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What We're Reading: Pediatric Flu Deaths; Pre-Cut Melon Salmonella Outbreak; FDA Reprimands AbbVie
This year's flu season was the deadliest season for children in nearly a decade; pre-cut melons are likely the source of the latest salmonella outbreak; and the FDA has reprimanded AbbVie over failing to properly probe patient death complaints.
Pediatric Flu Deaths
Pre-Cut Melon Salmonella Outbreak
AbbVie Fails to Properly Probe Death Complaints
Officials from the CDC said that they had received reports of 172 pediatric flu deaths since October, marking the deadliest flu season for children in nearly a decade, according to AP news. During the 2012 to 2013 season, there were 171 reported deaths, while an average flu season sees about 110. This year’s flu season lasted 19 weeks, peaking in February, and was driven by a strain of the flu that tends to put more people in the hospital and cause more deaths, according to the report.The CDC has reported that pre-cut melons are likely the source of a salmonella outbreak that has affected at least 60 people in 5 states. On Friday, Caito Foods recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh-cut fruit medley products containing 1 of these melons produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. Recalled products were distributed in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.The FDA has reprimanded Abbvie for what it called sloppy procedures when reviewing complaints of deaths reported in connection to 3 of its drugs, reported STAT news. Following an inspection at a North Chicago, Illinois facility last year, FDA examiners concluded that AbbVie failed to thoroughly investigate complaints over syringe kits for leuprolide acetate (Lupron). The drug maker also allegedly failed to properly include complaint information that cited deaths related to venetoclax (Venclexta) and adalimumab (Humira).
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
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Government agencies have created an online portal for the public to report potential anticompetitive practices in health care; there are changes coming to the “boxed warning” section for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR T) to highlight T-cell blood cancer risk; questions about the safety of obesity medications during pregnancy have arisen in women on them who previously struggled with fertility issues.
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Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
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Gene, Light Therapy Combo Shows Promise Against Prostate Cancer Cells in Proof-of-Concept Study
April 18th 2024In their preclinical model, the researchers found efficacy both in vitro and in vivo by using CRISPR-Cas9 to mimic porphyria and combining the technology with light therapy.
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