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What your patients are reading: Week of March 10, 2025

March 14, 2025

Keeping you a step ahead is our priority. That's why we've gathered some of the top stories your patients might be reading. Here are this week's highlights:

CDC launches redundant vaccine-autism study amid criticism

(ABC News)—CDC announced a new study to investigate whether vaccines cause autism, despite numerous existing studies showing no link. This decision, driven by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been criticized by vaccine experts like Dr. Paul Offit. Kennedy, who has previously made controversial statements about vaccine safety, claims the study is necessary due to rising autism rates. Critics argue that the study is redundant and politically motivated, as previous high-quality research has consistently found no connection between vaccines and autism.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome claims Betsy Arakawa

(CBS News)—Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a rare and often fatal disease spread by rodents, particularly in the Southwest U.S. HPS can cause severe respiratory distress and has a high mortality rate, with no specific treatment available. The couple was found dead in their Santa Fe home, with Hackman succumbing to heart disease exacerbated by Alzheimer's. New Mexico reported only seven HPS cases in 2024, highlighting the disease's rarity but serious nature.

Measles outbreak in west Texas expands to Oklahoma

(NBC News)—A measles outbreak originating in west Texas has now spread into Oklahoma, with 45 confirmed cases reported between January and March 2025. The outbreak has primarily affected unvaccinated individuals. Public health officials are emphasizing the importance of the MMR vaccine to prevent further transmission.

Sources:

Flaherty A, Haworth, J, Salzman, S. (2025, March 8). ABC News. CDC to study vaccines and autism, despite several studies already finding no link. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/cdc-study-vaccines-autism-despite-studies-finding-link/story?id=119584363

Tabachnick, C. (2025, March 8). CBS News. What to know about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, the cause of Betsy Arakawa's death. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-to-know-about-hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome-gene-hackman-wife-betsy-arakawa/

Edwards, E. (2025, March 11). NBC News. West Texas measles outbreak spreads into Oklahoma. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/west-texas-measles-outbreak-spreads-oklahoma-rcna195858