PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon se salvó de la fuerte temporada de influenza que ya llegó a otras partes del país -lo que no es raro, según los funcionarios estatales de salud. Ellos comienzan a contar los casos de influenza en septiembre, pero dicen que las cifras normalmente no alcanzan su máximo hasta este mes o el próximo. Una de las razones por las que se espera que sea un mal año para la gripe es que estamos siendo visitados por un virus que en la mayor parte del país no ha sido frecuente en los últimos tres años. Así que el Dr. Paul Cieslack, Director Médico del Departamento de Salud de Oregon y miembro del Programa de Inmunización de Oregon (OIP, en inglés), dice que la inmunidad para esta cepa de influenza en particular es baja.

“Es la variedad más fuerte que ha circulado en los Estados Unidos desde 1968. Ese año fue la Gripe de Hong Kong y ha estado con nosotros desde entonces, pero como que se incubó con el virus H1N1 en 2009. Ahora vuelve para cazarnos en una nueva mutación.”

El agente actual de gripe se conoce como virus H3N2 y sus síntomas son, como dice Cieslack, “algo peores” que los tipos de influenza que andaban por ahí durante los dos años pasados.

En La Clínica, en Medford, el Dr. Ken Rhee dice que no le hacen pruebas automáticamente a cualquiera que llegue con fiebre, escalofríos y catarro, pero que han visto algunos exámenes positivos para influenza. Si usted tiene gripe, dice, probablemente la reconocerá por su severidad.

“Cuando te da la influenza clásica casi siempre te sientes terrible. Seguido te da fiebre; realmente sientes escalofríos y dolor muscular, y todo ese tipo de cosas. Y luego te da una tos bastante persistente.”

Últimamente, aproximadamente un cinco por ciento de las visitas al médico en Oregon son por síntomas parecidos a los de la influenza, nivel que se considera moderado. Veintinueve estados reportan severas apariciones de influenza, o Flu.

Sin importar el tipo de gripe, los consejos de prevención no han cambiado: lavarse las manos frecuentemente, cubrirse al toser y estornudar, y quedarse en casa en vez de ir al trabajo o la escuela si no se siente bien. El Dr. Cieslack dice que sólo un tercio de las personas se ponen la vacuna contra la influenza, aunque se recomienda para casi todo mundo.

“La mayor parte de la estación está todavía por pasar, y aún es tiempo de vacunarse. Así que si no ha recibido la vacuna, definitivamente vaya a que se la pongan. Tenemos bastantes vacunas en Oregon.”


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After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.