Morning Medical Update: Measles are back in Maine; Marijuana and schizophrenia; Hawaiians forced to use bottled water

Measles are back in Maine

A child has tested positive for measles in Maine. This is the first case in the state since 2019. According to a press release, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention “is considering the child to be infectious out of an abundance of caution” because up to 90% of unvaccinated people who come into contact with the disease will be infected. So far this year, there have been 10 documented cases of measles in the country.

Marijuana and schizophrenia

Researchers have found a link between heavy marijuana use and schizophrenia in young men. According to the article, “as many as 30% of cases of schizophrenia among men aged 21-to-30 could have been prevented had they avoided cannabis use disorder.” Cannabis use disorder affects 1 in 10 cannabis users. Studies have shown cannabis addiction is on par with opioid addiction in adolescents.

Hawaiians using bottled water

Officials detected chemicals in two wells in Kunia Village, an affordable housing development on O'ahu in January. With no progress, now nearly 650 Hawaiians have been relying on bottled water dispensed by the water systems operator since March. The source for the contamination hasn’t been identified, but some believe it may have a military source rather than an industrial or landfill source. The Army owns one of the wells that is contaminated.