“Our latest tracking data indicate that flu activity is still high and widespread across most of the nation and increasing overall,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the acting CDC director.
Centers for Disease Control
Feds release opioid prescription guidelines
WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released long-awaited guidelines for prescribing opioid-based pain medicine, but it’s not clear how closely doctors will follow them.
Most middle and high schools start too early, CDC study says
In Connecticut, fewer than 5 percent of middle and high schools started at 8:30 or later, one of the lowest rates in the country.
Senate votes to expand workers’ comp for cops, firefighters
The Senate voted 25 to 11 early Friday for legislation expanding workers’ compensation for police and firefighters, overcoming complaints that the new unfunded mandates would be financially ruinous to cities and towns in Connecticut.
GOP controls fate of labor bill sought by firefighters
The House Republican minority controls the fate of a heavily lobbied labor bill that would expand workers’ compensation coverage in Connecticut by declaring some forms of cancer to be an occupational hazard of firefighting. The GOP is expected to offer a compromise to a bill strenuously opposed by cities and towns.
Esty introduces e-cigarette bill
Washington—Rep. Elizabeth Esty introduced a bill Thursday that would ban advertising of e-cigarettes to children. “Advertisements for e-cigarettes that highlight flavors like bubblegum or gummy bears and promote cartoon characters are shameless efforts to addict our kids,” Esty said.
Child hospitalization dips following flu shot requirement
Three years after Connecticut began requiring the 55,000 children in licensed day cares to get the flu shot, influenza-associated hospitalization has decreased by 12 percent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.