US and Mexican health officials are investigating an outbreak of fungal meningitis, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a travel advisory warning Americans who have recently had surgery involving epidural anaesthesia in Matamoros, urging them to seek medical advice if they show signs of infection. Both US and Mexican officials are investigating the source of the infections, and whether the cases are linked; agencies have also advised that physicians across America should be warned about the cases and to offer guidance on managing potential cases. Matamoros is one of the many destinations for the booming medical tourism business south of the US border.
Experts say that a cluster of cases of heart inflammation in newborn babies caused by catching enterovirus may be linked to Covid lockdowns. A total of 15 newborn babies; 10 in Wales and 5 in England, have been identified with sepsis, a symptom of myocarditis, after catching coxsackievirus. Health officials are reassuring parents that enterovirus infections are common in children and myocarditis and sepsis are extremely rare side-effects that are no more likely now than they ever have been. A senior Whitehall source told The Telegraph that myocarditis from enterovirus has been declared a “national incident” following Public Health Wales detecting the spike of five cases in November 2022. The alert put out is for clinicians and professionals to be aware of the developments to improve detection and try to get early-stage drugs to sick children. One of the few silver linings out of the Covid pandemic, Dr Liz Whittaker, a consultant in paediatric infectious diseases at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said, is that a bunch of early-stage antivirals were tested, and now have safety data, which opens up possibilities for trying them on different illnesses.
Former Immunomedics CFO pleads guilty to insider trading
Reuters
23-05-17 21:12
The former CFO of biotechnology company Immunomedics has pleaded guilty to insider trading. Usama Malik admitted to one charge of securities fraud in relation to sharing nonpublic information about a new breast cancer drug with his then-girlfriend Lauren Wood. Prosecutors said Malik told Wood before an April 2020 public announcement that the FDA would let Immunomedics halt its trial of Trodelvy because the drug had been effective. Wood, a former Immunomedics communications chief, bought 7,000 shares and sold them three months later for a $213,618 profit. Malik faces up to 20 years in prison and a $5m fine, with his sentencing scheduled for 18 September.
Texas is set to become the largest state to ban gender-affirming care for children under the age of 18 as lawmakers pass the bill for Republican Governor Greg Abbott's signature. The move, which has been opposed by Democrats and medical organisations including the American Medical Association, would make Texas the eighteenth state to enact such a directive. The announcement is part of a nationwide trend of bills highlighting a conflict between those who believe that gender is a biological construct and those who recognise gender as an identity.
The province of British Columbia will spend three times more on radiation therapy for cancer patients in the US than it would at home, excluding travel costs, according to the province. Beginning on 29 May 2021 and for patients requiring five fractions of radiation therapy, the cost of treatment would be $3,854 at home compared to $12,277 at two private clinics in Bellingham. The programme aims to mitigate unacceptable waiting times at home, and the ministry of health plans to set aside up to CAD39m ($32m) per year for the initiative.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced her reshuffled cabinet, which includes a number of changes to areas facing increased pressure ahead of an election period. No backbenchers will be promoted under this shakeup, and no current cabinet members will be removed. Former housing minister Leeanne Enoch will take responsibility for Treaty, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, while former Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard will take on the environment and science portfolios. Craig Crawford will front Child Safety, alongside his Seniors and Disability Services role.
The US Federal Trade Commission has requested information from Zinc Health Services and Ascent Health Services, two drug rebate negotiation companies working on behalf of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in its ongoing investigation into how PBMs influence drug pricing. Zinc works for CVS Health, while Ascent deals with Cigna Group's Express Scripts and Prime Therapeutics. PBMs act as third-party intermediaries in drug purchasing. They negotiate rebates and fees, determine prescription coverage and reimburse pharmacies. The FTC's enquiry aims to uncover potentially “unfair PBM practices”.
A sport injury summit in Chicago focused on the latest developments in concussion diagnosis and care, with presentations from medical professionals and soccer officials from the US, the Premier League, the English Football Association and World Rugby attending. The summit was organised by the United Soccer League, Major League Soccer, the National Women's Soccer League and US Soccer, and drew experts aiming to build on the earlier International Conference on Concussion in Sport, held in the Netherlands in 2016. During the first day of the latest conference, little attention focused on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a dangerous brain condition linked to concussion.
Prostate cancer screening should be limited to men with urological symptoms or those in high-risk groups, according to international experts, whose new data shows that it can lead to both overdiagnosis and harm to patients. In the UK, there is no national prostate cancer screening programme, but men can ask for an asymptomatic check if they are over 50. Instead, the team of researchers believe testing should be based on a targeted risk-based early detection programme, or doctors should only administer it to those with symptoms.
8-year-old girl dies in Border Patrol custody in Harlingen, Texas, as agency seeks to ease crowding
The Toronto Star
23-05-18 04:53
An 8-year-old girl died whilst in Border Patrol custody in Harlingen, Texas, with the agency citing a “medical emergency.” The agency has not disclosed the nationality of the girl or any other details about the tragedy. Her death is uncommon within the agency, which is currently struggling with overcrowding; there were 28,717 people in the Border Patrol’s custody on 10 May, which was double compared to two weeks earlier, according to a court filing. The average time in custody was 77 hours, while the agency policy calls for detention periods no longer than 72 hours.
The New Hampshire House of Representatives will vote on a bill to create a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” that would require school officials, when asked by parents, to disclose whether their child is using a different name or gender to their biological sex. The proposal highlights a growing national debate surrounding transgender students and parental rights. Republican supporters argue the bill empowers a partnership between parents and teachers to most effectively help vulnerable children navigate situations that may involve life-altering decisions. Opponents argue the bill exposes students to the risk of abuse at home and does not allow adolescents the time needed for thoughtfulness and care. Similar bills have been passed in Republican-led legislatures around the US.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed bills into law that prohibit gender-affirming care for under-18s, restrict school pronoun use and force people to use bathrooms corresponding with the sex they were assigned at birth. Drag show restrictions were also signed into law, allowing the revocation of food and drink licences of businesses hosting adult performances while admitting children. The legislation takes effect immediately. A total of at least 17 states have now passed laws prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors, despite opposition from medical groups and LGBTQ+ advocates, with judges blocking proposed laws in Alabama and Arkansas.
Three consecutive editorials in China's People's Daily have expressed concern that the country's demographic crisis could hit its economic growth. It follows China's population falling to 1.41 billion last year, marking its first decline in six decades after a record low birth rate of 6.77 per 1,000 people. The editorials supported President Xi Jinping’s vision to create a “talent dividend” by ensuring the development of individuals and boosting education. However, Professor Yuan Xin of Nankai University's School of Economics said there is a growing disadvantage in terms of population size and migration, optimisation of human capital, “will finally become quiet”.
Magic mushroom dispensary with Ontario-based owners opens in Winnipeg's Osborne Village
CBC
23-05-18 10:00
Magic Mush, a psychedelic retail operation, has opened in Osborne Village, Winnipeg. The store is the first in Manitoba and one of many illegal magic mushroom dispensaries to open across the country, challenging existing laws on the substance. The substances contained in magic mushrooms are classified as Schedule III substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, making their production, sale and possession illegal in Canada. Despite this, several other magic mushroom dispensaries have opened in Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, London and Hamilton. Law enforcement has so far not taken any action against the stores.
Taiwan is still hoping to receive an invitation to the World Health Organisation’s annual assembly, which commences on 21 May in Geneva, despite China still opposing the invitation of the democratically governed island. Despite opposition, several of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies have issued statements offering support for their participation, allowing for several bilateral meetings with the country. In response to China blocking Taiwan’s World Health Assembly participation in 2017, Taiwan pursued a diplomatic campaign to attend the global health forum as an observer. Researchers have suggested that Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO could have hindered efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken in Toronto has received a conditional pass from Toronto Public Health, alleging two major breaches of food safety regulations. The regulatory body aims to ensure that food preparation outlets maintain cleanliness and adhere to standards of hygiene. Failure to comply with Toronto’s DineSafe program can result in fines and other enforcement action.
Private healthcare is costing twice as much as public healthcare in Quebec, while a CBC report has revealed that public hospitals are paying private agencies up to eight times the standard rate for their services. This discrepancy has been made worse by the Ford government’s refusal to elevate nurse One’s $37.10 an hour pay grade, instead capping wage hikes at 1% since 2019, while private nurses are earning around double. This trend is pitting public interest against private enterprise and has the potential to be the political scandal that damages Premier Doug Ford’s government.
Nova Scotia looks to get physician assistants into primary-care clinics
CBC
23-05-18 09:00
Nova Scotia has launched a pilot program that allows physician assistants to work more frequently in emergency departments to improve patient access to care. Four PAs will be added to emergency and family physician practices across the Dalhousie Academic Family Health Teams to support physician care. Many Canadian provinces have restricted PAs' scope of practice, while others have been trained for several years, so it can be challenging to integrate PAs into different provinces. Tara Sampalli, a senior director with Nova Scotia Health, recently stated, "If you're able to build [physician assistants] into the primary-care practices, we'd be able to see more people. We'll be able to see more people sooner and get [them] the care they need." The first three PAs were added to Nova Scotia in 2019 to work specifically in the QEII Health Sciences Centre’s orthopedic surgery division, with two of the three having been trained in the United States. Nova Scotia has evaluated whether PAs can help resolve chronic primary health-care issues and improve healthcare for all Nova Scotians.
Climate change poses a grave risk to global health as it endangers both human life through extreme weather conditions and the environment in which animals habitually live. In turn, increased temperatures and altered environments are heightening the risk of outbreaks of deadly diseases as disease-carrying animals and insects migrate to survive in new environments. While the changes leave all make humans vulnerable to disease, northern regions of the planet are particularly at risk of developing epidemic outbreaks. There is an urgent need to invest in battling climate change, as it not only harms human life but threatens the conservation of many animal species.
Princess of Wales urges children to learn mental health skills for life
Telegraph
23-05-18 14:27
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton visited mental health charity Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in north London to launch its new mental health services for schools on Monday. Part of its Mentally Healthy Schools scheme, the programme, called School in Your Pocket, provides access to online mental health resources and a new website to help raise awareness of issues surrounding mental health for schoolchildren, parents and teachers. The resources have been designed to complement the Mental Health Foundation’s annual Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May), which this year focuses on stress.
