On Oct. 28, Iowa’s health department confirmed the death of a middle-aged resident who contracted Lassa fever, a viral disease common in West Africa but rare in the U.S.
Category: Public Health
For People With Opioid Addiction, Medicaid ‘Unwinding’ Raises the Stakes
Medications such as methadone can cut the risk of a fatal opioid overdose in half. Medicaid covers the medication. But as state Medicaid programs reevaluated coverage of each enrollee following a pause in disenrollments during the covid-19 pandemic, some patients lost a crucial pillar of their sobriety.
Florida Medical Device Maker Exactech Declares Bankruptcy
The company faces more than 2,000 lawsuits alleging it sold defective knee and hip implants.
Health groups protest California's plan to reduce maternal deaths
Dozens of maternal health organizations and advocates are pressuring the California surgeon general to stop the rollout of a plan aimed at reducing maternal mortality, The Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 29.
Western North Carolina facing care access crisis in wake of Helene: 5 things to know
Western North Carolina is facing a healthcare crisis as communities struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact, The New York Times reported Oct. 28.
US health departments falling short on bird flu surveillance
The CDC has confirmed 34 human bird flu cases in 2024, but the total number remains elusive as health departments struggle to track the outbreak, KFF Health News reported Oct. 25.
How a Proposed Federal Heat Rule Might Have Saved These Workers’ Lives
Laborers have suffered in extreme heat triggered by climate change. Deaths aren’t inevitable, researchers say: Employers can save lives by providing ample water and breaks.
Black Americans Still Suffer Worse Health. Here’s Why There’s So Little Progress
The United States has made almost no progress in closing racial health disparities despite promises, research shows. The government, some critics argue, is often the underlying culprit.
Bird flu concerns escalate: 7 things to know
There are 31 confirmed cases of bird flu in the country, and experts are concerned that cases may continue to rise, giving opportunities for the flu to mutate, The New York Times reported Oct. 24.
Exclusive: Emails Reveal How Health Departments Struggle To Track Human Cases of Bird Flu
Emails show how health officials struggle to track the bird flu, partly in deference to the agricultural industry. As a result, researchers don’t know how often farmworkers are being infected — and could miss alarming signals.
