Brazil Marks 500K Deaths; VA Flips on Transgender Surgery; ‘Bone Putty’ Tied to TB?

Note that some links may require registration or subscription.

COVID deaths in Brazil surpassed 500,000, and protesters in more than 20 cities are blaming President Jair Bolsonaro for downplaying the pandemic. (NPR)

The more contagious and possibly more deadly Delta variant will “probably” become the dominant strain in the U.S. in the next couple of months, said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH. (Politico)

President Biden said he does not anticipate another lockdown, but warned that some areas of the country with low vaccination rates “will be very hurt.” (Politico)

While nearly half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, fewer than 35% of residents in certain states (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wyoming) have been fully immunized. (CNN)

As of Monday at 8 a.m. EDT, the unofficial U.S. COVID-19 toll is 33,542,382 cases and 601,825 deaths, increases of 80,096 and 2,056, respectively, versus this time a week ago.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough said the VA is moving toward providing gender confirmation surgery for transgender veterans, calling it “the right thing to do.” (AP)

CDC is investigating a rare tuberculosis outbreak affecting more than 100 patients that may be tied to “a malleable bone putty” used in orthopaedic surgeries; the putty uses human cells from a single donor or cadaver. (Washington Post)

An “unprecedented” blood shortage at some New England hospitals, due to fewer donations during the pandemic, has led to surgery delays or rescheduling. (AP)

Athira Pharma CEO Leen Kawas, PhD, has been placed on leave while her former university conducts a probe into reports that her research papers included doctored images. (Seattle Times)

Five months after a drug decriminalization experiment started in Oregon, critics argue the state “put the cart before the horse,” as treatment support there is still inadequate. (NPR)

President Biden tapped HHS official Christi Grimm as the department’s inspector general; Grimm was targeted last year by former President Trump for highlighting supply shortages in hospitals. (The Hill)

Emory University School of Medicine rejected Marion Gerald Hood more than half-a-century ago due to his race. Last week, the university apologized. (CNN)

An Ebola outbreak in the Republic of Guinea, which began in February, has been declared over by the World Health Organization and the country’s Ministry of Health.

The FDA approved azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray, 0.15% (Astepro), a nasal antihistamine for seasonal and perennial allergies, for over-the-counter use.

In other coronavirus news, the U.S. government will dedicate more than $3 billion dollars to help develop antiviral pills for COVID-19 — the currently authorized drugs for the virus in outpatients require infusion. (AP)

Moderna is making plans to bolster production of its COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. (Wall Street Journal)

Buffalo Bills’ receiver Cole Beasley said he’d rather retire than get a COVID-19 vaccine after the National Football League unveiled stricter protocols for unvaccinated players. (CNN)

A federal judge blocked the CDC from enforcing COVID-related rules for cruise ships and Gov. Ron DeSantis (Fla.), who filed the suit, is gloating. “The CDC has been wrong all along,” he said. (Washington Post)