■ From the "Everything Old is New Again" Department: My late mother had Post-Polio Syndrome, a result of childhood exposure, but (thankfully) she never had the full-blown version of the dread disease. A common treatment for those that did was the so-called "iron-lung." Fortunately, we've long since eradicated polio, but FoIB Allison Bell warns that we may have to dig those old machines out of mothballs:
"Zika May Be Polio All Over Again ... the CDC concluded, “after careful review of existing evidence,” that “Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects” in newborn infants."
Heads' up.
■ Co-Blogger Mike thinks that Belgium might be catching up to Sweden in the Bizzaro World medical tourism race:
"Euthanasia tourists are flocking to Brussels to get a lethal dose. Doctors at hospitals and clinics at Belgium’s capital are seeing an increase in number of euthanasia tourists who are travelling from across the world"
Supply and demand.
■ FoIB Jeff M first alerted us to troubles brewing for North Carolina's Blue Cross franchise back in May. Today he shares this update in the continuing saga:
"The N.C. Department of Insurance announced Monday it will broaden its investigation into Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, citing “disagreements” with the insurer."
At issue are continuing IT and claims processing issues.
Gotta love the tech.
■ And finally, via FoIB Holly R, this sad (and highly unusual) case from Great Britain (and for once, it's not about the MVNHS©):
"[A] 61-year-old British bagpipe player who developed a dry cough and breathlessness that worsened over a period of seven years ... He died several weeks after entering the hospital"
Turns out, several different - and deadly - fungi had taken up residence in his bagpipe, which he had neglected to clean. Truly sad, but perhaps a helpful warning to fellow pipers.
Death by Amazing Grace?
"Zika May Be Polio All Over Again ... the CDC concluded, “after careful review of existing evidence,” that “Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects” in newborn infants."
Heads' up.
■ Co-Blogger Mike thinks that Belgium might be catching up to Sweden in the Bizzaro World medical tourism race:
"Euthanasia tourists are flocking to Brussels to get a lethal dose. Doctors at hospitals and clinics at Belgium’s capital are seeing an increase in number of euthanasia tourists who are travelling from across the world"
Supply and demand.
■ FoIB Jeff M first alerted us to troubles brewing for North Carolina's Blue Cross franchise back in May. Today he shares this update in the continuing saga:
"The N.C. Department of Insurance announced Monday it will broaden its investigation into Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, citing “disagreements” with the insurer."
At issue are continuing IT and claims processing issues.
Gotta love the tech.
■ And finally, via FoIB Holly R, this sad (and highly unusual) case from Great Britain (and for once, it's not about the MVNHS©):
"[A] 61-year-old British bagpipe player who developed a dry cough and breathlessness that worsened over a period of seven years ... He died several weeks after entering the hospital"
Turns out, several different - and deadly - fungi had taken up residence in his bagpipe, which he had neglected to clean. Truly sad, but perhaps a helpful warning to fellow pipers.
Death by Amazing Grace?
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