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Health
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Measles Outbreaks Accelerate
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PHOTO: BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS
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Measles outbreaks in New York City and elsewhere are sowing tension between public-health officials seeking to contain the spread and some members of local communities. The number of measles cases in the U.S. since the beginning of the year jumped to 465 this week from 387 the previous week, according to the CDC, and most of the cases are in Orthodox Jewish communities where some families avoid or put off scheduled vaccination. New York City officials declared a public-health emergency and ordered fines for noncompliance with vaccination recommendations in certain ZIP
Codes in Brooklyn. In nearby Rockland County, a state Supreme Court judge blocked an executive order by county officials that would have barred unvaccinated children from public places. The county has appealed the judge’s restraining order.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to complications including pneumonia and encephalitis. Here's a primer on the virus and the vaccine.
What are your thoughts on public-health officials' efforts to contain the spread of measles? Email me your comments, which may be edited before publication in the newsletter. Please be sure to include your name and location.
– Stefanie Ilgenfritz, Health & Science Bureau Chief, WSJ
Reach me at stefanie.ilgenfritz@wsj.com or Twitter: @stefaniei
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Nootropic or Not? Brain-Booster Business Raises Concerns: Supplements that promise to sharpen memory, focus and other brain functions are prompting questions about safety.
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Boomers Want Mature Fitness Coaches: Forget the hotshot trainer with the six-pack, demand for older personal trainers is on the rise as baby boomers hit the gym looking to stay in shape, recover from surgery or improve fitness.
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Some Hospitals Still Use Tool Linked to Cancer: The FDA advised against the use of power morcellators in hysterectomies and to remove uterine fibroids, because of a risk they could spread hidden cancers when slicing up tissue. But some doctors say the devices have advantages in minimally invasive procedures, when used with patient consent.
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2.3%
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The portion of workers and job applicants who tested positive for marijuana last year - a 10% increase - according to an analysis by Quest Diagnostics Inc. Overall, the rate of people testing positive for drugs has come down since the 1980s. (Read more)
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The Gadgets Are Listening
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Alexa, What's My Blood Sugar? Amazon says it has made its voice assistant Alexa compliant with HIPAA, the health privacy law. That opens the door for new uses including scheduling appointments and diabetes management. If consumers will use it.
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Do the Latest Baby Monitors Ease Fears or Add Anxiety? Tech companies promise to track your baby’s bedtime well-being so you can get some rest - in theory. Advanced monitors are causing parental anxiety, too. “Every time it went off it was panic.”
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“You can’t and should not underestimate the power of a brand.” (Read more)
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— Bill Meury, chief commercial officer at Botox maker Allergan. He predicts that new competition for Botox will simply lead to a shakeout among brands trailing Allergan’s product.
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Health-Care Executive Tied to Admissions Scandal Found Guilty in Medicare Fraud Case (Read more)
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Cerner Reaches Deal With Starboard to Add Board Members (Read more)
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Mount Sinai Increases Efforts to Cut Medical-Student Debt (Read more)
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Q&A:
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Regarding last week's question on sharing your digital health information:
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I am less worried about third party entities having my health information than I am about everyone's system being hacked and exposed. The more our health records and food choices and activity tracking becomes electronic, the larger the chance for malfeasance. — Gloria Palmer, Largo, Fla.
I like the idea of a central database that doctors can access, given that I see about 11 doctors and I think that is important to keep in the loop. — Rich Irwin, Ohio
How else can a disease be studied if not from sharing our information for medical study? One’s personal identity can be kept out of the data. Illnesses frequently don’t present a classic picture for their diagnosis and it’s only by gathering a large number than researchers can come up with sufficient data to learn about them and work toward finding a cure.? — Jim Hutchinson, Atlanta, Ga.
People don’t always realize that the health and fitness apps they are using send data to tech companies, nor do they have a clear understanding of how to prevent the sharing of that information. I’m really interested in considering farther if it is ethical for health care systems/insurance providers to try to improve health this way. — Dan Rzewnicki, Pittsburgh, Pa.
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LEAVE THIS BOX EMPTY
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