Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Paqui Pulls Spicy Chip From Stores As Mass. Authorities Probe Teen's Death
AP: Massachusetts Investigates Teen's Death As Paqui Pulls Spicy One Chip Challenge From Shelves
The maker of an extremely spicy tortilla chip said Thursday it is working to remove the product from stores as Massachusetts authorities investigate the death of a teen whose family pointed to the One Chip Challenge popularized as a dare on social media as a contributing factor. The cause of Harris Wolobah’s death on Sept. 1 has yet to be determined and an autopsy is pending, but the 14-year-old’s family blamed the challenge. Since his death, Texas-based manufacturer Paqui has asked retailers to stop selling the individually wrapped chips, a step 7-Eleven has already taken. (Casey and LeBlanc, 9/8)
In other health and wellness news —
Axios: Fears Of Heart Risks Drive New Interest In EKG Screening For Kids
Cardiac arrests suffered by LeBron James' son Bronny this summer and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin earlier this year put a public spotlight on a scary heart risk for some young athletes. While those high-profile incidents helped drive interest in the use of electrocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs) in routine physicals for student athletes to help prevent similar cardiac events, experts caution overusing EKGs could create unnecessary risk. (Reed, 9/8)
AP: As More Children Die From Fentanyl, Some Prosecutors Are Charging Their Parents With Murder
A growing number of parents across the U.S. are being charged amid an escalating opioid crisis that has claimed an increasing number of children as collateral victims. (Rodriguez, 9/8)
The Colorado Sun: A Colorado Entrepreneur Created A Game He Hopes Can Help Others Get Sober
Ed McCaffrey has never been much of a drinker, but on a steamy recent summer evening at his home, the legendary Denver Broncos receiver was playing a drinking game with his 85-year-old mother-in-law, Betty Conroy. Actually, it was a game for not drinking. Or, as Pepper Pong creator Tom Filippini said: “It’s a game that can maybe help someone who’s trying not to drink stop drinking” by focusing on something frivolous created by someone like them. (Ross, 9/8)
Los Angeles Blade: Trans Workers Struggle To Find Acceptance Despite Some Progress
A 2021 McKinsey study found that more than half of transgender employees are not comfortable being out at work. “People who identify as transgender feel far less supported in the workplace than their cisgender colleagues do,” said the study. “They report that it’s more difficult to understand workplace culture and benefits, and harder to get promoted. They also feel less supported by their managers.” (Chingarande, 9/7)
On HIV/AIDS —
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Study Finds HIV Stigma Persists Across U.S., South
While knowledge and treatment around HIV continues to improve, HIV stigma remains an issue surrounding the disease and the people who live with it, according to a report released Wednesday. Despite increasing treatment and prevention options, the report found that almost 90% of Americans believe that HIV stigma still exists. The stigma can manifest in how people negatively talk about HIV, how people treat individuals living with HIV differently and the isolation of people living with HIV. (Thomas, 9/7)
CIDRAP: Jynneos Vaccine Protects Against Mpox Hospitalization, Study Finds
Today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers from the California Department of Public Health show that one or two doses of the Jynneos mpox vaccine effectively prevented hospitalization among those who contracted mpox, people with HIV. The study was based on 5,765 mpox patients in California who contracted the virus from May 2022 to May 2023. Among those patients, 4,353 (94.4%) were male, 2,083 (45.2%) were Hispanic or Latino, and 3,188 (69.1%) identified as gay, lesbian, or same-gender-loving. (Soucheray, 9/7)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Welcome Back, Congress. Now Get To Work
Congress returns from its summer recess with a long list of tasks and only a few work days to get them done. On top of the annual spending bills needed to keep the government operating, on the list are bills to renew the global HIV/AIDS program, PEPFAR, and the community health centers program. Meanwhile, over the recess, the Biden administration released the names of the first 10 drugs selected for the Medicare price negotiation program. (9/7)
KFF Health News: In Move To Slash CDC Budget, House Republicans Target Major HIV Program Trump Launched
More than four years ago, then-President Donald Trump declared an ambitious goal that had bipartisan support: ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. Now, that Trump program is one of several health initiatives targeted for substantial cuts by members of his own party as they eye next year’s elections. (Miller and Whitehead, 9/8)
