Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
US Measles Cases Surpass 2,500, With Pennsylvania The Latest Hotspot
CIDRAP: With 101 New Cases, US Measles Total Tops 2,500
With 101 newly confirmed measles cases nationwide, the US total has now reached 2,566 this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update. This is the second straight week of about 100 new cases after previous weeks’ totals of about half that. Most this week’s cases are in Pennsylvania, though Ohio also saw a substantial increase. (Wappes, 8/14)
Salmonella, cyclospora, and Ebola updates —
The New York Times: FDA Classifies Egg Recall As Class I For Highest Health Risk
The Food and Drug Administration this week gave an egg recall that started last month over salmonella concerns its highest-risk designation, meaning that eating the eggs could cause “serious adverse health consequences or death.” Midwest Poultry Services voluntarily recalled 19 million eggs in July “as a precautionary measure,” the company said. (Cerro, 8/14)
The Washington Post: FDA In Mexico A Month After Linking Taylor Farms To Cyclospora Outbreak
Food and Drug Administration investigators traveled to Taylor Farms’ operation in Mexico for the first time this week to start inspecting the facilities linked to the largest cyclospora outbreak in the U.S., according to four people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Donald Prater, the FDA’s acting deputy commissioner for food, confirmed in an interview Friday that inspectors were on-site at the processing facility and plan to be in the fields next. (Roubein, Sun and Gilbert, 8/14)
CIDRAP: Best-By Dates Of Recalled Iceberg Lettuce Linked To Massive Cyclospora Outbreak Have Passed, Says FDA
The best-if-used-by dates of recalled iceberg lettuce associated with the massive Cyclospora outbreak have passed, according to an update from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday. This means that Cyclospora-tainted Taylor Farms lettuce should no longer be available at stores and restaurants. (Holohan, 8/14)
The Guardian: Ebola Outbreak In Democratic Republic Of The Congo Now Deadliest In Country’s History
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now the deadliest in the country’s history with at least 2,325 people dead, according to government data, surpassing the toll from the 2018-20 outbreak. The DRC’s public health institute said confirmed cases had risen to 4,945, including 101 detected in the previous 24 hours. (Badshah and Savage, 8/17)
AP: Surveillance System Struggles In Eastern Congo As Ebola Outbreak Spreads
Every day, community health worker Gédéon Banga Ngbape and his team fan out across communities in eastern Congo looking for people who may have crossed paths with the country’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. The workers investigate dozens of alerts, search for those exposed to suspected or confirmed cases and try to get anyone showing symptoms into care before the virus spreads further. (Same Bagalwa and Banchereau, 8/15)
On ticks, New World screwworm, and bedbugs —
CIDRAP: Lyme Disease Is Spreading Into Southern Appalachia, Increasing The Need For Public Education
Lyme disease is expanding into southern Appalachia, and a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains appears to be on the edge of this growing territory. In an analysis yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 76.9% of the blacklegged (deer) ticks collected (Boden, 8/14)
CIDRAP: FDA Grants Emergency Use Authorization For Another New World Screwworm Treatment
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday granted emergency use authorization for Simparica Trio as another potential treatment New World screwworm (NWS) infestations in puppies and dogs. This is the latest medication with emergency approval for NWS in canines after the agency approved nitenpyram for dogs and cats in June. The FDA noted the scientific evidence indicates the benefits of Simparica Trio outweigh its risks. (Holohan, 8/14)
AP: Bedbugs Control And Prevention: What To Do About Them
Bedbugs are sometimes called the vampires of the insect world — hiding during the day and coming out at night to feast on human blood. Generations of children have been told: “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” Well, bad news: Bedbug infestations are increasing. This is the time of year when they tend to be at their worst. And some scientists think the reviled pests might be capable of spreading an antibiotic-resistant infection called MRSA. (Stobbe, 8/15)
