Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Mexican Whole Onions Hits 37 States
Bloomberg: Hundreds Sick As Onion-Linked Salmonella Outbreak Hits 37 States
People across the U.S. have been advised to throw away all unlabeled red, white and yellow onions after a mass salmonella outbreak sickened hundreds of people across 37 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one source of infections had been traced to onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, and distributed by ProSource Inc. So far 652 people have been reported sick, with 129 hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The CDC said the actual number of people made ill was likely to be much higher, with most going unreported. Infections were recorded between May 31 and Sept. 30. (Millson, 10/21)
In other public health news —
The Washington Post: AMC Bringing Captions To Big Screens Across The Country
The world’s largest movie chain is bringing open captions to the big screen, creating more accessibility for people who are deaf and hard of hearing at a time when younger audiences are used to seeing the spoken word flash on their streaming and social media feeds. AMC Entertainment said the rollout will cover 240 movie houses in 100 markets, or roughly 40 percent of the company’s U.S. theaters. The company said filmgoers will be able to find locations and showtimes on its app and website, and that availability could be adjusted based on audience demand and guest feedback. (Shaban, 10/20)
New York Post: Broken Heart Diagnoses On The Rise In The US: Study
Hearts are breaking at rising rates, researchers have found. The life-threatening medical condition known as broken heart syndrome is being reported at increasing rates, according to a new study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The temporary condition, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, causes the heart muscle to become suddenly weakened and generally happens following a period of severe emotional or physical stress. While potentially life-threatening, most people recover within two months. (Frishberg, 10/20)
Stat: Should Breast Cancer Screening Start Sooner For Black Women?
For years, health experts have recommended that, starting at the age of 50, every woman should get a mammogram every two years. But Christina Chapman, an oncologist and researcher at the University of Michigan, looked at the devastating disparities in breast cancer outcomes for Black women and wondered whether medicine could serve Black women better with a different recommendation just for them. (Chen, 10/18)
