In California, Someone Caught Dengue Via Local Infection For The First Time
In startling news, a rare case of mosquito-borne dengue virus was locally acquired by someone in Pasadena — the first known case in the state for someone who had not recently traveled. Also in the news: In the hunt for Zika virus vaccines, volunteers are safely infected for the first time.
Los Angeles Times:
Rare Case Of Mosquito-Borne Dengue Diagnosed In Pasadena
A case of locally acquired dengue, a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, was detected in Pasadena on Friday, according to the Pasadena Public Health Department. The instance is “extremely rare,” officials said, with the afflicted person being the first known case in California among someone who had not recently traveled. (Childs, 10/21)
Reuters:
Scientists Infect Volunteers With Zika In Hunt For Vaccines, Treatments
Researchers in the United States have shown for the first time they can safely and effectively infect human volunteers with Zika virus, a step towards learning more about the disease and developing vaccines and treatments. The study – known as a "controlled human infection model" – has previously been controversial for Zika because of the risks to participants and lack of treatments. But U.S. regulators and the World Health Organization ruled the new model, developed by a team at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, was safe and scientifically important. (Rigby, 10/21)
More environmental health news —
Reuters:
Bayer Must Pay $1.25 Million In Roundup Cancer Trial, Jury Finds
Bayer AG must pay $1.25 million to a man who sued the company alleging he developed cancer from exposure to its Roundup weedkiller, a jury in St. Louis, Missouri found Friday. W. Wylie Blair, a lawyer for plaintiff John Durnell, said the verdict broke a winning streak for the company, which had prevailed in the previous nine trials over Roundup. Blair said the trial was the first in which jurors heard evidence that other chemicals in Roundup besides its main ingredient, glyphosate, could cause cancer. (Pierson, 10/20)
The Mercury News:
New Rules Approved To Reduce Air Pollution From Ships At California Ports
In a move cheered by environmentalists and public health groups but opposed by the oil industry, the Biden administration has approved new rules aimed at reducing the amount of air pollution emitted by large ships when they are docked at ports along the state’s coastline. ... That pollution can affect communities in waterfront cities like Oakland, Richmond, Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego, increasing the risk of asthma, heart attacks and other health problems. (Rogers, 10/20)
The Mercury News:
Chavez: EPA Finally Confirms Dangers Of Leaded Airplane Fuel
The long overdue EPA finding states clearly that emissions from piston-engine aircraft that use leaded aviation gasoline, known as avgas, are a public health hazard. This finding is an important step toward desperately needed avgas regulation. The Biden Administration’s EPA made the finding after years of advocacy by Earthjustice and other organizations. ... The county study revealed children living near Reid-Hillview faced lead exposure similar to what the residents of Flint, Mich., faced during that city’s 2014 water crisis. (Chavez, 10/21)
