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Don’t make children with head lice leave school, report says
The American Academy of Pediatrics says children with head lice don’t need to be sent home from school.
Head lice infestations aren’t really a health hazard because of low transmission rates, a new report from the academy says, and sending students home “may stigmatize children suspected of having head lice.” The group says schools should instead offer education programs to help families understand how to manage head lice.
“Head lice are an unpleasant part of the human experience, but they can be successfully managed and are no reason for a child to miss school,” Dawn Nolt, MD, lead author of the report on head lice, said in a news release.
The report advises schools to abandon “no-nit” policies, which call for a student to be lice-free before being allowed back in class.
“A child or adolescent should not be restricted from school attendance because of head lice, given the low contagion within classrooms. ‘No-nit’ policies that exclude children or adolescents until all nits are removed may violate a child’s or adolescent’s civil liberties and are best addressed with legal counsel for schools,” the report says.
The report notes that lice almost always spread through head-to-head contact, not by “jumping” from one person to another. It’s possible for lice to spread by touching the belongings of a person with lice, such as combs or sports helmets, but the chances of that happening are very low, the academy said.
“Lice found on combs are likely to be injured or dead, and a louse is not likely to leave a healthy head unless there is a heavy infestation,” the report says.
The report lists new medications for treatment and gives an algorithm for managing head lice cases.
“The ideal treatment of head lice should be safe, free of toxic chemicals, readily available, simple to apply, effective, and inexpensive,” the report says.
This is the first updated guidance on head lice from the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2015. The CDC also says students with head lice don’t need to be sent home.
“Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home early from school; they can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice,” the CDC says.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says children with head lice don’t need to be sent home from school.
Head lice infestations aren’t really a health hazard because of low transmission rates, a new report from the academy says, and sending students home “may stigmatize children suspected of having head lice.” The group says schools should instead offer education programs to help families understand how to manage head lice.
“Head lice are an unpleasant part of the human experience, but they can be successfully managed and are no reason for a child to miss school,” Dawn Nolt, MD, lead author of the report on head lice, said in a news release.
The report advises schools to abandon “no-nit” policies, which call for a student to be lice-free before being allowed back in class.
“A child or adolescent should not be restricted from school attendance because of head lice, given the low contagion within classrooms. ‘No-nit’ policies that exclude children or adolescents until all nits are removed may violate a child’s or adolescent’s civil liberties and are best addressed with legal counsel for schools,” the report says.
The report notes that lice almost always spread through head-to-head contact, not by “jumping” from one person to another. It’s possible for lice to spread by touching the belongings of a person with lice, such as combs or sports helmets, but the chances of that happening are very low, the academy said.
“Lice found on combs are likely to be injured or dead, and a louse is not likely to leave a healthy head unless there is a heavy infestation,” the report says.
The report lists new medications for treatment and gives an algorithm for managing head lice cases.
“The ideal treatment of head lice should be safe, free of toxic chemicals, readily available, simple to apply, effective, and inexpensive,” the report says.
This is the first updated guidance on head lice from the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2015. The CDC also says students with head lice don’t need to be sent home.
“Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home early from school; they can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice,” the CDC says.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says children with head lice don’t need to be sent home from school.
Head lice infestations aren’t really a health hazard because of low transmission rates, a new report from the academy says, and sending students home “may stigmatize children suspected of having head lice.” The group says schools should instead offer education programs to help families understand how to manage head lice.
“Head lice are an unpleasant part of the human experience, but they can be successfully managed and are no reason for a child to miss school,” Dawn Nolt, MD, lead author of the report on head lice, said in a news release.
The report advises schools to abandon “no-nit” policies, which call for a student to be lice-free before being allowed back in class.
“A child or adolescent should not be restricted from school attendance because of head lice, given the low contagion within classrooms. ‘No-nit’ policies that exclude children or adolescents until all nits are removed may violate a child’s or adolescent’s civil liberties and are best addressed with legal counsel for schools,” the report says.
The report notes that lice almost always spread through head-to-head contact, not by “jumping” from one person to another. It’s possible for lice to spread by touching the belongings of a person with lice, such as combs or sports helmets, but the chances of that happening are very low, the academy said.
“Lice found on combs are likely to be injured or dead, and a louse is not likely to leave a healthy head unless there is a heavy infestation,” the report says.
The report lists new medications for treatment and gives an algorithm for managing head lice cases.
“The ideal treatment of head lice should be safe, free of toxic chemicals, readily available, simple to apply, effective, and inexpensive,” the report says.
This is the first updated guidance on head lice from the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2015. The CDC also says students with head lice don’t need to be sent home.
“Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home early from school; they can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice,” the CDC says.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Under 2% of eligible have gotten newest COVID booster shot
The newest booster became available to the public around Labor Day weekend, and about 4.4 million people have gotten it as of Sept. 21, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That figure represents about 1.5% of the people eligible to receive the booster, NBC News reported.
The White House has said the total is probably closer to 5 million people. The CDC totals don’t yet include Texas and Idaho, which use an aggregate vaccination record reporting method for the Pfizer vaccine.
Scott Roberts, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious disease specialist in New Haven, Conn., told NBC News the low numbers are “demoralizing.”
“I would expect a much higher proportion of Americans to have gotten the booster by this point,” he said. “The fact that this booster came out days before Biden said the pandemic is over is a huge mixed message. Now it’s going to be that much harder to convince those at risk who are on the fence to get a booster.”
White House COVID-19 coordinator Ashish Jha, MD, says he thinks demand will pick up in the coming weeks.
“We’ve been thinking and talking about this as an annual vaccine like the flu vaccine. Flu vaccine season picks up in late September and early October. We’re just getting our education campaign going. So we expect to see, despite the fact that this was a strong start, we actually expect this to ramp up stronger,” Dr. Jha said.
The new booster is the third one authorized by the federal government and was redesigned to protect against the currently circulating subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 of the Omicron strain. People who have received a primary vaccine series or a booster at least 2 months before can receive it.
The new Pfizer booster is available for people 12 and up and the Moderna version for people 18 and up. The vaccines can be mixed and matched.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The newest booster became available to the public around Labor Day weekend, and about 4.4 million people have gotten it as of Sept. 21, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That figure represents about 1.5% of the people eligible to receive the booster, NBC News reported.
The White House has said the total is probably closer to 5 million people. The CDC totals don’t yet include Texas and Idaho, which use an aggregate vaccination record reporting method for the Pfizer vaccine.
Scott Roberts, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious disease specialist in New Haven, Conn., told NBC News the low numbers are “demoralizing.”
“I would expect a much higher proportion of Americans to have gotten the booster by this point,” he said. “The fact that this booster came out days before Biden said the pandemic is over is a huge mixed message. Now it’s going to be that much harder to convince those at risk who are on the fence to get a booster.”
White House COVID-19 coordinator Ashish Jha, MD, says he thinks demand will pick up in the coming weeks.
“We’ve been thinking and talking about this as an annual vaccine like the flu vaccine. Flu vaccine season picks up in late September and early October. We’re just getting our education campaign going. So we expect to see, despite the fact that this was a strong start, we actually expect this to ramp up stronger,” Dr. Jha said.
The new booster is the third one authorized by the federal government and was redesigned to protect against the currently circulating subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 of the Omicron strain. People who have received a primary vaccine series or a booster at least 2 months before can receive it.
The new Pfizer booster is available for people 12 and up and the Moderna version for people 18 and up. The vaccines can be mixed and matched.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The newest booster became available to the public around Labor Day weekend, and about 4.4 million people have gotten it as of Sept. 21, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That figure represents about 1.5% of the people eligible to receive the booster, NBC News reported.
The White House has said the total is probably closer to 5 million people. The CDC totals don’t yet include Texas and Idaho, which use an aggregate vaccination record reporting method for the Pfizer vaccine.
Scott Roberts, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious disease specialist in New Haven, Conn., told NBC News the low numbers are “demoralizing.”
“I would expect a much higher proportion of Americans to have gotten the booster by this point,” he said. “The fact that this booster came out days before Biden said the pandemic is over is a huge mixed message. Now it’s going to be that much harder to convince those at risk who are on the fence to get a booster.”
White House COVID-19 coordinator Ashish Jha, MD, says he thinks demand will pick up in the coming weeks.
“We’ve been thinking and talking about this as an annual vaccine like the flu vaccine. Flu vaccine season picks up in late September and early October. We’re just getting our education campaign going. So we expect to see, despite the fact that this was a strong start, we actually expect this to ramp up stronger,” Dr. Jha said.
The new booster is the third one authorized by the federal government and was redesigned to protect against the currently circulating subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 of the Omicron strain. People who have received a primary vaccine series or a booster at least 2 months before can receive it.
The new Pfizer booster is available for people 12 and up and the Moderna version for people 18 and up. The vaccines can be mixed and matched.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Adderall shortage reported by pharmacies, patients
Half a dozen people told Bloomberg that pharmacies told them in August and September that the drug was out of stock. The patients were told the drug might not be available for weeks, though it’s supposed to be taken daily. BuzzFeed News said 20 people across the nation said that their pharmacies didn’t have Adderall in stock.
“It’s so frustrating that getting my meds requires me to be organized, focused, and motivated – all the things I’m on these meds to help with,” Irene Kelly, who has been using Adderall for 14 years, told BuzzFeed News.
Two pharmacy chains told Bloomberg that Adderall has not always been available to sell. Walgreens spokesperson Rebekah Pajak said there were “supply chain challenges” affecting instant-release and extended-release versions of the drug. CVS pharmacies can fill Adderall prescriptions “in most cases,” CVS spokesperson Matthew Blanchette said.
Several drugmakers have had brand-name and generic versions of Adderall on back order for months, Bloomberg reported. The problem started with a labor shortage at Teva Pharmaceutical, the top seller of Adderall in the United States, that created a limited supply of brand-name and generic instant-release Adderall, according to the outlet.
That said, the Food and Drug Administration is not reporting an Adderall shortage on its drug shortages database. The federal agency says it lists a drug as being in short supply when “overall market demand is not being met by the manufacturers of the product,” Bloomberg said.
“Manufacturers continue to release product,” FDA spokesperson Cherie Duvall-Jones said, according to Bloomberg.
Demand for Adderall is growing, possibly because of rising ADHD diagnoses that occurred during telehealth medical appointments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloomberg reported, noting that some of those telehealth companies have come under scrutiny by the Drug Enforcement Administration and other government agencies.
NBC News, citing IQVIA, an analytics provider for the life sciences industry, reported that 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were issued last year, up 10.4% from 2020.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Half a dozen people told Bloomberg that pharmacies told them in August and September that the drug was out of stock. The patients were told the drug might not be available for weeks, though it’s supposed to be taken daily. BuzzFeed News said 20 people across the nation said that their pharmacies didn’t have Adderall in stock.
“It’s so frustrating that getting my meds requires me to be organized, focused, and motivated – all the things I’m on these meds to help with,” Irene Kelly, who has been using Adderall for 14 years, told BuzzFeed News.
Two pharmacy chains told Bloomberg that Adderall has not always been available to sell. Walgreens spokesperson Rebekah Pajak said there were “supply chain challenges” affecting instant-release and extended-release versions of the drug. CVS pharmacies can fill Adderall prescriptions “in most cases,” CVS spokesperson Matthew Blanchette said.
Several drugmakers have had brand-name and generic versions of Adderall on back order for months, Bloomberg reported. The problem started with a labor shortage at Teva Pharmaceutical, the top seller of Adderall in the United States, that created a limited supply of brand-name and generic instant-release Adderall, according to the outlet.
That said, the Food and Drug Administration is not reporting an Adderall shortage on its drug shortages database. The federal agency says it lists a drug as being in short supply when “overall market demand is not being met by the manufacturers of the product,” Bloomberg said.
“Manufacturers continue to release product,” FDA spokesperson Cherie Duvall-Jones said, according to Bloomberg.
Demand for Adderall is growing, possibly because of rising ADHD diagnoses that occurred during telehealth medical appointments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloomberg reported, noting that some of those telehealth companies have come under scrutiny by the Drug Enforcement Administration and other government agencies.
NBC News, citing IQVIA, an analytics provider for the life sciences industry, reported that 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were issued last year, up 10.4% from 2020.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Half a dozen people told Bloomberg that pharmacies told them in August and September that the drug was out of stock. The patients were told the drug might not be available for weeks, though it’s supposed to be taken daily. BuzzFeed News said 20 people across the nation said that their pharmacies didn’t have Adderall in stock.
“It’s so frustrating that getting my meds requires me to be organized, focused, and motivated – all the things I’m on these meds to help with,” Irene Kelly, who has been using Adderall for 14 years, told BuzzFeed News.
Two pharmacy chains told Bloomberg that Adderall has not always been available to sell. Walgreens spokesperson Rebekah Pajak said there were “supply chain challenges” affecting instant-release and extended-release versions of the drug. CVS pharmacies can fill Adderall prescriptions “in most cases,” CVS spokesperson Matthew Blanchette said.
Several drugmakers have had brand-name and generic versions of Adderall on back order for months, Bloomberg reported. The problem started with a labor shortage at Teva Pharmaceutical, the top seller of Adderall in the United States, that created a limited supply of brand-name and generic instant-release Adderall, according to the outlet.
That said, the Food and Drug Administration is not reporting an Adderall shortage on its drug shortages database. The federal agency says it lists a drug as being in short supply when “overall market demand is not being met by the manufacturers of the product,” Bloomberg said.
“Manufacturers continue to release product,” FDA spokesperson Cherie Duvall-Jones said, according to Bloomberg.
Demand for Adderall is growing, possibly because of rising ADHD diagnoses that occurred during telehealth medical appointments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloomberg reported, noting that some of those telehealth companies have come under scrutiny by the Drug Enforcement Administration and other government agencies.
NBC News, citing IQVIA, an analytics provider for the life sciences industry, reported that 41.4 million Adderall prescriptions were issued last year, up 10.4% from 2020.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Religion tied to better heart health for Black Americans
according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, used survey responses and health screenings for 2,967 African Americans in and around Jackson, Mich.
Those who attended religious services frequently were 15% more likely to achieve an intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health score, based on criteria from the AHA.
Those who prayed privately regularly had a 12% increase in the chances of achieving an intermediate or ideal AHA metric for diet. Those who said they used “religious coping” were 14% more likely to have good cardiovascular health.
The study’s lead author, cardiologist LaPrincess C. Brewer, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said the results were somewhat surprising because diet, physical activity, and smoking are extremely difficult to change.
People in the study were grouped by their self-reported levels of spirituality, meaning belief in the existence of a supreme being, and how often they went to church services, prayed in private, and used religion to cope with stressful events and the challenges of life.
They were then grouped according to the health factors in the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels). The association changed the Simple 7 to the Essential 8 last June, adding sleep.
Dr. Brewer said the study may help doctors better treat Black Americans, who, statistics show, tend to have poorer overall cardiovascular health than non-Hispanic White people. Death rates from heart disease are higher for Black Americans than white adults.
“Our findings highlight the substantial role that culturally tailored health promotion initiatives and recommendations for lifestyle change may play in advancing health equity,” Dr. Brewer said in a news release. “The cultural relevance of interventions may increase their likelihood of influencing cardiovascular health and also the sustainability and maintenance of healthy lifestyle changes.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, used survey responses and health screenings for 2,967 African Americans in and around Jackson, Mich.
Those who attended religious services frequently were 15% more likely to achieve an intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health score, based on criteria from the AHA.
Those who prayed privately regularly had a 12% increase in the chances of achieving an intermediate or ideal AHA metric for diet. Those who said they used “religious coping” were 14% more likely to have good cardiovascular health.
The study’s lead author, cardiologist LaPrincess C. Brewer, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said the results were somewhat surprising because diet, physical activity, and smoking are extremely difficult to change.
People in the study were grouped by their self-reported levels of spirituality, meaning belief in the existence of a supreme being, and how often they went to church services, prayed in private, and used religion to cope with stressful events and the challenges of life.
They were then grouped according to the health factors in the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels). The association changed the Simple 7 to the Essential 8 last June, adding sleep.
Dr. Brewer said the study may help doctors better treat Black Americans, who, statistics show, tend to have poorer overall cardiovascular health than non-Hispanic White people. Death rates from heart disease are higher for Black Americans than white adults.
“Our findings highlight the substantial role that culturally tailored health promotion initiatives and recommendations for lifestyle change may play in advancing health equity,” Dr. Brewer said in a news release. “The cultural relevance of interventions may increase their likelihood of influencing cardiovascular health and also the sustainability and maintenance of healthy lifestyle changes.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, used survey responses and health screenings for 2,967 African Americans in and around Jackson, Mich.
Those who attended religious services frequently were 15% more likely to achieve an intermediate or ideal cardiovascular health score, based on criteria from the AHA.
Those who prayed privately regularly had a 12% increase in the chances of achieving an intermediate or ideal AHA metric for diet. Those who said they used “religious coping” were 14% more likely to have good cardiovascular health.
The study’s lead author, cardiologist LaPrincess C. Brewer, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said the results were somewhat surprising because diet, physical activity, and smoking are extremely difficult to change.
People in the study were grouped by their self-reported levels of spirituality, meaning belief in the existence of a supreme being, and how often they went to church services, prayed in private, and used religion to cope with stressful events and the challenges of life.
They were then grouped according to the health factors in the AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels). The association changed the Simple 7 to the Essential 8 last June, adding sleep.
Dr. Brewer said the study may help doctors better treat Black Americans, who, statistics show, tend to have poorer overall cardiovascular health than non-Hispanic White people. Death rates from heart disease are higher for Black Americans than white adults.
“Our findings highlight the substantial role that culturally tailored health promotion initiatives and recommendations for lifestyle change may play in advancing health equity,” Dr. Brewer said in a news release. “The cultural relevance of interventions may increase their likelihood of influencing cardiovascular health and also the sustainability and maintenance of healthy lifestyle changes.”
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
NYC switching children’s COVID vaccine sites to monkeypox
The city health department said demand for children’s COVID vaccines had been on the downswing at the clinics, which opened in late June. Meanwhile, monkeypox cases have increased, with the city declaring it a public health emergency July 30.
“We always planned to transition vaccination for very young children to providers,” the city’s health department said in a statement, according to Spectrum News NY1. “Due to the ongoing monkeypox emergency, we transitioned some of these sites to administer monkeypox vaccine.”
All the COVID vaccine sites for children will close by Aug. 14, Spectrum News NY1 said. It’s unclear if the other sites will transition to monkeypox vaccine.
No appointments for children’s COVID vaccinations had to be canceled, the city said. The plan is that children now needing the COVID vaccine can go to doctors, pharmacies, or the health department clinics.
Manhattan City Councilwoman Gale Brewer urged the health department to keep the kids’ COVID vaccine sites open through the fall.
“I strongly urge you to maintain these family-friendly sites, at least until mid-September so that children who are going to day care and school can get vaccinated,” Brewer wrote. City schools open Sept. 8
Ms. Brewer noted that the city-run sites administered the Moderna vaccines, while many doctors and neighborhood health clinics use the Pfizer vaccine. That could be a problem for a child that had not finished the Moderna regimen or for families that prefer Moderna.
According to the city health department, 2,130 people in New York City had tested positive for monkeypox as of Aug. 12.
On Friday, the city announced 9,000 additional monkeypox vaccines would be made available the morning of Aug. 13.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The city health department said demand for children’s COVID vaccines had been on the downswing at the clinics, which opened in late June. Meanwhile, monkeypox cases have increased, with the city declaring it a public health emergency July 30.
“We always planned to transition vaccination for very young children to providers,” the city’s health department said in a statement, according to Spectrum News NY1. “Due to the ongoing monkeypox emergency, we transitioned some of these sites to administer monkeypox vaccine.”
All the COVID vaccine sites for children will close by Aug. 14, Spectrum News NY1 said. It’s unclear if the other sites will transition to monkeypox vaccine.
No appointments for children’s COVID vaccinations had to be canceled, the city said. The plan is that children now needing the COVID vaccine can go to doctors, pharmacies, or the health department clinics.
Manhattan City Councilwoman Gale Brewer urged the health department to keep the kids’ COVID vaccine sites open through the fall.
“I strongly urge you to maintain these family-friendly sites, at least until mid-September so that children who are going to day care and school can get vaccinated,” Brewer wrote. City schools open Sept. 8
Ms. Brewer noted that the city-run sites administered the Moderna vaccines, while many doctors and neighborhood health clinics use the Pfizer vaccine. That could be a problem for a child that had not finished the Moderna regimen or for families that prefer Moderna.
According to the city health department, 2,130 people in New York City had tested positive for monkeypox as of Aug. 12.
On Friday, the city announced 9,000 additional monkeypox vaccines would be made available the morning of Aug. 13.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The city health department said demand for children’s COVID vaccines had been on the downswing at the clinics, which opened in late June. Meanwhile, monkeypox cases have increased, with the city declaring it a public health emergency July 30.
“We always planned to transition vaccination for very young children to providers,” the city’s health department said in a statement, according to Spectrum News NY1. “Due to the ongoing monkeypox emergency, we transitioned some of these sites to administer monkeypox vaccine.”
All the COVID vaccine sites for children will close by Aug. 14, Spectrum News NY1 said. It’s unclear if the other sites will transition to monkeypox vaccine.
No appointments for children’s COVID vaccinations had to be canceled, the city said. The plan is that children now needing the COVID vaccine can go to doctors, pharmacies, or the health department clinics.
Manhattan City Councilwoman Gale Brewer urged the health department to keep the kids’ COVID vaccine sites open through the fall.
“I strongly urge you to maintain these family-friendly sites, at least until mid-September so that children who are going to day care and school can get vaccinated,” Brewer wrote. City schools open Sept. 8
Ms. Brewer noted that the city-run sites administered the Moderna vaccines, while many doctors and neighborhood health clinics use the Pfizer vaccine. That could be a problem for a child that had not finished the Moderna regimen or for families that prefer Moderna.
According to the city health department, 2,130 people in New York City had tested positive for monkeypox as of Aug. 12.
On Friday, the city announced 9,000 additional monkeypox vaccines would be made available the morning of Aug. 13.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
U.S. tops 10,000 confirmed monkeypox cases: CDC
The United States passed the 10,000 mark on Aug. 10, with the number climbing to 10,768 by the morning of Aug. 12, according to the latest CDC data. Monkeypox cases have been found in every state except Wyoming. New York (2,187), California (1,892), and Florida (1,053) have reported the most cases. So far, no monkeypox deaths have been reported in the United States.
The numbers are increasing, with 1,391 cases reported in the United States on Aug. 12 alone, by far the most in 1 day since the current outbreak began.
“We are still operating under a containment goal, although I know many states are starting to wonder if we’re shifting to more of a mitigation phase right now, given that our case counts are still rising rapidly,” Jennifer McQuiston, DVM, the CDC’s top monkeypox official, told a group of the agency’s advisers on Aug. 9, according to CBS News.
Since late July, the United States has reported more monkeypox cases than any other nation. After the United States, Spain has reported 5,162 cases, the United Kingdom 3,017, and France 2,423, according to the World Health Organization.
Globally, 31,655 cases have been recorded, with 5,108 of those cases coming in the last 7 days, according to the WHO. There have been 12 deaths attributed to monkeypox, with one coming in the last week.
The smallpox-like disease was first found in humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and has become more common in West and Central Africa. It began spreading to European and other Western nations in May 2022.
The WHO declared it a global public health emergency in late July, and the Biden administration declared it a national health emergency Aug. 4.
To fight the spread of monkeypox, the Biden administration is buying $26 million worth of SIGA Technologies Inc.’s IV version of the antiviral drug TPOXX, the company announced on Aug. 9.
U.S. health officials also modified monkeypox vaccine dosing instructions to stretch the supply of vaccine. Instead of sticking with a standard shot that would enter deep into tissue, the FDA now encourages a new way: just under the skin at one-fifth the usual dose.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The United States passed the 10,000 mark on Aug. 10, with the number climbing to 10,768 by the morning of Aug. 12, according to the latest CDC data. Monkeypox cases have been found in every state except Wyoming. New York (2,187), California (1,892), and Florida (1,053) have reported the most cases. So far, no monkeypox deaths have been reported in the United States.
The numbers are increasing, with 1,391 cases reported in the United States on Aug. 12 alone, by far the most in 1 day since the current outbreak began.
“We are still operating under a containment goal, although I know many states are starting to wonder if we’re shifting to more of a mitigation phase right now, given that our case counts are still rising rapidly,” Jennifer McQuiston, DVM, the CDC’s top monkeypox official, told a group of the agency’s advisers on Aug. 9, according to CBS News.
Since late July, the United States has reported more monkeypox cases than any other nation. After the United States, Spain has reported 5,162 cases, the United Kingdom 3,017, and France 2,423, according to the World Health Organization.
Globally, 31,655 cases have been recorded, with 5,108 of those cases coming in the last 7 days, according to the WHO. There have been 12 deaths attributed to monkeypox, with one coming in the last week.
The smallpox-like disease was first found in humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and has become more common in West and Central Africa. It began spreading to European and other Western nations in May 2022.
The WHO declared it a global public health emergency in late July, and the Biden administration declared it a national health emergency Aug. 4.
To fight the spread of monkeypox, the Biden administration is buying $26 million worth of SIGA Technologies Inc.’s IV version of the antiviral drug TPOXX, the company announced on Aug. 9.
U.S. health officials also modified monkeypox vaccine dosing instructions to stretch the supply of vaccine. Instead of sticking with a standard shot that would enter deep into tissue, the FDA now encourages a new way: just under the skin at one-fifth the usual dose.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
The United States passed the 10,000 mark on Aug. 10, with the number climbing to 10,768 by the morning of Aug. 12, according to the latest CDC data. Monkeypox cases have been found in every state except Wyoming. New York (2,187), California (1,892), and Florida (1,053) have reported the most cases. So far, no monkeypox deaths have been reported in the United States.
The numbers are increasing, with 1,391 cases reported in the United States on Aug. 12 alone, by far the most in 1 day since the current outbreak began.
“We are still operating under a containment goal, although I know many states are starting to wonder if we’re shifting to more of a mitigation phase right now, given that our case counts are still rising rapidly,” Jennifer McQuiston, DVM, the CDC’s top monkeypox official, told a group of the agency’s advisers on Aug. 9, according to CBS News.
Since late July, the United States has reported more monkeypox cases than any other nation. After the United States, Spain has reported 5,162 cases, the United Kingdom 3,017, and France 2,423, according to the World Health Organization.
Globally, 31,655 cases have been recorded, with 5,108 of those cases coming in the last 7 days, according to the WHO. There have been 12 deaths attributed to monkeypox, with one coming in the last week.
The smallpox-like disease was first found in humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970 and has become more common in West and Central Africa. It began spreading to European and other Western nations in May 2022.
The WHO declared it a global public health emergency in late July, and the Biden administration declared it a national health emergency Aug. 4.
To fight the spread of monkeypox, the Biden administration is buying $26 million worth of SIGA Technologies Inc.’s IV version of the antiviral drug TPOXX, the company announced on Aug. 9.
U.S. health officials also modified monkeypox vaccine dosing instructions to stretch the supply of vaccine. Instead of sticking with a standard shot that would enter deep into tissue, the FDA now encourages a new way: just under the skin at one-fifth the usual dose.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Should monkeypox be considered an STD? Experts debate
As the number of monkeypox cases keeps growing, a discussion has opened on whether it should be considered a sexually transmitted disease like herpes, gonorrhea, or HIV.
Monkeypox is almost always spread through skin-to-skin contact and, in the West, many of the cases have occurred among men who have sex with men.
But health experts say that doesn’t make it an STD – at least not in “the classic sense.”
“Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease in the classic sense (by which it’s spread in the semen or vaginal fluids), but it is spread by close physical contact with lesions,” infectious diseases expert Robert L. Murphy, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, said in a news release.
He said the current monkeypox outbreak was more like a meningitis outbreak among gay men a few years ago.
Rowland Kao, PhD, a professor of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh, said that an “STD is one where intimate, sexual contact is critical to the transmission – where sexual acts are central to the transmission,” Newsweek reported.
“Some infections are transmitted by any type of close contact, of which sexual activity is one. Monkeypox is one of those –
But calling monkeypox an STD could deter measures to limit its spread, another expert told Newsweek.
“My uneasiness about labeling it as an STD is that for most STDs, wearing a condom or avoiding penetration or direct oral-anal/oral-genital contact is a good way of preventing transmission,” said Paul Hunter, MD, a professor of health protection at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, England.
“But for monkeypox, even just naked cuddling is a big risk. So labeling it an STD could actually work against control if people felt they just had to wear a condom.”
Denise Dewald, MD, a pediatric specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, said monkeypox is not an STD – but it could become an entrenched virus.
“Monkeypox will become established in the pediatric and general population and will transmit through daycares and schools,” she tweeted. “It is not an STD. It is like MRSA. This isn’t rocket science.”
One thing is certain: More and more people are getting monkeypox. It’s been endemic in Western and Central Africa for years, and cases in Europe and North America were identified in May.
Globally, more than 14,000 cases have been identified, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on July 20, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Five people in Africa have died. In the United Kingdom, more than 2,100 cases have been identified.
In the United States, more than 2,500 confirmed monkeypox cases have been detected, with cases reported from every state except Alaska, Maine, Montana, Mississippi, Vermont, and Wyoming, the CDC said on July 21.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
As the number of monkeypox cases keeps growing, a discussion has opened on whether it should be considered a sexually transmitted disease like herpes, gonorrhea, or HIV.
Monkeypox is almost always spread through skin-to-skin contact and, in the West, many of the cases have occurred among men who have sex with men.
But health experts say that doesn’t make it an STD – at least not in “the classic sense.”
“Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease in the classic sense (by which it’s spread in the semen or vaginal fluids), but it is spread by close physical contact with lesions,” infectious diseases expert Robert L. Murphy, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, said in a news release.
He said the current monkeypox outbreak was more like a meningitis outbreak among gay men a few years ago.
Rowland Kao, PhD, a professor of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh, said that an “STD is one where intimate, sexual contact is critical to the transmission – where sexual acts are central to the transmission,” Newsweek reported.
“Some infections are transmitted by any type of close contact, of which sexual activity is one. Monkeypox is one of those –
But calling monkeypox an STD could deter measures to limit its spread, another expert told Newsweek.
“My uneasiness about labeling it as an STD is that for most STDs, wearing a condom or avoiding penetration or direct oral-anal/oral-genital contact is a good way of preventing transmission,” said Paul Hunter, MD, a professor of health protection at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, England.
“But for monkeypox, even just naked cuddling is a big risk. So labeling it an STD could actually work against control if people felt they just had to wear a condom.”
Denise Dewald, MD, a pediatric specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, said monkeypox is not an STD – but it could become an entrenched virus.
“Monkeypox will become established in the pediatric and general population and will transmit through daycares and schools,” she tweeted. “It is not an STD. It is like MRSA. This isn’t rocket science.”
One thing is certain: More and more people are getting monkeypox. It’s been endemic in Western and Central Africa for years, and cases in Europe and North America were identified in May.
Globally, more than 14,000 cases have been identified, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on July 20, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Five people in Africa have died. In the United Kingdom, more than 2,100 cases have been identified.
In the United States, more than 2,500 confirmed monkeypox cases have been detected, with cases reported from every state except Alaska, Maine, Montana, Mississippi, Vermont, and Wyoming, the CDC said on July 21.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
As the number of monkeypox cases keeps growing, a discussion has opened on whether it should be considered a sexually transmitted disease like herpes, gonorrhea, or HIV.
Monkeypox is almost always spread through skin-to-skin contact and, in the West, many of the cases have occurred among men who have sex with men.
But health experts say that doesn’t make it an STD – at least not in “the classic sense.”
“Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease in the classic sense (by which it’s spread in the semen or vaginal fluids), but it is spread by close physical contact with lesions,” infectious diseases expert Robert L. Murphy, MD, of Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, said in a news release.
He said the current monkeypox outbreak was more like a meningitis outbreak among gay men a few years ago.
Rowland Kao, PhD, a professor of veterinary epidemiology and data science at the University of Edinburgh, said that an “STD is one where intimate, sexual contact is critical to the transmission – where sexual acts are central to the transmission,” Newsweek reported.
“Some infections are transmitted by any type of close contact, of which sexual activity is one. Monkeypox is one of those –
But calling monkeypox an STD could deter measures to limit its spread, another expert told Newsweek.
“My uneasiness about labeling it as an STD is that for most STDs, wearing a condom or avoiding penetration or direct oral-anal/oral-genital contact is a good way of preventing transmission,” said Paul Hunter, MD, a professor of health protection at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, England.
“But for monkeypox, even just naked cuddling is a big risk. So labeling it an STD could actually work against control if people felt they just had to wear a condom.”
Denise Dewald, MD, a pediatric specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, said monkeypox is not an STD – but it could become an entrenched virus.
“Monkeypox will become established in the pediatric and general population and will transmit through daycares and schools,” she tweeted. “It is not an STD. It is like MRSA. This isn’t rocket science.”
One thing is certain: More and more people are getting monkeypox. It’s been endemic in Western and Central Africa for years, and cases in Europe and North America were identified in May.
Globally, more than 14,000 cases have been identified, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on July 20, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Five people in Africa have died. In the United Kingdom, more than 2,100 cases have been identified.
In the United States, more than 2,500 confirmed monkeypox cases have been detected, with cases reported from every state except Alaska, Maine, Montana, Mississippi, Vermont, and Wyoming, the CDC said on July 21.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
California will make low-cost insulin, Gov. Newsom says
On July 7, he said he had just signed a state budget that includes $50 million for development of the insulin and another $50 million for a place to make it.
“Nothing, nothing epitomizes market failures more than the cost of insulin,” Gov. Newsom said in a video posted on the governor’s Twitter page. He noted that many Americans have out-of-pocket costs ranging from $300 to $500 per month for insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.
“In California, we know people should not go into debt to receive lifesaving medication,” he said.
Gov. Newsom said that when he first took office, he signed an executive order to launch California’s own prescription drug system and that the insulin initiative is the first step toward making that happen.
People who take insulin have long complained about its high price. A November 2021 report from The Lancet said 25% of the insulin patients in the United States struggle to pay for it.
The cost of insulin for patients with insurance ranges from $334 to $1,000 a month, ABC News said, citing the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Legislation in Congress would bring down the cost of insulin if passed, with one bill capping costs at $35 per month for patients with health insurance. But The Hill reported that some Republicans oppose the legislation because it would interfere with free markets and raise costs for drug companies.
The CDC says 37.3 million people in the United States – about 11.3% of the population – have diabetes, with 8.5 million of them undiagnosed.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
On July 7, he said he had just signed a state budget that includes $50 million for development of the insulin and another $50 million for a place to make it.
“Nothing, nothing epitomizes market failures more than the cost of insulin,” Gov. Newsom said in a video posted on the governor’s Twitter page. He noted that many Americans have out-of-pocket costs ranging from $300 to $500 per month for insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.
“In California, we know people should not go into debt to receive lifesaving medication,” he said.
Gov. Newsom said that when he first took office, he signed an executive order to launch California’s own prescription drug system and that the insulin initiative is the first step toward making that happen.
People who take insulin have long complained about its high price. A November 2021 report from The Lancet said 25% of the insulin patients in the United States struggle to pay for it.
The cost of insulin for patients with insurance ranges from $334 to $1,000 a month, ABC News said, citing the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Legislation in Congress would bring down the cost of insulin if passed, with one bill capping costs at $35 per month for patients with health insurance. But The Hill reported that some Republicans oppose the legislation because it would interfere with free markets and raise costs for drug companies.
The CDC says 37.3 million people in the United States – about 11.3% of the population – have diabetes, with 8.5 million of them undiagnosed.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
On July 7, he said he had just signed a state budget that includes $50 million for development of the insulin and another $50 million for a place to make it.
“Nothing, nothing epitomizes market failures more than the cost of insulin,” Gov. Newsom said in a video posted on the governor’s Twitter page. He noted that many Americans have out-of-pocket costs ranging from $300 to $500 per month for insulin, which is used to treat diabetes.
“In California, we know people should not go into debt to receive lifesaving medication,” he said.
Gov. Newsom said that when he first took office, he signed an executive order to launch California’s own prescription drug system and that the insulin initiative is the first step toward making that happen.
People who take insulin have long complained about its high price. A November 2021 report from The Lancet said 25% of the insulin patients in the United States struggle to pay for it.
The cost of insulin for patients with insurance ranges from $334 to $1,000 a month, ABC News said, citing the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Legislation in Congress would bring down the cost of insulin if passed, with one bill capping costs at $35 per month for patients with health insurance. But The Hill reported that some Republicans oppose the legislation because it would interfere with free markets and raise costs for drug companies.
The CDC says 37.3 million people in the United States – about 11.3% of the population – have diabetes, with 8.5 million of them undiagnosed.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adolescent suicide screening
With suicide rates among young people rising in recent years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending adolescents 12 and up be screened for suicide risk as a part of regular preventive care.
The group recently added the recommendation on screening for suicide risk to its depression screening guidelines. Health care providers are urged to ask their young patients a set of questions to identify thoughts and plans for suicide, WDEF.com reported.
“Number one we need to screen for depression and the presence of depression, and those people will usually have a feeling of depressed mood, hopelessness, helplessness, and/or basically a lack of interest in pleasure or anticipation of happiness,” Timothy Fuller, DO, medical director of behavioral health and pediatrics for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told WDEF.
It’s a myth that talking about suicide makes it more likely a person will attempt suicide, he said.
“One of the biggest things you can do, as well, if you do have a child or teenager that has suicidality or that have depression with serious, significant suicide risk, is to just ask them how they’re doing every day,” Dr. Fuller said, according to WDEF.
The recommendation comes about 6 months after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, urged more attention be paid to youth mental health.
“Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide – and rates have increased over the past decade,” Dr. Murthy said, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among people ages 10-24 in the United States went up by 57%, the department said. Estimates showed over 6,600 suicides among this age group in 2020, it said.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
With suicide rates among young people rising in recent years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending adolescents 12 and up be screened for suicide risk as a part of regular preventive care.
The group recently added the recommendation on screening for suicide risk to its depression screening guidelines. Health care providers are urged to ask their young patients a set of questions to identify thoughts and plans for suicide, WDEF.com reported.
“Number one we need to screen for depression and the presence of depression, and those people will usually have a feeling of depressed mood, hopelessness, helplessness, and/or basically a lack of interest in pleasure or anticipation of happiness,” Timothy Fuller, DO, medical director of behavioral health and pediatrics for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told WDEF.
It’s a myth that talking about suicide makes it more likely a person will attempt suicide, he said.
“One of the biggest things you can do, as well, if you do have a child or teenager that has suicidality or that have depression with serious, significant suicide risk, is to just ask them how they’re doing every day,” Dr. Fuller said, according to WDEF.
The recommendation comes about 6 months after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, urged more attention be paid to youth mental health.
“Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide – and rates have increased over the past decade,” Dr. Murthy said, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among people ages 10-24 in the United States went up by 57%, the department said. Estimates showed over 6,600 suicides among this age group in 2020, it said.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
With suicide rates among young people rising in recent years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending adolescents 12 and up be screened for suicide risk as a part of regular preventive care.
The group recently added the recommendation on screening for suicide risk to its depression screening guidelines. Health care providers are urged to ask their young patients a set of questions to identify thoughts and plans for suicide, WDEF.com reported.
“Number one we need to screen for depression and the presence of depression, and those people will usually have a feeling of depressed mood, hopelessness, helplessness, and/or basically a lack of interest in pleasure or anticipation of happiness,” Timothy Fuller, DO, medical director of behavioral health and pediatrics for the American Academy of Pediatrics, told WDEF.
It’s a myth that talking about suicide makes it more likely a person will attempt suicide, he said.
“One of the biggest things you can do, as well, if you do have a child or teenager that has suicidality or that have depression with serious, significant suicide risk, is to just ask them how they’re doing every day,” Dr. Fuller said, according to WDEF.
The recommendation comes about 6 months after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, urged more attention be paid to youth mental health.
“Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide – and rates have increased over the past decade,” Dr. Murthy said, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among people ages 10-24 in the United States went up by 57%, the department said. Estimates showed over 6,600 suicides among this age group in 2020, it said.
A version of this article first appeared on WebMD.com.
Abbott baby formula plant in Michigan reopens
The Abbott baby formula factory in Sturgis, Mich., has reopened, a move that could ease the nationwide baby formula shortage.
“Abbott is restarting infant formula production at its Sturgis, Mich., facility today after meeting initial requirements agreed to with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of the consent decree entered into on May 16,” according to a company statement issued June 4.
“Abbott is starting production of EleCare and other specialty and metabolic formulas, with initial EleCare product release to consumers beginning on or about June 20. We’re also working hard to fulfill the steps necessary to restart production of Similac and other formulas and will do so as soon as we can.”
The FDA began investigating when at least four infants became ill with Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria after consuming infant formula produced in the Sturgis plant. Two infants died. Several Abbott baby formula products were recalled and the Sturgis plant was shut down for months.
Abbott said an investigation found no evidence to link the formulas to the infant illnesses, though bacteria was found in parts of the factory that didn’t have contact with formula.
The FDA entered into a consent decree with Abbott in mid-May that allowed the plant to reopen if the company took corrective actions, including the implementation of a sanitation plan and an environmental monitoring plan and employee training programs. Abbott must also retain an independent expert to monitor operations.
The Abbott shutdown, along with supply chain problems, contributed to a nationwide shortage of formula. Reuters, citing the data firm Datasembly, reported that about 73% of baby products were out of stock nationwide as of May 22.
The shortage is so severe that the federal government authorized the importing of formula from overseas.
“We understand the urgent need for formula and our top priority is getting high-quality, safe formula into the hands of families across America. We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements,” the Abbott statement said.
A version of this article first appeared on Webmd.com.
The Abbott baby formula factory in Sturgis, Mich., has reopened, a move that could ease the nationwide baby formula shortage.
“Abbott is restarting infant formula production at its Sturgis, Mich., facility today after meeting initial requirements agreed to with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of the consent decree entered into on May 16,” according to a company statement issued June 4.
“Abbott is starting production of EleCare and other specialty and metabolic formulas, with initial EleCare product release to consumers beginning on or about June 20. We’re also working hard to fulfill the steps necessary to restart production of Similac and other formulas and will do so as soon as we can.”
The FDA began investigating when at least four infants became ill with Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria after consuming infant formula produced in the Sturgis plant. Two infants died. Several Abbott baby formula products were recalled and the Sturgis plant was shut down for months.
Abbott said an investigation found no evidence to link the formulas to the infant illnesses, though bacteria was found in parts of the factory that didn’t have contact with formula.
The FDA entered into a consent decree with Abbott in mid-May that allowed the plant to reopen if the company took corrective actions, including the implementation of a sanitation plan and an environmental monitoring plan and employee training programs. Abbott must also retain an independent expert to monitor operations.
The Abbott shutdown, along with supply chain problems, contributed to a nationwide shortage of formula. Reuters, citing the data firm Datasembly, reported that about 73% of baby products were out of stock nationwide as of May 22.
The shortage is so severe that the federal government authorized the importing of formula from overseas.
“We understand the urgent need for formula and our top priority is getting high-quality, safe formula into the hands of families across America. We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements,” the Abbott statement said.
A version of this article first appeared on Webmd.com.
The Abbott baby formula factory in Sturgis, Mich., has reopened, a move that could ease the nationwide baby formula shortage.
“Abbott is restarting infant formula production at its Sturgis, Mich., facility today after meeting initial requirements agreed to with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of the consent decree entered into on May 16,” according to a company statement issued June 4.
“Abbott is starting production of EleCare and other specialty and metabolic formulas, with initial EleCare product release to consumers beginning on or about June 20. We’re also working hard to fulfill the steps necessary to restart production of Similac and other formulas and will do so as soon as we can.”
The FDA began investigating when at least four infants became ill with Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria after consuming infant formula produced in the Sturgis plant. Two infants died. Several Abbott baby formula products were recalled and the Sturgis plant was shut down for months.
Abbott said an investigation found no evidence to link the formulas to the infant illnesses, though bacteria was found in parts of the factory that didn’t have contact with formula.
The FDA entered into a consent decree with Abbott in mid-May that allowed the plant to reopen if the company took corrective actions, including the implementation of a sanitation plan and an environmental monitoring plan and employee training programs. Abbott must also retain an independent expert to monitor operations.
The Abbott shutdown, along with supply chain problems, contributed to a nationwide shortage of formula. Reuters, citing the data firm Datasembly, reported that about 73% of baby products were out of stock nationwide as of May 22.
The shortage is so severe that the federal government authorized the importing of formula from overseas.
“We understand the urgent need for formula and our top priority is getting high-quality, safe formula into the hands of families across America. We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements,” the Abbott statement said.
A version of this article first appeared on Webmd.com.