Trump Team Exposed Doctors’ Social Security Numbers; Outbreak Ends; More Poop Talk?

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The Trump administration inadvertently exposed the Social Security numbers of physicians and other healthcare providers in a database powering a Medicare portal, the Washington Post found.

Katherine Szarama, PhD, will temporarily lead the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, following the tumultuous stint of Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH. (BioSpace)

The New York Times looks at Sara Brenner, MD, MPH, the vaccine skeptic on President Trump’s new CDC leadership team.

Medicare Advantage health plans in 2027 may cut ancillary benefits such as vision or dental coverage. (Reuters via MSN)

Obamacare enrollment has declined approximately 20% since Congress opted not to extend premium subsidies, estimates suggest. (New York Times)

Meanwhile, Cigna said it plans to exit Obamacare exchanges next year. (Forbes)

In a placebo-controlled trial, people with alcohol use disorder and obesity had fewer heavy drinking days if they received weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) injections. (The Lancet)

The likelihood of securing NIH grants has plunged to historic lows, forcing researchers to resort to alternative tactics to obtain funding. (STAT)

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, who is temporarily leading the CDC, defended his decision to block a study on COVID vaccine effectiveness from being published in CDC’s flagship journal. (Washington Post)

Casey Means, MD, pointed significant blame at Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in her failed bid for confirmation as surgeon general. (Politico)

The CDC declared the end of an outbreak of E. Coli that sickened nine people and was linked to Raw Farm-brand cheddar cheese.

Meanwhile, the FDA warned people not to eat La Serranita concha negra shell meat from Ecuador due to potential hepatitis A contamination.

Fifty large tuberculosis outbreaks were identified in 23 states from 2017 to 2023, researchers detailed in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Avian flu detections among commercial poultry and wild birds has dropped significantly, according to the Department of Agriculture. (CIDRAP)

Advocates are pushing to normalize “poop talk” to help catch colorectal cancer early. (NPR)

Lipedema causes leg pain and swelling and affects one in 10 women, yet many doctors haven’t heard of it. (The Guardian)

Britney Spears was charged with driving under the influence; the pop star reportedly checked herself into a treatment facility weeks earlier. (USA Today)

Thermos recalled 8.2 million bottles and food jars due to a risk of serious impact injury and laceration, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.