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good morning. I dedicate the first item in today’s newsletter to a friend of mine who is suffering from what I believe to be cystosis. Please feel free to forward this email to a friend who needs information but is afraid to engage in online discussions about the outbreak.
What you need to know about parasitic diarrhea outbreaks
You’ve probably seen the meme about a parasitic disease called cyclosporiasis, which is commonly associated with intestinal anxiety and diarrhea. As of yesterday, there were 1,645 laboratory-confirmed cases in the United States and more than 5,100 cases awaiting further analysis, which is significantly higher than usual, according to the CDC. Federal health officials don’t yet know what types of produce or which suppliers have been linked to the outbreak, but they plan to provide updates “at least weekly” going forward, said Gwen Biggerstaff of the agency’s Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Disease Division.
One problem with tracking potential sources of illness is that it can take up to two weeks after exposure for symptoms to appear. Officials in Michigan (one of four states the CDC suspects are part of a major outbreak cluster) issued a preliminary warning this week that lettuce and salad greens may be involved. The Washington Post reported yesterday that Taco Bell is being investigated. Federal officials generally advise people to wash and prepare fresh produce before consuming it to ensure safety. Read more about why the cause of the outbreak is still unknown and how consumers are haphazardly filling in the information gaps in our new First Opinion essay.
Aftermath of the end of additional ACA subsidies
The country’s largest hospital chain yesterday cut its profit outlook for this year after treating more uninsured patients than expected in the second quarter. HCA Healthcare said many of those patients canceled their Affordable Care Act plans after losing the enhanced subsidies, an early sign of the impact of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credit expiring in January.
The company said it lost about $400 million in revenue in the second quarter alone due to the expiration of ACA subsidies. Read more from STAT’s Tara Banau about how this will impact future hospital profits, especially with Medicaid work requirements looming.
“I’m with you on earth”
That’s what Karim Mikhail, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, told officials at a recent town hall. It’s not something federal officials would normally say outright, but former CBER leader Vinay Prasad was a volatile leader who clearly deviated from the norm. Read more from STAT’s Lizzie Lawrence about Mr. Mikhail’s more sober approach to drug control and how he’s been received by his staff so far.
Scientists slam proposed funding changes
In late May, the White House announced a sweeping proposal to overhaul how federal aid and contracts are awarded. The new rules give the Trump administration the freedom to override reviewer recommendations, terminate grants at will, and exercise more discretion over the types of research federal agencies support. Nearly 500,000 public comments were submitted on the proposal by Monday’s deadline. An analysis of some of the comments conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina in collaboration with STAT found that 95% opposed the change.
“If we had to start from scratch every time we had a new government, we wouldn’t be able to catch up with China,” said Sudip Parikh, head of an influential advocacy group. “We can’t cure the disease, and we can’t grow the economy.” The government is obligated to respond to substantive public comments, but it is not required to incorporate that feedback. Read more about the overwhelming opposition to this proposal and what happens next from STAT’s Anil Oza and J. Emory Parker.
90%
This is the proportion of infants worldwide who received at least one dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine last year, according to annual estimates from WHO and UNICEF. 85% completed all three doses. Both numbers have increased slightly from 2024, but are still below 2019 levels. Although the number of children who received zero shots decreased, the number of children who started but did not complete the series was higher.
what we are reading
- Most of the new Ebola cases in eastern Congo are due to unknown chains, with outbreaks outpacing responses, the Associated Press reported.
- TIA promises higher quality, more personalized health care for women. Patients report missed pregnancies, shocking bills and high-priced sales of alternative medicine, LA Public Press
- A new biotech startup is trying to tackle obesity, but it’s not what you expected, STAT
- Could this mysteriously missing organ hold the key to longevity? nature
- Exclusive: Medicare Advantage insurers face new bipartisan scrutiny over AI and medical denial, STAT
