Health Highlights: April 2, 2019

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

U.S. Measles Cases Already Top Last Year’s Total

The number of measles cases in the United States so far this year has already surpassed the total for last year.

As of March 28, there had been 387 reported cases in 15 states, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday.

Last year, there were 372 cases nationwide, CBS News reported.

The number of cases so far this year is the highest since 2014, when there were a total of 667, and the second highest number since measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000.

The high number of measles cases so far this year are due to outbreaks in a handful of states, including California, New York and Washington, CBS News reported.

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Americans Borrowed $88 Billion in Past Year to Pay for Health Care: Survey

About 1 in 8 Americans borrowed a total of $88 billion in the past year to pay for health care, a new survey shows.

It also found that 65 million adults said they didn’t seek treatment for a health issue due to cost, and nearly a quarter reduced spending to pay for health care or medicine, CNN reported.

The West Health-Gallup survey was released Tuesday.

“Not only do you have a real significant number that are deferring care, forgoing care altogether, you also have a big chunk that are getting the care but having to borrow to get it,” Gallup senior researcher Dan Witters told CNN.

“There are few Americans out there who are safe from the American health care cost crisis,” he added.

In 2017, the United States spent more than $10,700 per person on health care, according to federal data, CNN reported.

Even though that’s more than any other country, the United States consistently finishes near the bottom in health care measures among developed nations, the survey found.

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Mick Jagger to Have Heart Valve Surgery

Mick Jagger will have surgery to replace a valve in his heart this week.

The Rolling Stones singer will have the operation Friday in New York City and is expected to make a full recovery and return to touring this summer, according to the Drudge Report, Rolling Stone magazine said.

The band had postponed the North American leg of their current tour.

When the postponement was first announced, a rep for the Rolling Stones said: “Mick Jagger has been advised by doctors that he cannot go on tour at this time as he needs medical treatment. The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible.”

In a statement, Jagger said: “I really hate letting you down like this. I’m devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can,” Rolling Stone reported.

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