Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CDC: 51 New Measles Cases Bump Nationwide Outbreak Total To 1,893
CIDRAP: US Measles Total Nears 1,900, With 51 New Cases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed 51 new measles cases in a nationwide outbreak that has now reached 1,893 infections. All but nine cases are locally acquired, with the rest related to international travel. The agency reported two new outbreaks, for a total of 27. Last year the nation saw 48 outbreaks and 2,288 cases for the entire year. The United States could top that total in the coming months. (Wappes, 5/15)
CIDRAP: Survey: A Third Of US Backyard Flock Owners Don’t Know Signs, Symptoms Of Avian Flu
While most respondents to a survey of US backyard flock owners had heard of avian influenza, about one third didn’t know the signs or symptoms of infection in birds or people, highlighting the need for risk messaging and educational resources. The online survey was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with state and agricultural officials from July to December 2025. The aim was to learn more about flock owners and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding the H5 strain of avian flu that has affected millions of US poultry. Of 638 respondents, about half had an advanced degree. (Van Beusekom, 5/15)
CIDRAP: Salmonella Outbreaks Linked To Backyard Poultry Send 54 To The Hospital
The number of people sickened by three multistate outbreaks of the Salmonella bacterium has rocketed to 184. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported yesterday there are 150 new cases since April 23, though the true number of sick people is likely higher. At least 54 people have been hospitalized and one person died in Washington state, according to the CDC. Over a quarter of people sickened in this outbreak are children under 5 years old, with a median age of 31 years. (Boden, 5/15)
Military.com: Veterans Still Dying From 'Miracle Mineral' Asbestos Linked To Mesothelioma
Army veteran Alan Bonnin would be alive today if not for an aggressive three-year fight with asbestos-causing mesothelioma that ultimately took his life. The hardworking husband, father and retired soldier never questioned his work as a longtime mechanic and HVAC technician after leaving the armed forces. His specialty of working on brakes and then later for 30 years at a heating and cooling company is believed to be how he contracted the cancer from the hidden asbestos risk he faced on the job. (Dennis, 5/17)
Studies show —
MedPage Today: Too Much Or Too Little Opioid Pain Relief May Drive Refills After Urologic Surgery
Too much or too little opioid pain management at discharge after urologic surgery significantly increased the likelihood of refills, providing new insight into opioid overuse, according to a study reported here. More than 60% of patients received discharge opioid prescriptions that were mismatched with their last in-hospital opioid dose, with underdosing accounting for a third of the mismatches. As compared with patients who received matched opioid doses at discharge, overprescription increased the odds for additional refills by as much as 85% and underprescription increased the odds by as much as 47%. (Bankhead, 5/17)
MedPage Today: Low-Intensity Ultrasound Shatters Kidney Stones In 70% Of SOUND Trial Patients
An in-office device that uses low-pressure ultrasound waves to breaking up kidney stones was safe and effective, according to data from the SOUND trial. Treatment with the Break Wave lithotripsy device reduced stones to passable fragments of ≤4 mm in seven out of 10 patients and with minor complication, reported Benjamin Chew, MD, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. (Bassett, 5/17)
MedPage Today: Major Complete Response Rate In Very High-Risk Bladder Cancer With Combo Treatment
Adding immunotherapy to standard treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) achieved complete response (CR) in more than 90% of patients who had refused cystectomy for high-risk disease, a small prospective study showed. (Bankhead, 5/17)
CIDRAP: Virus In The Vents: Study Traces COVID Spread In High-Rise Apartment
A COVID-19 outbreak in a residential building in Spain during the early months of the pandemic likely spread through shared bathroom ventilation ducts, according to a study published this week in PLOS One. The outbreak occurred in June 2020 in a seven-story apartment building in the city of Santander in northern Spain, during a period when transmission in the city (population 172,000) had dropped to zero. Fifteen COVID cases were identified in four vertically stacked apartments connected by the same bathroom ventilation shaft. No cases were detected in surrounding apartments or elsewhere in the building. (Bergeson, 5/15)
Lifestyle and health —
San Francisco Chronicle: Exercise Intensity May Matter More Than Duration, Study Finds
People who do more short bursts of vigorous activity — like running to catch the bus or running up stairs — are less likely to develop several chronic diseases including heart disease and dementia compared to people who do no vigorous activity, according to a recent study in the European Heart Journal. The takeaway, the researchers said, is that people may want to prioritize intense activity over total volume of activity because it may prevent many chronic diseases more effectively. Even as little as 15 to 20 minutes a week of vigorous activity, or just two to three minutes a day, appear to have meaningful health benefits. (Ho, 5/17)
NPR: The 'Fibermaxxing' Trend Has Health Benefits Worth The Hype
Fiber is kind of like the Peter Parker of food nutrients. For a long time, most people ignored it as kind of boring. But it's really a superhero when it comes to good health, and now, it's finally having its moment. Social media has fully embraced the concept of "fibermaxxing" – or boosting the amount of fiber in our diets. On Tiktok, you'll find loads of videos with tips on how to maximize the fiber in meals and why it matters for so many aspects of health – from improving digestion to reducing the risk of dying prematurely. (Godoy, 5/18)
San Francisco Chronicle: Leaving The Workforce Early May Affect Brain Health, Researchers Say
Early retirement sounds pretty great. It’s hard to picture a downside of ditching the daily grind for a lifetime of more personally fulfilling pursuits. But leaving employment before traditional retirement age — especially because of layoffs or weak labor markets — could have negative impacts on cognitive abilities, according to a new working paper from researchers at UC Irvine published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. (Roy, 5/17)
CNN: What South Korea Can Teach The US About Longevity
If you want to live a long and healthy life, you’d be better off in South Korea than the United States. In the 1980s, our country was about average in terms of life expectancy for developed nations. But since then much of the world has improved, and the United States has dropped toward the bottom of that list. (Holcombe, 5/16)
Regarding GLP-1s —
The Wall Street Journal: The GLP-1 Revolution Comes With A Catch: Muscle Wasting
Chanel Robinson achieved exactly what the gold rush of blockbuster weight-loss drugs promised: She lost nearly 100 pounds, lowered her cholesterol to normal levels and reined in her polycystic ovary syndrome. Yet, nearly three years into her journey on Mounjaro, the 30-year-old from Atlanta, Ga., is discovering the hidden costs of the slimmed-down life. (Dangoor, 5/17)
MedPage Today: GLP-1 Drug Makes Its Case For Treating Plaque Psoriasis
Adding a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist to the psoriasis drug ixekizumab (Taltz) significantly improved outcomes in adults with difficult-to-treat plaque psoriasis due to overweight or obesity, the open-label TOGETHER-PsO trial indicated. (Ingram, 5/15)
The Hill: GLP-1 Gene Therapy Trial Gets Green Light In Europe
Health authorities in Europe have given the green light for the first GLP-1 gene therapy trial to take place. Fractyl Health received clinical trial authorization in the Netherlands this week to begin a first-in-human study of RJVA-001in patients with obesity and Type 2 diabetes. “GLP-1 medicines have changed what is possible in obesity and type 2 diabetes, but they require chronic, high-dose systemic exposure that many patients cannot or do not sustain,” Dr. Harith Rajagopalan, CEO of Fractyl Health, said. (Hilling, 5/16)
The latest recalls —
The Hill: FDA Recall Impacts Seasoning Sold At Walmart Stores Nationwide Due To Salmonella
Federal health officials report that a company is recalling a seasoning product sold nationwide at Walmart stores as it may be contaminated with salmonella. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday that Blackstone Products, based in Utah, is voluntarily recalling some lots of its “Blackstone Parmesan Ranch” products. The company says the products contain powdered milk that was recalled earlier this year because of possible salmonella contamination, posing a health risk to people who purchased the seasoning. (Self, 5/16)
The New York Times: Straus Family Creamery Issues Voluntary Ice Cream Recall
A California dairy company has issued a recall for five ice cream flavors, warning customers that some tubs may be contaminated with metal. The company, Straus Family Creamery, recalled some of its organic ice cream, which was sold in 17 states since May 4. It said it ordered the recall because of “the potential presence of metal foreign material,” without giving further details. The warning applies to its vanilla bean, strawberry, cookie dough, Dutch chocolate and mint chip flavors with specific “best-by” dates in late December 2026. (Sands, 5/17)
Also —
The 19th: For Susan Collins And Women With Tremors, The Real Problem Is Everyone Else
Sen. Susan Collins recently revealed that for decades she has had a condition called an essential tremor. She made the disclosure after questions arose about her head and hands trembling in a campaign video, leading to speculation that the 73-year-old Republican lawmaker was in declining health. (Luterman, 5/15)
KFF Health News: Journalists Unpack Latest On Vaccines, Vaping, And TrumpRx
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
