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What We’re Reading: Change Healthcare to Send Data Breach Warnings; Early Gestational Diabetes Screening; Bird Flu Testing Delays
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Change Healthcare will begin notifying individuals whose data may have been exposed when hackers disrupted the claims processing system; experts advocate for early diagnosis of gestational diabetes to mitigate risks for both mother and child; researchers worry that the slow rollout of bird flu tests may hinder outbreak detection and response.
Change Healthcare to Alert Clients of Massive Cyberattack Compromising Patient Data
Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, is in the process of notifying hospitals, insurers, and other customers that a February cyberattack may have exposed sensitive patient information, according to the Associated Press. The ransomware attack disrupted payment and claims processing nationwide, with potential exposure of names, addresses, health insurance details, and Social Security numbers. The company, which plans to begin notifying individuals in late July, assures users that core systems are operational and will offer credit monitoring to affected individuals while continuing its investigation.
Early Gestational Diabetes Screening May Reduce Pregnancy Complications
Gestational diabetes, which affects 1 in 7 pregnant women globally, is usually diagnosed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, according to Stat. However, a recent study published earlier this year showed that treating the condition before week 20 significantly lowers the risk of severe complications like preterm birth and stillbirth. Experts now recommend universal early screening at 10 to 14 weeks and a follow-up at 24 to 28 weeks, arguing that early intervention can help prevent long-term health issues for both mothers and their children.
Bird Flu Testing Lag Sparks Concerns Over Pandemic Preparedness
Nearly 3 months after an outbreak of bird flu on US dairy farms, testing for the virus among people remains limited, with only about 45 individuals tested nationwide, according to Kaiser Health News. Experts warned that the lack of widespread testing may prevent early detection of human transmission, posing a risk of a new pandemic. Despite calls for rapid expansion of testing capabilities, bureaucratic hurdles and delays have hindered efforts, prompting concerns over the nation's preparedness and global reputation.
