilotons, and ultrasounds created 23 kilotons, according to study results. 

As per the lead researcher, Dr. Gregory Cavanagh, a resident at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, the high-end estimates “also included the energy required when the scanners are in standby mode or in production phase between scans,” US News reported. 

Research findings indicate that eliminating unnecessary imaging scans would decrease carbon dioxide emissions to 129 kilotons. The research team found that superfluous CT scans produced fifty percent of these excessive emissions, alongside superfluous MRI procedures accounting for another quarter. 

Additionally, “Emissions are likely to continue to increase given sustained increases in overall imaging volumes over the past decade, and the potential for further increases related to climate-change related exposures and events,” as the researcher Dr. Julia Schoen, who is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor, MI stated. 

United States: The state health department has confirmed four current cases of measles within Tennessee. 

The Tennessee Department of Health declared the first official measles case on March 21. 

More about the news 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tennessee belongs to the group of 20 jurisdictions reporting measles cases. 

Health officials have updated their count to four confirmed measles cases because three patients received new diagnoses. 

The second confirmed measles case links directly to the first detected case, as per health department records, wkrn.com reported. 

The Tennessee Department of Health has not shared additional information regarding positive measles cases with the public. 

According to the health department, all recovering patients with newly confirmed measles cases remain in their home environments. 

Public health officials dedicate efforts to determining more potential sites where the virus has been transmitted to diverse individuals. 

CDC Reports Nationwide Measles Spike 

Of all confirmed measles cases in the United States reported on March 27, the CDC identified 483 cases distributed across Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington. 

Texas holds the top position for active cases at 422, as per reporting from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. 

Roughly 42 patients needed hospital care because of Texas’s measles outbreak, and one schoolchild passed away from the disease. 

The measles outbreak has triggered two deaths, as confirmed by state health officials, wkrn.com reported. 

Vaccination Clinics Canceled  

Because of the immediate loss of federal public health grant funding, Mayor Freddie O’Connell, together with Dr. Joanna Shaw-KaiKai of the Metro Public Health Department, made the decision to cancel multiple upcoming MMR vaccine clinics. 

The budget cuts disrupted the MPHD Strike Team’s vaccination service delivery system to areas requiring medical support. 

Additionally, “Disruptions like these can cause real public health issues as any one person who is unvaccinated is more susceptible to contracting and spreading the disease they would have otherwise been protected against,” Shaw-KaiKai noted. 

United States: Dr. Peter Marks, the leading FDA vaccine official, resigned from his role while expressing disagreement with the nation’s health leader who let false information steer his vaccine safety decisions. 

Resigrantion over misinformation conflict 

Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner received Dr. Peter Marks’ retirement notice as head of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research before his transition date of April 5. 

The Associated Press obtained a notification from Marks that displayed his willingness to join forces with him on vaccine safety matters, according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

“It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” he noted. 

The FDA sources say Marks got two options from Kennedy: to step down voluntarily or to be terminated from his position. Although Kennedy delivered statements against vaccine misinformation at his Senate confirmation hearings, he maintained a continuous history of spreading such misinformation. 

🚨🇺🇸 RFK JR. REMOVES FDA VACCINE CHIEF PUSHING ‘MISINFORMATION AND LIES’

RFK Jr. has removed Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine official, after Marks refused to align with the administration’s new transparency standards.

Marks was given the option to resign or be fired.… https://t.co/pJ5Gd0wGkh pic.twitter.com/lQOM5fZcOq

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 29, 2025

Kennedy gave his word to the Senate Health Committee chairperson that he would maintain all current vaccine recommendations without alteration. 

Under his new position as secretary, Kennedy announced he would review vaccine safety, although evidence has demonstrated childhood vaccines to be protected for many years and that they have successfully saved numerous lives. 

Mark administered a rapid vaccine and treatment review process for COVID-19 under his FDA leadership during the pandemic. 

Through his leadership, Marks created both the name and the conceptual framework for “Operation Warp Speed,” which President Donald Trump established to accelerate vaccine production before complete safety and effectiveness testing. 

Trump launched attacks at the FDA many times over their delayed approval of early COVID vaccines, although the operation achieved its intended success. 

Breaking News: The top vaccine official at the FDA abruptly resigned, saying that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “misinformation and lies” were irresponsible. https://t.co/ZPFjXmxXkn

— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 29, 2025

Donald Trump argued to his close advisors that receiving COVID-19 vaccines before the 2020 Election Day would have secured his reelection as president. 

Furthermore, “RFK Jr.’s firing of Peter Marks because he wouldn’t bend a knee to his misinformation campaign now allows the fox to guard the hen house,” Offit stated. 

“It’s a sad day for America’s children,” he maintained.