Canada's measles count triples US, if you trust US data

Canada has reported close to 3,900 measles cases this year, three times the U.S. total of roughly 1300. But American public health officials say U.S. figures likely capture just a fraction of reality.

The data gap is skewing public perception and pandemic preparedness. On paper, the U.S. is seeing its largest outbreak in six years, spanning at least 39 states. But that’s likely not the whole story.

“There’s quite a large amount of cases that are not reported,” said the CDC’s lead measles scientist, Dr. David Sugarman, in April.

Other experts say lingering distrust of government and public health, and the U.S.’ healthcare access gaps are causing many cases (if not most) to go unreported.

Three U.S. deaths have been reported so far this year. But in the U.S.’ 2019 outbreak, which had roughly the same national case count being reported as of this week, one person died. For many experts the discrepancy is a statistical red flag that most likely points to a larger epidemic.

Sugarman also said the CDC is “scraping” for outbreak resources after having its funding slashed by at least US $12 billion. 
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Canada’s drug safety-net leans heavily on the U.S.

Roughly 60 per cent of inspections for drug manufacturing facilities supplying Canada are done by the U.S. FDA.

Canada’s reliance on foreign inspections is increasingly risky, as the U.S. government makes sweeping cuts to the FDA amid its radical deregulation push.

Past FDA lapses have already triggered recalls, and the expansion of federal and provincial pharmacare programs will boost demand for generics, where quality-control issues are most frequent. 
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Psychosurgery returns, without the lobotomy scars

Doctors are using MRI-guided ultrasound to help some patients reclaim their lives from treatment-resistant OCD.

Modern psychosurgery avoids incisions entirely, using precision ultrasound beams to alter overactive brain circuits. Ontario is considering publicly funding the procedures, which would provide 110 people with access over the next five years.

Evidence is still emerging, but early results from small trials are promising. Critics are appropriately cautious about irreversible brain interventions. But for those who’ve exhausted all other options, the results can be life-changing. 
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Canada is underestimating the true costs of air pollution

Smog warnings have blanketed much of Canada this month, but Quebec doctors say the long-term health risks aren’t getting the attention they deserve.

Polluted air doesn’t just hurt the lungs. It affects every organ system, and is strongly linked to spikes in heart attacks, strokes, and cancer. A 2023 study found that modest increases in indoor air pollution led chess players to make 25 per cent more mistakes. Were you feeling foggy this week?

Last year, researchers found that air with higher CO2 concentrations increased the survival-time of airborne viruses outside of the human body, boosting transmissibility. 
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More than 2,200 U.S. health professionals eye B.C. jobs

B.C.'s fast-tracked licensing seems poised to fix the province’s health staffing shortages, and push other provinces to work harder for international recruits.

In the last two months, the province received 780 formal job applications from U.S. health workers.

A recent rule-change allows U.S.-certified doctors to skip cross-border licensing requirements. And more changes are in the works for physicians from the U.K., Australia, and elsewhere. Despite the B.C. government’s efforts and strong interest among U.S. professionals, federal immigration hurdles are still a bottleneck. 
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