Health & Wellness News

Coronavirus cases have spiked over the past few weeks — nationally and locally — putting people at risk for long COVID. The condition can have people feeling tired and sick for more than three months.

A listeria outbreak has a major food company recalling deli meats across the county, including here in the Lehigh Valley. An infectious disease doctor explains the signs and symptoms of the foodborne illness.

1 in 4 menstruating students in the Allentown School District have missed class time because of the lack of access to period products. Funding for free menstrual products for students was approved in the 2024-2025 state budget.

The merger of Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health is now complete. The two closed the deal Thursday morning, creating a regional hospital system that oversees 30 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient care sites.

The Lehigh County coroner says the average age of people dying from suicide is getting older. He says his office is tracking the data in an effort to provide more outreach efforts.

Deli meat company Boar's Head has recalled 7 million more pounds of meats potentially affected by a listeria outbreak less than a week after the initial recall.

An Easton-area couple brought home numerous medals from the 2024 Transplant Games of America. They are among seven athletes from Northampton and Lehigh counties who participated.

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a new law that will regulate pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. It's intended to save local pharmacies from closing and save patients money on prescription medications.

Allentown School District will partner with Valley Health Partners Community Vision Center during the 2024-25 academic year to offer students comprehensive eye exams. More than 2,300 students failed vision tests last year.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild touted her bill that she says would protect fertility rights. She held a news conference at the nation's Capitol on World IVF Day this week.

According to Oasis founder Rhonda Miller, the nonprofit agency has assisted around 3,800 participants annually in various groups, programs and events. That number represents about 500 unique families, she said.

Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton have teamed up with Lehigh Valley Health Network to make the Lehigh Valley a Blue Zone. The initiative was launched this week and will take the next few years to earn the certification.

Pennsylvania now has 10 presumed cases of the coronavirus, mostly in the Philadelphia area.

At the Shamrock Reins farm in Bucks County, WLVR’s K.C. Lopez reports organizers are working on prevention -- using equine therapy.

Pennsylvania now has seven presumed cases of the coronavirus, mostly in the Philadelphia area. That’s up from two cases on Friday.

Bucks County tests come back negative for the coronavirus in case of people exposed at at private gathering.

New CDC guidelines say employees shouldn’t go to work if they’re feeling sick to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Gov. Tom Wolf held a press conference Friday morning and confirmed the first two presumptive positive cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pennsylvania.

Bethlehem-based Lehigh University has cancelled its study-abroad program in Italy.

Pennsylvania is now able to test for coronavirus. The health department announced yesterday [Tuesday] that samples will be processed by a state lab in Exton.

Heath officials across the greater Lehigh Valley are keeping an eye on recent international travelers to countries with coronavirus outbreaks. 

Local Lehigh Valley colleges are confronting the risk of infection for students studying overseas and traveling for spring break.

The Pennsylvania Health Department may start conducting its own lab tests for the coronavirus later this week. Currently the CDC is handling all testing for the virus. 

There are no cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania. But officials across the Lehigh Valley are getting ready as cases pop up in a handful of other states.