Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG said Thursday it has secured a $486 million contract to build a new flu vaccine plant in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granted the eight-year contract to build and run a vaccine manufacturing site in Holly Springs, North Carolina, Novartis said. The company said more than 300 people ...

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House on Wednesday approved a major expansion of federally funded health coverage for children - a measure that would slam cigar manufacturers in Tampa and across the country with a big tax increase.

The bill -- which passed on a mostly party-line 289-139 vote -- would authorize about $33 billion over the next 4 1/2 years to renew ...

A simple 15-minute walk can help prevent a cold this winter. A 2006 study of 115 women found that those who completed a daily 45-minute fitness routine got half the number of colds compared to those who were inactive. Moderate-intensity exercise may increase the immune-boosting cells that fight infection. But don’t overdo it: More than 90 minutes of exercise ...

Middle-aged people who drink moderate amounts of coffee significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a study by Finnish and Swedish researchers showed Thursday. "Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life," said lead ...