Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study: Scientists Find Early Warning Sign In Children Who Develop Pediatric Cancer
Newsweek: Scientists Find Unusual Pattern In Children Later Diagnosed With Cancer
Researchers may have found a previously unknown cause behind the development of pediatric cancer, which they say could enable earlier detection of the disease in young children. A team of scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway, found that children with pediatric cancer were more likely to produce autoantibodies that target several proteins needed for normal DNA repair. They also found that children with pediatric cancer had more of these antibodies even years before their diagnoses. (Laws, 10/14)
On measles, flu, and avian flu —
ABC News: As Measles Continues To Spread, Health Officials Are Seeing Vaccine Interest Rise
As measles continues to spread across the U.S., local health officials say it may be spurring some to get themselves or their children vaccinated. More than 4,000 cases have been confirmed in the U.S. as well as six deaths -- with the most recent fatality confirmed by Pennsylvania health officials on Monday. It's the most cases and deaths reported in the country in more than three decades. Doctors and public health department leaders told ABC News that awareness of the virus' dangers has led to higher interest in the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine in some areas. (Kekatos, 10/13)
CIDRAP: Study Finds Most High-Risk Patients Don’t Receive Recommended Flu Treatment
Less than half of people at high risk for flu complications took a popular antiviral medication when they sought outpatient care, according to a study published recently in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Oseltamivir is recommended "as soon as possible" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for people seeking outpatient treatment for influenza if they are at higher risk for complications. This group includes people over the age of 64, those under 2 years old, or people with certain health conditions, such as asthma or heart disease. (Boden, 10/12)
CIDRAP: Using Fake Avian Flu Patients, Researchers Show Need For Faster Action, Better Compliance
Unannounced drills to assess healthcare facility readiness to manage infectious disease outbreaks in three areas of the United States revealed variable adherence to containment protocols, according to a new study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. (Van Beusekom, 10/13)
CIDRAP: Washington State Confirms First H5N1 Avian Flu Detection In Dairy Cattle
Late last week the US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the detection of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on two Yakima County dairy farms in Washington. “This marks the first known case of HPAI in cattle in Washington state,” state officials said. Since March 2024 dairy cattle herds in 19 states have documented H5N1 infections, including neighboring Idaho. (Soucheray, 10/13)
In other public health news —
Stat: U.S. Trust In Science, Vaccines Higher Than In Other Nations, Survey Shows
Americans have more trust in science than most of the rest of the world, according to a new survey of people in 140 countries, a finding that may seem difficult to explain in a country deeply divided by issues such as the benefits and harms of vaccines. (Florko, 10/10)
ABC News: Mini Organs Launching To Space May Help Future Astronauts And Humans On Earth Stay Healthy
Miniature organs being sent into space for the very first time may soon help scientists understand how spaceflight impacts certain organs and may accelerate aging. In a joint effort by researchers from Mount Sinai, NASA and aerospace company Space Tango, these mini organs will be exposed to the increased radiation and microgravity astronauts face in space, especially on long-duration missions. (Chang, 10/13)
In obituaries —
Stat: Helen Branswell, Towering Infectious Diseases Reporter, Dies At 69
Helen Branswell, a renowned infectious disease reporter who earned the respect of experts and public health officials around the world with her accessible, prescient dispatches on scourges from influenza to polio and Ebola to Covid-19, becoming a vital source of information for the public during the most chaotic of times, died Tuesday at age 69. (Joseph, 10/13)
