Life Expectancy Plummets; Pot Use Hits All-Time High; Monkeypox Now in Every State

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CDC data show U.S. life expectancy dropped by nearly 2 years on average from 2019 to 2020, driven in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic; New York experienced the largest drop (3 years).

A new case of Ebola has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with genetic testing linking the case to the country’s 2018-2020 outbreak. (Reuters)

Marijuana and hallucinogen use in young U.S. adults spiked significantly in 2021 compared to 5 or 10 years ago, reaching historic highs, according to the Monitoring the Future panel study.

Pfizer/BioNTech requested an emergency use authorization from the FDA for its Omicron BA.4/BA.5-targeting bivalent COVID vaccine, the companies announced.

Meanwhile, the CDC recommended Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine as another primary series option for adolescents ages 12 to 17.

Researchers are racing to develop an at-home test that can quickly detect whether someone has neutralizing antibodies that protect them against COVID. (STAT)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) turned down a bill that would have allowed supervised drug injection sites in three large cities, though San Francisco may proceed with the plan anyhow. (Politico)

CAR T-cell therapy for treating cancer may be out of reach for many rural Americans. (NBC News)

What are the warning signs of a mass shooting? Experts say a recent life crisis is a better predictor than a diagnosis of mental illness. (New York Times)

Most adults in the U.S. want stricter gun laws, including a majority of gun owners and Republicans, according to a new poll showing broad support for a host of restrictions. (AP)

Monkeypox has now been reported in all 50 states. (ABC News)

GSK urged the Supreme Court not to revive a case against Teva Pharmaceuticals for its use of “skinny” drug labels, which carve out specific indications to allow generics to be approved more swiftly. (Endpoints News)

A third of American women have already lost access to elective abortions, as trigger bans continue to go into effect following the high court’s Dobbs decision. (Washington Post)

In Kansas, a recount confirmed the state’s recent ballot initiative favoring abortion rights in the state. (AP)

A district judge in Idaho appeared open to allowing the Department of Justice to block a state abortion ban that would prohibit doctors from providing abortions even in medical emergencies. (Reuters)

What factors are contributing to the rise in deadly car crashes this year? (NBC News)

A woman’s breast biopsy cost her $18,000. It may have been cheaper if she didn’t use insurance. (Kaiser Health News)