Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
First Death Reported In Dengue Outbreak Spread By Mosquitoes In Florida
HealthDay: Dengue Fever In Florida: First Death Reported In Tampa Outbreak
An elderly Tampa woman has died of dengue fever as Florida faces one of its worst outbreaks of the mosquito-borne illness in decades. The Florida Department of Health confirmed the death Friday but didn't share details, the Associated Press reported. The woman died Sept. 4, according to the Tampa Bay Times, which first reported the death. Most of this year's cases are in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa. (Vohnoutka, 9/21)
MPR News: Bat Tests Positive For Rabies After Found In Downtown Minneapolis
State health officials say a bat found in downtown Minneapolis last week tested positive for rabies — and they’re trying to find anyone who may have been in contact with it. (9/21)
ABC News: 2nd Possible Measles Exposure Reported In Philadelphia At Airport
Philadelphia is facing a second possible measles exposure, the city's Department of Public Health warned over the weekend. Health officials said an individual with measles passed through Philadelphia International Airport and that the case is not connected to the recent exposure that occurred at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). (Kekatos, 9/21)
Health news from California —
CalMatters: California Sues Christian Groups Over Abortion Pill Reversal
California is suing two Christian anti-abortion nonprofits over a disputed treatment the groups call “abortion pill reversal” in a case that could reshape the nation’s ongoing battle over abortion rights. An Alameda County judge heard six weeks of arguments in the case, and will ultimately decide whether the First Amendment shields two anti-abortion groups that promote a disputed hormone treatment, or whether their claims violate false advertising laws. (Hwang, 9/21)
Mother Jones: The California Lawmaker Forcing Big Food To Clean Up Its Act
While DC dithers, Jesse Gabriel has quietly become America’s de facto food safety chief. (Black, 9/22)
CNN: A String Of Rare Childhood Cancer Cases In This California Suburb Has The Community On Edge
Residents of Ladera Ranch have tallied cancer cases and raised concerns about pesticides in parks and playing fields. Scientists say proving a cause is complicated. (Jones, 9/20)
Other health news from across the U.S. —
MPR News: Minnesota’s Universal School Meals Program Draws More Students, Eases Family Costs
On the first day of school at Hoover Elementary in Coon Rapids, Gov. Tim Walz and Education Commissioner Willie Jett donned aprons and plastic gloves and stood in the cafeteria before a line of elementary students. “Do you want orange chicken?” Walz asked a student before spooning a serving of lunch onto his plate. The governor, a former teacher, has said the state’s universal school meals program, which he signed into law in 2023, is one of the proudest accomplishments of his eight-year tenure. (Shockman, 9/22)
Maryland Matters: Maryland Long-Term Care Insurance Rates Could Double
Thousands of Maryland seniors paying for long-term healthcare could face steep premium increases over the next several years if state officials approve the steep increases requested by four Maryland insurance companies last week. (Brown, 9/21)
The CT Mirror: How To Get Overdose Reversal Drug Naloxone, Or Narcan, In CT
Distribution of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone is a key part of the state’s efforts to reduce overdose deaths in Connecticut. Officials say there have been meaningful reductions in the number of overdose deaths that correspond to efforts to widely distribute the drug, widely known by the brand name Narcan. (Tillman, 9/21)
