Good morning. Yesterday, Yiyun Li was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her poignant memoir, “Things in Nature Merely Grow.” Recently, I’ve been exploring her short stories. Here’s a suggestion for after you catch up on the news: “A Sheltered Woman,” which centers on a healthcare worker.
The latest on the abortion pill
The Supreme Court has issued an order, signed by Justice Samuel Alito, that temporarily reinstates broad access to mifepristone following a federal appeals court decision on Friday that had threatened access to the abortion medication both in pharmacies and via mail. This order will be in place until the end of next Monday, allowing time for responses from both sides as the court reviews the matter. The AP provides additional information.
Biotech executive Grace E. Colón comments in a new First Opinion essay that, despite the temporary reinstatement of access, the case should be a concern for all leaders in biotech and pharmaceuticals, irrespective of their stance on reproductive health. She elaborates on how this case could influence drug development across the board.
What you need to know about hantavirus (don’t panic)
An apparent hantavirus outbreak on a ship near the small mid-Atlantic nation of Cabo Verde has left infectious disease experts puzzled and worried about the passengers and crew on the m/v Hondius, though there is no broader public alarm at this time.
Hantavirus is typically spread by rodents through their droppings and urine. Confirmed cases often involve people who have cleaned up cabins after winter. It is not commonly associated with cruise ships and human-to-human transmission is rare.
Currently, there are seven suspected cases, three of which have been fatal. Only two have tested positive for hantavirus. The WHO reported on Monday that plans are in motion to medically evacuate three ill individuals to the Netherlands, the cruise line’s base. Approximately 150 passengers — including 17 Americans — and crew are still on board, confined to their quarters, as public health officials work to identify the infection’s source. Determining the timing and location of infection, as well as any possible human-to-human transmission, remains a challenge due to the hantavirus’s incubation period. We will continue to monitor this situation. — Helen Branswell
Should we be tracking paternal deaths
In the U.S., there is an ongoing crisis regarding maternal mortality, and both federal and state agencies track maternal and infant health. A new study suggests that early deaths among fathers should also be systematically monitored. However, initial localized findings suggest the opposite of a health crisis: fatherhood is linked to reduced mortality.
Physician Neel Shah acknowledges the groundbreaking effort to frame preventable paternal death as a family health issue. Nevertheless, he and other maternal health experts resist the proposal to track paternal deaths alongside maternal deaths. STAT’s Annalisa Merelli offers more insights into the debate on how to frame paternal mortality.
‘We are like aliens for many people.’
This is how a health professional who studied abroad described the experience of returning to Uzbekistan. Bringing new medical expertise back home can pose significant challenges. In a new First Opinion essay, international education expert Maia Chankseliani discusses what she calls the other half of the brain drain story, based on interviews with internationally educated professionals who return to their countries of origin.
Chankseliani states, “Brain drain is a powerful metaphor, but as a governing frame, it obscures as much as it reveals.” Read more.
A study published yesterday in Health Affairs reveals that hospitalizations for cold-related illnesses have tripled over a 25-year span. Researchers found that hospitalizations for hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold exposure complications increased from 42 per 100,000 hospitalizations in 1998 to nearly 123 in 2022.
The research shows that individuals with autism, substance use disorder, other mental health issues, and housing insecurity are more susceptible to cold-related hospitalizations compared to their peers. They are also significantly more likely to die in the hospital. The researchers advocate for expanding home energy assistance and emergency shelter programs.
What we’re reading
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A long, strange trip: How the GOP came to embrace psychedelic drugs, New York Times
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The internet is obsessed with ovulation, The Atlantic
- Top lawmaker takes aim at doctor lobby, linking AMA’s billing codes to fraud fight, STAT
- RFK Jr’s new podcast is as weird as you’d expect, Wired
- Johnson & Johnson advances IBD therapy, despite trial miss, STAT
