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The World Health Organization says the omicron strain XBB.1.5, which has become the dominant variant in the U.S. over a matter of weeks, could drive cases up. Dr. Ashish Jha, White House pandemic response coordinator, called its growth "stunning" but cautioned against panic. Scientists are working to determine if the subvariant also causes more severe illness.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The state attorney general's office confirmed the payments, part of a multistate settlement, on Tuesday. Separately, Los Angeles County health officials have called for indoor masking to fight covid. Other news comes from Georgia, Mississippi, Colorado, Iowa, and elsewhere.
Read recent commentaries about drug-cost issues.
Modern Healthcare reports on insurtech companies' "failure to thrive" at a time when most health insurers are making record money. Separately, a report notes risks to patient data from cyberattacks. The Amazon-One Medical deal, LCMC Health, HCA Healthcare and more are also in the news.
A study reported on by the New York Times is said to be among the first to try to correlate changes in brain function with years of social media use. Findings show social media checking leads to different sensitivities to social rewards among teens. Also: antibiotic resistance, covid research and more.
The study in France included nearly 45,000 college students and found high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression 15 months after the pandemic began. Meanwhile, the FDA has added sesame to the major food allergens list, among other news.
In a letter to banks that issue such cards, senators called out potentially deceptive marketing that can lead consumers into financial trouble. Other congressional news focuses on Medicare benefits and possible fallout from a 2018 law related to opioid treatment.
Editorial writers delve into these public health topics.
News outlets cover "irresponsible" and "baseless" rumors circulating after the collapse of Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, speculatively linking the event to Hamlin's covid shot status. Other reports cover a possible cause: commotio cordis, a cardiac condition caused by a chest impact.
State officials and hospital systems in New York and California are on alert for a surge in covid, RSV, and flu cases after the holiday season. Public health experts urge the federal government to take greater mitigation steps now.
Religious and anti-abortion advocacy groups are pushing Republicans to use their new House majority to pass reproductive measures like a national abortion ban at 6 weeks, stop telemedicine access to abortion pills, and defund Planned Parenthood — even though none of those bills would pass in Senate or be signed by President Joe Biden.
Read about the biggest pharmaceutical developments and pricing stories from the past week in KHN's Prescription Drug Watch roundup.
The Food and Drug Administration made a regulatory change Tuesday that opens the door for retail pharmacies to dispense mifepristone. The pill could previously only be offered by clinics, doctors or mail-order pharmacies. The move could increase access to a medicated abortion, though state laws in 12 states would ban sales.
Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers weigh in on these public health issues.
AP reports that the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital has been "overwhelmed" with patients, during a surge in RSV, covid and flu. Also: the closure of a covid vaccination site at the Mall of America, concerns over a D.C. Council member's health, the Ohio measles outbreak and more.
The AP says that even though some nurses at one hospital reached a "tentative" agreement hours before their contract was due to expire, a possible strike by around 4,000 nurses is still a threat. Separately, GE will spin off its health unit, Gilead buys rights to a cancer therapy, and more.
Stat reports that buy now-pay later platforms like Afterpay and Affirm are quickly exploring ways to offer loans to patients for health services. Other news on expected 2023 trends include Americans' shifting political priorities, hospital changes, and insurance coverage.
Pfizer says its experimental gene therapy treatment for hemophilia B met its main goal in a study — with a single dose outperforming current care standards. Other research covers women's higher levels of empathy, covid vaccines, hydration's link to lower disease risk, and more.
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