Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Three Deaths Confirmed In New York Legionnaires’ Disease Cluster
The New York Times: Three Patients Die In Outbreak Of Legionnaires’ Disease In Manhattan
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side of Manhattan has claimed three victims, city health officials said. The first death in the outbreak was announced on Friday. On Sunday the death of an 88-year-old man was announced, and that evening Dr. Alister F. Martin, the city’s health commissioner, announced a third death. (Haag and Goldstein, 7/20)
The latest on the Ebola outbreak —
Bloomberg: Health Workers In DR Congo May Get Experimental Ebola Vaccine
Frontline health workers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo may soon be offered an experimental vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as researchers test whether it can provide partial protection while a strain-specific vaccine remains months away. (Gale and Furlong, 7/20)
AP: At Least 930 People Have Died In Congo's Ebola Outbreak
At least 930 people have died in Congo’s Ebola outbreak, the country’s Ministry of Health said Monday, with 37 new deaths recorded in a 24-hour span Friday into Saturday, one of the highest totals. The deaths were recorded out of the 2,344 cases confirmed as of Saturday, the health ministry said. (7/20)
On wildfire smoke exposure —
The New York Times: When Will The Wildfire Smoke Clear?
Acrid air from wildfires burning in the Canadian province of Ontario and in Minnesota continued to darken skies over parts of the Midwest on Sunday and stretched into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The smoke’s path was expected to shift by the hour, though forecasters said the worst conditions on Sunday were expected across the Great Lakes region. Air quality alerts were in effect across the region, including in parts of Minnesota and much of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and parts of Ohio. Eastern Iowa was also under air quality alerts. (Graff and Ghaffar, 7/19)
AP: How To Keep The Air Inside Your Home Clean During Wildfires
The eerie glow of an orange sun through thick wildfire smoke might be unnerving, but the biggest risk from the haze is something much harder to see. Tiny particles in the air can cause a range of short-term and chronic health issues, experts say. (Shastri, 7/19)
On covid —
CIDRAP: New Study Offers Clues About Long COVID’s Brain Symptoms
For years, patients with long COVID have described neurologic symptoms like brain fog, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and lack of motivation, but scientists have struggled to identify the biology behind these symptoms. Now, a new study suggests they may be tied to measurable changes in the brain's dopamine system. (Bergeson, 7/17)
KFF Health News: Journalists Dig Into HHS' Covid Injury List, ACA Sign-Ups, And Telehealth
Céline Gounder, KFF Health News’ editor-at-large for public health, discussed the Department of Health and Human Services’ plan to offer compensation for automatic covid vaccine injuries and the drop in enrollment in Affordable Care Act health plans on CBS’ The Takeout With Major Garrett on July 10 and 9, respectively. KFF Health News Southern correspondent Sam Whitehead discussed abortion telehealth on WUGA’s The Georgia Health Report on July 10. (7/18)
