Reuters Health News Summary
Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
CDC's flu tracking program to continue if U.S. government shuts down
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will continue its work tracking one of the worst flu seasons the United States has seen in several years even if the federal government shuts down on Saturday, senior administration officials said on Friday. The program collects data on flu activity, hospitalizations, pediatric deaths and tests the efficacy of the flu vaccine.
Delaware sues opioid manufacturers, distributors over epidemic
Delaware on Friday became the latest state to file a lawsuit accusing corporations of helping fuel the national opioid epidemic, suing a wide range of companies involved in making, distributing and selling prescription painkillers. The lawsuit, filed by Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn in a state court, targeted drugmakers Purdue Pharma LP and Endo International Plc along with several wholesale drug distributors and the retailers CVS Health Corp and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
Surfers may be swallowing antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Surfers and body-boarders were three times more likely to have potentially dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their guts than non-surfers, new research from the UK shows. The findings highlight the omnipresence of superbugs and the peril they might pose even for healthy people participating in water sports, said lead author Anne Leonard, a research fellow at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter Medical School in Truro, England.
Parent reading workshops can help low-income kids learn
Even in communities where many people lack a high school degree, reading workshops for parents can give their kids a leg up on learning in preschool, a study in Brazil suggests. Lots of research has shown that reading to young kids can help improve their language development and cognitive skills. But while programs teaching parents the best ways to read with young kids have proven effective in affluent areas, less is known about how well these interventions work for poor children whose parents have lower levels of education and literacy.
Self-guided course helps women manage menopause symptoms at work
A self-help cognitive behavioral therapy program combined with relaxation techniques can ease working women´s menopausal symptoms, according to a British study. The program helps users learn strategies to control their thoughts and feelings. Working women who used it were able to significantly reduce the frequency and interference of hot flushes and night sweats, and improve their overall quality of life, researchers found.
Trump decries 'permissive' U.S. abortion laws at rally
President Donald Trump criticized U.S. abortion laws as among the most permissive in the world in a speech to anti-abortion activists at the annual March for Life on Friday, and pledged his administration would always defend "the right to life." The Republican president's speech, relayed via video link from the White House Rose Garden to thousands gathered on Washington's National Mall, highlighted his shift in recent years from a supporter of women's access to abortion to a powerful opponent.
Sound therapy may train the brain to ignore tinnitus
A sound-emitting device worn in the ear during sleep may train the brain to ignore an annoying chronic ringing in the ears, a new study suggests. People with the disorder, known as tinnitus, who slept with the in-ear devices felt less bothered than patients who used bedside noise machines, researchers found in a study funded by the device manufacturer.
U.S. health agency revokes Obama-era Planned Parenthood protection
U.S. health officials said on Friday they were revoking legal guidance issued by the Obama administration that had sought to discourage states from trying to defund organizations that provide abortion services, such as Planned Parenthood. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials also said the department was issuing a new regulation aimed at protecting healthcare workers' civil rights based on religious and conscience objections.
U.S. government to shield health workers under 'religious freedom'
The U.S. government is seeking to further protect the "conscience and religious freedom" of health workers whose beliefs prevent them from carrying out abortions and other procedures, in an effort likely to please conservative Christian activists and other supporters of President Donald Trump. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday it will create a division within its Office of Civil Rights to give it "the focus it needs to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom."
Delta Air to tighten rules for onboard service animals
Delta Air Lines is tightening the requirements for passengers traveling with onboard service and emotional support animals, the carrier said on Friday, following a sharp uptick in pet-related safety issues in recent years. Effective March 1, Delta, the second largest U.S. airline by passenger traffic, said it will require passengers seeking to fly with pets to present additional documents outlining the passenger's need for the animal and proof of its training and vaccinations, 48 hours prior to the flight.
