Health

Axios -  The U.S. spends more on health care than almost any other country. But patients increasingly are getting less in return, and enduring long waits to get less face time with their clinician, Axios' Tina Reed writes.

• An Axios-Ipsos survey last month found that nearly 1 in 5 respondents said they had to wait more than two months to see a primary care physician or specialist, with waits trending longest in the Midwest.
• The most frequently cited specialties with long wait times included neurology (26%); ear, nose, and throat (26%); psychiatry (20%); and OB/GYN (17%). Primary care stood at 19%, per electronic health records company Tebra.

There's been across-the-board growth in patient volumes, largely from pent-up demand for services many put off during the pandemic. At the same time, tens of thousands of doctors have left the field due to burnout and other factors, and surveys indicate even more plan to retire early. Share this story .

CNN - Each year, 1 in 10 people get sick by eating unsafe food — and about 46% of these cases of foodborne illness come from eating vegetables and fruit.

Washington Post - Updated coronavirus vaccines are costing some Americans up to $200. The federal program covering the cost of vaccines for uninsured people ran out of funding. It comes as updated coronavirus vaccines are hitting U.S. pharmacy shelves. Only around 22% of adults are staying up-to-date on the vaccines.  MORE

NPR - Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. They can also be a serious health concern. The insects love heat and as summers get warmer, the U.S., Europe and South and Central America have seen mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus, Zika, malaria and dengue rise. Here are some tips to protect yourself.

🦟 Avoid going outdoors from dusk until dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
🦟 When outside during their most active times, cover up with long pants and sleeves so there’s less exposed skin for them to nip at.
🦟 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using insect repellent in the form of sticks, lotions and unpressurized sprays for kids. Avoid products combining repellent with sunscreen.
🦟 Mosquitoes love to breed in standing water. Make sure to empty any containers that could attract them.

Click here for more ways to protect yourself from a potentially infectious mosquito bite.