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| Presented By Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
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| Axios Vitals |
| By Tina Reed · Jun 14, 2022 |
| Good morning, Vitals readers. Today's newsletter is 824 words or a 3-minute read. 🍋 In a bit of making-lemonade-out-of-lemons news ... a study found ocean plastic pollution could be a source of new antibiotics. |
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| 1 big thing: The need for more monkeypox testing |
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| Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios |
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| A shortage of testing is keeping U.S. public health officials in the dark about how widespread the latest infectious disease is, Axios' Arielle Dreher reports. - This time around, it's monkeypox.
Why it matters: The lack of robust disease-tracking harks back to the troubled early response to COVID-19 and could bode ill for local health systems still grappling with the virus and the impending flu season. - The onus is on primary care providers, including sexual health clinics, to track an unfamiliar disease that manifests itself in different ways.
By the numbers: The CDC says less than 300 samples have been sent to labs for testing for monkeypox as of June 10, meaning just 2% of national lab capacity is being devoted to the outbreak, per the Association of Public Health Laboratories. - "We must increase testing for those with a characteristic, pimple-like or blister-like rash so we can make swift diagnoses," CDC director Rochelle Walensky said on Friday.
- Experts say the true number of U.S. cases is significantly higher than the 49 confirmed so far and question why the federal government isn't doing more.
What they're saying: "The sheer geographic spread of cases means this is a bigger outbreak than we are capturing right now," David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition for STD Directors, tells Axios. - "So we are very worried about this. We're worried about a lack of an effective federal response and we think we need to kick into high gear to deal with this."
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| 2. Few get Paxlovid "rebound," study finds |
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| Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios |
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| Despite many reports of "rebound" cases of COVID in people who've taken Pfizer's antiviral treatment, a Mayo Clinic study out today found the phenomenon appears to be relatively rare. Details: The team looked at the outcomes of 483 patients treated with the five-day oral regimen of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, which are marketed together as Paxlovid to treat early-stage COVID. - Only four patients (less than 1%) experienced a return of symptoms after the regimen and symptoms were "generally mild" and resolved without additional therapy.
- The majority of the patients in the Clinical Infectious Diseases study (93%) and all four patients who experience rebound symptoms were vaccinated.
- A limitation of the study, the authors wrote, was an underrepresentation of immunocompromised individuals.
The bottom line: This data indicates the idea of extending the duration of Paxlovid treatment to reduce rebound cases may not be necessary. - Identifying factors for increased risk of rebound, and changing treatment accordingly, would make more sense, they said.
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| 3. A little light reading |
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| Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios |
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| The dry bible of the psychiatry world — the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM — has become a surprise bestseller, amid surging popular interest in mental health, Axios' Jennifer Kingston writes. Driving the news: The American Psychiatric Association released a newly revised edition of its standard-setting manual, known as the DSM-5-TR, in March — the first update in nearly a decade. Zoom in: "The public has been dying to know more about mental illness, and this book just happened to come out," Saul Levin, CEO and medical director of APA tells Axios, describing the book as a "readable document." - Yes, but: Doctors warn that laypeople shouldn't use the book to diagnose themselves — even though they probably will try.
Go deeper. |
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| A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
| Congress: Finish the fight for affordable care |
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| As health care costs rise, families deserve the peace of mind that comes with access to affordable health care. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to lowering the cost of care – for the health of America. Next steps: Congress needs to finish the fight to make care more affordable. |
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| 4. More than 1 in 3 Americans feel left behind |
 Data: Axios/Ipsos poll; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios One in three Americans says almost everyone they know except themselves seems to be moving past the pandemic, Axios' Margaret Talev writes about the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index. The big picture: Just 31% of survey respondents say they believe the pandemic is over, unchanged from last month. But 50% say the media exaggerates COVID-19's threat. And 68% say we're moving toward a time when the virus won't interrupt our daily lives. - Overall, 35% of respondents agreed with this statement: "I feel like most people around me have moved on from the pandemic, but I haven't."
My thought bubble: One of the common themes from the poll across the last several months is that Americans often have no idea if cases, deaths and hospitalizations are rising or falling in a given week. - That means they are often basing their behavior on how they feel, even if it doesn't reflect the reality of what's happening, says Chris Jackson, senior vice president for Ipsos Public Affairs.
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| 5. Catch up quick |
- 💊 The FDA approved a drug Monday that restores hair growth and can act as a treatment for alopecia areata. (Axios)
- 👉 The AMA passed a resolution that opposes "limitations on access to evidence-based reproductive health services" and the imposition of penalties on those providing or receiving those services — its strongest stance to date on abortion policy. (Bloomberg Law)
- 💰 Bank of America is set to announce today it's committing $40 million to develop community health centers and other primary care facilities in medically underserved areas as part of ongoing racial equality efforts.
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| A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
| As health care costs rise, it's time for more affordable care |
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| As health care costs rise, families deserve the peace of mind that comes with access to affordable health care. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to lowering the cost of care – for the health of America. Next steps: Congress needs to finish the fight to make care more affordable. |
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| 😎 Invite your friends to get their daily health news from Axios Vitals. |
 | It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications. | | |
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