Robitussin Recalled; Rare Infection in Vermont; Don’t Eat Fried Toothpicks

— Health news and commentary from around the Web gathered by MedPage Today staff

by
Mike Bassett, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
January 25, 2024

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Haleon issued a voluntary recall of eight lots of Robitussin Honey CF Max Day Adult and Robitussin Honey CF Max Nighttime Adult cough syrups due to microbial contamination.

New York City classified social media as a “public health hazard.” (ABC News)

While the number of Americans signing up for health care under the Affordable Care Act passed a record 21 million, Donald Trump still wants to repeal it if elected this fall. (Washington Post)

Europe is facing a measles outbreak; could other vaccine-preventable diseases follow? (New York Times)

Ohio’s Republican-dominated Senate overrode Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto and approved passed legislation that bans gender-affirming care for minors and restricts transgender women and girls participation on sports teams. (AP News)

The FDA again warned consumers not to purchase Neptune’s Fix or any other product with tianeptine, a potentially dangerous substance not FDA-approved but sold illegally with claims of improving brain function and treating anxiety, depression, pain, opioid use disorder, and other conditions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy altered brain activity in children with anxiety disorders and can lead to improvements in symptoms and brain functioning. (American Journal of Psychiatry)

A rare fungal infection called blastomycosis — which typically occurs in the upper Midwest and part of the Southeast — turned up in Vermont. (Emerging Infectious Diseases)

Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro) will have limited availability throughout February 2024 due to increased demand. (Reuters)

South Korean officials warned against a social media trend of eating fried toothpicks made of starch. (Reuters)

The United States Preventive Services Task Force concluded there was insufficient evidence to screen asymptomatic children 5 years or younger for speech and language delay and disorders. (JAMA)

Theratechnologies said the FDA denied approval of its F8 formulation of the growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF) analog tesamorelin (Egrifta), which is used to reduce excess abdominal fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.

The American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” report put pressure on the Biden Administration to finalize rules to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the scheduled execution of an Alabama death row inmate by the use of nitrogen gas. (CNN)

Under a new policy, the Defense Department will extend coverage of in-vitro fertilization to service members in any relationship status. (Military Times)

A Florida anger management therapist was accused of shooting a homeless man to death. (People)

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services are asking state Medicaid administrators to cover treatment with direct-acting antivirals for persons who have both hepatitis C and substance use disorder.

Which immunocompromised people are most at risk for long COVID? (Science Translational Medicine)

Former Rhode Island U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy is seeking parity in insurance coverage between mental and physical health care. (Politico)