First US Child May Have Died During Hepatitis Outbreak

Fox News: Wisconsin Reports First Death In U.S. Possibly Linked To Puzzling Hepatitis Outbreak In Children
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) issued a health alert this Wednesday regarding the first pediatric death in the United States possibly linked to the mysterious pediatric hepatitis outbreak and adenovirus, according to a recent statement. "Since being notified of this adenovirus-associated hepatitis cluster, DHS is now investigating at least four similar cases among children in Wisconsin. This includes two children who had severe outcomes, one liver transplant, and one fatality." (Sudhakar, 4/28)

CIDRAP: Wisconsin And California Probe Unexplained Hepatitis Cases, 1 Fatal
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) in an alert to clinicians said it is investigating at least four unexplained hepatitis cases in children, including one who needed a liver transplant and one who died. Also, California officials said today that they are investigating seven cases. The WDHS said it launched the investigation following a report from Alabama of nine similar cases, of which all five sequenced samples showed a possible connection to adenovirus type 41. Two of the Alabama children required liver transplants. News of the California cases was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, which cited the California Department of Health. The developments brings the number of US states reporting similar cases to five, which also includes North Carolina and Illinois. (4/28)

ABC News: Concerning Clusters Of Severe Hepatitis Cases In Children Being Investigated
Earlier this month, researchers in the United States and Europe announced they were investigating small clusters of the cases emerging across the globe. Soon after, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an alert to doctors and providers to be on the lookout for the unusual cases. Globally, around 170 cases have been identified, according to World Health Organization officials, with many of the children under the age of 10. “What is particularly unusual is that the majority of these children were previously healthy,” Dr. Philippa Easterbrook, a medical expert with the WHO's Global HIV Hepatitis and STI Programme, said during a press conference on Thursday. (Mitropoulos, 4/29)

CIDRAP: Canada Among Countries Probing Acute Hepatitis Cases In Children
Canadian health officials said yesterday that unexplained hepatitis cases have been identified in Canada and are under investigation, according to multiple Canadian media reports, which cited responses to queries from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).The reports did not say how many cases are under investigation or what provinces the affected children are from. So far, at least 14 countries have reported cases. (4/27)

Also —

AP: An Algorithm That Screens For Child Neglect Raises Concerns
Inside a cavernous stone fortress in downtown Pittsburgh, attorney Robin Frank defends parents at one of their lowest points – when they are at risk of losing their children. The job is never easy, but in the past she knew what she was up against when squaring off against child protective services in family court. Now, she worries she’s fighting something she can’t see: an opaque algorithm whose statistical calculations help social workers decide which families will have to endure the rigors of the child welfare system, and which will not. “A lot of people don’t know that it’s even being used,” Frank said. “Families should have the right to have all of the information in their file.” (Ho and Burke, 4/29)

WJCT News: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinets Saturday For Prescription Drug Take Back Day 
The 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is scheduled for Saturday at multiple locations around the state from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event offers a safe, convenient means of disposing of leftover medications while also educating the public about the potential for abuse. In Florida, 2.56% of all deaths are caused by drug overdoses, and Florida’s drug overdose death rate is 23.2% higher than the national average, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Association of Managing Entities, which represents nonprofits that oversee state and federal behavioral health systems. (Troncoso, 4/28)

Fox News: Drug Overdose Deaths Among Adolescents On The Rise
According to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, deadly overdoses among adolescents nearly doubled from 492 in 2019 to 954 in 2020. They jumped another 20% in 2021. George Youngblood, who has worked with Teen and Family Services in Houston, said the COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of children across the country in the same way that it did Lydia. "The more we isolated our kids without being able to do all the social-emotional learning that they needed to do, I think that the mental health crisis became so acute. They experienced anxiety and depression," Youngblood said. (Addison, 4/28)

On baby formula matters —

Bloomberg: Baby Formula Social-Media Pitches Undermine Breast Milk, WHO Says
Infant-formula makers use social media and influencers to target women and boost sales, undermining efforts to increase breastfeeding rates, according to a new study by the World Health Organization. Companies use personalized content through apps, paid influencers and advice forums to reach consumers, the WHO report said, adding these are often not recognizable as advertising. (Gretler, 4/28)

CNN: Whistleblower Alerted FDA To Alleged Safety Lapses At Baby Formula Plant Months Before Recalls, Complaint Shows
A former employee of Abbott Nutrition documented his concerns that the company was hiding safety problems at its Sturgis, Mich., production facility and sent a detailed complaint to the US Food and Drug Administration months before infant formula was removed from grocery store shelves. The complaint was released Thursday by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee. The congresswoman said she had received the complaint this week and called its allegations "extremely disturbing." (Goodman and Howard, 4/28)