Firefighters from San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara have been helping battle massive wildfires in Los Angeles this month, but the job can take a toll. Heath experts say firefighters can face higher rates of physical and mental health issues.

Santa Barbara County Public Health has confirmed that two house cats in Goleta died from bird flu.

The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department has reported three cases of whooping cough in the past two weeks.

In a local effort to address the opioid crisis, San Luis Obispo County Health officials have placed more than 20 kits across the region that could save a person’s life during overdose.

As society grows more reliant on digital communication, some people might find it hard to keep up. The Santa Maria Public Library is holding one-on-one sessions to help community members learn basic tech skills, like setting up devices or communicating online.

UC Santa Barbara researchers are developing technology to help beachgoers predict when sharks might be in the water. Using drones, scientists tracked factors that could attract sharks, like water temperature, tides and time of day.

A Central Coast community has introduced a new kind of vending machine targeted in part at UC Santa Barbara students. Instead of candy and chips, this machine is filled with fentanyl test strips, emergency contraceptives, rapid HIV tests, and the anti-overdose drug Narcan.

A Central Coast healthcare strike has been averted after workers struck a deal with Adventist Health. The new agreement reportedly includes higher wages and improved family healthcare benefits.

Hundreds of nursing assistants, emergency room staff and other healthcare workers have voted to authorize a strike against Adventist Health.

Valley Fever is caused by inhaling a soil fungus called Coccidioides. It can lead to symptoms like cough and fever.