NYC health department says yeshivas still allowing unvaccinated children to attend

New York City’s health department yesterday identified five more yeshivas that are allowing unvaccinated children to attend, in violation of the agency’s directive during an ongoing measles outbreak. There have been 158 cases in the city’s Orthodox Jewish community since last October, with the majority of infections in children under 18. The department put its directive in place last December for students in certain ZIP codes who did not have the required number of doses of MMR vaccine. “The outbreak is not over, and we will continue to see additional cases as long as unvaccinated students are not properly excluded from attending school,” city Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said in a statement.

Maternal mortality following a C-section is 50 times higher in Africa than in high-income countries

Mothers in Africa who undergo a cesarean section are 50 times more likely to die during birth or from birth complications than women in higher-income countries, a new study finds. Nearly 3,700 mothers across 22 countries in Africa were included in the analysis, which noted many of the countries are still struggling with access to health care as well as making C-sections safer for new mothers. The researchers also found that rates of neonatal mortality in Africa were 44 deaths per 1,000 infants — twice the global average. A caveat: The study authors say the hospitals included in the study were government hospitals from middle-income countries. “The outcomes presented here might therefore be better than that expected across Africa,” they write.

More teens, young adults report experiencing mental health issues

A nationwide survey of 600,000 people finds an uptick in the number of teens and young adults experiencing mental health problems. Here’s a rundown:

• The design: 200,000 people aged 12-17 and 400,000 people aged 18 and over were surveyed at various points between 2005 and 2017 about any psychological distress and depressive episodes they had experienced.

• The findings: Researchers found a 50 percent increase in depressive episodes in those 12-17. There was a slightly bigger jump to 63 percent in adults 18-25. That age group also experienced a 70 percent increase in more serious issues, such as suicidal thoughts.

• The takeaway: The researchers hypothesize that increased digital media use may be partly to blame for these shifts, but say that more research is needed to to understand technology's role.

Bill seeks to expand those in Maine who can perform abortions

Maine’s governor and House speaker yesterday introduced a bill to expand access to abortion in the state by allowing physician assistants and certain nurses to perform the procedure. Currently, 42 states prohibit non-physicians from providing abortions, while New York and California have laws that say other medical professionals can do so. In Maine, some rural residents seeking an abortion must travel as far as eight hours round-trip to reach one of the state’s three publicly accessible health centers for an in-clinic procedure.

Inside STAT: Beware the hype over the Apple Watch heart app

Apple made headlines last September when it got FDA clearance to market its latest smartwatch with an EKG app, which alerts users who may be at risk of an irregular heart rhythm. The buzz over the app will return this weekend, as results from a large study evaluating the Apple Watch’s ability to detect atrial fibrillation are presented at the annual American College of Cardiology meeting. But in a new First Opinion for STAT, Larry Husten of the CardioBrief blog warns of hype over the findings, which present the benefits of spotting the condition but lack “any insight into the device’s real overall effects on health.” Read more.

STAT’s Matthew Herper will have on-the-ground updates from the Apple presentation and more in the pop-up newsletter ACC in 30. Sign up here.

Take a Peep at these science dioramas

"Peepiodic Table of Elements" (Sally Mitchell, Rye High ChemClub Members, Mrs. Mitchell's Chemistry Classes/The Open Notebook)

Classic science scenes have gotten a marshmallow makeover. The Open Notebook, a nonprofit website that provides resources to science journalists to help sharpen their skills, has kicked off its first Science-Themed Peeps Diorama contest. Voters can choose from “Peepola Tesla,” “Peepiodic Table of Elements,” and “Alexander Graham Peep,” among many others. Check out all the entries and cast your vote here.