The New York Times is reporting that for the first time, the CDC told state health departments it is linking the measles outbreak in Texas to one in Utah and Arizona. If the outbreak does not end by January, the one-year anniversary of the start of the Texas outbreak, the US will lose its World Health Organization "elimination status" for the first time in 25 years, which experts say would be an embarrassment because the US is a wealthy nation with medical resources.

CDC data show 1,723 confirmed cases of measles in the US as of Nov. 13, with 87% linked to a record 45 outbreaks.

A study in The Lancet Child Adolescent Health found a higher risk of vascular and inflammatory issues among children for up to a year or more after a COVID-19 diagnosis. Researchers said arterial and venous thromboembolism, thrombocytopenia, myocarditis and pericarditis risks were highest in the first week after diagnosis, but some elevated risks persisted beyond 12 months. "Although these conditions were rare, children and young people were more likely to experience heart, vascular or inflammatory problems after a COVID-19 infection than after having the vaccine -- and the risks after infection lasted much longer," study author Alexia Sampri said.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued an advisory about increased detection of the EV-D68 virus that can cause acute flaccid myelitis. There have been eight cases of AFM, which is a rare disease that can lead to paralysis in children, reported this year, but none in Pennsylvania.

"Parents do not need to panic about this, they just need to understand it. And if they see any signs of muscle weakness in their children, they should be evaluated immediately," said pediatrician Dr. Pia Fenimore of Lancaster Pediatric Associates.

A study in the journal Pediatrics linked multiple patient factors such as age to pediatric care quality in emergency medical services. For most measures, higher performance was seen with older patient ages. Children with trauma who were from Hispanic, Latino and Black families were less likely to see improvements in pain, researchers found.

A botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula has reached 23 cases across 13 states, with all infants hospitalized, according to the CDC and FDA. The outbreak has prompted ByHeart to expand a recall to all infant formula products. No fatalities have been reported.

A study in The Lancet Psychiatry found metformin helps manage weight gain in children taking second-generation antipsychotics for bipolar disorder. The study involved more than 1,500 children ages 8 to 19 who were overweight or obese. "The results ... are consistent with recent practice guidelines and support the new standard of care -- youth with overweight or obesity should be started on metformin at the same time a second-generation antipsychotic is initiated," says study leader Dr. Melissa DelBello.

A review in the journal Lancet Public Health found that adolescents exposed to digital alcohol marketing had higher rates of recent alcohol use, binge drinking and susceptibility to drinking, compared with those who were not exposed. "Since this link was found across more than 60,000 people in our study, it shows that online alcohol marketing is a serious public health concern," said researcher Jon-Patrick Allem.

Significant disparities exist in vaccination rates among different income groups, with only 62.3% of low-income children receiving all early childhood vaccines, compared with 77.9% of high-income children. The Commonwealth Fund report highlights logistical barriers, such as transportation and scheduling issues, contributing to these disparities.

The US received a D+ for its 10.4% preterm birth rate for the fourth consecutive year, according to a March of Dimes report. The report highlighted significant disparities, with a 9.5% preterm birth rate for babies born to white mothers, compared with 14.7% for babies born to Black mothers. Data showed improved preterm birth rate percentages in 19 states, while the numbers worsened in 21 states, according to the CDC.

A research letter published in JAMA Pediatrics found 48.3% of pediatric hospital charges were covered by Medicaid in 2022, including 54.9% of non-newborn discharges and 44.2% of newborn discharges. Data showed 53.2% of children with multiple complex chronic conditions who were discharged from a hospital had Medicaid coverage and kids in rural areas were more likely to have Medicaid cover their hospital stay.