HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

March 31, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• San Diego County has seen 20 cases of fungal threat that CDC calls a growing concern  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Federal judge says insurers no longer have to provide some preventive care services, including cancer and heart screenings, at no cost (CNN)
• WHO: New Omicron Subvariant XBB.1.16 Is ‘One to Watch’ (US News)
• Why drugs like Adderall, antibiotics and flu medications are in short supply   (NPR)
• Oklahoma court OK's abortion to preserve mother's life (AP)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

• Elon Musk and other tech leaders call for pause in ‘out of control’ AI race (CNN)
• It takes a few dollars and 8 minutes to create a deepfake. And that's only the start (NPR)
• NATO bans Tik-Tok on devices (CNN)
• Utah social media law means kids need approval from parents  (AP)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

HEALTH

San Diego County has seen 20 cases of fungal threat that CDC calls a growing concern  (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Health officials warn the drug-resistant infection is spreading in hospitals. ‘It’s a big concern, and we’re taking it seriously.’ …Healthy people, whether adults or children, he explained, can fight off infection with few long-term consequences. It is those with compromised immune systems, and especially those who have recently been treated with antibiotics, who are at risk.

Federal judge says insurers no longer have to provide some preventive care services, including cancer and heart screenings, at no cost (CNN)

A federal judge in Texas said Thursday that some Affordable Care Act mandates cannot be enforced nationwide, including those that require insurers to cover a wide array of preventive care services at no cost to the patient, including some cancer, heart and STD screenings, and tobacco programs.

WHO: New Omicron Subvariant XBB.1.16 Is ‘One to Watch’ (US News)

The strain has been reported in 22 countries.

Why drugs like Adderall, antibiotics and flu medications are in short supply   (NPR)

It's not just your imagination: Drugs such as children's flu medication, common antibiotics and ADHD treatments are getting harder to buy, according to a Senate report published Wednesday…. the number of new drug shortages rose by 30%.

Oklahoma court OK's abortion to preserve mother's life (AP)

A divided Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a portion of the state’s near total ban on abortion…. The court ruled that a woman has the right under the state Constitution to receive an abortion to preserve her life if her doctor determines that continuing the pregnancy would endanger it due to a condition she has or is likely to develop during the pregnancy.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

Elon Musk and other tech leaders call for pause in ‘out of control’ AI race (CNN)

Some of the biggest names in tech are calling for artificial intelligence labs to stop the training of the most powerful AI systems for at least six months, citing “profound risks to society and humanity.”  Elon Musk was among the dozens of tech leaders, professors and researchers who signed the letter, which was published by the Future of Life Institute, a nonprofit backed by Musk.

It takes a few dollars and 8 minutes to create a deepfake. And that's only the start (NPR)

…a growing chorus of people worried that this proliferation of what's know as "generative AI" will supercharge propaganda and influence campaigns by bad actors.

NATO bans Tik-Tok on devices (CNN)

NATO has officially banned staffers from downloading the social media app TikTok onto their NATO-provided devices, citing security concerns, according to two NATO officials familiar with the matter.

Utah social media law means kids need approval from parents  (AP)

Two laws signed by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox Thursday prohibit kids under 18 from using social media between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., require age verification for anyone who wants to use social media in the state and open the door to lawsuits on behalf of children claiming social media harmed them. Collectively, they seek to prevent children from being lured to apps by addictive features and from having ads promoted to them.