Latest KFF Health News Stories
What Should You Do In The Face Of Potential U.S. Coronavirus Outbreak? Keep Calm And Carry On
“Don’t let fear and emotion drive the response to this virus,” said Timothy Brewer of UCLA. The Washington Post spoke to epidemiology experts to find out what Americans should be doing as they watch nervously for more coronavirus cases. In other news: the mask industry is booming, but there’s no need for one if you’re a healthy adult; health workers question safety measures; a look at asymptomatic patients; and what social media sites are doing to combat misinformation.
Though the evidence to date suggests this virus doesn’t inflict severe disease on children, there’s reason to think kids may be helping to amplify transmission–just like they do during the regular flu season. Experts say that figuring out how the coronavirus interacts with children might be crucial in containing its spread.
There are currently no approved treatments for illnesses caused by coronaviruses, including the new one, known as COVID-19. Meanwhile, top FDA officials warn that potential treatments, like Gilead’s drug remdesivir, are going to come long before vaccines make it to market. Meanwhile, concerns about the drug supply into the United States heat up.
China is continuing to take measures to try to contain the rapidly spreading outbreak after there was a slight uptick in number of cases reported from the previous day.
A spike in HIV cases leading to a state of emergency was attributed to decisions made by then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Now that Pence is tapped by President Donald Trump to lead the federal COVID-19 response, critics wonder if he’s up to the task. Meanwhile, CDC Director Robert Redfield fends off a wave of criticism over how the agency handled the early days of the outbreak and a faulty CDC test that has left states unable to detect new cases.
Trump Downplays Americans’ Coronavirus Risk, Puts Pence In Charge Of Handling Outbreak Response
President Donald Trump’s messaging about just how low a risk Americans face was at odds with other top administration officials, who have warned in recent days that the virus is likely to be disruptive to Americans’ lives. “We can expect to see more cases in the United States,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar was quick to point out at the press conference. Health experts have been critical about the mixed messages. Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence said his role would be to work with the task force to bring the “best options for action” to the president and to “see to the safety and well-being and health of the American people.”
New California Coronavirus Case May Be First In U.S. Without A Link To Travel Abroad
The patient arrived at UC Davis Medical Center from another hospital on Feb. 19. The staff requested COVID-19 testing by the CDC, but because the patient didn’t fit the CDC’s existing criteria for the virus, a test wasn’t immediately administered. “We have been anticipating the potential for such a case in the U.S., and given our close familial, social and business relationships with China, it is not unexpected that the first case in the U.S. would be in California,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health.
First Edition: February 27, 2020
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Your School Assignment For The Day: Spelling And Specs
In California’s rural Central Valley, low-income children have limited access to vision care. School districts are teaming up with nonprofits to fill the gaps.
They Fell In Love Helping Drug Users. But Fear Kept Him From Helping Himself.
Sarah and Andy fell in love while working to keep drug users from overdosing. But when his own addiction reemerged, Andy’s fear of returning to prison kept him from the best treatment.
Watch: One Father’s Fight Against ‘Predatory’ Drug Price
“CBS This Morning” looks at the latest “Bill of the Month” installment. A drug implant for children has a price tag of $37,300, while one used in adults with the same active ingredient goes for $4,400.
Demócratas agudizan ataques al sistema de salud, al ritmo de las primarias
En el debate número 10 realizado en Charleston, Carolina del Sur, también se unieron para atacar al senador por Vermont Bernie Sanders, actual favorito.
Editorial pages focus on these health issues and others.
Opinion writers weigh in on issues surrounding efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Media outlets report on news from West Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina, California, Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, and Massachusetts.
Critics question the timing of opening a new facility and if it will provide oversight to prevent abuses at other sites. News on migrant crisis is from California, also.
A small study in England reinforces the idea that exercise should be part of the plan to lower weight. Some of the new exercisers, while saying they still like cookies, were less likely to want the cookie. Public health news is on food label information, rare diseases, clinical trial data, sodium in sports drinks, eating disorders, cognitive screening debate, and E. coli outbreaks, as well.
Stat obtained a copy of the 2016 deal that allowed Google to obtain valuable data stored in health records in order to develop algorithms while also taking precautions to protect data. Health technology news is also on Amazon’s joint venture.
“I will not prejudge where this investigation will lead,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement, “but we will follow every fact and are prepared to take strong action in conjunction with states across the nation to protect public health.”
CMS Axes New York’s Plan To Extend Its Medicaid Reform Program After State Asked For $8B In Funding
In denying New York’s request, the federal government is refusing to support the way the state is trying to change its delivery system to care for people in community medical facilities rather than in hospitals. It is rejecting the application but not eliminating funding that was already promised. Other Medicaid news comes from Minnesota and West Virginia.