The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently ruled that women have the right to an abortion when pregnancy risks their health, expanding the right to an abortion beyond medical emergency cases. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and a federal judge will decide if the FDA-approved abortion pill should be blocked across the country pending the outcome of the appeal. The outcome of the appeal could have far-reaching implications for abortion rights in the United States.
Posts published in “Health”
A new CDC report has revealed that clinical cases of Candida auris, an emerging fungus considered an urgent threat, nearly doubled in 2021. The report showed a tripling of cases resistant to echinocandins, the first-line treatment for Candida auris infections, and the director of the National Reference Centre for Invasive Fungus Infections has called the rise in cases "alarming". The CDC is urging health care providers to take steps to prevent the spread of C. auris, such as using proper infection control practices and following the CDC's recommendations for diagnosis and management.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has announced an emergency regulation to limit access to gender-affirming care for minors, requiring an 18-month waiting period, 15 hour-long therapy sessions, and treatment of any mental illnesses before care can be provided. The regulation is in response to the GOP-led Senate's struggle to pass a law banning gender-affirming care for minors and has been met with mixed reactions from the public. It remains to be seen how this regulation will affect access to gender-affirming care in Missouri.
President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan bill that directs the federal government to declassify intelligence related to the origins of Covid-19. The bill calls for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology and requires a report to Congress within 180 days. It is hoped that the declassified intelligence will help to resolve the debate over the source of the virus and provide more clarity on the public health response.
Abigail Zwerner, a 25-year-old first grade teacher from Newport News, Virginia, has spoken out for the first time since she was allegedly shot by a 6-year-old student in her classroom in January. She has undergone four surgeries to help a bone, and faces physical and mental exhaustion in her recovery. Zwerner has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support she has received from her community, and her full interview will air Tuesday on the “TODAY” show.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued an alert warning of the widespread threat of fentanyl mixed with xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer. According to the DEA, this combination is more potent and can cause more severe health effects than fentanyl alone. The DEA is urging the public to be aware of the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine and to seek help if they or someone they know is struggling with addiction.
Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the sixth consecutive year according to the U.N.'s World Happiness Report. The report uses data from Gallup to evaluate each country based on physical and mental health, lack of corruption and effective government. Despite the pandemic, the report found that life evaluations from 2020 to 2022 have been “remarkably resilient” and global averages remain in line with the three years preceding the pandemic.
The CDC has issued a warning about the rapid spread of Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus, in U.S. health care facilities. In 2020, 756 cases were reported, but in 2021 that number had increased to 1,471, a 95% increase. The CDC is urging health care providers to take steps to prevent its spread, as it could become a major public health threat.