Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
US finds fewer cases of avian flu in wild birds, a good sign for poultry
The U.S. is detecting fewer cases of avian flu in wild birds that transmit the virus to poultry flocks, the agriculture department said, a potentially positive development for farmers and consumers after a two-year outbreak. A top official warned that risks remain high, though, and urged farmers to maintain stringent safety and cleaning protocols to protect flocks. Record infections on poultry farms drove egg and turkey prices to all-time highs in 2022, raising costs for inflation-hit shoppers.
Lawsuits claiming Tylenol causes autism lack scientific support, judge finds
A judge has barred expert witnesses from testifying that Johnson & Johnson spin-off Kenvue’s painkiller Tylenol can cause autism if mothers take it during pregnancy, finding that they failed to support their conclusions with scientific evidence. The ruling on Monday by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan federal court likely means the end of a consolidated mass tort litigation of about 500 lawsuits over the popular over-the-counter drug, unless plaintiffs get it reversed on appeal.
WHO says JN.1 COVID strain a ‘variant of interest’, poses low risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday classified the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a “variant of interest” and said current evidence shows risk to public health was low from the strain. At least two experts told Reuters that while the strain can evade the immune system and transmit more easily than other currently circulating variants, it has not shown any signs of more severe disease.
US FDA identifies recall of Philips medical imaging devices as most serious
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday classified the recall of Philips’ medical imaging devices as most serious as their use could cause serious injuries or death.
The company’s U.S.-listed shares were down about 1%.
Juul seeks US authorization for its new age-restricted menthol pods
Juul Labs said on Tuesday it was seeking U.S. authorization for its new menthol-flavored pods, which require user age verification, to be used with its e-cigarette device that is under review by regulators. Juul’s e-cigarettes were briefly banned in the U.S. in June 2022 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded the company had failed to show that the sale of its products would be appropriate for public health. Following an appeal, the health regulator put the ban on hold and agreed to an additional review of Juul’s marketing application.
Enrollment for 2024 Obamacare plans 33% higher than last year
More than 15.3 million Americans have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for 2024, a 33% increase from this time last year, according to data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday. The Biden-Harris Administration said preliminary data also projects that over 19 million people will enroll in 2024 through the ACA marketplace.
French drugmaker Servier ordered to pay $471 million for Mediator scandal
Drugmaker Servier must pay more than 430 million euros ($471 million) in connection with weight-loss pill Mediator, a French court ruled on Wednesday, saying the company was guilty of fraud and other charges because it knew the drug was potentially harmful when selling it. The Paris court of appeals ordered the unlisted French pharmaceutical group to reimburse 415.6 million euros to social security services. The company was also ordered to pay criminal fines of close to 9 million euros, 1 million euros in damages and 5 million in legal costs.
India bans anti-cold drug combination for kids aged under four
India’s drugs regulator has banned the use of an anti-cold drug combination in children aged below four and ordered that drugs should be labelled accordingly, in the wake of the deaths of at least 141 children globally linked to cough syrups. The regulator said concerns raised about promotion of an unapproved anti-cold drug formulation in infants prompted a discussion and a resulting recommendation to not use the combination for that age group.
England’s junior doctors ramp up strikes in threat to emergency care
Junior doctors in England ramped up their industrial action on Wednesday, beginning the first walk-out of their biggest strike yet, which hospitals warn could threaten emergency care provision at one of the busiest times of the year. The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, said its members will walk out on Wednesday for three days, and again for six days from Jan. 3 to 9, in a long-running dispute over pay.
US FDA approves first test to identify opioid use addiction risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Tuesday it has approved the first test to assess if there is a risk of opioid use addiction in certain individuals. The test, AvertD, is developed by privately held SOLVD Health. The FDA granted the approval to AutoGenomics, a unit that SOLVD acquired in 2019.
(With inputs from agencies.)
