Current Events in May 2022

Twitter will pay the U.S. government $150 million after federal officials sued the platform for misleading users about how it protects their data. Regulators accused the company of violating a previous Federal Trade Commission (FTC) privacy settlement by using contact information that it collected to help marketers with targeted advertising. 

Officials said Twitter disclosed to users that phone numbers and email addresses would be used for account security, but the platform apparently did not shed enough light on how that same information would be used for other purposes. The suit claims that these practices affected over 140 million Twitter users who submitted contact information to the platform. 

“From at least May 2013 through at least September 2019, Twitter did not disclose, or did not disclose adequately, that it used these telephone numbers and email addresses to target advertisements to those users through its Tailored Audiences and Partner Audiences services,” the lawsuit stated.

In a company blog post, Twitter Chief Privacy Officer Damien Kieran pointed out that the platform addressed this problem in 2019. He also reaffirmed that Twitter is committed to protecting the privacy of its users.

“In reaching this settlement, we have paid a $150M USD penalty, and we have aligned with the agency on operational updates and program enhancements to ensure that people’s personal data remains secure and their privacy protected,” Kieran said.

In addition to paying a financial penalty, Twitter has agreed to implement a comprehensive privacy and data security program and disclose why and how it collects, shares, and uses personal information that it collects. Twitter users will also now have access to a multi-factor authentication option that does not use their phone number.

FTC advises consumers about data protection

The FTC says consumers should take away several important lessons from this suit so that they can protect their personal information in the future. Those lessons include:

• Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible. The FTC says this type of protection makes it harder for scammers to log in to consumers’ accounts, even if they’re able to steal usernames and passwords.

• Choose forms of multi-factor authentication that don’t involve personal information. The FTC says consumers should opt for authentication apps that use physical tokens instead of software that requires them to input personal data. Physical tokens require consumers to be in physical possession of a real-world object that acts as an authentication device. Some examples include a phone, USB drive, or keycard. 

• Be careful when selecting security questions. The FTC says consumers should only select security questions that they know the answers to. For added security, you could even select random answers to questions; just be sure to remember your nonsensical answers.

• Check your privacy settings. Some platforms allow users to opt out of targeted advertisements in an app’s privacy settings. 

Same-sex couples face a lot of social and legislative stress, and a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cologne explored how this can affect their kids. The findings show that kids are likely to develop well socially, regardless of their parents’ stress. 

“The new findings clearly show that same-sex families have strong resilience strategies to protect their children from prevailing legal hurdles and societal rejection,” said researcher Dr. Mirjam Fischer.

“For example, parents create an environment in which their children receive appreciation and recognition from others and where other same-sex families provide positive role models. However, it should not be necessary in the first place that parents have to develop these strategies.” 

Kids’ behavior is likely to remain solid

For the study, the researchers compared data from the Dutch national register on 62 kids from same-sex parents and 72 kids from different-sex parents. Parents were between the ages of 30 and 65, and children were between the ages of 6 and 16 years old. The parents completed surveys about their children’s behavior, relationships with other kids, emotional adjustment, hyperactivity, social behavior, and more. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that there were no developmental differences between children from same-sex and different-sex parents. Both groups of kids were ranked similarly by their parents when it came to important social and emotional areas. 

Though many same-sex couples may deal with struggles socially and emotionally, this study showed that those same concerns aren’t passed down to their children. The researchers explained that these results are positive, as the type of stress felt by many same-sex couples may lead to both physical and mental health struggles. Based on these findings, parents may not need to worry about how their stress is affecting their kids. 

The team hopes that more work is done to show the similarities between children of same-sex and different-sex parents. They believe that the goal moving forward should be to have resources in place for same-sex parents who may be struggling with various stressors. 

A new study conducted by researchers from eLife explored some of the heart health benefits consumers can gain by eating eggs. The study showed that having just one egg per day may lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

“Few studies have looked at the role that plasma cholesterol metabolism plays in the association between egg consumption and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, so we wanted to help address this gap,” said researcher Lang Pan. 

Eggs may benefit good cholesterol

The researchers analyzed data from nearly 5,000 people enrolled in the China Kadoorie Biobank. The participants left blood samples and the researchers analyzed their plasma for 225 metabolites that could be linked to egg consumption. When the study began, over 3,400 participants had cardiovascular disease and nearly 1,400 didn’t. 

Ultimately, the researchers identified a link between egg consumption and heart health. Participants who ate eggs on a regular basis had lower levels of potentially harmful metabolites and higher levels of beneficial metabolites. The opposite was also true; those who didn’t or rarely ate eggs had more metabolites in their blood linked with heart disease. 

The study also showed that eating more eggs was linked with improvements in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol. Participants who regularly ate eggs had higher levels of the apolipoprotein A1 protein, which helps build up HDL levels. It also helps absorb cholesterol from blood vessels and lowers the risk of blockages. 

“Together, our results provide a potential explanation for how eating a moderate amount of eggs can help protect against heart disease,” said researcher Canqing Yu. “More studies are needed to verify the causal role that lipid metabolites play in the association between egg consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease.” 

Ford Motor Company is recalling 464 model 2021 Mustang Mach-Es with all-wheel drive.

The powertrain control module (PCM) functional safety software may fail to detect a software error, resulting in unintended acceleration, unintended deceleration, or a loss of drive power.

Any of these conditions increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

The PCM software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 30, 2022.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (800) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S29.

If you’re a parent and feel like you’ve been impacted by the ongoing shortage of baby formula, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to hear from you. On Wednesday, the agency announced that it was seeking public comment on the matter in hopes of getting to the bottom of what contributed to the issue.

The FTC's action means that two federal agencies are now investigating the baby formula issue. Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also said it was working to resolve the problem.

What the FTC wants to know

The FTC inquiry seeks specific information from both consumers and businesses about the “nature and prevalence of any deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unfair business practices” that were designed to take advantage of families during the shortage.

This probe is also going after those who use online “bots” to automatically purchase and then resell formula at exorbitant prices. Officials also want to pin down scammers who are trying to trick parents into paying for formula that never makes it to their doorstep. 

“We have been monitoring and will continue to monitor the ongoing infant formula shortage, which is causing enormous anxiety, fear, and financial burden for American families … and we will continue to police these bad actors,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in a statement.

The agency also wants to hear from families who experienced issues purchasing infant formula through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”) throughout the crisis.

Two heads are better than one

Consumers can hope that the two-pronged effort from the FDA and the FTC will be able to make some headway. While the FTC has no say in the safety or manufacturing of baby formula, it can take steps to address any anticompetitive, unfair, or deceptive acts or practices that have contributed to or are worsening the shortage.

The FTC said one thing it can do is take a deep dive into how the infant formula industry operates to identify exactly what factors created that market’s fragility. Officials say a disruption at a single Abbott Nutrition plant was a large factor that contributed to the current supply issues.

Consumers can submit their comments to regulations.gov. They must be received no later than Friday, June 24, 2022, by 11:59 p.m. (EST). 

COVID-19 ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 83,518,205 (83,394,712)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 1,002,780 (1,002,386)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 526,849,172 (526,228,343)

Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 6,280,942 (6,278,929)‌

CDC identifies most common symptoms of long COVID

A new study suggests that not everyone who recovers from COVID-19 gets a clean bill of health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that COVID-19 survivors are twice as likely to develop pulmonary embolism or respiratory conditions.

The study also found that one in five COVID-19 patients who recover and are between the ages of 18 and 64 have at least one lingering condition that could be a result of their COVID-19 infection – a condition known as long COVID. For people aged 65 and older, the odds of lingering symptoms are one in four.

In addition to neurological issues, the CDC identified cardiovascular conditions, kidney failure, respiratory conditions, musculoskeletal conditions, and blood clots as the most common lingering effects associated with long COVID.

Pfizer CEO predicts constant waves of the virus

If the current buildup in COVID-19 cases turns into another wave, it might be something to get used to. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla predicts that the world could experience “repeated waves” of the coronavirus.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Bourla said weakening immunity from previous infections and vaccinations could lead to “constant waves” of COVID-19 variants and deaths, especially if people stop taking precautions.

“What worries me is the complacency,” Bourla said, noting that the public is growing tired of mitigation measures.

New York has reopened, but the exodus to Florida continues

At the height of the pandemic, when New York was largely restricted, thousands of New Yorkers headed for Florida. Even though New York is now mostly open, data shows that the migration to Florida has continued.

The Department of Motor Vehicles can track the movement by analyzing drivers' license data. The latest analysis shows that 21,546 New Yorkers traded their driver’s licenses for a Florida license during the first four months of this year. That’s a 12% increase from the same period last year.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams previously said New Yorkers would stop moving once the city reopened. The city has even leased billboards in Florida that urges recent transplants to return.

Around the nation

• Minnesota: While new cases of COVID-19 are rising in dozens of states, the numbers appear to be trending lower in Minnesota. Official statistics show that the state’s case growth rate stands at 36.1 daily new cases per 100,000 residents. That's above the high-risk threshold, but it's a sign that new cases are falling.

• Ohio: Fewer colleges across Ohio will require vaccinations for students attending in the fall. The University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, and Bowling Green State University eased their COVID-19 requirements during the spring semester.

• Louisiana: COVID-19 cases are trending higher, but state health officials have expressed confidence that the caseload is manageable. “We are in a very different place than we were during March and April and May of 2020. We have a highly effective vaccine. We have several treatments. Our health care system right now is handling this pretty well and is stable,” said Dr. Lacey Cavanaugh, an official with the Louisiana Department of Health.

• Oregon: Oregon has experienced a surge in new coronavirus cases this month. State health officials report that there were about 12,000 new cases last week. However, they say cases requiring a stay in the hospital are not rising nearly as fast and should peak early next month.

• Maine: In another sign that the current variants of COVID-19 are less severe, state health officials report that hospitalizations dropped by nearly 10% this week. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is 47 fewer than its recent high of 231.

Chalk up another move in the right direction for student loans. In hopes of providing federal student loan borrowers with a 21st-century customer experience, the Department of Education’s (DOE) Federal Student Aid (FSA) office has announced that it is building out a long-term loan servicing solution called Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS).

The DOE says it has high expectations for loan servicers going forward, including hitting two key objectives – reducing borrower delinquency and default.

Servicers have little more than a year and a half to get their act together, as the current loan servicing contracts are set to expire in December 2023. As it stands now, loan servicers support borrowers through their time in school and then as they repay their loans. The rub is that each servicer does its own thing – they each have their own website, contact center, staff training protocols, and borrower outreach programs. 

In the DOE’s eyes, the whole system is a can of worms that confuses borrowers. The agency said this fragmented approach has created several issues for the FSA, as well as customers and partners. 

“Frankly, the quality of work has not always met our standards,” said FSA COO Richard Cordray. “Borrowers are understandably frustrated when they receive inconsistent information about something as important as their student loans. Too often, borrowers miss out on available repayment options, and millions have defaulted as a result. More than 35 million borrowers with federally managed student loans are counting on us to help them achieve their life goals through higher education.”

What borrowers can expect

The USDS’ pecking order is pretty straightforward. The first thing it will do is replace the legacy servicing contracts for Direct Loans and federally managed Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans with these goals as its target:

• Providing all federally managed borrowers with complete account management capabilities on StudentAid.gov;

• Reducing the disruption of account transfers; and

• Increasing servicer accountability to reduce loan delinquencies and defaults and other customer service benchmarks through clear, measurable service-level agreements.

FSA officials said they have already taken a couple of important steps to implement the next generation of loan servicing. One is the Next Gen FSA initiative, which is designed to check off the modernization goal.

Another is making it easier for borrowers to find what they’re looking for in one place. To that end, the agency says it continues to refine its Digital and Customer Care (DCC) platforms, which include the StudentAid.gov website and a data platform called the Enterprise Data Management and Analytics Platform Services.

The agency said the clock has already started ticking and hopes to have everything in place within five years of the go-live date. In the meantime, borrowers should see some incremental improvements. Officials plan to enhance servicing functionality through a single FSA-branded interface, by building out a servicing data repository to improve the account transfer process, and by enhancing cybersecurity.

The price of a home is not the only thing going up. The cost of insuring a home is also rising in most states.

A new report from QuoteWizard, an online insurance marketplace, found that the average premium has risen by as much as 34% in some states since last year. To make that determination, the company analyzed homeowners insurance rates from every major insurance company in all 50 states. 

Insurance coverage is regulated by each individual state, so rates can differ across the country. QuoteWizard found that rates are up just 2% on a nationwide basis, but the premiums surged much higher in some states.

"Prices have changed wildly in the last year,” said Nick VinZant, a senior research analyst at QuoteWizard. “Depending on where you live you could be paying a lot more or a lot less. We've seen everything from a 25% decrease in Kentucky to a 34% increase in Idaho." 

Sherece, of Nashville, Ind., told us she has seen her State Farm homeowners insurance premium fluctuate from month to month, even though she bundled her homeowners and auto policies to get a discount.

“Downside, the rates change by a few dollars every month,” Sherece wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “Wish it was consistent but it’s only a few dollars and goes up and down. Evens out in the end I believe.”

Oklahoma is the most expensive state

The QuoteWizard analysis found that the average cost of homeowners insurance is now $1,766 nationwide, which works out to about $147 a month. Oklahoma is the most expensive state for homeowners insurance, with the average homeowner paying $3,735 a year. Hawaii is the cheapest at only $412 annually.

In the last 12 months, homeowners insurance premiums have increased in 30 states but have gone down in 16 states. Inflation is at least partly to blame in states where rates are rising.

Even though many consumers are paying more for their coverage, they may be underinsured. As we recently reported, building costs have skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic. Replacement costs are much higher than they were two years ago, and most carriers have adjusted their rates to account for that.

"It now costs around $40,000 more to build the same home and if you haven't updated your coverage that extra cost is going to come out of your pocket," said VinZant.

Cars and trucks are expensive and hard to come by, but when consumers shop for a vehicle, a new survey shows they lean toward BMW and Toyota.

The Q1 2022 Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch, a survey that measures consumers’ perceptions of automotive brands, showed that Toyota is in first place as the most-shopped non-luxury brand. BMW was number one in the luxury category.

"High fuel prices and a few high-profile product launches really shuffled the order in the Q1 Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch," said Vanessa Ton, senior research and market intelligence manager at Cox Automotive. "Shopping for traditional sedans, which are often more affordable and efficient than SUVs and trucks, jumped up in Q1 after years of declining. Fuel prices clearly influenced shopping behavior."

Hooman, of Houston, told us he bought a 2016 Toyota Camry six years ago and that it's still a great car for these inflationary times.

“The engine is very strong and the car's overall reliability is unmatched compared with other brands, Hooman wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review in March. “The car is approximately six years old and over 51 k miles while it still drives like day one since I've had it. It is made bulletproof in my opinion with really low maintenance cost.”

Gas prices are a game-changer

Gas prices were a major influence when consumers went car shopping. In the non-luxury segment, 37% of consumers shopped for cars, up from 31% in the first quarter of last year when more people considered a truck or SUV.

As recently as the fourth quarter of 2021, no traditional cars were among the top-ten most-shopped vehicles. This year, the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, and the Honda Civic were back in the top 10.

Not surprisingly, high fuel prices boosted interest in electrified vehicles as well. However, some shoppers may have been frustrated by higher costs and fewer available models.

Gas prices less important for luxury shoppers

In the luxury category, fuel prices may have carried less influence. Consumers showed the most interest in BMW’s 5 Series and 3 Series sedans. 

The big luxury surprise was Cadillac, which made the biggest one-year advance in the survey. The brand drove into second place and edged out Lexus. David, of Philadelphia, still has fond memories of his 2004 Cadillac but notes that it was a big investment.

“They require patience to deal with all the systems in the car and the maintenance not only of these items but also the wear items,” David told us. “All the modern conveniences are great but present a lot of learning plus trial and error. The comfort, power, and prestige are all great but come at a cost.”

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge explored how consumers’ TV-watching habits may affect their long-term heart health. They learned that cutting back TV time to less than one hour per day may prevent more than 15% of coronary heart disease cases. 

“Our study provides unique insights into the potential role that limiting TV viewing might have in preventing coronary heart disease,” said researcher Dr. Youngwon Kim. “Individuals who watch TV for less than one hour a day were less likely to develop the condition, independent of their genetic risk. 

“Limiting the amount of time sat watching TV could be a useful, and relatively light touch, lifestyle change that could help individuals with a high genetic predisposition to coronary heart disease in particular to manage their risk.” 

Preventing poor heart health

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 500,000 adults enrolled in the U.K. Biobank. The participants answered questions about how often they watched TV and how much time they spent on computers. The researchers then created heart disease risk scores for the participants based on genetic risk factors of the condition. 

The team identified a link between time spent watching TV and long-term heart health. Ultimately, those who watched the most TV also had the highest risk of developing coronary heart disease; however, time spent on computers didn’t affect disease risk. 

Regardless of genetic risks, four hours or more of watching TV each day was associated with the highest risk of heart disease. However, cutting back on TV watching helped participants prevent their risk of coronary heart disease. Those who watched two to three hours of TV each day were 6% less likely to develop heart disease than those who watched four hours or more. That percentage was even higher for those who watched less than an hour of TV each day, at 16%. 

The researchers explained that there could be several reasons why this link between TV watching and heart disease exists. They said consumers tend to snack more when they watch TV for longer periods of time. Another factor is that most consumers watch the bulk of their TV after eating dinner, which is likely to increase cholesterol and blood sugar levels. 

“Coronary heart disease is one of the most prominent causes of premature death, so finding ways to help people manage their risk through lifestyle modification is important,” said researcher Dr. Katrien Wijndaele. “The World Health Organization recommends reducing the amount of sedentary behavior and replacing it with physical activity of any intensity as a way of keeping healthier. 

“While it isn’t possible to say for certain that sitting watching TV increases your risk of coronary heart disease, because of various potential confounding factors and measurement error, our work supports the WHO’s guidelines. It suggests a straightforward, measurable way of achieving this goal for the general population as well as individuals at high genetic risk of coronary heart disease.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Yale University explored some of the health risks associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). While these painkillers have anti-inflammatory properties, some of them may also make health concerns like cancer or heart disease more common. 

This study showed that a specific group of NSAIDs activate a protein – nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) – that works to reduce inflammation. While the team can’t say with certainty that NRF2 is the link behind these drugs and adverse health outcomes, the findings from this study indicate that this might be the case. 

“It’s interesting and exciting that NSAIDs have a different mode of action than what was previously known,” said researcher Anna Eisenstein. “And because people use NSAIDs so frequently, it’s important we know what they’re doing in the body.” 

Understanding the health risks associated with NSAIDs

The researchers conducted their study on mice to better understand how NSAIDs work in the body and can cause long-term health risks. Previous studies have shown that these drugs work by hindering the production of certain enzymes; however, this process doesn’t explain some of the health risks associated with these drugs, including a higher risk of heart disease. 

The team learned that certain types of NSAIDs like ibuprofen and indomethacin activate the NRF2 protein and produce anti-inflammatory properties throughout the body. The NRF2 protein is incredibly powerful and can affect several different bodily processes, such as aging, immune response, longevity, and metabolism. 

“That NRF2 does so much suggests that NSAIDs might have other effects, whether beneficial or adverse, that we haven’t yet looked for,” Eisenstein said. 

As more studies examine how these painkillers can be used to treat inflammatory conditions like asthma or Alzheimer’s disease, doctors may give their patients guidance on which NSAIDs to take for different ailments. 

Hyundai has issued a recall for 239,000 2019-2022 Hyundai Accent, 2021-2023 Hyundai Elantra, and the 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra hybrid electric vehicles. 

The recall is in response to reports that at least three people have been injured when part of the seatbelt exploded. Two of the reported injuries occurred in the U.S. The third occurred in Singapore.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted the recall notice, saying that about 1% of the recalled vehicles could have a defect with a “pyrotechnic” component of their seatbelt pretensioners.

Pyrotechnically triggered seatbelt tensioners, which are common in late-model vehicles, tighten seatbelts around passengers a split second before a collision.

What to do

All owners of affected vehicles will be notified by first class mail with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Hyundai dealer to have the seat belt pretensioner’s micro gas generator and delivery pipe secured with a cap to prevent potential abnormal deployment. 

This remedy will be offered at no cost to owners of all affected vehicles, regardless of whether they are still covered under Hyundai’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty. 

Hyundai will also provide owners of affected vehicles reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred to obtain a remedy for the recall condition in accordance with the reimbursement plan submitted to NHTSA on February 24, 2022.

To check to see whether your vehicle is part of the recall, go to the NHTSA database and enter the vehicle’s VIN.

Yamaha Motor Corporation USA is recalling 4,130 Off-Road Side-by-Side vehicles because they may have a damaged fuel tank that could cause fuel to leak, posing fire or explosion hazards.

The company received two reports of the fuel tanks being assembled incorrectly, but no incidents of fuel leaks or injuries were reported. The following model numbers and vehicles are affected by the recall:

• YXF10WPZMG (Wolverine RMAX 4 SE)
• YXF10WPLML (Wolverine RMAX 4 LE)
• YXF10WPAMS (Wolverine RMAX 4)
• YXE10WPZMG (Wolverine RMAX 2 SE)
• YXE10WPAMS/YXE10WPAMW (Wolverine RMAX 2)
• YXE10WPLML (Wolverine RMAX 2 LE)

The recalled vehicles were sold in silver, white, black, yellow, gray, and blue colors with the model name "Wolverine RMAX" printed on the right and left sides. Model numbers can be found on the top of the airbox, and a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can be found on the vehicle frame behind the left rear wheel.

VIN numbers included in the recall range from ***AN44Y***101342 ***AN39Y***102877, with the VIN range being sequential in the last six digits from 101342 to 102877.  

The vehicles were sold at Yamaha side by side dealers nationwide from February 2021, through July 2021, for between $22,700 and $26,700.

What to do

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact an authorized Yamaha dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair. Yamaha is contacting all registered owners directly. 

Consumers can contact Yamaha Motor Corporation USA online or by phone at 800-889-2624 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

COVID-19 ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 83,455,303 (83,291,791)

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 1,002,505 (1,002,178)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 526,345,136 (525,703,492)

Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 6,279,189 (6,277,424)‌

Study finds some ‘long COVID’ symptoms can last more than a year

In one of the largest studies of the condition known as “long COVID,” researchers at Northwestern University have found that some coronavirus symptoms can linger longer than a year while others fade away. In particular, they found that cognitive difficulties are likely to persist.

The study, published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, found that neurological symptoms like brain fog, numbness, tingling, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, and fatigue are the most frequently reported symptoms of the condition. 

A previous study found that 85% of the patients whose COVID-19 cases were followed reported at least four lasting neurological problems at least six weeks after their infections. For the follow-up, researchers studied 52 participants in the original group and found that most of them experienced neurological issues for at least a year after their infection.

Study underscores effectiveness of boosters

Scientists say there is a good reason for fully vaccinated people to get a booster shot. A study by the Minnesota Department of Health found that vaccine boosters have lowered rates of hospitalizations and deaths in Minnesota.

The researchers studied people who suffered “breakthrough” infections after being vaccinated. They found that those who received a booster shot were more likely to weather their infection with only mild symptoms.

The study found that people over age 60 were likely to benefit the most from the extra shot. Unvaccinated seniors were 1.6 times more likely to be hospitalized than those who were fully vaccinated. The unvaccinated were five times more likely to require hospital treatment than seniors who received scheduled boosters.

FDA sets meeting to consider infant vaccinations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will convene its panel of independent experts on June 15 to review data and make a recommendation on whether the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be administered to infants and toddlers.

The committee will review the data that has been collected in clinical trials regarding the safety and efficacy of the two mRNA vaccines. It will then make a recommendation on whether the FDA should grant emergency use authorization (EUA) for vaccinating young children.

“We know parents are anxious for us to determine if these vaccines are safe & effective,” the FDA said in a Twitter post. “We are working as quickly as possible to carefully review all the data.”

Around the nation

• Colorado: The state health department is warning that a new wave of the coronavirus is already causing infections across the state and could send hundreds more Coloradans to the hospital. “I do believe that we are starting to see an increase in cases associated with a new wave,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state’s epidemiologist.

• Missouri: While case reporting has been scaled back, wastewater analysis has been stepped up. Unfortunately, it shows an increase in new COVID-19 cases around the state. “In Missouri, numbers aren't scary high. But they're the highest they've been since early February,” said Marc Johnson, a researcher at Missouri University.

• Virginia: Most areas of Virginia are beginning to see a rise in new COVID-19 cases. State health officials report that the positivity rate statewide jumped to 16.6% last week. Officials say subvariants of the Omicron variant are responsible for most of the new cases.

• Michigan: Health records show that schools in Michigan have been the source of recent outbreaks reported across the state. Officials identified 120 new COVID-19 outbreaks last week, including 43 linked to schools. About 212 students and staff reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

• Delaware:  The Delaware Division of Public Health has recommended that residents wear masks in public spaces, but so far it’s only a request. “Although there are no Delaware or federal government mask mandates, individuals are encouraged to mask in public indoor areas in Delaware,” the agency said in a statement. 

The Federal Reserve has begun to raise its federal funds rate, one of the reasons Wall Street is in the midst of a tailspin. But the change in policy is also affecting consumers who have run up large credit card balances.

Credit card interest rates move in sync with that key interest rate, and those already-high credit card rates have begun to move even higher. The experts at Bankrate predict that the average credit card interest rate will hit a record of 19% later this year.

Rising rates mean the minimum payment that cardholders must pay each month will likely also go up. Credit card companies charge between 1% and 5% of the balance as a minimum payment.

Only paying the minimum payment each month means most of the payment goes to interest, extending the time it will take to pay the balance down to zero. When the interest rate goes up, even consumers paying more than the minimum will face a longer payoff period.

According to personal finance experts, credit card debt is one of the biggest obstacles to building wealth. It can make it more difficult to purchase a home or pay for an emergency expense.

Lock up the cards

Jay Zigmont, a certified financial planner and founder of financial advisory company Live, Learn, Plan, says literally locking your credit cards away can help get you on the right track.

“When you don't have debt as an option, you are required to live within your means,” Zigmont told ConsumerAffairs.

To live within your means, Zigmont says you need a budget. It’s important that the budget is tailored to the individual and prioritizes “needs” over “wants."

“You need a roof over your head and basic transportation,” he said. “You may want a nicer house or a new car. Watch out for things that you 'feel you deserve.' Most often when people say they 'deserve' more, it is because of outside influences including friends, family, and social media.”

Paying off new credit card charges in full each month is also necessary to avoid expensive debt. Consumers who are already struggling with a credit card balance can pay it down faster by transferring the balance to a credit card that charges no interest for a year or more.

Check out ConsumerAffairs' guide to the best balance transfer cards for more information.

On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules regarding robocalls. The agency is now making it a priority to stop illegal robocalls that originate from outside the U.S. before they ever make it to American soil.

The FCC’s new rules specifically affect gateway providers – what the FCC calls “on-ramps” for international call traffic. Going forward, those providers will have to adhere to firm compliance requirements under the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication protocols. They'll also need to take whatever measures are necessary to validate the identity of other providers that are involved with the traffic they're routing. 

The FCC has already been taking steps to address international robocalls with the help of other agencies. Last year, the agency worked with the Department of Justice to sentence an Indian national to 22 years in prison for conspiracy and identity theft in connection with his operation of an overseas robocall scam that defrauded thousands of U.S. consumers to the tune of more than $10 million.

“International robocall scams are widely understood to be a huge part of the robocall and spoofing problem facing American consumers and businesses,” the FCC said in a news release.

Efforts to stop domestic robocalls already seem to be well on their way. Transaction Network Services (TNS) recently reported that only 5% of all high-risk calls originated from Tier-1 U.S. carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast, Charter, Lumen, and US Cellular) in the last year.

“Only a fraction of robocalls now originate on top US wireless networks, a testament to aggressive efforts by carriers, regulators and policymakers to combat unwanted calls,” said TNS Chief Marketing Officer Bill Versen.

The steps the FCC is taking

The FCC’s new rules require gateway providers to do four important things: participate in robocall mitigation (including blocking efforts), take full responsibility for illegal robocall campaigns on their networks, work with the FCC on enforcement efforts, and trace the source of illegal robocalls as quickly as possible.

“Non-compliance by a gateway provider may result in that provider being removed from the Robocall Mitigation Database and subject to mandatory blocking by other network participants, essentially ending its ability to operate” the FCC warned.

The agency says its new rules complement its other efforts to close down avenues for robocallers. The next important date that the agency has circled is June 30, 2022. On that day, it will sunset an exception afforded to certain small carriers for implementing STIR/SHAKEN. 

What consumers can do in the meantime

As wily as robocallers are, it might take some time before the FCC has completely eradicated robocalls from our lives. Until it does, there are things that consumers can do to better prevent those calls.

All of the major services have relatively new systems in place that can help. Call-protection options to identify or block potential scammers include these:

• AT&T
• Google Fi
• T-Mobile
• U.S. Cellular
• Verizon

The FCC also provides a list of wireless device solutions that range from “Silence Unknown Callers” features for Apple iPhone owners, as well as Google Pixel phones’ “Call Screen” and “Smart Call” for Samsung phones. A complete list is available here.

Four years after details of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal came to light, Washington, D.C. Attorney General Carl Racine has sued Facebook – now Meta – CEO Mark Zuckerberg for his alleged role. 

Racine’s complaint accuses Zuckerberg of directly participating in decision-making that allowed the British data company to make unauthorized use of the company’s data for political purposes. Meta has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

In 2018, it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a political marketing firm, had accessed data on Facebook users to target 2016 political ads on behalf of the campaign to remove the U.K. from the European Union and on behalf of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Facebook paid a $645,000 fine in connection with the breach in 2019.

In his complaint, Racine points to evidence that he says implicates Zuckerberg in Facebook’s “lax oversight of user data and implementation of misleading privacy agreements.” The result, he contends, was that third parties like Cambridge Analytica were able to obtain personal data on 87 million Americans, including over half of the residents of the District of Columbia.

“Since filing our landmark lawsuit against Facebook, my office has fought tooth and nail against the company's characteristic efforts to resist producing documents and otherwise thwart our suit. We continue to persist and have followed the evidence right to Mr. Zuckerberg,” Racine said. 

Unauthorized access

Facebook has always maintained that Cambridge Analytica made use of information that it was not entitled to receive. Racine said the evidence shows that Zuckerberg was personally involved in the lapses that led to the breach. 

“The evidence shows Mr. Zuckerberg was personally involved in Facebook’s failure to protect the privacy and data of its users, leading directly to the Cambridge Analytica incident,” Racine said. “This unprecedented security breach exposed tens of millions of Americans’ personal information, and Mr. Zuckerberg’s policies enabled a multi-year effort to mislead users about the extent of Facebook's wrongful conduct.”

Racine attempted to name Zuckerberg as a defendant in a previous lawsuit against Facebook, but the judge disallowed it. That lawsuit, which has not yet been resolved, claims that Facebook violated the District of Columbia’s consumer protection law by misleading users and failing to protect their data in the months before the 2016 U.S. presidential election.