Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Gov. Shapiro Rips RFK Jr. Over Vaccine Messaging After 2 Pennsylvanians Die Of Measles
The Washington Post: 2 Measles-Related Deaths Reported In Pennsylvania, The State’s First In 35 Years
Two Pennsylvania residents have died after contracting measles, the first such deaths in the state in 35 years and the first reported in the United States this year. The deaths prompted Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) to sharply confront the nation’s health secretary over federal vaccine messaging that he said is confusing and harmful. Both the people who died were residents of Lancaster County. The Pennsylvania Health Department declined to release their ages or other information, citing the privacy of the people and their families. (Sun and Roubein, 8/25)
Scientific American: See States’ Kindergarten Vaccination Rates—From Highest To Lowest
Even as cases of diseases such as measles rise, childhood vaccinations are declining, thanks to changes in public health policies and antivaccine sentiment, experts say. (Mogensen and Sharma, 8/24)
On vaccines for covid and shingles —
CIDRAP: MRNA COVID Vaccine Linked To Lower Risk Of Myocarditis In Teens, Young Adults
After reports surfaced of rare cases of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination, some parents worried that mRNA vaccines might cause heart disease in their children. But a study published last week in Vaccine looking at more than 4 million children and young adults concludes that those who receive a Pfizer/Biotech COVID-19 vaccine have a lower risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart), and death than those who do not. (Holohan, 8/25)
Stat: Shingrix Vaccine May Reduce Risk Of Heart Disease And Dementia
The newer shingles vaccine has been turning heads since its link to lower dementia rates was reported two years ago. Now the same research team behind that observation has found an association between receiving the Shingrix shot and a reduced risk of heart disease. (Cooney, 8/26)
On Bourbon virus, Valley fever, and cyclospora —
CIDRAP: While Rare, The Tick-Borne Bourbon Virus May Be More Common In US Than Thought
A study published yesterday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases based on plasma antibody testing suggests that a rare tick-borne virus is circulating more widely in the United States than previously thought. (Van Beusekom, 8/25)
CIDRAP: California’s Changing Agricultural Landscape May Bring A Valley Fever Risk
As drought, climate change, and groundwater regulations reshape California’s agricultural landscape, a new study suggests those changes could have consequences for Valley fever risk. The study, published late last week in Science Advances, found that communities surrounded by dry natural landscapes, certain types of farmland, and recently fallowed fields had higher rates of Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis), a fungal infection caused by inhaling Coccidioides spores. (Bergeson, 8/25)
MedPage Today: Trump Cuts Mask True Extent Of Cyclospora Outbreaks
While one major multistate Cyclospora outbreak has been making headlines, there are at least six others simmering -- and the sources haven't yet been identified in those cases. Getting to the bottom of those outbreaks may be more difficult given that infrastructure for tracking cyclosporiasis cases was gutted by the Trump administration last year, an expert told MedPage Today. The massive outbreak of Cyclospora tied to Taylor Farms' iceberg lettuce has reached 10,930 reported cases in 17 states, with the bulk of cases in Michigan. This outbreak has resulted in 454 hospitalizations and two deaths. (Robertson, 8/25)
In global news —
CIDRAP: DR Congo Suffers Deadliest Week In Its Ebola Outbreak
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tracked its highest weekly death toll last week, with more than 300 new deaths. The outbreak, centered in centered in Ituri province, has now grown to 5,514 cases and 2,642 deaths caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The outbreak continues to be the fastest-growing in history, and has now recorded seven times more deaths than the 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak in the first three months of transmission. The West African outbreak was the deadliest in history, taking the lives of more than 11,000 over a two-plus-year period. (Soucheray, 8/25)
AP: Hungary Investigates Possible Fraud In Orbán-Era Ventilator Purchases
Hungary’s foreign ministry has filed a criminal complaint with prosecutors over what it says was possible fraud related to the previous government’s purchase of ventilators worth some $965 million during the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said Tuesday. Hungary’s previous government under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán purchased the roughly 17,000 ventilators from China in March and April 2020, drawing criticism at the time that it was buying far more units than could be realistically deployed and paying much more per unit than other European countries. (Spike, 8/26)
