🏥 US-Gesundheit-Nachrichten

• The Trump administration filed an appeal Wednesday evening against a Massachusetts federal judge's March 16 ruling that blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s overhaul of the nation's childhood vaccine schedule. • Judge Brian Murphy had ruled that Kennedy replaced the CDC's vaccine advisory committee "unlawfully" and placed any decisions made by the committee on hold. • The appeal signals the administration's intention to proceed with restructuring the vaccine advisory process despite legal challenges to its authority.

• The Department of Justice announced last week it loosened legal restrictions on medical marijuana, aiming to expand research and treatment options across the US. • This policy shift is expected to facilitate more clinical studies and access for patients in states with medical programs. • The change addresses longstanding barriers to federally approved marijuana research, potentially accelerating therapeutic developments.

• South Carolina health officials ended the nation's largest measles outbreak after six months, with 997 infections and 21 hospitalizations but no deaths. • The outbreak concluded Sunday following over a month without new cases. • This marks a significant public health milestone amid rising national vaccination concerns.

• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults worry about affording health care costs, with 30% very worried, topping affordability concerns over gas prices. • Health care affordability remains the public's primary worry despite other economic pressures. • Poll highlights ongoing financial strain on households amid rising medical expenses.

• Backers introduced over three dozen bills in statehouses to expand raw milk access, despite public health warnings and at least five outbreaks in the past year. • Current E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk cheddar cheese from California-based Raw Farm has sickened nine people, half children under 5, with one developing lifelong kidney complications. • Public health officials warn unpasteurized milk harbors risky germs, alarming experts as more states legalize sales.

• Investigators from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital analyzed over 3.9 million hospitalizations to estimate sepsis in 1.3% of pediatric cases, equating to more than 18,000 U.S. occurrences yearly. • Sepsis carries a 10% mortality rate, resulting in over 1,800 child deaths annually, with no significant change in incidence or mortality from 2016 to 2022. • 72% of cases began before hospitalization, highlighting risks to otherwise healthy children and the urgent need for better prevention strategies.

• Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 5044 into law on April 28, 2026, expanding the state health commissioner's authority to issue vaccine recommendations independent of federal guidance. • The bill includes provisions clarifying the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which had sparked significant controversy during legislative debates. • The law also prevents insurance companies from penalizing clinicians who treat patients declining vaccines, protecting physician practice autonomy.

• A new report from Harris County Public Health reveals Houston has the highest tuberculosis rates in Texas, highlighting urban transmission risks. • The data shows elevated cases linked to dense populations and socioeconomic factors in the Houston area. • Rising TB incidence demands targeted screening and treatment expansions to curb spread in high-risk communities.

• The largest measles outbreak in the United States in more than 35 years has ended, with no new cases reported in more than 42 days, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health. • The outbreak began in October 2025 in South Carolina and resulted in nearly 1,000 confirmed cases over six months, with more than 600 cases occurring in 2026 alone; at least 21 hospitalizations were recorded with no reported deaths. • Canada has been significantly impacted, losing its measles elimination status on November 10, 2025, and reporting 907 cases since the start of 2026, with Manitoba accounting for 556 cases.

• A recent study demonstrates that an updated vaccine formulation reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by approximately 50 percent during the past season. • This significant efficacy improvement represents a major advancement in vaccine development and public health protection strategies. • The findings contribute to the evolving landscape of U.S. vaccine policy, as documented in CIDRAP's latest state of vaccine policy report from April 28, 2026.

• Medicare underpayments to hospitals totaled more than $100 billion in 2024, according to testimony provided to the House Ways and Means Committee by the American Hospital Association. • Hospitals are managing significant cost pressures while treating a sicker, more medically complex, and aging patient population, with persistent misalignments between care provision and reimbursement rates. • The financial strain reflects broader healthcare system challenges as providers struggle with inadequate government reimbursement alongside rising operational costs.

• A new suicide prevention strategy shifts focus from crisis intervention to upstream policies designed to give people reasons to live and address root causes of suicide risk. • The approach has demonstrated effectiveness in helping individuals in acute distress, including a farmer profiled by CBS News who benefited from this comprehensive intervention model. • This prevention philosophy represents an evolving understanding of mental health intervention that emphasizes long-term resilience and life satisfaction over immediate crisis management.

• A majority of Americans express concern over rising healthcare costs and support increased federal tax spending to address these challenges, according to the Axios/Ipsos American Health Index released March 17, 2026. • The poll demonstrates bipartisan support for government action on healthcare affordability, reflecting widespread concern among the U.S. public about escalating medical expenses. • Americans also show increased trust in government handling of childhood vaccination decisions, signaling broader public confidence in health policy interventions.

• East Bay man in Contra Costa County died after consuming toxic wild mushrooms amid statewide spike. • California recorded 35 mushroom poisoning cases from Nov. 18 to Jan. 4, far above average of under five yearly. • Surge prompts health warnings on foraging risks during wet weather conditions.

• Environmental Working Group study finds 20% of Americans used systems with elevated nitrate levels from 2021-2023 data. • Nitrate poses health risks including cancer and developmental issues in contaminated supplies. • Affects millions nationwide, urging stricter regulations and testing.

• Florida's KidCare expansion remains stalled in legal limbo since February 2024, preventing coverage for more children. • Uninsured children in the state have risen to 400,000, one of the highest tallies nationwide. • Delay exacerbates access issues as federal funds await resolution, impacting low-income families significantly.

• Nearly 1,300 people in Pittsburgh learned Hands-Only CPR during day two of the NFL Draft on April 24, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest such training session in one hour. • The event, organized by the American Heart Association, NFL, Damar Hamlin, and Doctor Mike, supports the Nation of Lifesavers movement aiming to double sudden cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030. • More than half of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims do not receive CPR before emergency responders arrive, highlighting the critical need for widespread bystander training to improve survival odds.

• Months after restoring federal family planning funding, Missouri's only Title X grantee program now confronts fresh challenges from U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. • The program provides essential reproductive health services amid ongoing political debates over federal support for family planning initiatives. • This development underscores persistent tensions in U.S. public health policy regarding access to contraception and reproductive care funding.