Archives: Morning Breakouts

As many struggling rural hospitals are forced to close, Pew looks at ways states are thinking about filling the gaps, including expanding Medicaid, sending mobile medical units into remote areas, expanding telemedicine and encouraging young people in rural communities to go into health professions. Public health news is on family separations at the border, recalls on surgical gowns, the faulty BMI formula, high climate change costs, and worms, as well.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the declaration comes now because of fears that the coronavirus may reach countries with weak health care systems, where it could run amok. The virus has sickened thousands, mostly in China, and killed about 170.

The patient is the husband of someone who had come back from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. “The risk to the general public remains low. This person-to-person spread was between two very close contacts, a husband and wife,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, as HHS Secretary Alex Azar takes the reins in dealing the with outbreak in the U.S., President Donald Trump still faces pressure as fears mount. Media outlets report on screenings, evacuations, possible cases in the states, and more.

Traumatic brain injuries were recently thrust into the national spotlight after President Donald Trump downplayed the seriousness of the problem. Experts say that's common for the injuries that can't be seen. In other public health news: lung-cancer screenings, lab-grown "mini-brains," airplane safety, chronic inflammation, and fitness apps.

While life expectancy ticked up by the tiniest of margins from 78.6 to 78.7 years, health researchers warned that U.S. had a lower life expectancy than 10 other wealthy nations. News also focuses on maternal mortality rates.