News from the USA, United States of America

Chandelier said:
Tucson pilot wins long fight against FAA over ‘Long COVID’
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He says the battle to get hs job back shows why some pilots fear to report such probems, in his case an unspecified neuro-cognitive disruption after Covid. I was reminded of the unusual USA air-plane crashes a while back. Te crshes lost news interest before the black box report came .

I never thought that could have been brain disruption from Covid, now a common hazard. It certainly seemed to trigger some political fuss. Eventually this man's brain mostly recovered.

Planes cannot be allowed to fallout of the air. Airlines have little margin compared with the margin allowed for disasters in hospitals where its not so visible.

So pilots get a whistle-blower system which does not trigger systematic false accusations of mental illness, with blacklisting, as happens in some health systems to whistleblowing doctors.

At least the airlines are being very cautious with people who are 90% recovered from a long-term Covid sequel upsetting their brains.
 

Diagnosing and Managing Long COVID Symptoms in Practice: Noah Greenspan, DPT​
“We've found that compression socks are very, very helpful,” he said. “[And] we found that electrolyte supplementation throughout the day is very, very helpful.”​
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In addition to thigh-high compression socks and consistent electrolyte intake, rest is one of the biggest suggestions, especially with patients who may tend to “overdo it” before their body is fully capable, Greenspan said. Nevertheless, the road to recovery is long and slow, requiring patience from both practitioners and patients alike.​
 
Noah Greenspan said:
the road to recovery is long and slow
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This some myth that needs to be busted hard. No, it isn't. There is absolutely nothing that requires it to be, it's just the natural course for a lot of people but it doesn't mean we can't change that. Most who recover do so relatively quickly, and there have been some rapid sudden recoveries, even after years of illness, so that we know it can shift quickly. It's chronic illness, not chronic recovery.

None of this is fixed in stone. This "woe be us" defeatism has to be fought back with extreme prejudice. It doesn't have to be this way, not unless someone can show that there is a biological for it, something we can't fix or affect, and that's only a fixed barrier if it's something that is permanent, which we know it isn't. The idea that we can't do anything about it is just admitting failure without even trying.
 
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RFK Jr.’s advisers had a plan to target covid shots. Then it fell apart.
Some members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel have publicly questioned the safety and manufacturing of the shots, including raising a debunked theory that DNA contaminants in the vaccines are harmful.

The panel may vote next week on medicalcodes for people diagnosed with post-covid vaccine injuries and long covid, which would allow for providers to seek insurance reimbursement to treat those conditions, according to two people familiar with the plans. No additional details have been provided about these topics, but the committee is expected to also grapple with the health effects of the disease.
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www.linkedin.com

(Please help amplify - great essays!!!) ME/CFS San Diego is proud to announce the winners of the 2025–2026 UC San Diego Student Essay Contest, recognizing innovative student work focused on improving… | Deborah Holcomb

(Please help amplify - great essays!!!) ME/CFS San Diego is proud to announce the winners of the 2025–2026 UC San Diego Student Essay Contest, recognizing innovative student work focused on improving awareness, care, and advocacy for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue...
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Deborah Holcomb
• 1st
President at ME/CFS San Diego
46m •
(Please help amplify - great essays!!!) ME/CFS San Diego is proud to announce the winners of the 2025–2026 UC San Diego Student Essay Contest, recognizing innovative student work focused on improving awareness, care, and advocacy for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Students from UC San Diego submitted essays and creative projects exploring interdisciplinary approaches to addressing this complex and often misunderstood disease.

First Place: Ariana Lyman
Ariana, an undergraduate studying Communication and Psychology, won for her essay Designing Energy-Respectful Communication in Healthcare for People with ME/CFS, which explores how healthcare systems can better support the limited energy capacity and post-exertional challenges experienced by patients.

Second Place: Nicholas Lam
Nicholas, a graduate student at UC San Diego, proposed a public outreach campaign aimed at strengthening awareness and community support for ME/CFS patients.

Third Place: Vivian Tran, MPH
Vivian, a recent Master of Public Health graduate, submitted an animated short film proposal titled Trophy, portraying the lived experience of someone newly diagnosed with ME/CFS and emphasizing the importance of peer support.

These students represent the future of healthcare innovation. Their work demonstrates how thoughtful communication, public health leadership, and cross-disciplinary collaboration can transform the lives of people with ME/CFS.
In keeping with ME/CFS San Diego tradition, first-place winner Ariana Lyman also received a handcrafted pen donated by artisan Renay Johnson of Panache Pens, symbolizing the power of the written word in advancing awareness and change.

Read the winning essays and learn more: https://www.mecfssandiego.com/MECFSSD-UCSD-Essay-Contest/MECFSSD-UCSD-Essay-Contest-25-26-Winners
 
www.spokesman.com

Six years later, COVID symptoms linger for many Latino farmworkers in Washington

The dizziness started while Baldomero Muñoz was working in the blueberry fields of Oregon.
www.spokesman.com www.spokesman.com

Six years later, COVID symptoms linger for many Latino farmworkers in Washington

Long COVID among Latino farmworkers has become a recurring story in Washington. According to research from the University of Washington Latino Center for Health, an estimated 41.2% of agricultural workers report long COVID – one of the highest rates compared to other professions. One theory is delayed access to the vaccine because of financial concerns or hesitancy to get the shot.
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Muñoz didn’t work for several months after his diagnosis. Despite home remedies and medication, he continues to feel lingering effects that make daily life, and physically demanding fieldwork, more difficult.

“I used to be a runner, but my legs feel weak now. I can’t run anymore,” Muñoz said. “There are also times, for about 3 seconds, that I forget where I am, and I still feel a lot of phlegm in my lungs.”
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According to the Washington State Department of Health, there are approximately 228,588 farmworkers in Washington State today. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy estimates at least 39% of them don’t have insurance.

The COVID vaccine can cost more than $200 without insurance, with an additional administration fee, according to GoodRx.

Last year, a bill was introduced in the Legislature to address health coverage equity, recognizing that immigrants – including many farmworkers – are disproportionately uninsured. The bill would have expanded access for people excluded from federal programs. It was referred to committee in 2025 but did not pass before the session ended.

Legislators this year reintroduced a broader farmworker collective-bargaining bill that would have extended union rights to agricultural workers statewide, but it did not move forward. The bill did not include healthcare provisions.

For now, workers like Avalos and Leon are left managing their symptoms on their own. They say they have changed their diets in hopes of avoiding additional hospital visits and easing their breathing problems.

Muñoz, too, tries to stay active. He walks around town, eats healthy foods and writes lyrics inspired by what he sees in the fields as he migrates across the Pacific Northwest.
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Relevant study:
SNT Gatchaman

Post in thread 'SARS-CoV-2 infection and long COVID among California farmworkers, 2023, Mora et al.'

It's a medical trope that when a farmer seeks medical attention, things must be really bad. See The Farmer Pain Scale on YouTube.
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www.theguardian.com

Federal judge blocks RFK Jr’s overhaul of vaccine recommendations

Unprecedented changes to routine US immunization recommendations ‘arbitrary and capricious’, court says
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com




From the New York Times

Judge Strikes Down Kennedy’s Vaccine Policies​

Ruling on a lawsuit brought by several prominent medical organizations, a district court said the federal government had not based its decisions on science in limiting Covid shots and revising the childhood immunization schedule.[/URL]
 
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Nightsong said:
Not sure if this needs its own thread but in my search alerts today there was a link to this narrative article by a U.S. physician (& professor of medicine) whose daughter was eventually diagnosed with ME/CFS after a long diagnostic odyssey, and who apparently eventually set up an LC clinic in Miami. Curious in many ways.

Owning the Moment: A Call for Humanism in Medicine to Address Complex Chronic Illness [PDF]
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There was an interview with her and Dr Nancy Klimas in 2024 here:
 
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Nightsong said:
Not sure if this needs its own thread but in my search alerts today there was a link to this narrative article by a U.S. physician (& professor of medicine) whose daughter was eventually diagnosed with ME/CFS after a long diagnostic odyssey, and who apparently eventually set up an LC clinic in Miami. Curious in many ways.
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The author seems sadly confused. Maybe having been brought up before guidelines came into fashion I have always been aware of their limitations but the proposed alternative seems even less reliable. It is good to hear that the outcome was positive.
 
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