Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Prepare Anyway: Be Wary Of Low Flu Rates In Locked Down Countries
CIDRAP: Experts: Don't Count On Mild Flu Season Amid COVID-19
The Southern Hemisphere had a very light flu season in 2020, with Australia seeing only 315 cases over its winter, down 99.8% from the 130,000 cases seen in most years. But flu experts say that, while the low numbers could portend a similar scenario in the Northern Hemisphere, it would be a foolhardy not to prepare for high caseloads this winter. Edward Belongia, MD, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Marshfield Research Institute in Wisconsin, said that he doesn't think anyone can predict how severe the flu season will be or how it will co-circulate with COVID-19, because much is still unknown about the novel coronavirus and there is no clear relationship between events in the hemispheres. (Van Beusekom, 10/20)
CNN: Flu Shot Effectiveness: Get Good Sleep To Increase Its Power, Experts Say
We all know how much better we feel after a good night's sleep. It turns out that sleep may be vital to arm us in the fight against influenza and Covid-19. Medical professionals are recommending that people make sure to get their flu shots this year, in part because some Covid-19 and flu symptoms are similar. A flu shot reduces the likelihood that your symptoms (if you get sick) are from the flu. (Lyons and Lamotte, 10/21)
WBUR: A Big Alzheimer's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously Despite The Pandemic
Medical research was an early casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. After cases began emerging worldwide, thousands of clinical trials unrelated to COVID-19 were paused or canceled amid fears that participants would be infected. But now some researchers are finding ways to carry on in spite of the coronavirus. (Hamilton, 10/20)
WBUR: Ebola Never Went Away. But Now There's A Drug To Treat It
While scientists work to develop effective treatments for COVID-19, there is good news on another disease front. This month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted formal approval to an antibody cocktail from the pharmaceutical company Regeneron that's been shown to reduce an Ebola patient's chances of dying dramatically. (Beaubien, 10/20)
In cancer news —
Cincinnati Enquirer: Double-Digit Drops In Mammography Worry Experts About Deaths To Come
Though more women are getting back on their mammogram schedules through the pandemic, alarmed cancer experts said Ohio and the nation now are caught in an unprecedented experiment with dangerous consequences. The pandemic has nearly undone decades of effort – pink-ribbon 5K runs to raise research money, awareness campaigns anchored in October since 1985, ultimately better insurance coverage of mammography – to persuade women not to forget about the one tool that finds breast tumors early, when they are most treatable and survivable. (Saker, 10/19)
Carroll County Times: With Cancer Screenings Dropping During Pandemic, Carroll County Medical Professionals Urging Patients To Reschedule
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, cancer screenings were shut down from March 24 until May 7, under Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive order. Many patients during that time had appointments canceled and still haven’t rescheduled, leading to a decline in the number of screenings. Since March, Americans and health centers have been urged to delay routine cancer screenings to avoid potential exposure to COVID-19 and mitigate the spread. As a result, screenings for breast, cervical and colon cancer are down between 86% and 94%. (Conaway, 10/21)
The Baltimore Sun: Patient, Nutritionist Agree: Healthy Eating, Balanced Diet Important During Cancer Treatments
Eating healthy — and constantly — can help people going through cancer treatments, a Carroll Hospital oncologist nutritionist says. Rhonda Andrews was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 19. She has been through 16 weeks of chemotherapy. She will need to have a mastectomy and five weeks of radiation. “The support of my family and friends have been helping me get through this,” Andrews said. (Conaway, 10/21)
The Washington Post: Rush Limbaugh Says His Lung Cancer Is Terminal
Conservative talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh told his listeners Monday that the advanced lung cancer he announced this year is terminal. Limbaugh, whose program is nationally syndicated, said he received lung scans last week that showed “some progression of the cancer” after it was previously reduced to a manageable level. He described his illness as a roller coaster with many ups and downs. (Iati, 10/20)
