The Republican attorney general of Texas has filed a lawsuit against a New York doctor who mailed abortion pills to a woman in the southern state.

Texas has some of the toughest laws restricting abortion in the country, and the case pits state laws regulating the procedure against each other.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the civil suit on Thursday against Margaret Carpenter, the New York-based founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine.

The attorney general’s office said Carpenter provided a 20-year-old Texas woman with “abortion-inducing drugs that ended the life of an unborn child and resulted in serious complications for the mother.”

“Texas laws prohibit a physician or medical supplier from providing any abortion-inducing drugs by courier, delivery, or mail service,” it said.

In addition, “no physician may treat patients or prescribe Texas residents medicine through telehealth services unless the doctor holds a valid Texas medical license.”

Carpenter is not a licensed physician in Texas.

Texas is seeking an injunction against Carpenter barring her from illegally practicing medicine in the state and from prescribing abortion pills to Texas residents.

He is also seeking a $100,000 fine for each violation.

“In Texas, we treasure the health and lives of mothers and babies, and this is why out-of-state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents,” Paxton said.

Democratic-controlled New York has passed a so-called shield law which provides legal protection to New York doctors who send abortion pills to women in states where the procedure has been outlawed.

Eighteen Democratic-ruled states have enacted shield laws since the US Supreme Court struck down the nationwide right to abortion in 2022, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

In June of this year, the top court rejected a bid by anti-abortion groups to restrict mifepristone, the pill widely used to terminate pregnancies in the United States.

The Texas lawsuit raises thorny legal questions for the courts about what is known as extraterritoriality, the application of one state’s laws to another.

AFP

Malaria Vaccine Receives High Marks In Latest Treatment Evaluation StudyThe R21 malaria vaccine has been prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO), offering an affordable and promising solution for malaria control in Africa, according to a recent study published by 1Day Africa, a global non-profit organization. The study emphasizes that the vaccine’s cost-effectiveness is comparable to that of insecticide-treated bed nets, which have long been a cornerstone in malaria prevention.

The report reveals that the R21 vaccine costs $39 per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted, closely rivaling the $38 cost of bed nets. In contrast, the RTS malaria vaccine costs $129 per DALY, making R21 a more cost-efficient option for large-scale distribution in low- and middle-income countries.

Produced by the Serum Institute of India, the R21 vaccine benefits from streamlined manufacturing processes, which contribute to its reduced cost. Researchers suggest that combining R21 with other malaria control measures, such as seasonal chemoprevention and vector control programs, could significantly reduce malaria cases in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of global malaria incidents occur.

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge, with 95% of the world’s cases reported in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022. The introduction of the R21 vaccine, according to the study, could reshape malaria control efforts, especially in regions facing rising resistance to traditional prevention methods.

The report calls for continued investment in malaria research and the integration of new interventions like R21 into comprehensive public health strategies to tackle the disease more effectively.

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has urged health authorities to activate heightened alert systems in response to the newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant that is rapidly spreading across the globe.

XEC is the latest in a long list of past and current COVID variants being monitored as the COVID-19 virus naturally evolves.

This directive comes after the strain, first identified in Australia, has now been confirmed in 29 countries.

This was contained in a letter dated December 5 but made available to PUNCH Online on Saturday, addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Head of the Teaching Hospital Division, Dr. O.N. Anuma.

The letter read, “I am directed to inform you of a newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant which has been reported in Australia and has already spread to 29 countries globally.

“You may wish to know that this variant has shown a growth advantage over other circulating strains, raising concerns about its potential impact on public health.”

Anuma emphasised the need for vigilance and immediate action.

“Alert systems should be immediately activated throughout our hospitals for high index of suspicion in patients with COVID-like symptoms,” he stated.

The directive also highlighted the importance of collaboration and timely information-sharing among health institutions and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure an effective response.

Medical professionals are also urged to enhance monitoring protocols and share critical data on the XEC variant.

“We request your committee to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to share critical data regarding this strain and implement enhanced monitoring protocols.

“Timely information sharing among relevant stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Health will be vital for effective response strategies,” he warned.

In September, PUNCH Healthwise reported that XEC has spread across 27 countries, including France and the United States, infecting more than 600 people.

Findings by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that XEC was identified in Germany in June with more cases of the variant having since emerged in the UK, the US, Denmark and several other countries.

XEC has some new mutations that might help it spread this autumn, although vaccines should still help prevent severe cases, according to scientists.