Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Girls More Than Twice As Likely To Contract HIV, UNICEF Study Finds
The Washington Post: Girls Bear The Brunt Of New HIV Infections, Assessment Suggests
Girls are more than twice as likely to contract HIV than their male counterparts, a recent UNICEF analysis suggests. The agency says nearly 98,000 adolescent girls were infected with HIV in 2022 alone. The data, released as part of an annual snapshot on children and HIV/AIDS, suggests that gender inequality, limited access to health care and a dearth of educational programs put girls at particular risk for HIV worldwide. Although the analysis found “tremendous gains” in HIV prevention and treatment, it notes that 71 percent of new infections among adolescents ages 10 to 19 are among girls. (Blakemore, 12/17)
The Boston Globe: Health Care For The Homeless Slashed HIV Rates Among Drug Users
Three years ago, amid an alarming spike in HIV infections, Boston’s largest homeless service provider took what it called a “simple yet radical” approach to combating the virus’s spread among an especially vulnerable population of homeless drug users. Nurses with the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program fanned out on city streets and began handing out antiretroviral pills to people whom the nonprofit knew were infected with the disease and were struggling with substance use. Those unsure of whether they had HIV were tested for the virus outside — on street corners, park benches, and tent encampments — without ever needing to schedule a doctor’s appointment or set foot in a clinic. (Serres, 12/15)
Alerts issued for norovirus, salmonella, and more —
NBC News: Norovirus Outbreak Traced To North Carolina Sushi Restaurant Sickens 241
A norovirus outbreak linked to a North Carolina sushi restaurant has sickened at least 241 people since late last month, local health authorities said Thursday. Before falling ill, all the victims had visited Sushi Nine in Raleigh between Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, according to Wake County’s public health and environmental services departments. (Li, 12/15)
AP: Quaker Oats Recalls Granola Products Over Risk Of Salmonella Contamination
Quaker Oats on Friday recalled several of its granola products, including granola bars and cereals, saying the foods could be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella infections can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration. In rare cases, the bacterial disease can be fatal. Quaker, which is owned by PepsiCo, said in a news release that it has not received any reports of salmonella infections related to the recalled granola products. The full list of recalled foods includes granola oats cereals and Quaker Chewy Bars, which are also sold in PepsiCo’s snack mixes. (12/16)
The New York Times: Lead Levels In Children’s Applesauce May Be Traced To Cinnamon Additive
With dozens of children across the United States suffering from lead poisoning, federal regulators are now investigating whether the culprit is cinnamon that was added to some popular applesauce pouches, and if lead had been added somewhere along the global supply chain, either to enhance the spice’s reddish color or to add weight. In November, the Food and Drug Administration announced a national recall of three million pouches of cinnamon applesauce made in Ecuador and sold at dollar stores and other outlets under the WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis brand names. (Jewett and Creswell, 12/15)
KFF Health News: Mysterious Morel Mushrooms At Center Of Food Poisoning Outbreak
A food poisoning outbreak that killed two people and sickened 51, stemming from a Montana restaurant, has highlighted just how little is known about morel mushrooms and the risks in preparing the popular and expensive delicacy. The FDA conducted an investigation into morel mushrooms after the severe illness outbreak linked to Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman in late March and April. The investigation found that undercooked or raw morels were the likely culprit, and it led the agency to issue its first guidelines on preparing morels. (Larson, 12/18)
More health and wellness news —
Fox News: Brown Seaweed Consumption Could Help Type 2 Diabetes Management, Study Shows
Brown seaweed could be a great nutritional supplement for some diabetes patients. A new South Korean study, published in the journal Nutrients, revealed that eating certain algae could be a promising strategy for blood glucose management. Researchers at the Seoul National University of Science and Technology, within the Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, investigated how different diets have been recommended for type 2 diabetes management. (Stabile, 12/15)
The Wall Street Journal: Good News: You Don’t Have To Sleep With Your Spouse
Ever tried to get a good night’s sleep with your partner snoring or tossing around restlessly next to you? You’re gonna like this: Therapists and sleep scientists say it’s OK for couples to sleep apart as a growing body of research shows the striking importance of sleep. It’s a reversal from the long-held marriage tenet that once partners move to separate beds, the romance is dead. (Bernstein, 12/16)
The New York Times: Tongue Tie Surgery: Inside The Business Of Cutting Babies’ Tongues
Tess Merrell had breastfed three babies and never expected trouble with her fourth. But after a month of struggling with her newborn, she hired Melanie Henstrom for help. Ms. Henstrom, a lactation consultant, identified a culprit: The infant’s tongue was tethered to the bottom of her mouth. It was a common problem, she said, and could be fixed with a quick procedure at a dentist’s office. “It was touted as this miracle cure,” said Ms. Merrell, a high school soccer coach in Boise, Idaho. (Thomas, Kliff and Silver-Greenberg, 12/18)
