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Arizona Health Officials Warn Of Uptick In Hantavirus Cases

HealthDay News — Arizona health officials are reporting an increase in hantavirus infections, which are spread by rodents and can cause severe respiratory illness.

In a recent health alert, the Arizona Department of Health Services announced there have been seven confirmed cases and three deaths in that state in the past six months.

While most hantavirus cases are reported in the Western and Southwestern United States, Arizona has one of highest numbers of reported infections in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2016-2022, there have been 11 hantavirus cases in Arizona, according to state health officials.

"Hantavirus is a rare but important cause of serious, even fatal respiratory infection," Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in New York, told NBC News.

"It is transmitted by various rodents, especially the deer mouse, and can cause mild disease, but it does cause fatal illness in a significant percentage of people who acquire this illness," he noted.

Between 1993 and 2021, the CDC has reported a total of 850 hantavirus cases, or roughly 30 cases a year.

Trish Lees, public information officer at Coconino County Health and Human Services in Arizona, told NBC News that the increase in hantavirus cases may be due to shifts in rodent populations.

However, cases do tend to occur more in the summer because of increased rodent activity and people coming into contact with rodents more often, Lees explained.

Climate change, such as the extreme heat waves that have been sweeping across the county this summer, may also be partly to blame, experts theorized.

Dr. Camilo Mora, a professor in the department of geography and environment at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, noted that people aren't the only ones who seek shelter when it gets really wet or hot outside.

"Many carrying-disease species get on the move with climate change — so while for any specific case it is difficult to conclude the role of climate change, climate change has all the attributes to cause outbreaks of vector-borne diseases," he told NBC News.

The hot weather may have also worsened the illnesses after people were infected because of dehydration or other factors, Glatt added.

Exactly how does hantavirus spread? Particles containing the virus get into the air when urine, saliva or feces from deer mice are stirred up. Once a person is infected, the virus can trigger hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

The syndrome was first recognized in 1993 after a mysterious illness infected members of a Navajo tribe who lived on the border of New Mexico and Arizona. Approximately 80% of people who were infected died at the time.

Symptoms can appear one to eight weeks after exposure and include:

Fever

Fatigue

Muscle aches — especially in the thighs, back and shoulder

Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain

Left untreated, the illness can infect the lungs and cause fluid to "leak" through blood vessels and fill up the respiratory tract. That, in turn, causes shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough, according to the American Lung Association.

Approximately 38% of people who develop lung symptoms may die from the disease.

What can be done to guard against infection?

"The best way to prevent infection with this illness is by carefully disinfecting and cleaning up any waste products from the rodents and by not coming into contact with them," Glatt said.

When entering a place that's been closed up for a long time, take care to air out the space for 30 minutes, the Wyoming Department of Health warns.

If the space is very dirty or full of mice, take extra care by wearing gloves, shoe covers, coveralls and N95 masks before cleaning.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on hantavirus.

SOURCES: Arizona Emergency Information Network, news release, July 23, 2024; NBC News

From KFF Health News - Latest Stories:

Louisiana Reclassifies Drugs Used in Abortions as Controlled Dangerous Substances

Louisiana lawmakers have added two drugs commonly used in pregnancy and reproductive health care to the state's list of controlled dangerous substances, a move that has alarmed doctors in the state. (Rosemary Westwood, WWNO, 7/27 )

World-Famous Wall Drug Isn't Immune From Challenges Facing Rural Pharmacies

Even as part of a popular South Dakota tourist attraction, an independent pharmacy serving locals, remote ranchers, and sightseers struggles with staffing and insurer payments. (Arielle Zionts, 7/27 )

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Summaries Of The News:

To Mobilize Voters, Harris Turns The Conversation Back To Abortion Rights

The issue, a cornerstone of the 2024 Democratic campaign, has been on the back burner while the party debated whether President Joe Biden should stay in the race. Other abortion news is from Iowa, Louisiana, and Florida.

Politico: Abortion Faded From The Spotlight. Harris Is Trying To Bring It BackDemocrats for the last month have been too busy fighting over whether President Joe Biden should lead the ticket to keep voters' attention on abortion. Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to bring the focus back. On Monday, Harris told campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware, that she would prevent Republicans from enacting a national ban because "the government should not be telling a woman what to do with her body." On Tuesday, she concluded a rally in a Milwaukee suburb by promising to sign legislation that would "restore reproductive freedoms." And on Wednesday, the Harris campaign said it plans to counter former President Donald Trump's rally in Charlotte with an abortion-focused event in North Carolina featuring Hadley Duvall, a Kentucky woman who was raped by her stepfather when she was 12. (Messerly and Ollstein, 7/24)

NBC News: Iowa's Ban On Abortions After 6 Weeks Will Go Into Effect Next WeekAn Iowa law banning most abortions in the state will take effect Monday, roughly one year after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed it. The law prohibits physicians from administering an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected — around six weeks into pregnancy, before most women even know they're pregnant. It briefly took effect in July 2023, but a lower court temporarily blocked the ban just days later in response to a legal challenge brought by abortion providers and the American Civil Liberties Union. (Bendix, 7/23)

KFF Health News: Louisiana Reclassifies Drugs Used In Abortions As Controlled Dangerous SubstancesLouisiana lawmakers have added two drugs commonly used in pregnancy and reproductive health care to the state's list of controlled dangerous substances, a move that has alarmed doctors in the state. Mifepristone and misoprostol have many clinical uses, and one use approved by the FDA is to take the pills to induce an abortion at up to 10 weeks of gestation. The bill that moved through the Louisiana Legislature this spring lists both medications as Schedule IV drugs under the state's Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, creating penalties of up to 10 years in prison for anyone caught with the drugs without a valid prescription. (Westwood, 7/24)

Slate: There's Something Funny Going On With The Florida Abortion Initiative FightIn one of the most important nonpresidential decisions voters will face this November, Floridians will consider an abortion access ballot initiative. ... The launch of Florida Voters Against Extremism, a political action committee constituted for the sole purpose of opposing the amendment, is seemingly part of an emerging pattern of nationally tied anti-abortion players cosplaying as grassroots campaigns. (Demirhan, 7/24)

In other reproductive health news —

Axios: Big Declines In Teen Births, CDC Data ShowsTeen birth rates in the United States have continued to decline significantly across the board since 2000, but racial and ethnic disparities still exist, federal data released Wednesday shows. Decreasing teen births can positively affect adolescents' physical and mental health, lifetime income and education attainment, according to research organization Child Trends. (Goldman, 7/24)

CBS News: Massachusetts Leads The Country In Women's Health, Report SaysWhen it comes to women's health, Massachusetts is leading the country. Women's health in the U.S. Has been under threat in recent years, with deaths from preventable causes on the rise and new limits - or in some cases, outright bans - placed on reproductive health around the country. A private foundation called the Commonwealth Fund has developed a state scorecard to track trends in women's health, looking at healthcare quality and prevention, coverage, access, and affordability. (Marshall, 7/22)

CBS News: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Not Planning To Take Maternity Leave After Birth Of Third Child In JanuaryA day after announcing that she is pregnant with her third child, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she still plans to run for re-election and she doesn't plan to take maternity leave. ... The mayor said she did not plan to take maternity leave after she and her husband welcome their third child - a girl - in January. Wu has two boys, ages 7 and 9, and said that she's confident that she'll be able to juggle the needs of the city and the needs of a growing family. (7/23)

The Wall Street Journal: Higher Prices On Tampons, Pads Prompt Hard Choices For AmericansMore women across America are making a difficult monthly choice: Should they buy menstrual products and spend less on other supermarket items, or try to make do with fewer period supplies?Prices of sanitary pads and tampons have climbed faster in recent years than the price of food. And with few low-price alternatives available in the feminine-product aisle, sales of period products are falling as many women and girls find their monthly budgets can't cover all of their essentials. (Khan, 7/22)

KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest 'KFF Health News Minute'"Health Minute" brings original health care and health policy reporting from the KFF Health News newsroom to the airwaves each week. (7/23)

Biden's Decision To Step Out Of The Race Hits Home For Older Americans

Older citizens and aging experts bring a well of empathy toward President Joe Biden for his decision, The Wall Street Journal reports, with many voicing support and others raising concerns of ageism. In related aging news: Retirement may get trickier the longer a person waits, and more.

The Wall Street Journal: Biden's Decision To Quit Presidential Race Feels Personal For Nation's Older CitizensOlder people said they empathized with and welcomed President Biden's decision to withdraw from the presidential race—finding parallels in their own lives when they grappled with the right time to walk away. People who have wrestled with when to step back say the reckoning is difficult, especially when the stakes are high. They don't always recognize or want to admit that they are no longer up to their former tasks. Some who foresee that possibility ask confidants to tell them if they're not functioning as well as needed. (Ansberry, 7/23)

Fox News: Biden Health Concerns Persist As He Makes First Appearance After Ending CampaignPresident Biden was seen boarding Air Force One in Delaware on Tuesday, marking the first time he has been seen in public since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on July 17. The president held a mask in one hand as he gave onlookers a thumbs-up and a salute before disappearing into the plane. (Rudy, 7/23)

The Atlantic: Retirement Gets Harder The Longer You WaitWhen people choose to retire, it's generally a positive experience, without a sizable effect on mental health. But stepping away from a high-powered job, whether toward full retirement or a substantial reduction in work, is fraught for many Americans. And it's especially difficult for Biden's demographic: highly educated men who have continued working far past 65, the average retirement age for men. (Locke, 7/23)

The Washington Post: See How Social Security Retirement Benefits Stack Up GloballyThe United States is facing crunch time for its Social Security program: In a decade, according to the latest projections, the trust fund for this massive safety net for retirees and the disabled will be depleted, triggering sharp cuts to benefits unless lawmakers take action to bring more money in, spend less or do both. So far, neither Democrats nor Republicans have made shoring up Social Security central in this year's elections. But some American policy experts are looking abroad for lessons. (Weil, 7/21)

Lawmakers, PBMs Play Blame Game During Tense Hearing On Capitol Hill

Members of the House oversight panel blamed the PBM industry for high prescription prices, but executives from three major pharmacy benefit managers—CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx—pointed the finger at manufacturers.

Modern Healthcare: PBM Congressional Hearing Gets Heated As Lawmakers Grill ExecsLawmakers and executives from three major pharmacy benefit managers presented diametrically opposing views at a heated Capitol Hill hearing Tuesday, as major bills aimed at reining in the organizations remain stalled in Congress. Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability blamed the highly concentrated PBM industry for raising drug prices and running independent pharmacies out of business, while leaders from CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum Rx all countered that the sector in fact lowers prices and supports local pharmacies. (McAuliff, 7/23)

Stateline.Org: Angry Patients Spur New State Watchdogs To Bring Down Drug PricesSpurred by fed-up consumers, states are trying to curb spiraling prescription drug costs by assembling special public boards to investigate and regulate pricing. The idea is similar to a local utility board: a public group that sets rules or makes recommendations to ensure that what they're regulating — in this case, prescription medications — is affordable. (Vollers, 7/23)

Stat: CVS And Its PBM To Pay Illinois $45 Million For Failing To Pass Drug RebatesCVS Caremark, one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the country, agreed to pay at least $45 million to the state of Illinois to settle allegations that rebates were not passed through during a recent four-year period, according to a document obtained by STAT. (Silverman, 7/23)

Stat: Analysis: U.S. Patent Office Software Mistakes Extend Patent Life For DrugsAmid concerns that the pharmaceutical industry abuses the U.S. Patent system, a new paper suggests one way to crack down on the problem — amend a little-known method for correcting mistakes that lengthen the life of a patent and, consequently, can greatly add to the cost of medicines. (Silverman, 7/23)

In related news —

KFF Health News: World-Famous Wall Drug Isn't Immune From Challenges Facing Rural PharmaciesStacey Schulz parks in a rear lot to avoid the crowded Main Street entrances to her local pharmacy. "During the summer, it's kind of hectic," she said after greeting the pharmacist and technician by name. That's because Schulz's pharmacy is tucked inside Wall Drug, a tourist attraction that takes up almost an entire block and draws more than 2 million visitors a year to a community of fewer than 700 residents. (Zionts, 7/24)

Senators Press To Update Disabilities Law To Include All Tech Accessibility

Proposed bill aims to shore up Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to include websites, software, and other infrastructure that was left out when the law was amended in 1998.

Stat: Key Disability Civil Rights Law Would Get A Big Refresh Under A New BillA key piece of disability civil rights law could get a much-needed refresh. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) will introduce legislation Wednesday to strengthen and extend Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The proposed update would boost online accessibility for people with disabilities on federal websites and significantly expand protections and working conditions for disabled federal employees. (Broderick, 7/24)

The Washington Post: American Airlines Launches New Tag System To Handle Wheelchairs BetterAmerican Airlines announced on Tuesday an automated tagging program for passengers with mobility devices. The streamlined system, the carrier said, should help it better manage passengers' wheelchairs, scooters and other indispensable equipment. The new computer-generated tags, launched last week at airports worldwide, replace the ones written by customer service agents. The new markers resemble checked-bag tags but with a greater wealth of information, such as where to deposit the device upon landing; details about the equipment, including weight, battery type and any preexisting dings or damage; and an inventory of disassembled parts. (Sachs, 7/23)

Stat: VA: Removing Race From Lung Test Won't Have Big Disability ImpactVeterans Affairs department officials said Monday they have launched a study to determine how removing race from widely used lung function tests may affect disability benefits for veterans, and they expect the impact to be much smaller than predicted in a study published earlier this year. (McFarling, 7/23)

Stat: Children With Cerebral Palsy See Small Gains From Robot-Aided RehabFor many kids with cerebral palsy, walking is taxing. They might spend thousands of hours step-stepping in physical therapy to make walking easier. In recent years researchers have developed robots to aid this rehabilitation. (Broderick, 7/24)

The Washington Post: Blind Barbie With A Cane, Textured Skirt And Braille Packaging Hits ShelvesThe most popular fashion doll in the world now has a line with a vision impairment.Blind Barbie has the shiny hair, high heels and picture-perfect features typically associated with the doll. But she also comes with a red-and-white cane, sunglasses that provide additional eye protection for individuals who may be sensitive to light, and a slightly upwards-looking gaze that blind people may have. Her skirt is designed with a textured ruffle, and brightly colored high-contrast hooks to make changing outfits easier for people with vision impairments. (Javaid, 7/23)

Steward Health Care Has Secured Bids For All Its For-Sale Mass. Hospitals

Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, told reporters she'd received qualified bids for all the hospitals in Massachusetts that the beleaguered for-profit chain was trying to sell during its bankruptcy proceedings. Plus: reports of staffing challenges and broken equipment at Steward.

NBC Boston: All Of Steward Health Care's Mass. Hospitals Have Bids, Governor SaysAll of Steward Health Care's Massachusetts hospitals received bids as the for-profit company looks to sell off its facilities during ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday. "We have qualified bids for all the hospitals," Healey told reporters Tuesday afternoon when asked whether any of Steward's hospitals had not received bids, which were due on Monday July 15. (Kuznitz, 7/23)

The Boston Globe: Steward Hospitals Face Staffing Challenges And Broken EquipmentA court-appointed patient care advocate found staffing challenges and broken equipment at Steward Health Care's hospitals in Massachusetts and three other states, according to a court filing Tuesday. Despite those problems, the advocate, called an "ombudsman," said Steward patients are safe and found no issues requiring immediate attention by the US Bankruptcy Court in Houston. Staffs at the hospitals are "committed to providing excellent care," the filing said. (Weisman, 7/23)

More health industry developments —

CBS News: Michigan Medicine Notifies Nearly 57K Patients After Health Information Potentially Exposed In CyberattackMichigan Medicine notified approximately 56,953 people about a data breach that impacted employee email accounts and possibly exposed patient health information. Officials on Monday said three Michigan Medicine employee email accounts were breached on May 23 and May 29 due to a cyberattack unrelated to the recent CrowdStrike outage. (Powers, 7/23)

CBS News: HealthPartners Leaving UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage Network Over High Claim Denial RateHealthPartners announced Tuesday that it will no longer be part of UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage network starting next year. The nonprofit healthcare organization says it made the decision because "UnitedHealthcare delays and denies approval of payment for our patients' Medicare Advantage claims at a rate unlike any other insurer in our market." HealthParnters claims its denial rate with UnitedHealthcare has been up to 10 times higher than that of other insurers it works with. (Moser, 7/23)

Modern Healthcare: Molina Healthcare To Acquire ConnectiCare Holding CompanyMolina Healthcare said Tuesday it is expanding into Connecticut through an agreement to acquire EmblemHealth subsidiary ConnectiCare Holding Co., for $350 million. The Farmington, Connecticut-based health insurer has approximately 140,000 members in marketplace, Medicare and other health insurance plans across the state, according to a news release. (Eastabrook, 7/23)

Axios: FTC Hones In On Dialysis NoncompetesThe Federal Trade Commission is expanding its scrutiny of the health care industry to the growing dialysis market and investigating whether dialysis giants DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care are squeezing out competitors by restricting kidney doctors from changing jobs. (Goldman, 7/24)

Modern Healthcare: HCA Healthcare Profits Rise As Labor Costs ShrinkHCA Healthcare reported second-quarter net income of nearly $1.5 billion, beating expectations and partially due to a sizable drop in contract labor costs. The Nashville, Tennessee-based system said Tuesday its quarterly contract labor expenses decreased by more than 25% from the second quarter of 2023. (DeSilva, 7/23)

Modern Healthcare: Adventist HealthCare Names John Sackett President, CEOAdventist HealthCare named John Sackett its next president and CEO, the nonprofit health system announced Tuesday. Sackett will officially begin his new role on Aug. 4, replacing Terry Forde, who is set to lead Rockledge, Florida-based system Health First. (Kacik, 7/23)

Also —

MedPage Today: U.S. News Releases This Year's 'Best Medical Schools,' With ChangesAfter being delayed for the second year in a row, U.S. News & World Report rolled out this year's "Best Medical Schools" rankings with substantial changes. Notably, the best institutions for research and primary care were sorted into tiers, rather than by ordinal rankings. (The "Best Hospitals" rankings from U.S. News have also moved away from ordinal rankings.) In another change, medical schools that have opted to no longer submit data to U.S. News went unranked this year. (Henderson, 7/23)

Fierce Healthcare: Fierce Healthcare's 2024 Most Influential Minority ExecutivesMany healthcare organizations prioritize improving diversity in their leadership and workforce, especially at the executive level. Diverse leaders bring a unique understanding of cultural differences that impact health, values and beliefs in addition to the experience of race in America. Study after study has shown the importance of the contributions of individuals from different races and ethnicities for the delivery of healthcare and the innovation that changes patients' lives. At the same time, research demonstrates that a racially diverse medical workforce results in improved self-reported patient experiences and reduced healthcare spending. (Landi, Kreimer and Burky, 7/22)

As Bird Flu Spreads, Colorado Orders Weekly Testing Of Milk Supply

Meanwhile, health officials are advising Americans to be aware of the seasonal spreads of hantavirus, West Nile virus, and dengue fever. Elsewhere, walnuts sent to food bank warehouses in Texas and Arizona have been recalled over listeria concerns.

The Hill: Colorado Requiring Dairies To Test Milk For Bird Flu WeeklyColorado will require dairies to test their milk supplies for bird flu every week, the state Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday, as concerns over the avian flu remain high nationwide. State Veterinarian Maggie Baldwin said Colorado has "not been able to curb the spread of disease at this point," after about three months of bird flu infection in the state's livestock populations. (Robertson, 7/23)

On hantavirus, West Nile virus, and dengue fever —

NBC News: Arizona Officials Warn About Spread Of Potentially Fatal HantavirusArizona public health officials are warning that hantavirus, a virus spread by rodents to humans, is causing an increase in a potentially fatal lung syndrome. There have been seven confirmed cases and three deaths in the past six months, according to a recent health alert. Most cases of hantavirus are reported in the Western and Southwestern United States. Most states, including California, typically report one to four cases a year. Two people in California have been infected with hantavirus this year. (Sudhakar, 7/23)

ABC News: States Across US Are Seeing Seasonal Increase In Mosquitoes With West Nile VirusSeveral health departments in the U.S. Say they have detected West Nile virus in mosquito samples. Although the average number of actual West Nile cases is significantly lower than the same time last year, experts are urging the public to take precautions. On Monday, the Cape May County Health Department in southern New Jersey sent out a press release reporting that seven mosquito collections during the months of June and July had tested positive for West Nile virus. (Kekatos, 7/23)

NPR: Dengue Fever Hits Record Numbers. Can It Be Controlled?In the Americas alone, almost 10.4 million suspected cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, were reported to the World Health Organization in 2024 as of the first week of July, an increase of 232% compared with the same period the year before. Peru is a case in point. When torrential rains started to fall there in 2023, a record-breaking dengue epidemic exploded shortly afterward. The case count is estimated at well over 100,000 so far this year. (Langlois, 7/23)

On measles, covid, listeria, and tuberculosis —

CIDRAP: Global Measles Cases Spiked 140% In 2019 Amid Falling Vaccinations In Many Nations, Study EstimatesA new study from Columbia University shows that measles cases around the world surged 140% from 2010 to 2019, with declining vaccination rates in 59 of 194 nations fueled by socioeconomic factors in some low-resourced countries and vaccine reluctance in wealthier nations. (Van Beusekom, 7/23)

Roll Call: Four Years After COVID-19, CDC's Mission Divides Capitol HillThe highly partisan nature of public health funding was on full display Tuesday as House Energy and Commerce Republicans questioned the need for more federal funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Democrats, meanwhile, argued that a more sustained public health funding stream could improve the nation's overall health. (Cohen, 7/23)

Houston Chronicle: Walnuts Recalled In Texas After Possible Listeria Contamination FoundWalnuts sent to food bank warehouses in Texas have been recalled after a sample was found to contain listeria which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to consumers. California-based Stutz Packing Company issued a voluntary recall Friday for the one-pound packages of Shelled Walnuts that were shipped to warehouses in Texas and Arizona, according to a company announcement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. (Johnson, 7/23)

NBC News: Washington Tuberculosis Patient Who Was Arrested For Refusing Treatment Is CuredA Washington state woman who was arrested after she refused for more than a year to consistently isolate or take medication for tuberculosis has finally been cured of the disease. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said Monday that the woman had tested negative for tuberculosis multiple times and had given officials permission to share an update on her health. (Bendix, 7/23)

On extreme heat —

The Washington Post: Sunday Was The Hottest Day Ever Recorded On Earth, Scientists SayGlobal temperatures hit the highest levels in recorded history on Sunday, according to preliminary data from Europe's top climate monitor — another worrying sign of how human-caused climate change is pushing the planet into dangerous new territory. (Kaplan, 7/23)

Health Officials Confirm Wind-Down Of Federal HIV Meds Program

The Ready, Set, PrEP program will cease new enrollments at the end of July — its mission has been to distribute free HIV medication to the uninsured. Also in the news, FEMA is set to expand call center staff so it can cut down call waiting times.

PoliticoPro: Federal HIV Program Set To Wind DownA federal program to curb HIV by distributing free medication to the uninsured will stop accepting new patients at the end of the month, senior health officials confirmed to POLITICO. The Ready, Set, PrEP program will cease new enrollments on July 30, though it will continue providing the pre-exposure prophylaxis drug, known as PrEP, to existing enrollees, either by mail or at their pharmacy. (Ollstein and Lim, 7/23)

Houston Chronicle: FEMA Expanding Call Center Staff In Response To Hold TimesThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is increasing the number of staff at its call centers after residents impacted by Hurricane Beryl reported wait times as long as four days through the agency's helpline. Users on X said FEMA's automated phone system warned callers that they could be on hold for as long as 7000 minutes. Some even said they were hung up on after waiting hours for an update on the status of their FEMA assistance application. (Lomax V, 7/23)

Axios: CDC Eases Requirements For Dogs Entering U.S.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday announced it is rolling back new requirements for bringing dogs into the U.S. From countries without a high risk for dog rabies. The CDC eased the requirements, which take effect Aug. 1, following public pressure from senators, Canadian government officials and some animal advocacy groups. (Goldman, 7/23)

In other health and wellness news —

Los Angeles Times: Smart Vapes With Games Could Lure Youth, UC Riverside Experts SayIntroduced as battery-powered sticks that emit nicotine-infused vapor, vape pens have transformed into increasingly sophisticated entertainment devices. And that, researchers say, is a potentially huge problem.Disposable vapes gained small illuminated displays last year, typically to show how much battery life remained. In about six months, though, the displays grew to the size of a flip phone screen and came equipped with retro games similar to Pac-Man and Tetris — all on a product that costs less than $20. (Garcia, 7/23)

NPR: Tweens, Screens And Sleep: How Parents Can Help Kids Get Their Zzzzz'sHow tweens use their electronic devices before bedtime can have a major impact on how well — and how long — they sleep, according to a new study. The study involved nearly 9,400 11- and 12-year-olds who are part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a large, long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. A majority of the tweens in the study — 72% — had their own cellphone. (Godoy, 7/24)

NPR: Dogs Can Smell Human Stress And Make Decisions Accordingly, Study SaysNew research out of the United Kingdom suggests that the smell of human stress affects dogs' emotions as well as their decisions, leading them to make more pessimistic choices. The study, published Monday in the journal Scientific Reports, was the result of a partnership between the University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the British charity Medical Detection Dogs. (Treisman, 7/23)

Army Rebukes Maine Shooter's Superiors For Ignoring Health Concerns

The disciplinary action against Sgt. 1st Class Robert Card's superiors prevents them from advancing in their careers, Military.Com reports. The investigation into the shooting rampage also revealed a civilian psychiatric hospital tried to have Card committed.

Military.Com: 3 Army Officials Punished After Investigation Of Maine Reservist's Mass Shooting Finds Numerous FailuresSgt. 1st Class Robert Card, the Army reservist who went on a shooting rampage in Lewiston, Maine, in October, seemed like a textbook case of someone who needed help. He was hearing voices, became increasingly paranoid, threatened people, and owned guns. Now, months after his deadly mass shooting, Army officials have taken significant punitive measures against three officials in his chain of command, barring them from advancement -- a move that's just a hair away from legal action and effectively encourages those officials to leave the service without the Army outright forcing it. Army Reserve officials stopped short of publicly naming the officers punished since they were not held legally liable for mishandling Card's mental health care treatment. (Beynon and Toropin, 7/23)

The Boston Globe: Lewiston Shootings: Gunman Had A 'Hit List,' Army Reserve Report SaysA civilian psychiatric hospital in New York tried to have Robert R. Card II involuntarily committed last summer after he told them he had a hit list, but released him nearly three months before he went on a shooting rampage in Lewiston, Maine. The troubling detail, revealed Tuesday in investigative reports conducted by the military, was the latest of many warning signs authorities received, but failed to follow through on, of the Army reservist's menacing and disturbing behavior in the months leading up to the Oct. 25 shooting. (Hilliard, 7/23)

In other health news from across the U.S. —

WUSF: New Law Requires State Health Plans In Florida To Cover Biomarker TestingA new state law expands access to tests that can help medical professionals diagnose and treat diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. It will require Florida Medicaid and state employee health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing when supported by medical and scientific evidence. (Colombini, 7/23)

Central Florida Public Media: Medicare's GUIDE Model, New This Month, Aims For Coordinated Alzheimer's CareA coordinated Alzheimer's disease care program -- Medicare's new GUIDE Model -- began an eight-year trial this month with several Florida clinics taking part. Its current participants include nine established memory care clinics in Florida. Twenty-one more medical groups have signed on to start next July. (Byrnes, 7/23)

North Carolina Health News: Medicaid 'Unwinding' Winds Down In NCIn June 2023, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services began verifying the eligibility of 2.5 million Medicaid participants for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked the start of the so-called unwinding of the continuous coverage requirement, a federal provision that provided states with increased funding for Medicaid in exchange for not removing beneficiaries from the rolls while the national emergency declaration for COVID-19 was in place. (Baxley, 7/24)

NPR: Parents Don't Get Instructions For Babies. But In Oregon, They Now Get A NurseBarb Ibrahim, a nurse of more than 30 years, unpacks in Matt and Amber Luman's kitchen, in rural Jefferson County, Ore. ... Ibrahim drove half an hour to check in on Esserley and her parents. She's part of a new program, slowly rolling out across Oregon, called Family Connects. The program offers any family with a new baby a no-cost visit at home with a trained nurse, like Ibrahim. It's the state's response to a grim, American reality: The U.S. Has one of the highest death rates of any wealthy nation for infants and new mothers both. (Turner, 7/23)

Los Angeles Times: Amid Questions About Pesticides, Cannabis Regulators Rush To Test WeedUnder intense pressure from millions of weed users, California officials are scrambling to test cannabis products for pesticides following a Times investigation last month revealing that regulators have failed to keep vapes and pre-rolls rife with toxic chemicals out of stores. The revelation shook consumer confidence in the safety of legal products and panicked industry leaders: Three leading dispensary chains announced their own product testing programs in the absence of similar safety checks by regulators. (St. John, 7/23)

FDA's Medical Device Chief To Leave Agency; Hospitals Struggling With Blood Culture Bottle Shortage

Read recent pharmaceutical developments in KFF Health News' Prescription Drug Watch roundup.

Stat: Jeff Shuren, Medical Devices Head At FDA, To Leave AgencyJeffrey Shuren, longtime chief regulator of medical devices at the Food and Drug Administration, announced to staff on Tuesday that he is leaving the agency, according to six sources and an email reviewed by STAT. (Lawrence, 7/23)

Stat: Blood Culture Bottle Shortage Challenges Hospitals, LabsHospitals across the country are facing a severe shortage of supplies of blood culture bottles, critical tools for diagnosing serious and sometimes life-threatening bloodstream infections. (Branswell, 7/23)

Reuters: Moderna Co-Founder Robert Langer To Step Down From Vaccine Maker's BoardRobert Langer, co-founder and a key figure behind Moderna's scientific success, will step down from the vaccine maker's board on Aug. 5, the company said on Tuesday. Langer played a crucial role in the development of Moderna's messenger RNA COVID vaccine, which is the biotech's only commercial product. (7/24)

CIDRAP: Merck Announces Promising Findings For Its RSV Monoclonal Antibody For Infants Merck today announced promising safety and efficacy results from a phase 2/3 clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody it is developing to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. (Schnirring, 7/23)

CIDRAP: HHS Announces Pharmacy-Based Clinical Trial Under Project NextGen The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced $25 million in funding to Walgreen's through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Project NextGen to support a COVID vaccine clinical trial featuring a decentralized approach to diversify the pool of study participants. (Schnirring, 7/23)

Perspectives: Should Medicare And Medicaid Pay For Weight Loss Drugs?; FDA Approved Ineffectual Drug

Read recent commentaries about pharmaceutical issues.

Stat: One Way To Pay For Weight Loss Drugs: CMS Could Buy Novo NordiskMedicare and Medicaid are facing a familiar quandary: how to provide coverage for new weight loss drugs with price tags that could effectively bankrupt the federal government's health care budget while simultaneously ensuring continuous coverage for all other health care services used by millions of Americans. (Melissa Barber, Joseph S. Ross, and Reshma Ramachandran, 7/23)

The Washington Post: The FDA Approved An Ineffective Drug For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy The Food and Drug Administration's mandate regarding prescription drugs is clear: to ensure that drugs approved in the United States are sufficiently safe for patients and effective against the conditions they are intended to treat. While the FDA appropriately employs a flexible approach when evaluating promising drugs for life-threatening diseases, it must not neglect its core obligation to ensure that approved drugs improve or extend patients' lives. (Liam Bendicksen, Edward Cliff, and Aaron S. Kesselheim, 7/22)

Stat: Doxy PEP For Preventing Bacterial STIs Should Be Available To All In the midst of an "out of control" epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, a newly recommended tool for preventing these infections has emerged. Sadly, this novel prevention strategy is not yet available to everyone who might benefit from it due to the insufficiently participatory and inclusive nature of the research used to study it. (Oni Blackstock and Whitney C. Irie, 7/22)

Viewpoints: Why Is There A Shortage Of Geriatricians?; States See Effects Of Refusing Medicaid Expansion

Editorial writers discuss these issues and others.

Stat: An Aging Geriatrician Wonders: Who Will Care For Me?In 1988, I became one of the first U.S. Physicians certified in the new specialty of geriatric medicine, which focuses on the health care of older adults. As an idealistic and optimistic 32-year-old geriatrician, I believed that this branch of medicine would undoubtedly emerge as a vibrant field of medicine, benefiting patients and society. I was also confident that when I reached older adulthood, the health care system would be ready to care for me. (Jerry H. Gurwitz, 7/24)

Dallas Morning News: Medicaid Expansion Could Have Saved 2,050 TexansThe expansion of Medicaid to the full extent permitted by the Affordable Care Act would provide health care coverage to a significant number of low-income individuals who are currently unable to afford private insurance or qualify for Medicaid, thus falling into the coverage gap. (Alex Gajewski, David Auerbach and Fabrizia Faustinella, 7/24)

Stat: Cell Donors, Essential For New Therapies, Deserve CompensationCutting-edge FDA-approved therapies made from human cells are now being used to treat cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. Currently, most approved cell-based therapies use an individual's own cells, but the next generation of these therapies will be made from donor-derived blood and tissue. (Priya Baraniak, 7/24)

Modern Healthcare: Healthcare Consolidation Can Deliver Best Quality At Lowest CostHealthcare is an ideal industry to examine the effects of consolidation because it is so crucial to the economy and every American's well-being. The industry represented 17.3% of U.S. Gross domestic product in 2022. That's $4.5 trillion, or more than $13,000 per person, according to federal data, epitomizing the central challenge of any industry: how to deliver the highest-quality service at the lowest cost. (James Calver, 7/23)

Ebola Virus Disease