 Health Care |
Health Care |
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US measles status in jeopardy amid outbreaks |
Measles outbreaks are spreading across the U.S., and the nation is likely to soon lose its status as a country where the disease is eliminated. |
Infectious disease experts point to ongoing transmission chains from a West Texas outbreak that began early last year and sickened roughly 800 people. They say the spread and threat to elimination is directly related to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A nation loses its distinction as a country where measles has been eliminated when it sees at least 12 months of sustained transmission. South Carolina last week quarantined at least 254 people after confirming more than two dozen measles cases in the state. It's the latest in what has been the worst year for measles in the U.S. in recent history. "This is a very clear example of the damage that the anti-vaccine movement has done in the United States," said Fiona Havers, adjunct associate professor at the Emory School of Medicine and a former infectious disease staffer at the CDC. The U.S. declared measles to be eliminated in 2000, but Jan. 20 of next year will mark 12 straight months of uninterrupted measles transmission and reaching that day with continued spread looks all but certain. Havers called this situation "extremely embarrassing" for the U.S. Strictly speaking, a country losing its measles-elimination status is a technicality that recognizes the spread of measles has gone uninterrupted for at least one year. Regaining measles elimination requires that transmission of the current strain be interrupted for at least 12 months. According to Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, the imminent deadline isn't as important when "we can already say the damn house is on fire." Eighty-eight percent of cases in the United States this year are outbreak-associated, and there have been 47 outbreaks recorded. Last year, 16 outbreaks were reported, and 69 percent of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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| How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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An agreement between moderate Republicans and GOP leadership in the House to allow a vote on extending expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies is on the rocks as the two sides squabble over the contents of the amendment. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and other GOP centrists are planning to introduce an amendment in the House Rules Committee on Tuesday that pairs a two-year extension of the subsidies with eligibility reforms, … |
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President Trump on Monday signed an executive order to designate fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction," dramatically escalating his fight against the drug. Trump hosted an event in the Oval Office to award the Mexican Border Defense Medal to members of the military who were dispatched to assist with efforts to crackdown on crossings at the southern border. As part of the event, he signed the order as he warned against … |
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President Trump said Monday his administration is "considering" reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, days after The Washington Post reported he is expected to sign an executive order telling agencies to pursue reclassification soon. Such a move would continue efforts begun by the Biden administration, which started the process to make marijuana a Schedule III drug in 2024 but did not finish it before former President … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- The House Energy & Commerce subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations will hold a hearing Wednesday on AI and biosecurity.
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Branch out with a different read: |
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Why Florida is ground zero for coming ObamaCare storm |
Florida will be hit harder than any other state if ObamaCare subsidies expire at the end of the year, which is looking increasingly likely as Republicans in Congress struggle to unite behind a plan to extend the tax credits. More than 1.5 million Floridians could lose health care as monthly payments skyrocket. Average premium costs could shoot up by 132 percent, or by $521 annually, for Floridians who currently receive enhanced … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- In Florida's panhandle, a hearing on school vaccine mandates gets heated (New York Times)
- Gov. JB Pritzker signs controversial Illinois medical aid-in-dying law amid strong debate and opposition (Chicago Tribune)
- Incoming health care changes mean more overall struggles for Ohioans, advocates say (Ohio Capital Journal)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Senator endorses discredited doctor's book on a chemical he claims treats everything from autism to cancer (ProPublica)
- A Trump-touted drug for autism is now in demand, but doctors see a dilemma (Washington Post)
- FDA panelists questioned antidepressants in pregnancy. But doctors call them a lifeline (KFF Health News)
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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