Death From Blastomycosis; SCOTUS Enters Fray on Mifepristone; Men’s Body Dysmorphia

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

by
Shannon Firth, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today
April 17, 2023

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At least one person has died and nearly 100 are ill from an outbreak of blastomycosis that closed down a Michigan paper mill, according to local health authorities. (CBS News)

A bird flu sample taken from a Chilean man who became ill with the virus last month has two genetic mutations that signal adaptation to mammals, but the risk to the public is still low, the CDC said. (New York Times)

New research found that Black people tend to live longer in counties with more Black primary care physicians. (JAMA Network Open)

A section of Nashville International Airport was evacuated over the weekend in response to a “noxious odor” that triggered breathing problems for those walking through the concourse. (The Hill)

And a fire at a scrap plastics business in Indiana has experts warning of possible health risks given that asbestos was found in the debris. (AP)

The so-called CoolSculpting device, which aims at freezing away people’s pockets of fat, may be riskier than the manufacturer let on, according to a New York Times investigation.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito temporarily halted a federal court ruling on mifepristone that would have significantly limited access to the medication abortion; the pause will stay in effect until at least midnight Wednesday. (The Hill)

A Kansas City hospital is suing Missouri’s attorney general in response to a “burdensome” request for records on gender-affirming care. (AP)

Meanwhile, new Colorado bills signed into law on Friday preserve access to gender-affirming care and abortion. (AP)

Increasingly, in a post-Roe world, patients seeking abortions are turning to “sanctuary states” like Colorado, Illinois, and states in the Northeast and West Coast. (NPR)

COVID continues to be a leading cause of death in the U.S. — taking 250 lives daily — particularly older adults and the immunocompromised, say federal health officials. (Washington Post)

And while the COVID-19 public health emergency ends May 11, HHS plans to hold on to certain authorities for a while longer, including letting pharmacists give COVID and flu shots. (STAT)

A 2-year-old boy in Virginia was found unresponsive by first responders and needed naloxone (Narcan) to be revived, police say. (ABC News)

Body dysmorphia is driving increasing numbers of men and boys into an unhealthy obsession on weight-training, say pediatricians. (Washington Post)

An anthropologist takes a closer look at the latest evidence around menstrual priming in the new book Period: The Real Story of Menstruation. (Science News)