Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study Is First Proof That Covid Sets Off Reaction That Leads To MIS-C
The New York Times: What Causes Dangerous Inflammation In Children With Covid?
When exposed to a virus, the human body marshals the immune system to fend off the intruder. Sometimes, the defense goes awry, and the body mistakenly turns against itself instead of the attacker. This sort of friendly fire drives multi-inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, a mysterious condition that in rare cases strikes children who have had a severe bout of Covid-19, according to a new study. (Mandavilli, 8/7)
More on the spread of covid —
The Washington Post: Summer Covid Surge Hits At Least 84 Countries And Continues To Climb
A summer covid wave — and the accompanying fevers, coughs and general misery — continues to wash over the Americas and parts of Asia and Europe, including the Paris Olympics, offering the latest evidence that the coronavirus moves in ways distinct from other respiratory ailments. The World Health Organization said this week that the virus is increasing in at least 84 countries despite perceptions that the pathogen is a remnant of the past. Disease trackers sounded alarms that diminished testing and low vaccination rates could provide fertile terrain for more dangerous viral variants to take hold. (Malhi, Ortega and Keating, 8/7)
Newsweek: COVID Map Shows Highest Rates Across US As New Variant Rises
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released an updated map highlighting which states have been the hardest hit. (Dwan, 8/7)
Central Florida Public Media: Amid A COVID Summer Spike, Why Are So Few Floridians Getting The Vaccine?
As the number of COVID-19 cases rises in Florida, vaccination rates lag behind, and that is concerning health experts. In 2021, the first full year a COVID-19 vaccine was available, 15 million Floridians received a vaccine. But this year, a little over 400,000 have received a booster, despite the virus's summer spike. (Pedersen, 8/7)
The New York Times: Why The Dutch Field Hockey Team Isn’t Shaking Hands At The Olympics
After two pandemic-disrupted Olympics, most teams haven’t given Covid a second thought in Paris. The one from the Netherlands is the exception. (Smith, Minsberg and Vrentas, 8/8)
In other outbreaks and health threats —
Hawaii News Now: Dengue Case Found On Maui Prompts Response From Vector Control Teams
The Department of Health has confirmed a travel-related case of the dengue virus in Hana, Maui. Officials say vector control teams are responding after highly dense populations of mosquitoes were found around the home and surrounding area. This is Hawaii’s 10th case this year; all patients had traveled to Central or South America or Asia. (8/6)
CNN: Deadlier Strain Of Mpox Spreads To More Countries, Raising Officials’ Alarm
Cases of a deadlier strain of mpox have been confirmed in four countries in Africa, raising alarm among health officials around the world. (Davis, 8/7)
CIDRAP: Study: Dogs Can Detect Chronic Wasting Disease In White-Tail Deer
Chronic wasting disease, a fatal prion disease found in cervids, can be detected by dogs trained to identify the scent, according to a new study published today in PLoS One. The dogs were able to identify infected deer through feces samples. Six dogs were trained using scent boxes and fecal samples from both farmed and wild white-tail deer (WTD). (Soucheray, 8/7)
