Deb Balzer (@DebBalzer)
Deb Balzer is a Senior Communications Specialist at Mayo Clinic. She began her career as a TV news producer in Rochester, NY, before joining CONUS Communications, a pioneering national news satellite organization. She also field produced for ABC, CNN, the Rachael Ray Show and Farmers’ Almanac TV. Joining Mayo Clinic in 2015, Deb writes, produces and collaborates on medical stories with Mayo Clinic’s leading experts, providing trusted health and medical information to help patients.
Spring break is underway for millions of people in the U.S. and around the world. What does that mean for travelers given the COVID-19 outbreak?[...]
"We are moving toward SARS-CoV-2 being a pandemic virus," says Dr. Gregory Poland, director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. The virus has been named[...]
Flu activity in the U.S. remains high and is expected to continue for weeks. So far this flu season, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention estimates 29 million flu[...]
The flu vaccine is a good match for the 2019–2020 flu season, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Efficacy of the vaccine[...]
Falling ill with food poisoning can ruin any gathering. More than a dozen multistate foodborne disease outbreaks occurred in 2019, ranging from contaminated basil and[...]
Plant-based burgers have soared in popularity over the past couple of years. Are these meat alternatives healthier for you than the real thing? Introducing more[...]
Washing your hands with warm soap and water is one of the most effective ways to prevent illness, especially during cold and flu season. Hand[...]
The seasonal flu virus has made a widespread appearance across the U.S., just in time for heavy holiday travel. Most flu illnesses are being caused[...]
At this time of year, cold and flu season mixes with holiday shopping, parties and travel. That means extra opportunities to share holiday cheer —[...]
U.S. children who travel abroad are not getting the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine before they travel to protect them from ongoing measles outbreaks,[...]
Tick-borne diseases in the U.S. have tripled in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study says a warming climate and[...]
Butter is a dairy product, made from the milk or cream of a cow. Margarine is made from vegetable oil. They may look similar and[...]