Measles News:
- Bangladesh is rushing to do emergency vaccinations after measles has killed over 100 children in less than a month, and there are over 7500 suspected cases. (AP)
- The U.S. is averaging about 118 measles cases per week, meaning we’re on track to surpass the 2025 total before the end of April. (Brown Tracking Report)
Health News:
- RSV is still showing no signs of stopping, prompting states to extend the immunization period into April for infants and toddlers. (CNN)
- Most people who think they’re allergic to penicillin actually aren’t. Now a routine hospital test can check quickly. (Newsweek)
- Believe it or not, shingles can hit people under 50. Knowing the signs (tingling sensations, skin sensitivity, rash or intense pain) is key. (NPR)
- After 3 weeks and “under protest,” Raw Farm brand pulled its raw cheddar cheese from the market, after the FDA and CDC allege it’s linked to an E. coli outbreak. (CIDRAP)
- Long Island is a hotspot for alpha-gal syndrome, but New York state still doesn’t track cases. (NY Times)
- New Mexico officials are worried about New World screwworm spreading into the state, and some say the domestic beef supply is at risk. (ABQ Journal)
- When moms are vaccinated for COVID during pregnancy, their infants have fewer hospital visits for COVID. (WGBH)
- Medical supplies are stuck in Dubai due to the war, and clinics around the world are facing shortages. (NPR)
- Cambodia reported its third human H5N1 case of the year, this time in a 3 year old boy who had contact with sick poultry. (Khao Sod)
- Norovirus is high everywhere but the West, though it’s lower than last year’s record highs. (Brown Pandemic Center)
Best Question:
Do you let your doctor take AI notes?
If you haven’t already, soon you’ll likely encounter a situation where a doctor or medical provider asks if you’re okay with them using AI to take notes. It’s important to know that you have a real choice here; you can opt in or out.
There are cons: AI can get things wrong, and doctors may get complacent in checking the notes for errors, especially when they’re mostly right. There are also privacy concerns, like companies using the stripped down data from your visit to improve the technology. Still, even AI scribes are subject to HIPAA rules about how they store and protect your private health information.
There’s one big pro: you’re more likely to get more quality face-to-face time with your doctor if notetaking is done for them.
Roslyn Stone, ZHH’s founder and CEO, says she chooses to opt in with her doctors, because the benefit of having her doctor’s full, undivided attention is worth more to her than the associated risks. At the end of the day, it’s your choice, but it’s one that’s becoming harder and harder to avoid as AI integrates with all aspects of our healthcare systems.
Sources: KFF, Harvard Gazette, UN
Best Read:
A 2021 law required providers to give patients access to digital results as soon as possible, even before a doctor reviews them. The result? A huge increase in false alarms for the ZHH team. We saw CEOs on crisis calls about “Hep A positive” workers…who actually just had positive antibody results because they’re vaccinated. We’ve had countless calls about employees with E. coli…who actually just had non-foodborne UTIs.
Now, people are turning to the internet to see and be seen as they get their medical results.
