Research into Georgia’s wastewater has made a worrying find: the MCR-9 gene, which can cause bacteria to become resistant to one of the world’s most important antibiotics – a potential global health threat. Regardless, Florida is moving toward limiting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
FOX 5 Atlanta: Gene found in Georgia sewage could pose a ‘global public health threat’, scientists say
University of Georgia scientists have found a gene in Georgia sewage that makes bacteria resistant to one of the world’s most important antibiotics. Researchers say they discovered the MCR-9 gene, which causes resistance to colistin, while testing wastewater in an urban Georgia setting. Antimicrobial resistance is a problem that was named “one of the top 10 global public health threats to humanity” by the World Health Organization in 2020. According to UGA, assistant professor Issmat Kassem’s team found evidence of the gene in the very first sample they took during their testing. (1/12)
In news from Florida, Mississippi and Kentucky –
WUSF Public Media: Abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy would be restricted by these Florida laws
As the 2022 legislative session began on Tuesday, two influential Republican lawmakers tabled proposals that would bar doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The bills (SB 146 and HB 5), tabled by Senate Appropriations Chair Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, and House Judiciary Chair Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, largely reflect the abortion restriction in a Mississippi law before the US Supreme Court. The proposals will add a highly volatile topic to the 60-day legislative session, which began Tuesday with a state of the state address by Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Saunders, 1/12)
WUSF Public Media: Florida Reports Record Rise in Child Drownings for 2021 Pandemic shutdowns could help
Florida set a dismal new record in 2021, reporting the most child drownings since at least 2009. A report by the Florida Department of Children and Families shows the number of deaths rose from 69 in 2020 to 98 in 2021. Florida “loses more children under the age of 5 to drowning than any other state in the nation,” according to the department. Petra Stanton is the director of Safe Kids, a coalition of health and safety experts, at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. She said Florida has many of these tragedies because the state is both surrounded by and densely watered.(LeFever, 1/12)
AP: The medical marijuana proposal goes to the Mississippi Senate
A bill creating a medical marijuana program is scheduled to be debated in the Mississippi Senate in the coming days. Senate Bill 2095 was passed by the Senate Public Health Committee on Wednesday. It would allow a person on a marijuana prescription to receive up to 3.5 grams of the substance per day. (1/12)
Louisville Courier Journal: Gov. Andy Beshear proposes billions for health and social services
Gov. Andy Beshear proposed billions of dollars for Medicaid, nursing grants, local health officials, child protection and other human services during his third and final preview of his state budget Wednesday. “Securing opportunities and caring for our people is good business and it’s the right thing to do,” Beshear said as he unveiled further details of the two-year budget proposal he will present to the General Assembly. Beshear, a Democrat, will present his budget to a joint session of lawmakers Thursday night, though Republicans, who control the legislature, forestalled him when the House of Representatives submitted its own plan on Friday. (1/12 left)
In news from Maryland, West Virginia, Wisconsin and California –
The Baltimore Sun: The Maryland Department of Health confirms that a ransomware attack crippled its systems last month
A ransomware attack on the Maryland Department of Health last month crippled its systems and shut down many of its services, the state agency confirmed Wednesday. For weeks, the department described the event as a “network security breach” and provided few other details about the nature of the incident. Services ranging from reporting daily COVID-19 surveillance data to basic local health department functions were no longer made available, and officials declined to say definitively when such operations would resume. (Müller, 1/12)
AP: WVa Health Partnership includes products on readiness center
A public-private healthcare partnership will open a product readiness center in West Virginia, Governor Jim Justice announced. The center will be in Morgantown, involve an investment of more than $50 million for the state and create more than 125 jobs, Justice said in a news release Wednesday. (1/13)
AP: Report: Alcohol-related deaths in Wisconsin rose 25% in 2020
Alcohol-related deaths in Wisconsin rose nearly 25% in 2020, according to a report released Thursday. Data compiled by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum shows that 1,077 Wisconsin residents died from alcohol-related causes in 2020, up from 865 in 2019. The data was compiled from death certificates of US citizens. (1/13)
AP: California is suing the Sharing Ministry’s health insurance plan.
California on Wednesday sued what the attorney general called a bogus health insurance company operating as a “department of health care” — one the state alleges has illegally denied benefits to members while withholding up to 84% of their payments. The lawsuit names The Aliera Companies and the Moses family, which founded Sharity Ministries Inc. Sharity, formerly known as Trinity Healthshare Inc., is a non-profit corporation. (Thompson, 1/12)
This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
