HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

East County News Service

January 16, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• A super cheap, generic alternative to the EpiPen just hit shelves in U.S. (Science Alert)
• Obamacare Plans Don't Always Include Top Cancer Centers (NPR)
• What An Obamacare Repeal Would Mean For Rural Hospitals (NPR)
• Investigators Link Insurer Cyber Breach To Foreign Nation (KPBS)
• Obesity-Linked Diagnoses On The Rise Among Kids And Teens (NPR)
• Cancer spread cut by 75% in tests (BBC)
• Hundreds of cats quarantined in New York City bird flu outbreak  (Reuters)
• Bug resistant to all antibiotics kills woman (BBC)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Iceberg the size of Delaware to break off from Antarctica (CNN)
• Taxi-sharing could end traffic jams, suggests MIT study (BBC)
• Norway to switch off FM radio in risky, unpopular shift to digital (Reuters)
• Why is Uber giving away traffic data? (CS Monitor)
• Devices sprout ears: What do Alexa and Siri mean for privacy? (CS Monitor)
• Netflix users targeted by email scam seeking credit card, account information (Fox 5 San Diego)
• Amazon to add more than 100,000 jobs in U.S. hiring spree Reuters)
• EPA Accuses Fiat Chrysler Of Installing Emissions-Cheating Software (NPR)

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

HEALTH

A super cheap, generic alternative to the EpiPen just hit shelves in U.S. (Science Alert)

It’s been one of the most controversial pieces of medical equipment in recent years - the lifesaving Epipen, which has become so expensive, its manufacturer has been accused of inflating its price by almost 500 percent since 2007. But now, after nearly 150,000 people signed a petition asking for a lower-cost alternative to the Epipen, America’s largest pharmacy, CVS, has announced that a cheaper, generic alternative will be on shelves from today.

Obamacare Plans Don't Always Include Top Cancer Centers (NPR)

Does it matter if someone with a cancer diagnosis gets treatment at one of these centers rather than at a community hospital or some other site? Research suggests that it may.

What An Obamacare Repeal Would Mean For Rural Hospitals (NPR)

Scott Simon speaks with Maggie Elehwany of the National Rural Health Association about a possible Obamacare repeal. She supports the law, but says the way it was implemented has hurt rural hospitals.

Investigators Link Insurer Cyber Breach To Foreign Nation (KPBS)

A foreign government was likely behind a cyber breach of health insurance company Anthem Inc. that compromised more than 78 million consumers' records, investigators said Friday.

Obesity-Linked Diagnoses On The Rise Among Kids And Teens (NPR)

A new analysis of U.S. health insurance claims is worrisome, pediatricians say: More and more young people are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

Cancer spread cut by 75% in tests (BBC)

Research could lead to new drugs to stop cancer reaching other parts of the body.

Hundreds of cats quarantined in New York City bird flu outbreak  (Reuters)

Hundreds of domestic cats have been quarantined in New York City after contracting a strain of highly contagious avian flu at shelters operated by a major animal rescue organization, and the virus also infected at least one veterinarian, officials said.

Bug resistant to all antibiotics kills woman (BBC)

The 70-year-old's hip infection was resistant to the 26 antibiotics available in the US.

SCIENCE AND TECH

Iceberg the size of Delaware to break off from Antarctica (CNN)

A large sheet of ice is set to break away from Antarctica and scientists say it will be one of the largest breaks of its kind recorded.

Taxi-sharing could end traffic jams, suggests MIT study (BBC)

Taxi-sharing could cut cab numbers and ease congestion, suggests a study from US scientists.

Norway to switch off FM radio in risky, unpopular shift to digital (Reuters)

Norway is set to become the first nation to start switching off its FM radio network next week, in a risky and unpopular leap to digital technology that will be closely watched by other countries considering whether to follow suit.  Critics say the government is rushing the move and many people may miss warnings on emergencies that have until now been broadcast via the radio.

Why is Uber giving away traffic data? (CS Monitor)

A new, free website Uber is launching will give away valuable traffic data to city planners and the public.

Devices sprout ears: What do Alexa and Siri mean for privacy? (CS Monitor)

The Echo is taking the US by storm, with Google Home hot on its tracks. What are the privacy risks of having an always-listening digital assistant in your home?

Netflix users targeted by email scam seeking credit card, account information (Fox 5 San Diego)

Netflix says it will never ask for personal information in an email, including payment information, social security numbers and account passwords.

Amazon to add more than 100,000 jobs in U.S. hiring spree Reuters)

Amazon.com Inc. on Thursday said it will create more than 100,000 jobs in the United States, from software development to warehouse work, in its latest move to win over shoppers by investing in faster delivery.

EPA Accuses Fiat Chrysler Of Installing Emissions-Cheating Software (NPR)

The Environmental Protection Agency says Fiat Chrysler violated the Clean Air Act by allegedly installing software in about 104,000 vehicles that masked the true level of emissions.