Additionally, the piece discusses the collapse of a deal to reform pharmacy benefit managers due to political backlash. It features a visual retrospective of STAT's most memorable photos of 2024, showcasing personal stories and struggles. The spread of H5N1 bird flu in California's dairy farms is examined, with experts questioning current containment theories. Lastly, new estimates suggest that 1 in 127 people globally are on the autism spectrum, a significant increase due to changes in data collection methodology.
Key takeaways:
- A new STAT+ newsletter, AI Prognosis, will launch in February, focusing on AI developments in health care, with early subscribers receiving the first four editions for free.
- The FDA has updated its definition of "healthy" food for the first time in three decades, now including foods like salmon and nuts, while disqualifying many ultra-processed foods.
- The U.S. faces a maternal mortality crisis, with experts emphasizing the need for systemic changes like universal health insurance and paid leave to address the issue.
- California is experiencing a significant spread of H5N1 bird flu among dairy farms, with experts questioning current theories and suggesting human transmission as a potential cause.