What We're Reading: FDA Releases Medical Device Reports; Ebola Crisis Worsens; Germany Weighs Fines for Missed Vaccinations

FDA Shutting Down Program That Concealed Medical Device Records

The FDA is ending its controversial “alternative summary reporting” program, which allowed makers of medical devices to conceal records that documented device malfunctions and injuries caused by products, according to Kaiser Health News. Millions of reports spanning more than 2 decades will be released to the general public within weeks. Medical device makers will now be required to file individual reports describing each case of patient harm caused by a device.

Ebola-Related Deaths Top 1000 As Crisis Worsens

The Congolese health ministry said Friday that over 1000 people have died from 1529 Ebola infections within the trading cities of Butembo and Katwa, raising the mortality rate to 66%, according to The Hill. The outbreak began last summer in the town of Beni and has spread south to the North Kivu Province. The ministry said that 132 cases have been confirmed over the past week alone. As the crisis worsens, response efforts have been obstructed by acts of violence against healthcare workers. The World Health Organization has recorded over 100 attacks against individuals or facilities dedicated to treating Ebola-infected patients, and 85 healthcare workers have been killed or injured since the beginning of the outbreak.

Germany Considers Imposing Fines to Raise Vaccination Rates

Amid concerns that the highly infectious and potentially deadly measles virus could make a comeback, Jens Spahn, Germany’s health minister, has considered imposing fines of up to 2500 euros ($2790) on parents of unvaccinated school-age children, the Associated Press reported. As a measure to protect other children who are either too young or medically unable to receive the vaccine, Spahn also proposed that children who weren’t vaccinated would also be banned from attending daycare facilities. It remains unclear if the proposals will be implemented as they have not yet been discussed by the Cabinet of Germany, which is the nation's chief executive body.