Visitors to Dominican Republican make up over 20% of Zika cases in US
Kaiser Health News (7/22, Galewitz) reports that “visitors to the Dominican Republic account for more than a fifth of the confirmed Zika cases in the U.S. through mid-July, according to data from state health departments.” According to Kaiser Health News, “in part, it reflects travel patterns between people…
Obama signs legislation to curb opioid addiction
The AP (7/22) reported President Obama on Friday “signed into law a bill to curb abuse of heroin and opioid drugs, even as he expressed bitter disappointment with Republicans for not providing more money for addiction treatment.” In a statement, Obama said, “Given the scope of this crisis,…
Proposed Arkansas telemedicine regulations stall in legislative panel
By John Lyon, Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK — A legislative panel declined Monday to sign off on proposed regulations to allow doctors to treat Arkansas patients remotely using audio and video technology. During a joint meeting of the House and Senate committees on public health, welfare and labor,…
Doctor warns Arkansas legislative panel of opioid addiction epidemic in state
By John Lyon, Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK — Like the rest of the nation, Arkansas is experiencing an epidemic of addiction to opioids, or drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain, a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences professor told a state legislative panel Monday.…
Second case of bacteria resistant to colistin found in US
Article from the AMA Morning Rounds, 7/12/2016 The Washington Post (7/11, Sun) reports researchers have detected bacteria with the mcr-1 gene, which makes them resistant to the “antibiotic of last resort” colistin, in a second patient in the US, according to a study published on Monday in Antimicrobial…
House approves bill that includes $1.1 billion for Zika
(AMA Mourning Rounds, 6-23-16) The AP (6/23, Taylor) reports the House has approved “a $1.1 billion House-Senate measure to combat the Zika virus, but the GOP-drafted measure is a nonstarter with Senate Democrats and the Obama White House.” USA Today (6/22, Kelly) reports that “Democrats vowed to derail…
Medical school will transform ASU, NEA
From the Jonesboro Sun, 6/5/2016, By Chris Wessel, Editor It's hard to adequately grasp the significance of opening a medical school in Northeast Arkansas, but here are a few interesting facts that should lend perspective to such an endeavor: It's been 137 years since a medical school was…
Formation of Statewide MG Support Group and “Walk to Stomp Out MG” Planned
To increase awareness and support for patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MGFA), a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder, Dr. Vickie Henderson is organizing the state's first "Walk to Stomp out MG." The walk has been set tentatively for December 3rd at 9 a.m. at Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville and will be…
CDC quantifies current impact of Zika in US
From the AMA Morning Rounds, 6/17/2016 ABC World News Tonight (6/16, story 10, 0:10, Muir) reported CDC revealed Thursday there are 234 confirmed cases of Zika in pregnant women in the US, with six of those women’s babies showing Zika-related defects. NBC Nightly News (6/16, story 10, 0:25,…
CDC Recommendations for Subsequent Zika IgM Antibody Testing
This is an official CDC HEALTH UPDATE Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network June 21, 2016, 1140 EDT (11:40 AM EDT) Summary Testing for Zika virus infection using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) molecular assays is now commercially available. When requesting Zika rRT-PCR testing from a…
Zika Update
The Zika virus continues to lead the news. Read below several updates from the CDC and the AMA about the disease and the US response. Congress fails to act on Zika funding before recess The Washington Post (5/27, Kane, Debonis) reported that Congress left the Capitol last week…