Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Life Expectancy Is Shorter For Those With Autism, And Flu Is One Factor
CIDRAP: Study: Autism Shaves An Average Of 14 Years From Life Expectancy, With Flu The Leading Contributor
Life expectancy for people diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 14 years less than for people without the condition, with influenza- and pneumonia-related death contributing to the gap, researchers from Columbia University and University of Colorado Anschutz report in JAMA Network Open. For the study, published last week, the study team analyzed enhanced Medicaid data and linked National Death Index data for all US Medicaid beneficiaries from 2000 to 2020. (Van Beusekom, 9/14)
On infant formula, antibiotic resistance, and nutrition —
AP: Abbott Agrees To Settlement Over Closure Of Largest Baby Formula Plant In The US
Abbott Laboratories will pay $385 million to resolve claims tied to an investigation of contamination at a baby formula factory in Sturgis, Michigan, the largest in the country, which led to the supply shortages in 2022. Problems at the facility prompted a lawsuit by the Justice Department and recall of powdered infant formula at the facility. The recall covered several infant formula brands, including Similac, and squeezed inventory that had already been strained by supply chain disruptions and stockpiling during COVID-19 shutdowns. (Chapman, 9/14)
HealthDay: Pets Can Carry Antibiotic-Resistant Germs
Here’s an unwelcome bit of news as Fido or Socks cuddles up to you for attention — they could be carrying antibiotic-resistant strains of a bacterium known to cause serious infections. Nearly half of samples collected from dogs and cats across dozens of countries contained strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae with high levels of antibiotic resistance, researchers reported recently in the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. Klebsiella — a bacteria found in human feces — can cause pneumonia, sepsis and urinary tract infections, researchers said in background notes. (Thompson, 9/15)
The Hill: Blueberry Compound May Help Muscles Burn Fat Instead Of Storing It: Study
A natural compound found in blueberries, grapes and other berries could help muscles burn excess fat instead of storing it. Researchers in Japan identified the compound, called pterostilbene, and found that it reduced fat buildup by increasing the breakdown of stored fat in laboratory tests using mouse muscle cells. Pterostilbene works by protecting PPARδ, or PPAR-delta, a protein that helps cells burn fatty acids for energy. By preventing PPARδ from breaking down, the compound boosts the activity of genes involved in converting fat into energy. (Sitz, 9/14)
Pew Research Center: About 8 In 10 Americans Take Supplements For Health
About eight-in-ten U.S. adults say they are currently taking at least one supplement for their health, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. And most people who do this say supplements are at least somewhat important to their health. Vitamins and minerals (such as iron, calcium or multivitamins) are by far the most common supplement. Two-thirds of Americans say they are currently taking vitamin or mineral supplements for their health. (Kikuchi and Kennedy, 9/10)
Health news from around the world —
The Guardian: Ebola Outbreak In DRC Has Peaked, Say Authorities, As Infection Rates Slow
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have announced that the Ebola outbreak ravaging parts of the country has reached its peak. For the first time since the epidemic was declared in May, the numbers of people becoming infected is slowing down, according to officials. (Ngorora, 9/15)
FiercePharma: GSK To Shutter Flu Vaccine Manufacturing Site
GSK is consolidating two of its influenza vaccine manufacturing sites into one, leaving hundreds of jobs at risk. GSK currently manufactures egg-based flu vaccines in Dresden, Germany, and Ste-Foy, Canada. But citing shrinking demand for traditional egg-based flu vaccines, the U.K. Big Pharma said it will be focusing on its Canadian site, at the expense of Dresden. (Adams, 9/14)
AP: Chile Becomes First South American Country To Eliminate Dog-Transmitted Rabies
Chile has become the first country in South America to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies to humans, following more than five decades of public health “prevention and surveillance,” the World Health Organization said Monday. The WHO said the last reported case of dog-to-human rabies occurred in 1972. “This validation reflects decades of commitment to protecting communities from rabies and demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in public health,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. (Batschke, 9/14)
CIDRAP: High-Flying Superbugs: Bouncy Castles Tied To MRSA Skin Infections
Any parent of a young child has likely spent time supervising ricocheting kids in an inflatable bouncy castle. But an outbreak report last week in Eurosurveillance might give them some second thoughts. (Dall, 9/14)
