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Michelle Obama, agriculture secretary visit Alexandria, Va., school, tour its vegetable garden

Michelle Obama visits Va. school, tours garden

CDC estimates swine flu toll at 22 million sickened, nearly 4,000 killed since April

CDC’s swine flu toll: 4,000 dead, 22 million ill

Gov’t now estimates swine flu has sickened 22 million in US since April, killed nearly 4,000

CDC: Swine flu has sickened 22 million in 6 months

UNICEF says hunger causes stunted growth in early 200 million children around the world

UN says hunger stunts some 200 million children

UNICEF: Nearly 200 million children are undernourished and have stunted growth

UN: 200 million kids have stunted growth

LONDON — Nearly 200 million children in poor countries have stunted growth because they don’t get enough to eat, according to a new report published Wednesday by UNICEF.

Judge says autistic first-grader can keep helper dog in class under Illinois law

Judge’s ruling allows autism helper dog in class

No long lines, no cries of injustice; Europe has more orderly approach to swine flu shots

In Europe, most swine flu shots by invitation only

UN says it needs $39 billion to fight the leading killer of children: Pneumonia

UN: $39 billion needed for pneumonia

LONDON — To fight pneumonia, the world’s top killer of children, United Nations officials say they need $39 billion (€26.35 billion) over the next six years.

Cluster of Calif. teen suicides spurs community’s anguish, questions, random acts of kindness

Anguish over California teen suicides spurs action

CDC reports largest one-week increase in swine flu deaths of children; now at 114

CDC: Swine flu kids’ deaths jump to 114

ATLANTA — Swine flu has caused at least 19 more children’s deaths — the largest one-week increase since the pandemic started in April, health officials said Friday.

WHO experts say single dose of swine flu vaccine enough in adults, older children

WHO experts: Single dose swine flu vaccine enough

Controversy over flu vaccine as Dutch scientists say kids should skip it, but others disagree

Dutch scientists: Kids should skip flu vaccine

Health experts reject Dutch scientists’ suggestion that kids should skip seasonal flu shot

Health experts: Kids should get seasonal flu shot

WHO says swine flu deaths rise to nearly 5,000 worldwide

GENEVA — Nearly 5,000 people have reportedly died from swine flu since it emerged this year and developed into a global epidemic, the World Health Organization said Friday.

Senate sends Obama agriculture spending bill boosting aid to dairy farmers, food stamp program

WASHINGTON — Dairy farmers suffering from low milk prices would benefit from $350 million in emergency funding approved by the Senate on Thursday as it cleared a $121 billion agriculture spending bill for President Barack Obama’s signature.

Nutrition, food stamp, dairy programs among winners in spending bill

WASHINGTON — Nutrition, food stamp and dairy aid programs were among the winners as the House on Wednesday approved a $121 billion agriculture spending bill for the 2010 budget year.

Many low-income children still can’t find dental care despite Medicaid improvements

WASHINGTON — Two years after a 12-year-old Maryland boy died from an untreated tooth infection, low-income kids continue to face barriers to dental care despite state and federal efforts to improve access, government investigators said Wednesday.

1 in 100 US children has Autism : Government Study

Government finds higher autism figure: 1 in 100

Schwarzenegger signs bill to prevent low-income Calif. kids from losing health coverage

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill that will prevent nearly 700,000 low-income children from losing health insurance.

Multinationals selling baby formula in Vietnam break milk law meant to promote breastfeeding

HANOI, Vietnam — Multinational companies in Vietnam sell baby formula so aggressively that they routinely stretch and sometimes break laws designed to promote breastfeeding, an AP investigation has found.

Singer Paul Simon tries to lend a little harmony to raucous health care debate

WASHINGTON — Singer-songwriter Paul Simon tried to lend a little harmony to the raucous health care debate Wednesday by pushing for a health care overhaul with Democratic leaders of Congress.

National commission makes first round of recommendations to help children during disasters

WASHINGTON — A national commission focused on children’s needs is calling for first responders to carry medical equipment and supplies suited for kids.

Parents warn that disabled kids face rationing, but advocates say services would improve

WASHINGTON — A group of parents who oppose President Barack Obama’s plan for revamping health care said Tuesday it would lead to rationing for children with life-threatening disabilities. National advocates for the disabled immediately rejected the claim that echoed this summer’s dispute over “death panels.”

Number of uninsured rise to 46.3 million; poverty rate hits 13.2 percent, an 11-year high

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans without health insurance rose to 46.3 million last year as people began losing jobs and coverage in the current recession. The poverty rate hit 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.

In Pakistan’s Swat, officials resume polio vaccination for children, once banned by Taliban

ISLAMABAD — Authorities in Pakistan’s Swat Valley have resumed vaccinating children for polio, an act once banned by Taliban militants, now beaten back by an army offensive.

Nearly 1 in 5 older Americans believed to be in poverty _ almost double the official rate

WASHINGTON — The poverty rate among older Americans could be nearly twice as high as the traditional 10 percent level, according to a revision of a half-century-old formula for calculating medical costs and geographic variations in the cost of living.

US youth fare poorly in OECD survey of childhood welfare, despite above-average spending

PARIS — American youths suffer among the industrialized world’s worst rates of infant mortality, teenage pregnancy and child poverty, even though the United States spends more per child than better-performing countries such as Switzerland, Japan and the Netherlands, a new survey indicates.

US fares poorly in OECD survey of childhood welfare, despite above-average spending

PARIS — America has some of the industrial world’s worst rates of infant mortality, teenage pregnancy and child poverty, even though it spends more per child than better-performing countries such as Switzerland, Japan and the Netherlands, a new survey indicates.