Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Evacuations As Train With Hazardous Waste Derails, Catches Fire In Iowa
The New York Times: Train In Iowa With Hazardous Materials Derails, Prompting Evacuation
About 80 people in a city in northwest Iowa were evacuated on Sunday afternoon after part of a Union Pacific train hauling hazardous materials derailed and then caught fire, officials said. The derailment of about 47 cars took place around 2 p.m. in Sibley, said Robynn Tysver, a spokeswoman for Union Pacific. By 3 p.m., local officials had texted an evacuation order to people nearby, citing “HAZMAT train derailment and fire.” (Paybarah, 5/16)
Fox News: E.Coli Outbreak In Washington State May Be Linked To Fresh Produce, Officials Say
An outbreak of E.coli that has affected residents across multiple counties in Washington state is possibly linked to fresh produce, said health officials. As of Wednesday, there have been at least six E.coli cases across four Washington state counties, with three of those cases occurring in King County, according to a news release from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). The cases range in age from 0-79, with two of the six confirmed cases occurring in the 10-19 age group. At least three people have been hospitalized as a result, and at least one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which health officials described as a "serious complication" of an E. coli infection that can lead to damage of the kidneys and other organs. (Farber, 5/15)
AP: Officials: Fentanyl Overdoses Spreading Across Georgia
Fentanyl overdoses, including by people taking pills falsely sold to them as Xanax or Percocet, are spreading across Georgia. Officials say they have found clusters in the Savannah and Columbus areas after an initial set of cases was found mostly around Augusta. (5/16)
Coastal Review Online: House OK's Limits On PFAS Firefighting Foams
Legislation to tighten requirements on the use of firefighting foam with per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, including a statewide ban on its use in training, passed the North Carolina House last week in a 112-0 vote. House Bill 355 represents the first legislated restrictions on the use of PFAS in the state. It follows similar attempts in prior sessions to limit the use of aqueous film-forming foams, or AFFF, containing PFAS. (Ross, 5/15)
Oklahoman: OKC Denies Permit For Outdoor Concert After Nearby Hospital Objects
Oklahoma City denied a noise permit for an upcoming outdoor concert after a behavioral hospital neighboring the venue raised concerns that the music would disrupt its patients. It’s now unclear what that means for the concert, which is set for May 28 at Redlands Music Park in northern Oklahoma City with headliner Subtronics, a dubstep artist, as part of the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour. The courtyards of Oakwood Springs, a 72-bed behavioral hospital, overlook the venue. Jayne Van Bramer, CEO of Oakwood Springs, said she was thrilled after learning that the noise permit was denied Thursday. (Branham, 5/16)
Health News Florida: Bill Targeting COVID-19 Website Scams Sent To DeSantis
A bill that would crack down on people who make false claims about COVID-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment was formally sent Thursday to Gov. Ron DeSantis.The bill (HB 9), a priority of House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, stems from people using authentic-looking websites that falsely offer access to vaccines or personal protective equipment. (5/14)
Charleston Gazette-Mail: Legislature To Study Mental Hygiene Process In Interim
Sheriff’s departments have long been overwhelmed by their mental hygiene order responsibilities, but a bill to help ease their burden by removing the medical clearance requirement died in the session as lawmakers with real-world experience expressed concern. Lawmakers are now using the interim to study the problem. Sheriff’s departments are the sole entity responsible for executing mental hygiene orders. Deputies execute the order, transporting patients to psychiatric facilities sometimes across the state. But before they are taken to the psychiatric facility, patients must be medically cleared — something that has to happen at a hospital. This can result in hours of waiting with patients. (Stuck, 5/16)
KQED: Decriminalizing Psychedelic Drugs In California: As Senate Considers Bill, Debate Continues
A bill to decriminalize psychedelic drugs is currently being considered by the California state legislature. Senate Bill 519, introduced by State Senator Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco), would allow doctors to prescribe psychedelics for treating mental health disorders such as depression and PTSD. It would also allow psychedelics for personal use, and expunge criminal records for people with prior convictions for possession. Earlier this week, the journal Nature Medicine published results of a study using the psychedelic drug MDMA, known as ecstasy, to treat post-traumatic stress disorder among research participants who received the drug. Along with counseling, 67% felt their condition had improved to the extent that they no longer qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD. (Dembosky and Sarah, 5/16)
KHN: Homicides Surge In California Amid Covid Shutdowns Of Schools, Youth Programs
Amid a pandemic that left law enforcement agencies stretched thin and forced shutdowns that left young men with little to do, California registered a devastating surge in homicides in 2020 that hit especially hard in Black and Latino communities. The number of homicide victims in California jumped 27% from 2019 to 2020, to about 2,300, marking the largest year-over-year increase in three decades, according to preliminary death certificate data from the California Department of Public Health. (Reese, 5/17)
