Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of Oct. 5, 2026–Oct. 9, 2026.
Florida dengue fever outbreak appears to be largest in continental U.S. in decades
The Hill (10/3, Davis) reports a dengue fever outbreak in Florida “appears to have grown to the largest in the continental U.S. in decades, totaling 252 reported cases this year in the Sunshine State according to” a Florida Department of Health update. Florida’s “Hillsborough County had the highest level of reports, with a total of 223 locally-spread cases. Hillsborough encompasses the Tampa area and is the fourth-most populous county in the state.” Beyond Florida, Puerto Rico has “reported 922 of the total 2,145 locally acquired cases in the country this year, according to the CDC.”
Nearly one in four U.S. adults are projected to develop heart failure in their lifetime
Healio (10/5, Buzby) reports, “Nearly one in four U.S. adults are projected to develop heart failure in their lifetime, and the overall prevalence of the disease is expected to keep rising due to an aging population with increasing comorbidities,” according to researchers. “Cost-effective guideline-directed medical therapy use remains low among patients with HF, and healthcare costs for HF are estimated to increase to up to $858 billion annually by 2050, according to the latest iteration of the Heart Failure Society of America’s HF statistics report.” The findings were published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.
You also may be interested in: What doctors want patients to know about heart failure.
Death of lab worker at Russian anti-plague research institute prompts social media speculation
Reuters (10/6, Osborn) reports, “A laboratory worker at a plague research institute in Siberia fell ill and died in undisclosed circumstances on October 2, prompting authorities to quarantine about 200 people and causing public health fears on social media.” While rumors have circulated on social media, “There is no evidence in the public domain to support any of those theories.” Reuters reports, “Health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said she died of an unknown type of pneumonia and that no relevant pathogens had been found in anyone who came into contact with her.” According to one local official in the region, “60% of those quarantined had since been released.”
The AP (10/6, Keaten) reports, “The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that Russian authorities have reported no case of plague.” The World Health Organization “says it has been in contact with Russian authorities following the death of the staffer at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East. They cited a ‘typical’ acute respiratory viral infection.”
Heart failure deaths in U.S. increasing among middle-aged adults
HealthDay (10/7, Thompson) reports, “Heart failure deaths are increasing steadily in the U.S., fueled by a rise in deaths among young and middle-aged adults,” according to a new report from the Heart Failure Society of America. Data show “heart failure deaths increased 121% among young adults 25 to 44 between 2010 and 2020, and 96% among adults 45 to 64. By comparison, the report noted heart failure deaths increased among seniors 65 and older by about 23%.” The findings were published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.
You also may be interested in: What doctors want patients to know about heart failure.
Women who received HPV vaccine have lower odds of serious pregnancy complications
HealthDay (10/8) reports that being vaccinated against human papillomavirus may help in “reducing the risk of serious pregnancy complications,” according to a new study “that looked at more than 624,000 first-time births.” Researchers found that women “who were vaccinated had lower odds of several complications, including preterm and very preterm birth, the amniotic sac rupturing too early, and having a severely small baby.” The association “was generally stronger among women vaccinated before age 17. They had about 10% lower odds of preterm birth and 11% lower odds of spontaneous preterm birth.” The research was published in The BMJ.
You also may be interested in: Why doctors say getting vaccinated against HPV can be a lifesaver.
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