In A First, Colorado To Legalize Right-To-Repair For Electric Wheelchairs

Colorado Sun: Colorado To Become First State With Right-To-Repair Law For Powered Wheelchairs
Julie Jennings needs a new seat cushion cover for her powered wheelchair. She can’t order the new cover directly from the manufacturer and make the fix herself. Instead, she must go through one of the company’s providers. The manufacturer treats seat cushions as durable medical equipment like walkers or canes that must go through proper FDA-approved repairs. “The technology is velcro and a zipper,” Jennings said. “I think I can handle that.” A bill on its way to Gov. Jared Polis could make it a lot easier for Jennings and other powered-wheelchair users to repair their equipment. House Bill 1031 would require manufacturers to make parts, tools, repair manuals and digital access available to powered wheelchair owners and independent repairers at reasonable prices. (Fleming, 5/10)

In other news from Colorado —

The Colorado Sun: Colorado Lawmakers Reject Effort To Ban Sale Of Flavored Tobacco, Nicotine
A heavily lobbied, bipartisan effort to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol cigarettes, in Colorado was rejected by a state Senate committee Tuesday morning, punting the issue back to cities and counties. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 5-2 to reject House Bill 1064, with Democratic Sens. Robert Rodriguez and Rachel Zenzinger joining the three Republicans on the committee in voting against the measure. The legislation, which was aimed at reducing teen tobacco and nicotine use, faced slim odds of becoming law due to opposition from Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who said that he would prefer the issue to be regulated at the local level. (Paul and Najmabadi, 5/10)

In updates on the hepatitis outbreak —

The Boston Globe: Massachusetts Confirms State’s First Two Cases Of Unexplained Hepatitis In Children
Massachusetts is investigating two cases of pediatric hepatitis of unknown origin, the state’s first such cases since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a nationwide health alert April 21 asking doctors to look out for unexplained cases of liver damage in children. States have been watching for the condition since October, when five previously healthy young children with significant liver injury were identified in Alabama. The CDC said Friday it was tracking 109 children in 25 states and territories with the condition. The World Health Organization has reported cases in at least 11 countries, including more than 100 cases in the United Kingdom and a dozen each in Spain and Israel. (Bartlett, 5/10)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Mysterious Hepatitis Found In ‘Several’ Georgia Children
The Georgia Department of Public Health said Tuesday several cases of severe hepatitis “of an unknown origin” among young children here are under investigation. They are among hundreds of unexplained hepatitis cases in children reported worldwide. During a Georgia Department of Public Health board meeting, state epidemiologist Cherie Drenzek said the cases in Georgia are among a total of 109 cases reported in 25 states. DPH did not say how many children in the state are being studied for the mysterious hepatitis or whether any have died. (Oliviero, 5/10)

CIDRAP: Unexplained Hepatitis Cases In Kids Rise To 348 In 20 Nations 
At a World Health Organization (WHO) media telebriefing today on a variety of global health issues, officials said 348 probable cases of hepatitis in children, potentially linked to adenovirus, have been reported from 20 countries across five global regions. Phillipa Easterbrook, MD, MPH, senior scientist with the WHO, said 70 more cases from 13 countries are pending confirmation. She said the cases reflect a mix of new and retrospective cases and that 6 countries have reported more than 5 cases. (Schnirring, 5/10)

In mental health news —

Chicago Tribune: Chicago Public Schools Launches Mental Health And Suicide Prevention Campaign: ‘COVID Has Only Presented An Additional Challenge’ 
Chicago Public Schools on Tuesday announced the launch of a mental health and suicide prevention campaign that encourages students in seventh through 12th grades to take a pledge to stay alive and seek help if they need it. CPS said staff members, including school counselors, will discuss the “Please Stay” campaign, self-care habits and mental health resources and screen a three-minute “Please Stay” video in classes. The district said it shared campaign materials — including a teacher/counselor’s guide, pledge cards and digital resources — with schools last week as May is Mental Health Awareness Month. (Swartz, 5/10)

Iowa Public Radio: Iowa Launches Mental Health And Suicide Prevention Campaign For Children 
Iowa officials have launched a new ad campaign targeted at child mental health and suicide prevention, as they say the state is seeing an increase of younger children in crisis. The campaign targets both adults and children and will run on social media platforms as well as more traditional media platforms, such as TV and streaming services. The ads urge kids who are struggling to seek help and adults to reach out to kids who seem down or have symptoms of depression. It directs them to the state health department's Your Life Iowa program, which has resources for mental health support. (Krebs, 5/10)

Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville MindFEST Mental Health Awareness Festival Set For May 21
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Louisville is offering a new way to celebrate self care. The city is set to host MindFEST— a mental health festival, free of charge — on May 21 at Roots 101 African American History Museum. The festival is billed on its website as a "mind strengthening event" aimed toward reducing the stigma around mental health, with yoga, music and food vendors along with panels from community advocates, clinical experts, authors and others involved with mental health and wellness organizations. (Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, 5/10)