Swine Flu Case, Vaccine ‘Godfather’ & Mental Health Access – STAT News Roundup
Good morning. The landscape of health and medicine is constantly shifting, and today brings updates on a potential swine flu case, the challenges of accessing mental health care for Asian language speakers, and new research into the long-term cognitive effects of football. Plus, a look at the complexities surrounding ketamine treatment and a profile of a pioneer in vaccine development.
Checking in on the ‘godfather of vaccines’
At 93, Stanley Plotkin’s contributions to vaccinology are foundational – so much so that the definitive textbook in the field bears his name. “Plotkin’s Vaccines” is currently in its eighth edition, with a ninth on the way. Despite his immense impact, Plotkin expresses a sobering outlook on the current state of public health.
“All I can say is that I’m beginning to regret having lived so long,” he recently told STAT’s Helen Branswell. “Given that we’re going downhill.” Having practiced medicine in 1957, Plotkin remembers a time when many infectious diseases were untreatable. Helen’s profile offers a glimpse into Plotkin’s life and career, including the surprising fact that he obtained his pilot’s license at an advanced age and the story behind his vanity license plate.
A swine flu case to keep tabs on
Spanish health officials are monitoring a case of swine flu detected in an 83-year-old individual with no known contact with pigs. Reuters reports that the individual has recovered. While concerning due to the potential for undetected person-to-person spread and pandemic potential, Spanish authorities currently assess the public risk as “very low.” They believe that sustained spread would have been detected by ongoing investigations and have informed the World Health Organization (WHO), sharing the virus with their reference laboratory.
The U.S. Typically sees a few swine flu infections annually, primarily in individuals working with pigs or attending agricultural fairs. However, cases with no discernible link to pigs do occur. These cases require investigation, as the 2009 h2N1 pandemic originated from swine flu detected in two California children with no pig contact or connection to each other. The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report details the initial detection of this outbreak.
Few mental health clinics have Asian language services
Access to mental health care is becoming increasingly difficult for individuals who speak Asian languages and have limited English proficiency. A study published in JAMA Health Forum analyzed ten years of data from over 3,800 mental health facilities and county demographics. The number of clinics offering services in at least one Asian language peaked at 6.9% in 2021, declining to 6.3% by 2024.
While these services are more common in cities like those in California and the Northeast, a “persistent geographic mismatch” exists. Researchers found that even in rural counties with substantial Asian language-speaking communities, few clinics offer language assistance. This disparity highlights a critical gap in equitable access to mental healthcare.
Reading the Reddit tea leaves on ketamine
The increasing availability of at-home ketamine treatment, often facilitated by telehealth companies, is raising concerns about patient safety. Michael Alvear, who received esketamine in a medically supervised setting, turned to Reddit after his insurance denied coverage for ongoing maintenance treatments. He discovered a patient-run “digital triage unit” where users compared treatment protocols and discussed side effects.
Alvear, an independent researcher, analyzed six months of Reddit posts and comments, revealing inconsistencies in provider instructions and a lack of standardized safety protocols. His findings suggest that some telehealth companies may be abdicating their responsibility to ensure patient safety. Ketamine is an anesthetic with antidepressant properties, but its utilize requires careful medical supervision.
Football CTE: New evidence on cognitive impact
Research published Friday in JAMA Network Open provides further evidence of the cognitive risks associated with playing American football. Using surveillance data from over 400 men aged 40 and older, researchers found that those with any football experience scored worse on cognitive tests, reported more cognitive concerns, and experienced more severe depression symptoms compared to those without a history of head impacts.
A separate cohort of nearly 4,000 former players showed that longer playing careers and higher levels of play correlated with worse cognitive and neuropsychiatric function. While this study doesn’t prove causation, it adds to the growing body of evidence linking football and long-term brain health issues. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma.
Huge uncertainty on drug pricing in Europe
Former President Trump’s efforts to pressure European countries into increasing drug spending to lower costs in the U.S. Are creating uncertainty across the Atlantic. Yannis Natsis, who leads the European Social Insurance Platform, noted, “Nobody wants to sense cornered.” While drug prices in Europe haven’t yet increased significantly, countries are grappling with the possibility of drugmakers raising prices in anticipation of increased regional spending. STAT’s Andrew Joseph provides further insights into this developing situation.
What we’re reading
- Kennedy announces new vaccine advisory committee members after meeting rescheduled, STAT
- White House stalls release of approved U.S. Science budgets, Nature
- Disability advocate says Medicaid freeze could lead to death, homelessness, MPR News
- Henrietta Lacks’ estate settles with Novartis over the ‘stolen cells’ that advanced science, AP
- More Americans under 55 are dying of severe heart attacks, Wall Street Journal
- First Opinion: Cannabis is becoming more legal — unless you’re pregnant, STAT
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