News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – A Senate committee hearing today on the fungal meningitis outbreak covered some of the same ground as yesterday's House hearing but aired the views of compounding pharmacy industry groups and provided a strong example for strengthening the nation's public health infrastructure.

(CIDRAP News) – The first congressional hearing today on the fungal meningitis outbreak linked to tainted steroids was marked by tough questions for regulators, political wrangling, and an appearance by the owner of the compounding pharmacy that produced the drugs, but he declined to testify.

(CIDRAP News) – A public health investigation into an unusual fungal meningitis death in Tennessee quickly uncovered other related cases and expedited detection and treatment that probably saved lives, while drawing national attention to the problem, according to a report yesterday from some of the state officials who worked on the probe.

(CIDRAP News) – Washington state is battling its biggest pertussis outbreak in more than three decades, and cuts in local health department budgets are among the factors reported to be complicating the state's response to the epidemic.