Human Bird Flu Death; U.S. Syphilis Cases Skyrocket; 2023’s Top Medical Schools

Business — Health news and commentary from around the Web gathered by MedPage Today staff

by
Joyce Frieden, Washington Editor, MedPage Today
April 12, 2023

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A fatal case of avian influenza (H3N8) in a human has been identified in China, the World Health Organization announced; contact tracing found no other cases.

Ex-Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes will have to stay incarcerated while she appeals her fraud conviction. (Bloomberg Law)

Despite all the boycotts, U.S. News has released its top medical schools for 2023.

Vaping company Juul will pay the state of West Virginia nearly $8 million to settle claims that it marketed its products to underage users. (AP)

A particular model of SIG Sauer handgun sometimes fires without the trigger being pulled, causing serious injury, owners say. (Washington Post)

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed limits on the use of ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic gas used to sterilize medical devices, in an effort to reduce its emissions by 80%. (STAT)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is increasing its payments to hospitals, but hospital groups say it won’t keep pace with inflation. (Axios)

Syphilis cases in the U.S. have soared to levels not seen in 70 years, according to a new CDC report. (ABC News)

A new hire at Arnold Ventures is causing controversy regarding the foundation’s position on opioid addiction. (STAT)

Pregnancies declined by 9% over the last decade, according to new CDC data, with unintended pregnancies declining by 15%.

The White House said it would be a “dangerous precedent” if the FDA ignored a decision by a federal judge in Texas to rescind the agency’s approval of mifepristone (Mifeprex), should the ruling be upheld. (Politico)

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) announced that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. (Washington Post)

A California bill under consideration would mandate the HPV vaccine for college kids. (KFF Health News)

The leader of a far-right sheriff’s organization was charged with stealing $350,000 from an anti-vaccine organization, although he says he was just keeping the money safe. (Daily Beast)

A daily statin cuts the risk of cardiovascular disease in HIV patients, NIH researchers found.

Advocates say new food labeling requirements for sesame may have had unintended — and negative — consequences for people with sesame allergies. (Washington Post)

The Biden administration is proposing to evenly cut the water allotments to California, Nevada, and Arizona from the Colorado River. (New York Times)

Moximed announced that FDA approved marketing of its MISHA Knee System, an implantable shock absorber for the knee to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Additional cases of Hepatitis A linked to frozen strawberries have been identified, the FDA said.

Moderna is seeing underwhelming results so far with its investigational seasonal flu vaccine. (Fierce Healthcare)