Short Takes – 5-10-25

Notice of Availability of the Final Tiered Environmental Assessment and Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas. Federal Register FAA notice of availability. Summary: “The FAA is announcing the availability of the Final Tiered Environmental Assessment and Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle Increased Cadence at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (Final Tiered EA and Mitigated FONSI/ROD).”

Severe Cases of Virus Tied to Polio-like Paralysis Often Occurs in Healthy Kids. MedPageToday.com article. Pull quote: “This non-polio enterovirus causes acute respiratory illness in children, with common symptoms in hospitalized patients including cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing, along with fever in about half of known cases. EV-D68 also has been associated with acute flaccid myelitis, a rare neurologic disorder that can result in muscle pain and limb weakness.”

Measles Cases Top 1,000: A Crisis of Complacency. MedPageToday.com article. Pull quote: “In recent years, the likelihood of major regional outbreaks has been inevitable as herd immunity faded due to pockets of under-vaccination across the country. Exacerbating those risks are soaring cases around the globe and increased travel-related transmission. Worldwide, almost 22 million children missed one or both measles vaccines in 2023, and there was a 20% increase in global measles cases between 2022 to 2024, driven by inadequate vaccination coverage.”

Trump freezes ‘gain of function’ pathogen research ― threatening all US virology, critics say. Nature.com article. Pull quote: “The executive order also bans federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research in China, Iran and other “countries of concern”. And it halts funding for life-sciences research that could pose a threat to public health in countries that do not have adequate oversight of this work. All recipients of federal grants in the life sciences will need to comply with the order, including confirming that they do not collaborate with foreign countries on relevant research.”