Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
U.S. experts urge anxiety screening for children 8 and older
An influential panel of U.S. experts recommended for the first time on Tuesday that primary care doctors screen all children ages 8 to 18 for anxiety, even if there are no symptoms. The recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group of disease prevention and medical experts assembled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), come at a time of rising rates of diagnosed mental health disorders among American young people.
Exclusive-U.S. finds new quality problems at Lilly drug factory
U.S. drug inspectors recently recorded several new quality- control problems at an Eli Lilly and Co plant that is already the subject of a federal investigation over manufacturing lapses, according to a government report reviewed by Reuters. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration findings come nearly three years after the agency’s inspectors began documenting quality-control issues at the same Lilly plant in Branchburg, New Jersey. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation following a Reuters story that detailed allegations of poor manufacturing practices and data falsification at the facility.
Mexico pursuing EU deal to locally produce vaccines, meds
Mexico could soon close a contract for European pharmaceutical companies to produce vaccines and medicines in Mexico, a senior official told Reuters, as the Latin American country aims to be better prepared for future health crises. Mexico ranks fifth globally in COVID-19 deaths and faced significant delays obtaining vaccines against the highly-contagious virus.
Carbon monoxide leak at Pennsylvania daycare sends children to hospital
A carbon monoxide leak sent dozens of children and staffers at a Pennsylvania daycare center to local hospitals on Tuesday in an evacuation that drew every ambulance in the city of Allentown to the scene, authorities said on Tuesday. At least 28 children and seven adults were involved in the incident, which began with a report of an unconscious child at the Happy Smiles Learning Center shortly before 7 a.m., said Allentown Fire Chief Efrain Agosto.
Indian state drug controller finds violations at Maiden Pharma factory – CNBC TV18
Indian state Haryana’s drug controller has issued a show cause notice to Maiden Pharmaceuticals for quality testing violations at its factory, CNBC TV18 reported on Wednesday. Authorities said last week they were testing samples of cough syrups produced by Maiden Pharma for export after the World Health Organization linked them to the deaths of dozens of children in the Gambia.
Bahrain’s GFH buys U.S. clinics portfolio worth around $400 million
Bahrain-based investment company GFH Financial Group said on Tuesday it bought its second portfolio of U.S. medical clinics, valued at around $400 million. The portfolio of 11 assets are in California, Texas, Maryland and Louisiana, GFH said in a statement.
Spanish baby gets pioneering intestine transplant
A 1-year-old Spanish girl has become the world’s first recipient of a successful intestine transplant from a donor who died of heart failure, Madrid’s La Paz hospital said on Tuesday.
“The child has now been discharged and is in perfect condition at home with her parents,” it said in a statement.
China steps up anti-COVID measures in megacities as infections mount
Shanghai and other big Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, have ramped up testing for COVID-19 as infections rise, with some local authorities hastily closing schools, entertainment venues and tourist spots. Infections have risen to the highest since August, with the uptick coming after increased domestic travel during the National Day “Golden Week” earlier this month.
Walmart to compete with Walgreens, CVS in recruiting clinical trial subjects
Walmart said on Tuesday it would begin to help drug companies and research firms identify and recruit individuals to fill their clinical trials, pitting it against rivals Walgreens and CVS Health Group . Walmart Healthcare Research Institute, the largest U.S. retailer’s new healthcare research service, will find participants for clinical trials, and Walmart also host MyHealthJourney, a patient portal that helps people find upcoming research trials and track their care.
China can’t win COVID battle by ‘lying flat’ – People’s Daily
China will persist with its COVID-19 policies to avoid losing control over local coronavirus outbreaks, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party warned in commentary for the third straight day. “Lying flat is not to be advised, and to win (the COVID battle) while lying flat is not possible,” People’s Daily wrote on Wednesday.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
