US Investigating Potential Human-To-Human Bird Flu Transmission

Health authorities in the US are studying seven people who developed influenza symptoms after being exposed to a Missouri bird flu patient, raising the possibility of the first human-to-human transmission of the infection. None have tested positive for avian influenza and work is underway to see if they have antibodies to the virus that’s been spreading among birds and dairy cows in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in a statement. Bloomberg.

COVID Numbers Decline Slightly Across US; RSV, Flu Activity Low 

In several weekly updates published today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said seasonal influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) activity are low nationally, and COVID-19 activity is elevated but declining. CIDRAP.

Patient Exposed to Bat in Minnesota Dies from Rabies, Officials Say

The death, which was reported on Friday, is only the fifth fatal human rabies case in Minnesota since 1975, health officials said.
… Fewer than 10 rabies deaths are reported annually in the United States, according to the C.D.C., and 70 percent of those deaths are attributed to exposure to bats. NYT.

Minnesotan Dies After Rabies Exposure from Bat, Health Officials Say 

State health officials say that a Minnesotan has died due to rabies exposure, a rare occurrence that has only happened four times since 2000. The Minnesota Department of Health says the person who died was 65 years old. They were exposed to a bat in western Minnesota in July, and the rabies diagnosis was confirmed in September. CBS.

US Medicare Says Part D And Advantage Premiums Will Fall In 2025

Average premiums and benefits for Medicare’s prescription drug program and private Medicare plans are projected to remain stable in 2025 with premiums slightly declining, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said on Friday. The premiums are of interest to consumers enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers who are then paid by the government, and the health plans themselves, who set premiums and benefits based on the reimbursement rates. Reuters.

Millions Could Lose Insurance Subsidies, Depending on the Election

The issue is getting less attention than a possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but it’s much more likely to happen.

Subsidies that help around 20 million Americans pay for health insurance could disappear after next year, depending on the outcome of November’s election. NYT.

The Heart-Healthy Diet Hardly Anyone Is Talking About

The DASH diet was shown to lower blood pressure decades ago, yet few people follow it. Here’s how to give it a try.

… If you follow a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet, a daily DASH eating plan would also include six to eight servings of grains (mostly whole grains); two to three servings of reduced- or no-fat dairy products; and up to six one-ounce servings of lean meat, poultry and fish. It also recommends four to five servings of nuts, seeds and legumes spread throughout the week. NYT.

Are my senior moments normal brain aging or a sign of dementia?

Many people worry they are developing serious cognitive deficits when these are in fact only minor and within the bounds of normal aging. 

… While about 40 percent of us over 65 have occasional memory impairment associated with age, most people do not go on to develop dementia. We may sometimes take a bit longer to retrieve certain words, but usually we eventually recall them. WashPost.

Cancer Treatment Extended Jimmy Carter’s Life Ahead Of 100th Birthday

Nine years ago, Jimmy Carter held a news conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta to talk about his cancer diagnosis and treatment. … If his diagnosis had come a few years earlier he would have been given about six months to live. Instead, on Tuesday, the former president will celebrate his 100th birthday. Luck played a role, of course. But there’s no question, experts say, that he’s alive today because of the immune therapy he received. USAToday.

In The 26 States That Ban Health Care For Transgender Teens, Families May Hit The Road

Veronica is 17. She has two more years of high school, then she can graduate and leave. Hers is not just the usual adolescent wanderlust. This Iowa town has turned out to be a punishing place to be a transgender teenager. Her mom, Emily, has fought to change her name in the high school’s system. There’s no good option for which bathroom to use at school. Emily says neighbors and classmates have made cruel comments. NPR.

Surviving Spouses May Not Be Responsible for Partners’ Medical Bills

A call from a debt collector may add to the challenges that bereaved people are already dealing with. But spouses “should not assume that they have to pay.”

… In general, according to both the consumer protection bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, you are not responsible for someone else’s debt. Rather, a deceased person’s estate — the legal term for someone’s money and property — is responsible for paying any medical bills or debts, as directed by state law. If the estate lacks enough funds, the debt may go unpaid, the bureau says. Married couples often jointly own savings and investment accounts, with right of survivorship, so that when one spouse dies, the funds generally become the survivor’s property rather than part of the late spouse’s estate… NYT.

The electrolytes boom: a wonder supplement – or an unnecessary expense?

Everyone from triathletes to YouTubers is singing the praises of the super-hydrating mineral additives. Here are the benefits and disadvantages

… If you are already eating fruit, nuts, leafy greens and protein every day, drinking plenty of water and not sweating too much, you can probably go about your life without worrying too much about extra electrolytes. If you are sweating a lot – and, let’s face it, you probably should be, at least occasionally – they are worth thinking about, even if all that means is picking mineral water over tap. Guardian.

Remember That DNA You Gave 23andMe?

23andMe is not doing well. Its stock is on the verge of being delisted. It shut down its in-house drug-development unit last month, only the latest in several rounds of layoffs. Last week, the entire board of directors quit, save for Anne Wojcicki, a co-founder and the company’s CEO. Amid this downward spiral, Wojcicki has said she’ll consider selling 23andMe—which means the DNA of 23andMe’s 15 million customers would be up for sale, too. 23andMe’s trove of genetic data might be its most valuable asset … DNA might contain health information, but unlike a doctor’s office, 23andMe is not bound by the health-privacy law HIPAA. The Atlantic.