Massive Pacemaker Recall After Deaths; U.S. Doc on Hantavirus Cruise; Deadly Misinfo

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The FDA issued a notice about Boston Scientific’s massive recall of Accolade, Essentio, Proponent, and other pacemakers affected by a software issue linked to four deaths and over 2,500 serious injuries. The corrective action urges patients to have the software upgraded at an in-clinic doctor’s visit.

A suspected new case of hantavirus has been reported on Tristan da Cunha in the Atlantic, one of the islands visited by the outbreak-hit cruise ship MV Hondius. (Reuters via MSN)

Oregon oncologist Stephen Kornfeld, MD, joined the cruise as a passenger but ended up treating hantavirus patients after the ship’s doctor became ill. (CNN)

Trump administration funding cuts may have led to CDC’s sluggish response to the outbreak, and the departure from the World Health Organization (WHO) could hinder U.S. access to surveillance and contact tracing information. (New York Times, NBC News)

Meanwhile, the head of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program — which is responsible for public health on cruise ships — is retiring, and the agency has classified the hantavirus outbreak as “level 3,” the lowest level of emergency activation. (STAT, ABC News)

National Institutes of Health employees are criticizing a requirement that they scrutinize grant requests for words related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Government Executive)

A federal judge blocked the Federal Trade Commission from investigating the Endocrine Society and World Professional Association for ‌Transgender Health, which support gender-affirming care in minors. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Hundreds of CDC workers with medical conditions have challenged the agency’s in-office requirement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (New York Times)

Is an aging scientific workforce slowing the pace of discovery? (Science)

After rejecting the drug earlier this year, the FDA will give tabelecleucel another chance at a potential approval for the treatment for Epstein-Barr virus-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, Atara Biotherapeutics announced.

Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center in California confirmed 18 cases of Legionella infection. (KRON)

With vaccinations dropping and measles outbreaks increasing, scientists are searching for new treatments to combat the virus. (Washington Post)

Snack mixes sold under several brands — Fisher, Southern Style Nuts, Squirrel Brand, and Good & Gather — have been recalled over potential Salmonella contamination, an FDA notice indicated.

Only 20 U.S. states are rated as highly prepared for a public health emergency, according to an annual report from the Trust for America’s Health.

The spread of online health misinformation over vaccination research in the Congo has had deadly consequences. (Reuters via MSN)

A Pew Research Center study found that about 50% of U.S. adults get their health and wellness information from podcasts or social media influencers.

Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, 38, announced on social media that he has been diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. (AP)

Kyle Rittenhouse, who became a household name after fatally shooting two men during a civil rights protest in Wisconsin, was hospitalized after being bitten by a venomous spider. (NBC News)