Category: Health

A COVID-19 vaccine study that was kept out of a government health journal has found a new home — and its findings are now available to the public.

The research, published Tuesday by JAMA Network Open, found that COVID-19 vaccines are approximately 55% effective at preventing hospitalizations related to the virus. The study also showed that vaccinated individuals were 50% less likely to visit an emergency department or urgent care clinic for COVID-19-related illness.

While the results themselves aren’t groundbreaking — scientists have consistently shown that COVID-19 vaccines provide protection — the study attracted widespread attention after Trump administration political appointees blocked it from being published in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention journal.

Those officials raised concerns that the study’s methodology was too susceptible to flawed assumptions that could skew the results. However, many researchers in the public health field argue the approach is a well-established and dependable method that has been in use for decades, and that it remains the most effective tool for measuring how well vaccines are performing in real time.

Natalie Dean, a biostatistics expert at Emory University, wrote a commentary published alongside the study Tuesday, stating: “It is critical that we continue to characterize and publish estimates of vaccine effectiveness in populations with changing immunity against evolving viral strains.”

The paper had originally been slated for publication this spring in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC’s primary publication. Although it cleared the agency’s Office of Science, it was flagged by acting agency Director Jay Bhattacharya, according to Althea Grant-Lenzy, the CDC’s chief science officer, who spoke about the matter in a recent interview.

Grant-Lenzy clarified that Bhattacharya’s decision wasn’t a permanent ban on publication, but rather a requirement that the study’s authors address his concerns. She noted that the authors were free to submit the research to journals outside the CDC.

The methodology at the center of the controversy is known as “test-negative design.” It examines patients who were admitted to hospitals or visited emergency rooms with respiratory symptoms, then compares the rate of positive COVID-19 tests between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

This type of study has appeared in respected publications such as Pediatrics and the New England Journal of Medicine, following peer review by field experts.

Bhattacharya has maintained that the methodology leans too heavily on assumptions and could be distorted by variables such as prior coronavirus infections and behavioral differences among patient groups.

Supporters of the approach counter that the design is specifically built to account for differences in who seeks medical care, and that prior infection is less of a concern given how widespread coronavirus exposure has been in the United States. They also point out that officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have not put forward a practical alternative for tracking real-time vaccine performance.

Earlier this month, the CDC hosted a forum to examine the strengths and weaknesses of this type of research. A panel assembled in a CDC auditorium featured Dean and two others who largely defended the methodology, as well as one critic: Martin Kulldorff, a Swedish-born biostatistician who co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration alongside Bhattacharya. That October 2020 letter argued that pandemic-era shutdowns were causing lasting harm.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously appointed Kulldorff to lead a federal vaccine advisory committee. Kulldorff later stepped down from that role to become chief science officer at the HHS planning and evaluation office.

During the forum, Kulldorff questioned why the study design included patients with varying illnesses and why longer-term research wasn’t used to evaluate COVID-19 vaccines. His remarks drew a sharp response from the audience — someone called out, “We were in a pandemic! That’s why!”

Google’s YouTube has reached a settlement with a minor plaintiff who claimed the video-sharing platform’s design contributed to mental health harm, according to attorneys representing the plaintiff.

The settlement was announced Tuesday, just before the start of the second California state-court trial focused on allegations that the way social media platforms are built has helped trigger a widespread mental health crisis affecting children.

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have charged a Texas physician with healthcare fraud and conspiracy, accusing him of running an $89 million scheme that involved billing insurance companies for unnecessary cardiovascular screenings performed on college student-athletes.

Jason Finkelstein, 53, is accused of exploiting young athletes’ concerns about dying from sudden cardiac arrest during competition. According to the indictment, students with no pre-existing health conditions who simply wanted medical clearance to play sports were subjected to tests they had no medical need for.

In one particularly troubling case, a patient whose test results actually showed serious heart abnormalities later died after those problems went undetected — because Finkelstein allegedly certified the results as normal without ever properly reviewing them.

The Justice Department plans to spotlight this case Tuesday at a news conference where officials intend to announce what they describe as record-breaking results in a nationwide healthcare fraud enforcement effort — a priority that the Trump administration has pushed hard over the past year.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, a trained cardiothoracic surgeon who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, issued a sharp statement about the allegations: “The doctor’s alleged conduct, which ignored a textbook diagnosis of preventable cardiac death, is heinous.” He added that healthcare fraud “doesn’t just steal money, it can steal lives.”

Finkelstein entered a not guilty plea during a brief court appearance in Florida on Monday. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

The alleged scheme ran from 2019 through the end of last year and involved Finkelstein along with two unidentified co-conspirators at a Florida-based cardiovascular testing and treatment practice that he owned and operated.

Prosecutors say the fraud worked in two main ways. First, Finkelstein’s company used deceptive marketing to offer free heart screenings to college students who did not medically need them. Co-conspirators sent emails to athletic trainers at colleges and universities, claiming the screenings could detect life-threatening conditions. They also allegedly offered kickbacks and other incentives to school officials who referred students as potential patients.

Because insurance companies require proof of medical necessity before covering cardiovascular testing, Finkelstein allegedly submitted false diagnoses — such as elevated blood pressure and hypertension — to insurers in order to get reimbursed for tests the athletes did not actually need.

The indictment also quotes Finkelstein telling a co-conspirator: “(T)hese kids could be high risk…(o)ne of them drops dead on a field, they’re coming after both of us.”

The tests themselves were performed by sonographers who lacked the proper credentials, according to prosecutors. Because Finkelstein held medical licenses in all 48 contiguous states, his company was able to submit insurance claims for patients across the country.

Perhaps most alarming, prosecutors say Finkelstein routinely certified cardiac test results as normal without actually looking at them. In one 2024 case cited in the indictment, he reportedly signed off on approximately 63 test result images for a single patient in roughly 11 seconds. Those results actually showed multiple cardiac abnormalities — and that patient later died.

Much of the world is currently sweltering under extreme heat conditions, with Europe, Asia, and parts of the United States all experiencing dangerously high temperatures.

How Does Heat Affect Your Health?

Extreme heat can harm the body in multiple ways. Heat exhaustion — which may bring on dizziness, headaches, shaking, and intense thirst — can strike anyone. It is generally not considered life-threatening as long as the affected person cools down within 30 minutes.

Far more dangerous is heatstroke, which occurs when the body’s core temperature climbs above 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Celsius). This is a medical emergency that can result in lasting organ damage or even death. Warning signs include rapid breathing, confusion, seizures, and nausea.

Who Faces the Greatest Risk?

Certain groups are especially vulnerable, including infants, elderly individuals, homeless people, and those who work or spend extended time outdoors. People living with pre-existing conditions — such as respiratory or cardiovascular disease, or diabetes — face heightened danger, as heat can worsen those conditions.

A 2021 study published in The Lancet estimated that nearly half a million people die worldwide each year due to excessive heat, though data from many lower-income nations remains limited. A separate study examining 854 European cities found that climate change was responsible for 68% of the roughly 24,400 estimated heat-related deaths in 2025, as temperatures rose by as much as 3.6 degrees Celsius.

Professor Liz Stephens, a researcher in climate risk and resilience at Britain’s University of Reading, described the danger in stark terms: “Heat waves are a silent and invisible killer. We don’t often see the impact that they have had on human health until the mortality statistics are published many months later.”

Risks You Might Not Expect

Beyond direct heat exposure, air pollution — particularly smoke from wildfires — presents additional health concerns, including inflammation and tissue damage. Research has also shown that extreme heat can contribute to low birthweight and premature births among pregnant women.

When and Where the Danger Is Greatest

Health experts note that fatalities tend to spike earlier in the summer season, before people’s bodies have had time to adjust to rising temperatures. Geography also plays a role — people in regions unaccustomed to intense heat, such as parts of Europe, are at greater risk.

Still, no one is immune. People across the globe — especially those who perform physical labor outdoors — are at risk during extreme heat events driven by climate change.

Dr. Modi Mwatsama, head of capacity at Wellcome, a London-based global health charity, emphasized the urgency of action: “It is more important than ever that we put in place measures to limit the harm on our health.” She noted that solutions range from providing shade and painting buildings white to building early-warning systems for climate-related infectious diseases such as cholera.

What You Can Do

Several European nations — including Italy, France, and Spain — have already issued public health advisories as temperatures spike across the continent. Spain’s weather agency specifically cautioned that outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day carries significant health risks, especially for older adults and those with underlying medical conditions.

Scientists are urging outdoor workers to take more frequent rest breaks and dress appropriately for the heat. They also recommend checking in on elderly or isolated neighbors and friends, reminding the public that heatstroke requires immediate medical attention.

A top World Health Organization official delivered a sobering assessment Tuesday, stating that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed every previous African outbreak in terms of confirmed cases recorded within the first month.

The outbreak, which is centered in the Bundibugyo area of eastern Congo, has now infected more than 1,000 people and resulted in 267 deaths. Health experts believe the virus had already been circulating for an extended period before authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15 — meaning the true timeline of spread is longer than the official record reflects.

WHO’s Abdirahman Mahamud, speaking at a press briefing in Geneva after a visit to Bunia — the epicenter of the outbreak — last week, stressed the urgency of scaling up the response. “The response needs to expand to keep pace with the expanding outbreak — this is beginning to happen,” he said.

The disease has now reached at least three overcrowded displacement camps in eastern Congo. The International Organization for Migration’s Abdoulaye Wone, speaking at the same briefing, confirmed that at least 25 cases have been documented in those camps, with 14 of those individuals dying from the illness.

For historical context, the two deadliest Ebola outbreaks prior to this one occurred in West Africa — specifically in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia — where the disease killed approximately 11,000 people between 2014 and 2016. A separate, less deadly outbreak struck Congo itself in 2018.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that sub-Saharan Africa has experienced more than 20 Ebola outbreaks over the years.

All 18 U.S.-resident passengers who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship during a hantavirus outbreak have now returned to their home states, the University of Nebraska Medical Center announced Monday.

The passengers completed their monitoring period at the center’s National Quarantine Unit. Sixteen of them arrived at the facility on May 11, following their voyage on the ship connected to the outbreak. Two additional former passengers checked into the National Quarantine Unit on May 15.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the outbreak did not lead to any hantavirus cases on American soil, stating, “No cases of hantavirus disease occurred in the United States as a result of this outbreak.”

Earlier this month, eight of the U.S. residents had already been cleared to go home after spending three weeks under observation at the National Quarantine Unit, while the remaining ten continued to be monitored.

The World Health Organization recommends that high-risk contacts be monitored and quarantined for 42 days following exposure to hantavirus. Those considered lower risk are advised to keep a close watch on their own health and seek medical attention if any symptoms appear.

Since October 7, 2023, people in Israel have experienced a significant increase in mental health struggles — and alongside that, a rise in addiction, according to several studies published in recent months.

Now, a research team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health says the issue extends well beyond Israel’s borders. Their latest study examines how news media reminders of collective traumatic events can influence addictive behavior — even long after the event itself has passed.

The researchers point out that people around the world are grappling with ongoing stressors including war, political polarization, terrorism, displacement, and widespread uncertainty. These conditions, they argue, can heighten existential fears that in turn shape patterns of substance use.

According to the study, exposure to collective trauma through news coverage can produce an immediate spike in cravings among people who regularly use cannabis or tobacco. The findings suggest that simply encountering reminders of a traumatic event in the media may be enough to trigger those urges.

OMAHA, Nebraska — The final group of eight American passengers held in a specialized quarantine unit in Nebraska has been released, bringing an end to a 42-day isolation period following a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Monday that the quarantine had officially concluded.

“Through close collaboration among federal, state, and local partners, HHS helped protect the American people, contain potential risks, and bring this response effort to a successful conclusion,” HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard stated in an email.

More than 120 people were evacuated from the MV Hondius in Spain’s Canary Islands early last month, including 18 Americans who were brought to the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha. The majority of those evacuated were from other countries.

Beyond those removed by health workers in full protective gear, at least 30 additional passengers had already departed the ship before the outbreak was officially documented — among them seven Americans who were permitted to monitor themselves for symptoms at home. When the vessel eventually arrived in the Netherlands, 25 crew members and two medical staff members on board were also required to quarantine.

The World Health Organization did not immediately respond Monday to inquiries about the status of other individuals quarantined around the world. In total, 13 cases of the virus were identified among people who had been on the ship, including the three who died.

One of the American passengers, Angela Perryman, had been held against her wishes and contrary to the recommendation of a government medical expert. Speaking from her Florida home Monday, she said passengers were informed that the quarantine monitoring period ended Sunday at 2 p.m., and she caught a flight out that same evening.

“We were locked in our rooms until 1:55. And at 2 o’clock, ‘OK, well, everybody walk out and go home,’” Perryman said.

Some passengers stayed the night in Omaha before departing Monday, but Perryman pushed to leave Sunday evening. She noted the government covered the cost of flights home.

Seven of the final eight passengers remained at the facility voluntarily, but Perryman was compelled to stay due to a controversial quarantine order that even some health officials considered unnecessary.

Perryman and seven others spent six weeks at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The 42-day monitoring window was established because hantavirus symptoms have taken up to that long to appear in previous outbreaks. None of the passengers were reported to have developed the illness.

Ten other passengers who had been at the facility were permitted to leave earlier under an agreement requiring close monitoring in their home states.

The MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship, was traveling through the South Atlantic when the hantavirus outbreak occurred. Three people died, including a Dutch couple who health officials believe were the first to contract the virus after visiting South America.

Hantaviruses typically spread when people breathe in contaminated particles from rodent droppings. However, the specific strain involved in this outbreak — known as the Andes virus — may in rare instances spread from person to person, according to health officials.

About 25 Americans were aboard the ship. Roughly seven disembarked in April, while 18 remained on board. Sixteen were transported to the Nebraska quarantine unit on May 11, with two more Americans arriving a few days later.

During their stay, Omaha restaurants and food trucks delivered special meals to the passengers nearly every day. Nurses also made Starbucks runs to bring passengers their favorite drinks.

The quarantine rooms were described as resembling hotel accommodations, complete with desks, televisions, internet access, and exercise equipment to help pass the time.

Passenger Jake Rosmarin, a travel blogger, posted a video Monday morning showing him leaving his room, hauling two suitcases and a backpack, and switching off the lights on his way out. Later that day, he shared footage of the Omaha skyline from his plane window as he headed home to his fiancée in Boston.

On Sunday, Rosmarin posted an emotional video thanking the quarantine unit staff and the broader Omaha community while wearing a Nebraska Huskers sweatshirt someone had sent him.

“I want to thank the Omaha, Nebraska, community for welcoming us with open arms and showing us complete kindness and generosity. And a big thanks to all of you who have helped me get through this because I really don’t know if it would have been as easy without the support from strangers,” he said.

Perryman’s perspective was far less positive. She was forced to remain after Florida officials declined a federal request to provide around-the-clock monitoring of her if she returned home — even as travel arrangements for the passengers had reportedly been in the works for weeks.

“Nobody actually expected anybody to get sick at that point,” she said. “Everybody was well aware that we were all going home on commercial flights.”

She described the six-week quarantine as “a political stunt.”

It weighs more than 50 tons and is recognized by the Library of Congress as the single largest communal art project ever created — and it was sewn together from grief, love, and the urgent need to be seen.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt grew out of one of the darkest chapters in modern American history. As an epidemic spread and claimed lives, fear and misunderstanding gripped both the public and the government. The communities hit hardest in those early years — men who had sex with men, Haitians, and people living with hemophilia, a rare blood disorder — faced deep stigma and were largely ignored.

The virus did not stay contained. It reached wives and children, crossing every boundary that people imagined might protect them.

As advocates demanded action and patients deteriorated in hospital rooms from infections their weakened immune systems could not fight off, a new kind of memorial took shape. Panel by panel, stitched by hand in the hundreds and eventually the thousands, the quilt began to record the names and lives of those who had been lost.

Activist Cleve Jones came up with the idea, though not everyone was supportive at first. As he once told the BBC, “Everybody told me it was the stupidest thing they’d ever heard of, but I ignored them and kept going and found people who shared the vision.” Jones drew on the tradition of quilts as objects made from scraps and leftovers, transformed into something warm and meaningful. He saw an AIDS quilt as a form of healing.

The dimensions of each panel were deliberate. At three feet by six feet, Jones noted, each one is “the approximate size of a grave.”

The panels are deeply personal. They carry portraits, nicknames, military titles, scraps of clothing, and handwritten words of love and loss: “Friends for life.” “I miss you constantly.” “Brothers. Beloved sons.” Many are decorated with hearts, rainbows, and flowers.

The quilt first appeared publicly on the National Mall in Washington in 1987, six years after AIDS was formally identified. At that point it included nearly 2,000 panels and stretched beyond the length of a football field. People walked through it quietly, many rendered speechless by what they saw.

The mid-1980s were a time of large-scale collective action — “We Are the World,” Hands Across America, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, Farm Aid, and a wave of benefit concerts. The quilt offered a quieter but equally powerful statement.

Its last full display on the National Mall came in 1996. According to the Smithsonian, the quilt stretched an entire mile — from the Capitol building to the Washington Monument — across a lawn that has witnessed generations of American activism. At that time, the quilt held 40,000 panels. Today, that number has grown to nearly 50,000.

The National AIDS Memorial continues to encourage people to create new panels. The effort is also a reminder of an unfinished fight: there is still no cure for AIDS, and recent reductions in U.S. foreign aid have raised new fears about the return of AIDS wards in vulnerable regions such as southern Africa.

A New York-based pharmaceutical company, Definium Therapeutics, announced Monday that a single dose of its experimental LSD-based pill dramatically reduced symptoms of major depression in patients enrolled in a late-stage clinical trial.

The company’s drug, known as DT120, helped patients score significantly lower on a standard depression measurement scale compared to those who received a placebo after six weeks — an 8.1 point difference that met the trial’s primary goal.

Results showed improvement as early as one week after patients took a single pill, with those on DT120 scoring 14.2 points better than the placebo group. At the 12-week mark, patients still showed gains of 7.3 points over the placebo group.

Analysts at Jefferies had previously noted in a client memo earlier this month that a placebo-adjusted improvement of 4 to 5 points at week six, with lasting effects, would be considered a strong outcome — a bar that DT120 appears to have cleared by a wide margin.

DT120 falls into a category of medications called classic psychedelics, which temporarily change how a person perceives the world, their mood, and their thinking. The drug is a pharmaceutical version of lysergide — commonly known as LSD — and works by stimulating serotonin receptors in the brain.

The announcement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April directing federal agencies to fast-track access to psychedelic-based medical research and treatment for serious mental health conditions.

The drug was reported to be well-tolerated by participants. According to the company, 99% of adverse events were mild to moderate and occurred mainly on the day the dose was taken. No serious safety concerns or increases in suicidal thoughts were reported.

The trial included 149 participants between the ages of 18 and 74, all diagnosed with major depressive disorder — a condition recognized as a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. The National Institutes of Health estimates that roughly 21 million adults in the United States have experienced at least one major depressive episode.

Definium said the positive results bring it a step closer to submitting the drug for FDA review. The company is also currently conducting a second late-stage clinical trial focused on depression.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is preparing to reverse a previous rejection of a rare-disease treatment developed by Regenxbio, according to a report published Monday by the Wall Street Journal.

No further details about the specific therapy, the conditions it targets, or the expected timeline for the reversal were included in the report.

BEIJING — China’s national market regulatory agency has opened a formal investigation into whether the chemical formamide is present in baby diapers sold in the country, according to a report from state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.

Three diaper manufacturers — Babycare, Huggies, and Bibabebe — have each stated that their own internal testing revealed no evidence of the chemical in their products. That information was reported by the Global Times, a tabloid publication operated under People’s Daily, China’s official state newspaper.

The investigation is expected to draw in several additional government bodies, including the industry ministry, the national health commission, and the state disease control authority.

China’s national drug regulatory authority announced Monday that it has given the green light to a new stomach cancer treatment developed by CARsgen Therapeutics.

The treatment, commercially referred to as satri-cel, has made history as the world’s first CAR T-cell therapy designed to combat solid tumors to reach the new drug application stage globally, according to information published on CARsgen’s website.

CAR T-cell therapy — short for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy — is a form of immunotherapy that works by taking a patient’s own immune cells and engineering them in a laboratory to recognize and attack cancer cells within the body.

A newly launched program in Missouri is offering people behind bars a chance to earn a legitimate tattoo license — all while reducing the dangers that come with unregulated tattooing inside correctional facilities.

The initiative gives incarcerated participants a path to professional certification in tattooing, a skill they could potentially use to find employment once they are released from prison.

Beyond the career benefits, program supporters say it also addresses a serious health concern. Contraband tattooing in prisons — done without proper equipment or sanitation — can spread infections and illness among the incarcerated population. By providing a sanctioned, supervised outlet, the program aims to reduce those risks.

Mobile homes in Phoenix, Arizona, are at the center of a troubling public health concern — residents living in these dwellings are dying from heat-related causes at a disproportionately high rate compared to other types of housing.

Red Cross volunteers have taken notice and are actively working to reduce the number of these preventable deaths. Their efforts are focused on reaching people in these communities before the extreme desert heat claims more lives.

Health officials in Congo reported late Sunday that confirmed Ebola infections in the country’s ongoing outbreak have climbed to 1,003, with 254 people losing their lives to the disease.

According to Congo’s Ministry of Health, the outbreak has been concentrated in the Ituri province since it was officially declared on May 15. Of those infected, 100 individuals have successfully recovered.

The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no vaccines or approved treatments available. In its first month alone, it became the deadliest outbreak of its kind on record. Authorities have acknowledged that the true number of cases is likely much higher than what has been confirmed, and that the worst of the crisis may still be ahead.

One of the biggest challenges facing local health authorities is contact tracing — the process of identifying and monitoring people who may have been exposed to infected individuals. So far, officials have only managed to trace about 55% of known contacts, according to the ministry.

Adding to the difficulty, health workers have not yet been able to identify the outbreak’s original patient, and more than 35,000 people who came into contact with infected individuals as of last week still need to be tracked down and monitored.

The Democratic Republic of Congo announced late Sunday that the number of confirmed Ebola cases within its borders has crossed the 1,000 mark, reaching 1,003 total infections along with 254 confirmed deaths.

The update represents a significant increase from figures released just one day earlier. On Saturday, the government reported 956 confirmed cases and 247 deaths — meaning dozens more cases and several additional fatalities were recorded within a single 24-hour period.

A significant portion of the American population is growing older without the safety net that immediate family typically provides, and advocates say society needs to pay attention.

These individuals — sometimes called “solo agers” — face the challenges of aging without a spouse, children, or nearby relatives to lean on for care and support. Their numbers are substantial, and experts say the trend is only expected to grow in the coming years.

Rather than viewing this as a crisis, some advocates are framing it as an opportunity. They argue that building stronger community-based support systems for solo agers could ultimately create better resources for all older adults, regardless of their family situation.

The conversation around solo aging is pushing communities, policymakers, and healthcare providers to think more creatively about how society cares for its aging population — and who bears the responsibility when family isn’t part of the picture.

The Democratic Republic of Congo announced Saturday that confirmed Ebola infections within the country have climbed to 956, with the death toll now reaching 247.

The latest figures represent a notable jump from just one day prior, when officials reported 933 confirmed cases and 245 deaths.

Utah is marking a troubling one-year anniversary — a full year of fighting measles outbreaks, with no clear finish line in sight. The milestone could have consequences not just for the state, but for the entire country’s measles-free designation.

Since the first outbreak began on June 20, 2025, more than 680 residents have contracted the disease. The virus has spread across 22 of the state’s 29 counties, making it far more widespread than outbreaks seen in Texas, South Carolina, and Arizona, which were largely contained to single regions.

Measles cases turned up in hospitals and medical offices, large retail stores, restaurants, and youth athletic competitions. In February, an exposure at a statewide high school wrestling championship led to at least 46 confirmed cases among those who attended.

Measles is considered one of the most contagious illnesses in the medical world. It causes a distinctive rash, high fever, severe cough, ear infections, and diarrhea. While most patients recover fully, young infants, pregnant individuals, and people with compromised immune systems face a higher risk of serious complications — including pneumonia, brain swelling, and blindness, and in some cases, death. Even otherwise healthy individuals may develop problems years later, including a rare but always-fatal degenerative brain disease that can appear roughly a decade after the initial infection.

The measles vaccine is considered safe and is 97% effective following two doses.

Although the pace of new cases has slowed in recent weeks, state epidemiologist Leisha Nolen says there is little room for complacency. She fears that the upcoming school year and the arrival of colder weather this fall could trigger another wave of infections.

“It’s still here, it’s still transmitting,” she said. “We just need those few cases to hit the wrong community and it could flare up really big again.”

The hardest-hit area has been the southwestern portion of the state, where 265 people have fallen ill since last summer. Meanwhile, a rural region in the northeast — known as the “tricounty” area, made up of Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah counties — recorded the second-largest drop in childhood vaccination rates in the state.

State data shows that more than 16% of kindergarteners in that region were not up to date on their measles vaccinations during the last school year. Statewide, 12.8% of kindergarteners were missing the vaccine — well below the 95% vaccination rate that public health experts say is needed to prevent outbreaks.

The TriCounty Health Department recorded 74 measles cases this spring after infections spread from the youth wrestling tournament into local schools and then into households. Sydnee Lyons, the health department’s public information officer, noted that vaccine hesitancy had been growing in the area for some time.

Despite the high number of cases, local and state health officials view TriCounty’s response as a relative success. Officials focused on limiting the damage by excluding unvaccinated students from in-person classes and directing sick individuals to isolate. Their approach — emphasizing community care rather than punishment — encouraged more people to seek out vaccinations, officials said.

TriCounty infectious disease specialist Cyndie Mattinson recalled one parent who told a school nurse she was reluctant to contact the health department because she feared being judged for having unvaccinated children. The nurse reassured her, and Mattinson was ultimately able to have a productive conversation with the mother.

“The perceptions were changed that we weren’t out there to police, we were there to be a help and a resource to the community,” Mattinson said.

Utah’s prolonged fight with measles could jeopardize the United States’ measles-free status. Public health authorities define measles as eliminated when a country demonstrates it has stopped continuous local transmission for at least one year. As of June 18, the national measles case count stood at 2,104 — nearly surpassing last year’s record total.

Nolen noted that it remains unclear whether Utah’s earliest clusters are connected to the larger outbreak that emerged along the Utah-Arizona border in August. What is clear, she said, is that the majority of cases since then have originated within Utah itself, rather than being imported from other parts of the country.

International health experts are scheduled to meet in November to decide whether the United States and Mexico have lost their measles elimination status. Canada lost its status last year following its own ongoing outbreaks.

In Utah, physicians continue to calm worried patients while pushing for stronger public health measures. Dr. Ellie Brownstein, president-elect of the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician in Salt Lake City, spent much of the outbreak fighting a legislative proposal that would have made it easier for families to obtain school vaccine exemptions. The bill ultimately failed, but Brownstein says the broader cultural response to measles’ comeback has fallen short.

“I don’t know that we get it to end,” Brownstein said. “I don’t know that we’re going to get this genie back in the box because there’s enough people out there to spread it.”

Three people have died from what appears to be heat-related illness while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, federal officials announced Friday — two separate incidents occurring within the same week as temperatures in the inner canyon soared to dangerous levels.

The first death happened on June 12, when a 72-year-old man became ill from the heat while hiking the South Kaibab Trail. Rescue crews were unable to reach him in time, and he died before help arrived. Then, just four days later, a 67-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were hiking the North Kaibab Trail when both appeared to suffer from heat-related illness. They, too, died before first responders could get to them, according to the U.S. National Park Service.

The park service noted that despite a quick response that included aerial support, all three hikers had already passed away by the time rescue teams reached them.

Temperatures in the inner canyon can climb above 109 degrees Fahrenheit — or 43 degrees Celsius — in shaded areas during midday hours, making conditions extremely dangerous for hikers. Officials say the park has experienced a recent increase in heat-related emergencies and are strongly advising anyone hiking in the inner canyon to stay off trails between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The remains of all three hikers were transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office. The National Park Service says investigations into each of the deaths are continuing.

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are reporting a significant rise in Ebola infections, with the country’s health minister announcing Friday that confirmed cases have now reached 933, along with 245 deaths linked to the outbreak.

Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba delivered the update while speaking with journalists in Ituri province — the region where the first cases of this current outbreak were identified. He also noted that 80 patients who had contracted the virus have since recovered and been released from Ebola treatment centers.

Speaking from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the head of Africa’s top health agency issued a strong call Friday for African governments to put more of their own money into fighting the Ebola outbreak spreading through Congo and Uganda — and into developing vaccines to combat it.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the outbreak has killed more than 200 people among 894 confirmed cases since May 15. Officials are still working to trace more than 35,000 people who may have been exposed to the virus. The true number of cases is thought to be even higher, since the outbreak wasn’t officially confirmed until weeks after it began.

Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya spoke with The Associated Press and made clear that this crisis — described as the worst Ebola outbreak at this stage ever recorded — should serve as a wake-up call for the continent to build up its own health infrastructure.

“If this outbreak was in Europe, the United States or other continents, they would already have developed a vaccine and medicine,” Kaseya said.

He added: “We don’t want to be a continent begging every day. We want to be a continent of people who know what they are doing and who are respected because they are doing the right thing.”

A major obstacle to containing the current outbreak is the absence of any approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. Unlike the more common Zaire strain — which has an approved vaccine and was responsible for most of Congo’s 16 previous outbreaks — the Bundibugyo virus currently has no proven medical countermeasures.

At the heart of the outbreak in Congo’s eastern Ituri province, health workers are stretched thin, dealing not only with a relentless caseload but also with attacks from frustrated residents and widespread distrust of the response effort. Burials, including those of infants, have become a grim daily occurrence.

Africa has long struggled with limited vaccine production capacity. The continent currently manufactures less than 1% of the vaccines it needs and only 3% of its medicines, leaving hundreds of millions of people exposed when outbreaks occur. While the COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies have sparked efforts to grow local manufacturing, progress has been slow.

Kaseya said he is uncertain whether a vaccine against this strain of Ebola will be ready before the end of the year, even as work to speed up development continues. He also cautioned that the outbreak has not yet reached its peak, largely because contact tracing has been slow and officials have not yet identified the original patient who started the chain of transmission.

“This is why we are accelerating our fundraising to put on the ground so many teams to look for any contact, direct or indirect, and to start following them,” Kaseya said.

To push African nations to contribute financially, Kaseya said South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to travel to Ituri Province in Congo and to Uganda next week to help rally funding commitments. A newly created African Epidemic Fund has already received about $80 million in pledges from African governments, and a broader donor conference held this week brought in pledges totaling around $910 million.

“We need to take care of ourselves,” Kaseya said. “We need to say, ‘It’s time for us to really think strongly about how we can manufacture medicines and vaccines to meet our own needs.’”

In Bunia, Congo, mourners came together Friday to say goodbye to a 6-month-old girl who lost her life to Ebola earlier this week — the third child from an orphanage in eastern Congo to die as authorities work to bring the latest outbreak under control.

Attendees kept their distance and carried a cross as masked and gloved health workers lowered the small coffin into the ground. A Catholic priest offered prayers over the infant’s body.

“It’s a feeling of sadness because we have lost one of our own, a daughter of the church,” said Father Innocent Ndogo. “As we have always said, the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.”

The Ituri region has been the epicenter of the current outbreak, accounting for more than 90% of all reported cases. Efforts to control the spread have been hampered by tensions between residents and healthcare workers, with conflicts arising over burial practices and what has at times become a militarized response.

Friday’s burial made clear just how impersonal safe burial procedures can feel — only health workers in full protective equipment were permitted to touch the coffin or participate in the burial process.

The strain behind this outbreak, known as Bundibugyo, currently has no approved treatment or vaccine. Even healthcare workers on the front lines have reported shortages of basic protective equipment such as masks and gloves.

Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that the outbreak has now reached 894 confirmed cases and has claimed more than 200 lives. That makes it three times more severe than a previous outbreak in Uganda in 2000. Officials estimate up to 35,000 people may have had potential contact with infected individuals. Still, the outbreak remains far smaller than the 2014 epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people.

Because the Bundibugyo strain was not screened for early in the outbreak — unlike the more common Zaire virus, which has an approved vaccine and was responsible for most of Congo’s previous 16 Ebola outbreaks — the disease was able to spread further before being identified.

Alex Lock, a Communications Officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, urged the public not to become numb to the tragedy.

“She was a baby. She had her whole life ahead of her. Unfortunately, she was taken by the disease, a disease that, as you know, is transmitted from one person to another,” Lock said.

While Ituri remains the primary hotspot, cases have also been confirmed in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The outbreak has additionally crossed into Uganda, where 19 confirmed cases have been recorded and two people have died.

At least 30 people have died since the beginning of May at a camp for displaced civilians in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo — a death toll that camp officials describe as unlike anything they have seen before, and one that raises serious concerns that Ebola may be spreading rapidly and going undetected.

The deaths occurred at Kigonze camp in Bunia, which sits at the center of Congo’s current Ebola outbreak and is home to more than 15,000 residents. Confirming the exact cause of death proved difficult because camp residents — both the sick and the families of those who died — refused testing until Thursday, according to a camp spokesperson and Catholic aid organization Caritas.

Despite the lack of confirmed test results, all of those who died displayed symptoms commonly linked to Ebola, including headaches, fever, and vomiting. That information came from a camp spokesperson, a grieving father, three aid organization sources, and a civil society leader who all spoke with Reuters.

“People didn’t just die like this before,” said camp spokesperson Desire Grodya Bapi.

Camp President Dz’djo Ndrutsi Etienne said 10 people were buried in just one week. Grodya noted that under normal circumstances, the camp sees between one and three deaths per month.

Justin Zanamuzi, director of Caritas — a Catholic aid group that serves Kigonze’s residents — said his team observed several bodies covered in sheets on Wednesday, including those of a pregnant woman and children. Video footage from Thursday, shared by a civil society leader and confirmed as authentic by Reuters, showed health workers dressed in hazmat suits disinfecting bodies and preparing small coffins beside a crucifix while mourners grieved nearby.

“Our team tried to persuade people to accept doctors to inspect the bodies. They completely refused,” Zanamuzi said.

Congolese authorities first announced the outbreak on May 15, though officials indicated deaths had been occurring earlier in the month. Grodya said health workers have since collected samples from five victims and are waiting for the results. Officials noted that cholera, which produces symptoms similar to Ebola, can also spread rapidly in overcrowded communities, though it generally does not pass directly from person to person.

Camp resident Kato Lonu, 47, lost two of his children, including a 6-month-old infant. “These are conditions that no human being should have to live in. If you look around, people are dying one after another,” he said.

Four aid workers said the surge in deaths reflects how cuts to funding for water, hygiene, and sanitation services have left communities more vulnerable to diseases like Ebola, which spreads through bodily fluids including human waste. They pointed to reductions by donors including the United States under President Donald Trump as a key factor.

United Nations data showed that funding for toilets and handwashing stations in Congo fell by more than half between 2024 and 2025, dropping to roughly $38 million. This year’s appeal for $80 million has received only 21% of the needed funding.

Congo has hundreds of camps sheltering civilians displaced by war, some housing as many as 100,000 people. Ebola deaths have already been confirmed in another camp in the same Ituri province, which accounts for more than 90% of the nearly 900 confirmed cases.

In Kigonze, large families share plastic tents positioned less than a meter apart, and children walk barefoot through dirt pathways. Toilets bearing USAID markings — referring to the U.S. international aid agency that was dismantled under Trump — are present in the camp, and an aid source confirmed the agency helped fund their construction. However, both Grodya and the aid source said there are too few toilets and they frequently overflow.

“The latrines, they fill up very quickly, and people have to empty them themselves, with their bare hands,” Grodya said.

Washington had been the leading contributor to water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Congo, providing more than $60 million in such support in 2024, according to a summary shared by a former USAID official. The Trump administration has defended the funding reductions, saying the focus is on what it calls “hyper-prioritised life-saving humanitarian assistance.” Washington has also committed more than $375 million in direct Ebola funding.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Reuters was unable to determine exactly how much U.S. funding, if any, currently flows to Kigonze.

Four aid organizations — Mercy Corps, Danish Refugee Council, CARE International, and Oxfam — said their U.S.-funded sanitation projects for displaced people across the three Ebola-affected provinces were either scaled back or eliminated following last year’s funding cuts. Mercy Corps reported that in 2024 it built 82 water taps and more than 400 public toilets serving over 125,000 displaced people. This year, due to funding reductions, just six taps and no public toilets are serving fewer than 19,000 people.

A top World Health Organization official announced Friday that 75 healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been infected with Ebola since the current outbreak began, and 17 of those workers have died from the disease.

The virus is believed to have been spreading for months before Congolese officials formally declared the outbreak on May 15, leaving many medical workers unknowingly exposed long before they could take precautions. Even now that the outbreak is known, health officials report that basic protective equipment such as gloves and masks is in short supply.

WHO emergency director Marie Roseline Belizaire addressed reporters via video link from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, describing the toll on an already strained healthcare system. “It is a really high price that the system, the healthcare system, is paying, because we don’t have enough of healthcare workers in DRC,” she said.

WHO data shows that Congo has one of the lowest ratios of healthcare workers to population in the world, with roughly 11 workers for every 10,000 people. Belizaire noted that China and Uganda are dispatching medical teams to the country to help address the shortage.

The WHO is also providing psychological support to some medical workers who have become too frightened to treat Ebola patients after watching colleagues become sick and die. Belizaire described the emotional weight of hearing their stories firsthand: “When they are explaining to you how they live it, how they were infected … (it) can break your heart.”

An experimental drug designed to help heart tissue recover from damage may have an unexpected benefit — it could also help heal injured kidneys, according to new laboratory research.

The drug, known as AD-NP1, is being developed at UCLA and recently received approval to begin early human trials focused on heart treatment. It works by blocking a protein called ENPP1, which interferes with the body’s natural healing process and can prevent full recovery after a heart attack.

Curious whether the same protein played a role in kidney disease, UCLA researchers examined kidney tissue samples from patients with chronic kidney disease. They discovered that ENPP1 was present at higher concentrations in diseased kidney tissue compared to healthy tissue.

To test their theory further, the team induced kidney injuries in two groups of mice — normal mice and mice genetically engineered to lack the ENPP1 protein. Both groups showed initial damage, but after several weeks, the mice without ENPP1 demonstrated noticeably better kidney repair, less scarring, and improved overall kidney function. The findings were published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

In a follow-up experiment, researchers gave AD-NP1 to normal mice after inducing kidney damage. Just one week later, those mice showed measurable improvements in kidney function and healing.

Study leader Arjun Deb of UCLA explained the underlying science in a statement, noting that the ENPP1 protein disrupts key pathways cells rely on to produce energy.

A newly released study from the Marriage Foundation in the United Kingdom is shedding light on how marriage affects family stability. According to the findings, men and women who are married before welcoming their first child are 50% more likely to remain together as a couple compared to those who have children outside of marriage.

Harry Benson, a spokesman for the Marriage Foundation, weighed in on what the data means. “These findings are consistent with well-established psychological theories that have been largely neglected in sociological research,” he said.

A new report from the Pew Research Center is shedding light on just how difficult it is to get an accurate count of abortions performed in the United States — and researchers are upfront about the gaps in their own data.

According to the most recent complete figures available, roughly 613,000 abortions were recorded in 2022. However, Pew acknowledges that number likely falls short of the true total for two key reasons.

First, four states do not report their abortion statistics, leaving a significant hole in the national picture. Second, there is no reliable way to track how many women ended pregnancies using abortion pills obtained through the mail without ever seeing a doctor in person.

Because of these blind spots, researchers believe the actual number of abortions that took place in 2022 is probably greater than what the official data reflects.

Government data released late Thursday shows the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has grown to 896 confirmed cases, with 232 of those resulting in death.

The figures reflect the situation as of Wednesday and were detailed in an official situation report that logged 21 newly confirmed cases and six additional deaths within a single 24-hour period.

Health officials noted in the report that confirmed case counts have been climbing on a week-over-week basis, a sign that the virus continues to spread from person to person within communities.

Authorities issued a stark warning alongside the data, cautioning that if public health measures are not put in place quickly, the outbreak has the potential to move rapidly into areas that have not yet been affected.

A panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has unanimously recommended approval of a new flu vaccine developed by Moderna, specifically for adults who are 50 years of age or older.

The vote took place on Thursday, with all nine panel members agreeing that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh its potential risks. The advisory board supported the use of the shot across two age groups — adults ranging from 50 to 64 years old, as well as those aged 65 and above.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — An Ebola outbreak affecting Congo and Uganda has taken more than 200 lives in its first month, making it the worst-known outbreak at this point in its progression, according to Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials announced Thursday that as many as 35,000 suspected contacts may have been exposed.

With 894 confirmed cases recorded so far, the current outbreak is three times more severe than a 2000 Ugandan outbreak that had 281 cases at the same stage, according to Dr. Wessam Mankoula, a medical epidemiologist at Africa CDC.

The case count is thought to be even higher because the outbreak wasn’t officially confirmed until May 15 — weeks after it is believed to have started. Cases have grown by 38% compared to last week and now span 32 health zones in eastern Congo, Dr. Mankoula said.

This outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. The virus was not tested for in the early days of the outbreak. Most of Congo’s previous 16 Ebola outbreaks were caused by the more common Zaire strain, which does have an approved vaccine. Experimental therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, are currently being developed to treat Bundibugyo.

So far, 74 patients have recovered from the disease across eastern Congo and Uganda.

The hardest-hit area is Congo’s eastern Ituri province, which accounts for over 90% of all cases. Additional cases have been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and the disease has crossed into Uganda, where 19 confirmed cases and two deaths have been reported.

Contact tracing — a critical tool for containing outbreaks — has been severely hampered by the remote terrain and ongoing violence in Ituri province, Dr. Mankoula noted.

“For those 800 confirmed cases, we should have between 17,000 to 35,000 contacts that should be in our contact list,” Mankoula said. Currently, only around 4,000 contacts — less than 15% of the expected total — have been identified and are being monitored.

“We are still far from controlling the situation of this outbreak,” Mankoula said.

According to the U.N. humanitarian office, nearly one million people have been displaced by years of conflict in Ituri, complicating contact tracing efforts as residents flee violence or move frequently through a vast region of dense forests, poor roads, and remote villages that can take days to reach. The large number of miners who routinely travel between remote sites in the mineral-rich region adds another layer of difficulty.

Funding shortfalls are also slowing the response. Of more than $900 million pledged to combat the outbreak, only $90 million has actually been released, according to Dr. Mankoula. Africa CDC estimates it needs 540 personnel to effectively fight the outbreak but currently has only 84.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed those new pledges will be fast tracked, and we’ll be following up with different member states and different partners about their commitment to turn those pledges into actual money released to their affected countries or partners,” Mankoula said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health advisers gathered Thursday to debate a groundbreaking new flu vaccine — the first of its kind to use mRNA technology, the same platform that played a central role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pharmaceutical company Moderna is asking the Food and Drug Administration to approve its new influenza shot, known as mFlusiva, as an option for adults 50 years of age and older. Thursday’s advisory committee meeting is an important step toward a final regulatory decision before the upcoming winter flu season.

Influenza kills tens of thousands of Americans each year, with older adults facing some of the greatest risk. Several flu vaccines are already on the market in the United States, including three that are specifically recommended for people 65 and older. However, vaccines developed using Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology can be produced more quickly than traditional options — an advantage experts say could prove critical if the flu virus mutates rapidly and new doses need to be manufactured on short notice.

A study involving 40,000 participants aged 50 and older found that Moderna’s mRNA flu shot reduced influenza cases by roughly 27% compared to another commonly used flu vaccine brand. Prior to the panel meeting, the FDA released a favorable assessment of that data and reported no safety concerns.

Moderna is pursuing full approval for the vaccine in the 50-to-64 age group, while also seeking authorization for use in those 65 and older as additional testing continues.

Earlier this year, Moderna’s application became the focus of a highly unusual public dispute when a then-top FDA official moved to block the company’s submission for the novel shot. Dr. Vinay Prasad, who served as the agency’s vaccine chief at the time, argued that Moderna should have measured its vaccine against a high-dose flu shot recommended for seniors, rather than a standard-dose product. The disagreement was seen as a reflection of heightened vaccine scrutiny at the FDA under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Moderna pushed back on that decision, pointing out that FDA staff had previously signed off on the study’s design and referencing a separate, smaller study in which the mRNA vaccine was compared directly to a high-dose senior flu shot. Within days of that dispute, the FDA agreed to accept Moderna’s application.

The advisory panel is also reviewing that smaller study, which showed Moderna’s vaccine produced flu-fighting antibodies at levels comparable to the high-dose senior vaccine. The FDA’s preliminary review did note that the new vaccine has limited data for very frail elderly individuals and those with compromised immune systems.

A key advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is preparing to cast a vote on whether the benefits of Moderna’s new flu vaccine outweigh its potential risks in older adults — a review that follows a notable reversal by regulators who had initially moved to reject the drugmaker’s application.

Moderna is pursuing two different types of approval for the vaccine, known as mFlusiva. The company is seeking standard approval for adults between 50 and 64 years old, and a conditional, accelerated approval for adults 65 and older — a pathway that would require Moderna to carry out additional studies confirming the vaccine actually works. The company has agreed to conduct that follow-up research and provide more data for the older age group if it receives approval.

The advisory committee review is taking place against a backdrop of recent turmoil at the FDA. Both the agency’s commissioner, Marty Makary, and its vaccine chief, Vinay Prasad, recently left the agency following a string of controversies surrounding vaccine and rare-disease drug reviews — including the handling of Moderna’s flu shot application. Senior FDA officials had previously stated that Moderna put patients at risk by not using the preferred higher-dose flu vaccine as the comparison treatment in its clinical trial for adults 65 and older.

Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas has been working to steady the agency and rebuild its relationship with the biotechnology industry following months of disruption.

In briefing materials released ahead of the advisory meeting, FDA staff reviewers indicated that immune response data from Moderna’s flu shot could support a finding of effectiveness in adults 65 and older. However, those same documents raised concerns about the vaccine’s performance in people with weakened immune systems and very frail elderly individuals, both of whom were left out of the clinical trials.

Moderna’s own submission stated that its vaccine performed better than standard-dose flu shots among adults aged 50 to 64. A separate, smaller study also showed the vaccine produced a strong immune response when compared with a high-dose flu vaccine in adults 65 and older.

Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, offered perspective on the review process. “Every year when we approve flu vaccines, we don’t have efficacy data. So I think the question will be whether or not they thought that the immunogenicity study was big enough,” he said.

If the FDA grants approval, mFlusiva would become the first seasonal flu vaccine in the United States developed using mRNA technology — the same faster-production platform behind some COVID-19 vaccines. It would enter a competitive market alongside flu vaccines from Sanofi, GSK, CSL Seqirus, and AstraZeneca.

One key difference from conventional flu vaccines is that mFlusiva does not use chicken eggs in its production process. Moderna says this allows manufacturers to more closely match the vaccine to flu strains currently circulating and reduces the time between selecting the strain and making the vaccine available.

The FDA is expected to issue its final decision on the vaccine by August 5. One analyst at Jefferies, Andrew Tsai, does not anticipate Moderna generating flu vaccine revenue until 2027, but projects $750 million in combined U.S. flu and COVID-flu combo vaccine sales by 2030.

A flesh-eating parasite known as the screwworm has made its way back into the U.S. Southwest for the first time in roughly five decades, raising serious concerns for the livestock industry, wildlife, and household pets alike.

What exactly is a screwworm?

The screwworm is a parasitic fly that targets warm-blooded animals. Female flies deposit their eggs inside open wounds, and once those eggs hatch, hundreds of larvae use sharp mouthparts to burrow through living tissue. Without treatment, the infestation can be fatal to the host animal. The parasite primarily spreads when infested animals are moved from one location to another. Experts note it poses no risk to food safety and rarely affects humans. Animals that receive prompt care — including maggot removal, wound cleaning, and antibiotics — typically survive.

In June, a dog in New Mexico was confirmed to have a screwworm infestation, highlighting the real danger to pets as the pest has spread northward from endemic areas in Central America and into Mexico.

What warning signs should pet owners watch for?

Veterinarians say owners should be on alert for wounds that swell, ooze pus, or refuse to heal. Other red flags include signs of pain such as excessive licking or chewing at a wound, unusual tiredness, and loss of appetite. One of the most distinctive indicators is the odor of rotting flesh coming from a wound.

Experts advise taking a pet to the veterinarian at the first sign of any of these symptoms — even if maggots or eggs are not visibly present.

Stray cats and dogs may be especially vulnerable to screwworm and could potentially pass the parasite on to household pets. Residents are encouraged to monitor strays closely and notify local animal control if they observe any suspicious wounds.

Dr. Pancho Hubert, a veterinarian in Corpus Christi, Texas, and president of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, emphasized the importance of acting quickly. “The consequences of missing one or two cases is so great that if the public sees anything suspicious, take it into your vet,” he said. “It might not be anything, but these wounds carry so much significance.”

Can pet owners prevent an infestation?

Monthly parasite prevention medications already used for ticks and fleas may also offer protection against screwworm. Chewable treatments like Credelio and Simparica work by entering the animal’s bloodstream and killing parasites that feed on it, and experts say they may work similarly against screwworm.

How is screwworm treated?

A veterinarian will examine the wound, remove larvae and eggs, and send samples to animal health authorities for identification. The vet will then clean and disinfect the wound, administer an oral insecticide, and likely prescribe pain medication and antibiotics. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved approximately a dozen drugs for treating screwworm infestations.

Experts strongly caution against pet owners attempting to treat screwworm on their own. DIY treatment risks missing larvae that will continue burrowing deeper, and accidentally dropping maggots on the ground could allow them to mature into flies and spread the infestation further.

Can pets recover?

With early detection and proper veterinary treatment, animals typically make a full recovery. However, screwworm infestations are deadly if left untreated.

What are authorities doing to combat the outbreak?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has ramped up surveillance, put movement restrictions in place, and invested in the production of sterile flies, which are used to interrupt screwworm reproduction. Two new sterile fly production facilities are currently under construction, but experts say current output falls well short of what is needed to get the outbreak under control.

Reuters previously reported that hundreds of veterinarians, support staff, and lab workers at the USDA’s animal health division departed after the Trump administration sought resignations, leaving fewer disease response specialists on hand. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that screwworm had been projected to enter the U.S. last year, and credited the Trump administration’s actions with delaying that entry and giving the USDA time to mount a rapid response.

A group of emergency room doctors based in Eugene, Oregon, has successfully pushed back against a national staffing company that sought control over their practice.

The local physicians waged a determined fight against the corporate giant and ultimately prevailed, marking a notable win for doctors looking to maintain independence from large staffing firms.

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — When Prosper Mbumba got married, he had planned on having just two children — but at least one of them needed to be a boy. After four daughters, he and his wife were still trying to conceive a son.

Mbumba felt the weight of tradition from his Luba community in Congo, where producing a male heir is a deeply held expectation.

“In my tribe, in my culture, that was like an insult, having only daughters,” said Mbumba, who works as a human rights activist. “I should do my best to get more children, expecting to have a boy.”

He and his wife, Régine Ntumba, said a sense of relief washed over them when their first son arrived — one of two boys they would eventually have. Sitting together at an open-air bar in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, Mbumba described finally feeling a “little satisfied.”

Ntumba, a housewife, said she was “very happy to learn that finally I have a boy.”

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This report is part of an ongoing series examining maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa — a region with the world’s fastest-growing population that accounts for 70% of all pregnancy-related deaths globally. Approximately 180,000 women die from pregnancy-related causes across the continent every year.

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Africa’s population is expanding faster than anywhere else on earth, but countless births take place under extremely difficult circumstances — from shortages of trained medical staff to a lack of resources for handling complicated deliveries, particularly in rural communities. The World Health Organization reports that Africa is responsible for 70% of maternal deaths worldwide, even as those numbers have been slowly declining.

The Associated Press has been investigating why so many African women continue to lose their lives during childbirth. Contributing factors emerge even before pregnancy begins, including barriers to obtaining contraception. The situation is being further strained as major international donors — particularly the United States under the Trump administration — have significantly scaled back the aid that helps protect mothers and newborns.

Adding to these dangers in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa is a cultural pressure placed largely on women to give birth to sons who will carry on family bloodlines.

Because daughters typically marry into different clans or tribes, sons are considered essential for preserving ancestral legacies. This belief runs so deep that many women have come to accept it as valid — even when repeated pregnancies put their own health at serious risk.

Congo’s fertility rate stands at 5.9 children per woman, placing it among the highest in the world, according to United Nations data. That figure is driven largely by cultural norms favoring early marriage and large families, compounded by limited access to contraception.

Patrick Djemo, a physician who leads MSI Reproductive Choices in Congo, said the pursuit of male heirs is deeply embedded in society and exposes many women to pregnancies they do not want.

His organization offers counseling, contraceptive services, and safe, legally permitted abortions to women across seven of the country’s 26 provinces. Clients include both married women and younger women who wish to delay having children.

“A lot of pressure is exerted on couples, and, as you know, mostly it is the woman who is blamed for giving birth to a girl,” Djemo said. He added that men frequently try to prevent their partners from using family planning by claiming the authority to make those decisions.

According to the U.N. Population Fund, around 29% of Congolese women of reproductive age report an “unmet need” for family planning — whether they want to space out pregnancies or stop having children altogether.

Congolese officials have tried to address this through a five-year strategic plan designed to give all women of childbearing age access to “affordable, quality family planning services” by 2026. However, carrying that out remains a massive challenge in a nation the size of Western Europe, where infrastructure is poor and armed conflict continues in the eastern regions.

Annie Tshiamala, who heads an association of Congolese midwives, said she has seen far too many women consumed by the desire to have a son.

She recalls a moment more than 30 years ago when a woman in her 40s — bloodied and exhausted from a difficult labor delivering her ninth child — immediately asked whether the baby was a boy or a girl. The woman already had eight daughters and was desperate for a son.

Not wanting to deliver more bad news, Tshiamala stayed silent, but a colleague spoke up and told the mother it was another girl.

“And she was disappointed. She said, ‘Oh, my Lord. Why?’”

The woman later told Tshiamala that her marriage was on the verge of falling apart because she had never given birth to a son.

Tshiamala herself was not immune to such pressure — her mother-in-law pushed her to have more children beyond the four sons she already had. With her husband’s support, she refused.

Even in Congo’s capital city today, women with education and professional careers are not spared from this kind of scrutiny.

“When you don’t have boys, you are not worth respect,” said Gloria Masanka, a radio presenter with Congo’s national broadcaster, describing the attitude within her in-laws’ family. She said daughters are seen as a threat to the continuation of the family name.

Masanka, who has been married for ten years and is the mother of two young daughters, said the couple would feel more fulfilled if they had a son — even though she has suffered two miscarriages and her blood pressure climbs to dangerous levels during pregnancy.

The issue has caused tension and family conflict. She said her husband has even gone so far as to suggest he might seek a girlfriend in order to father a male heir.

ZAWAIDA, Gaza Strip (AP) — Both children and adults in Zawaida, located in the central Gaza Strip, took part in virtual reality sessions Wednesday designed to offer psychological support. The sessions were made available through a tent set up and operated by a medical technology team working in the area.

Australian Clinical Labs disclosed Thursday that a cybersecurity breach at a third-party technology vendor connected to its SunDoctors division allowed hackers to gain unauthorized access to a limited segment of systems, resulting in some data being stolen.

According to the pathological services company, an internal investigation by SunDoctors determined that the majority of the compromised data consisted of basic contact information along with some health-related details, most of which were connected to skin cancer examinations and testing. The company stated there is currently no indication that any of the stolen information has been posted or shared online.

The security incident originated at an external IT service provider that SunDoctors relies on, and Australian Clinical Labs had initially flagged the issue back in April.

Because investigators were unable to determine exactly which individuals had their data accessed, SunDoctors opted to take a broader approach and is notifying approximately 280,000 people that their personal information may have been compromised.

Australian Clinical Labs emphasized that the breach was limited to a portion of SunDoctors’ systems and did not affect the company’s wider pathology and laboratory operations.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken legal action against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, filing a lawsuit Wednesday alongside four states as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

The lawsuit, which includes Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas as co-plaintiffs, claims that WPATH made misleading statements about gender-affirming care provided to minors and that its members financially benefited from those claims.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson addressed the lawsuit on X, stating: “Parents have a right to make informed decisions about their children’s health. The FTC will not allow parents and children to be deceived by medical organizations and providers who are prioritizing profit over children’s health and safety.”

In response, WPATH released a statement defending its approach, saying its guidelines are designed to provide care tailored to each individual patient rather than applying a single standard to everyone.

This lawsuit follows a prior FTC investigation into WPATH, which the organization challenged in court, arguing the probe violated its First Amendment rights. A federal judge ruled in WPATH’s favor in May, temporarily halting the investigation.

The FTC has also opened investigations into the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society regarding their own guidelines on gender-affirming care. Both organizations have responded by filing lawsuits against the agency.

According to its website, WPATH has been developing widely accepted medical standards for gender-affirming care for more than 50 years, grounding its guidelines in “established scientific standards, expert consensus and patient-centered values.”

WPATH pointed to the earlier court ruling as evidence of its strong legal footing, and vowed to fight the new lawsuit. “WPATH is in a strong position to prove that the FTC is acting out of pure retaliation as part of the federal government’s relentless and targeted campaign to undermine gender-affirming care by attacking the First Amendment rights and the independence of professional medical organizations,” the organization said. “We expect the same result when we oppose this latest attack on WPATH and its mission to promote evidence-informed care and guidance for doctors and their patients.”

CAIRO (AP) — A former Egyptian doctor who went public on social media with accounts of obstetric violence and mistreatment of women at an Alexandria university hospital has been arrested and released on bail.

Authorities descended on the home of Omnia Swaydan in Damanhour, Beheira province, at approximately 6 p.m. local time Tuesday evening. According to lawyer Asmaa Naeim, who is following the case, Swaydan was home alone when officers arrived, ordered her to power down her phone, and then took her into custody.

Swaydan was brought to the prosecutor’s office in Alexandria on Wednesday afternoon for questioning, Naeim confirmed to The Associated Press.

Lawyer Mohamed Ramadan, who was present during her interrogation, said she faced charges of spreading false information and improperly using social media platforms. Later Wednesday afternoon, Ramadan announced on Facebook that Swaydan had been freed after posting bail of 20,000 Egyptian pounds, equivalent to approximately $401.

Ramadan did not immediately respond when contacted for additional comment. Naeim cautioned that the legal proceedings are not over — Swaydan could be summoned for further questioning at any time and may yet face formal charges that could result in a trial and possible imprisonment.

The arrest followed a post Swaydan published on Monday describing disturbing incidents she witnessed while training as a medical resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at al-Shatabi Hospital, a university-affiliated facility in Alexandria. Her account detailed cases involving sexual assault, physical violence, verbal abuse, and deliberate medical negligence by hospital staff.

On Tuesday, prior to her arrest, Swaydan updated her post to clarify that she had shared her experiences in hopes of prompting a serious examination of working conditions and medical practices in the ward, while also calling for stronger protections for women, patients, and junior medical staff.

The Doctors’ Syndicate responded to Swaydan’s post on Tuesday, stating it had received no formal complaints about the incidents she described and encouraging anyone with grievances to file official reports with the syndicate, relevant oversight bodies, the hospital administration, Alexandria University, or the public prosecutor. The following day, the syndicate’s Alexandria branch announced it was closely watching how the situation at al-Shatabi Hospital unfolds.

Alexandria University also issued a statement indicating it has launched a review and investigation into the misconduct allegations at the affiliated hospital.

Egyptian human rights organizations, including the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, spoke out against Swaydan’s detention. Lobna Darwish, who leads the group’s women’s rights and gender program, told The Associated Press that the problems Swaydan described are not limited to al-Shatabi Hospital. She said obstetric violence has long been widespread at facilities offering free or reduced-cost care, and even at some private hospitals.

LONDON (AP) — British TV personality Jeremy Clarkson has opened up about a prostate cancer diagnosis, sharing the news with viewers through the closing episodes of his popular farming reality show.

The 66-year-old described the cancer as “aggressive,” but said doctors caught it at an early stage.

Before the episodes aired, Clarkson took to social media on Tuesday to prepare fans for difficult news tied to the fifth season finale of “Clarkson’s Farm,” a show that follows the trials of operating Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire. The episodes became available to stream on Wednesday.

“Ordinarily we try to keep the show bucolic and charming, and cheerful, but two episodes which drop in the middle of the night tonight are, they’re none of those things,” he posted on Instagram. “They’re a difficult watch, they’re really, really difficult.”

Within one of the episodes, Clarkson broke the news to farm manager Kaleb Cooper and consultant Charlie Ireland while the group was in the middle of harvest planning discussions. “I’ve got cancer,” he told them plainly.

Clarkson built his fame as the outspoken host of the BBC automotive program “Top Gear.” He underwent a heart procedure two years ago, and at that time wrote in his column for The Sun tabloid that his doctor had advised him to swap work for golf.

In 2023, Clarkson faced backlash from media regulators after writing in his column about fantasizing that Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan, be paraded naked through the streets and pelted with feces. He later apologized after a press watchdog ruled the piece was sexist.

Since entering the world of farming in 2019, Clarkson has become a vocal supporter of the agricultural community, publicly opposing the government’s move to impose an inheritance tax on farmland, a policy introduced in November 2024.

During the season five finale, Clarkson appeared speaking from a hospital bed, explaining that a surgeon had removed part of his prostate and that he expected to learn his prognosis in November.

“If this is all successful, I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t, I won’t,” he said. “Take care, everyone.”

BUNIA, Congo — A toddler not yet two years old and his mother have beaten Ebola, offering a rare bright spot in an outbreak that health officials fear could become the deadliest in history.

The mother and her 16-month-old son walked out of the Rwampara Treatment Center on Tuesday alongside five other survivors. The facility is located near Bunia, in Congo’s Ituri province — the heart of the current outbreak.

“The joy is immense given the state he was in at first,” said Kahindo Mireille Pierrette, speaking about her infant son. “If you had seen him before, you wouldn’t believe he could have this strength now.”

Pierrette said she rushed her child to the treatment center at the end of May after he began bleeding from his mouth and nose and could barely move. A PCR test confirmed Ebola on his second day there, and a doctor named Modet Camara said the baby was then treated with antibiotics.

Congo’s Ministry of Health reported Tuesday that 837 cases have been confirmed in total, along with 196 confirmed deaths. Officials believe the true number of cases is actually higher, since the outbreak was officially confirmed on May 15 — weeks after it is thought to have started. Of those infected since mid-May, 49 people have recovered, the ministry said.

This particular outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved treatment or vaccine. That sets it apart from the more common Zaire strain, which now has a vaccine and was responsible for the majority of Congo’s previous 16 outbreaks.

More than 90% of current cases are concentrated in the eastern province of Ituri, though infections have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The virus has even crossed the border into Uganda.

The head of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention issued a stark warning Tuesday, saying the outbreak could break all previous records if it is not stopped soon. Tens of thousands of contacts of infected patients have still not been tracked down.

“If we don’t stop the outbreak very soon it will be worse than what we had in West Africa and eastern DRC,” said Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya during a virtual gathering of African heads of state.

The outbreak he referenced — which struck several West African nations about a decade ago — remains the worst Ebola outbreak ever recorded, with more than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths.

Containing this current outbreak is proving especially challenging. The United Nations humanitarian office reports that nearly one million people have been displaced in Ituri due to years of ongoing conflict. Many residents are constantly on the move, fleeing violence or traveling through a vast region of dense forests, poor roads, and remote villages that can take days to reach. Tracing the contacts of infected individuals is also complicated by the thousands of miners who frequently travel between isolated sites in the mineral-rich area.

Rebecca Simonitsch had just received life-changing news — she could be a candidate for brain surgery. As she made her way home, she had no way of knowing that the person sitting beside her on the plane would help her make sense of what was coming.

The stranger seated next to her on the flight took out a notebook and began walking her through what the process ahead might involve, offering a kind of clarity she hadn’t expected to find at 30,000 feet.

It was a chance encounter that ended up meaning far more than either of them may have anticipated — a quiet act of kindness during one of the most uncertain moments of her life.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has come through a lung transplant procedure and is now in recovery, according to a statement released Wednesday by the royal household.

The 52-year-old is married to Crown Prince Haakon, who is next in line for the Norwegian throne. She was first diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis back in 2018 — a chronic lung condition that causes scarring tissue to form in the lungs, reducing the body’s ability to absorb oxygen.

On June 5, Oslo University Hospital announced that Mette-Marit had been added to a transplant waiting list after her health took a serious turn for the worse. At that point, doctors indicated she likely had no more than a year to live without the operation.

Oslo University Hospital Professor Are Holm, in a statement released through the palace, noted that “like all newly transplanted patients, the crown princess will remain at the hospital for several weeks to come.”

Crown Prince Haakon had spoken publicly about his wife’s declining health back in December, saying the family had observed changes in her condition and that she was having increasing difficulty breathing.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere previously commended the crown princess for being candid about her illness, saying her openness could provide comfort and help to others facing similar health challenges.

Mette-Marit’s path to royalty was far from traditional. She was 25 years old, a single mother without royal ties, when she first crossed paths with Haakon at a music festival in 1999. What began as a romance that drew intense media scrutiny eventually earned the admiration of most of the Norwegian public.

BUNDIBUGYO, Uganda (AP) — Each time Ebola resurfaces, communities face a difficult divide: some of the sick head to the nearest medical facility, while others make their way to a traditional healer’s shrine — a choice that often proves fatal.

Across affected regions, many people interpret the onset of hemorrhagic fever as a spiritual problem rather than a medical one, turning to herbal remedies and prayer rather than hospital treatment. That dynamic is playing out right now in Congo, where the country’s seventeenth Ebola outbreak since 1976 is underway. The virus was first identified that year in the Congo Basin ecosystem.

Fifty years after its discovery, Ebola remains deeply misunderstood by many who fall ill, while religious figures have essentially become first responders in a life-or-death emergency. The current outbreak has claimed the lives of health workers who lacked protective equipment, as well as pastors and congregation members who gathered while the virus was actively spreading, according to humanitarian workers and others who spoke with The Associated Press.

The virus moves from person to person through close contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is sick or has died from the disease. The outbreak is particularly alarming in areas where residents are suspicious of health workers and refuse medical attention.

In Bunia, a town in Ituri province at the center of the outbreak, false information about how Ebola works has severely hampered containment efforts. The outbreak has killed at least 181 people so far. One piece of misinformation circulating in the area claims the virus is deliberately spread by people who drop magical charms attached to dollar bills into pit latrines.

“Some people still describe Ebola as something mysterious, spiritual, or brought by outsiders, rather than a disease that needs medical care,” said Onesphore Bangenza of the aid organization Mercy Corps, speaking from Bunia. “When people do not trust the health system, they often go first to traditional healers, faith leaders, or people they already know. The danger is that many only reach the hospital when they are already very sick.”

This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare Ebola strain for which no approved treatments or vaccines currently exist. It is unfolding in a remote part of Congo that is already dealing with armed rebel activity and population displacement. The disease adds another layer of suffering with symptoms that many compare to a modern-day plague.

Health officials confirmed the outbreak on May 15. Some specialists believe infections may have been occurring as far back as February, but early testing was focused on a different virus that also causes Ebola disease.

The World Health Organization quickly classified the situation as a public health emergency of international concern. The United States government has temporarily barred entry to non-U.S. passport holders who have recently traveled to Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan.

With so many community members seeking spiritual explanations for the illness, humanitarian organizations are calling on religious leaders to play an active role in fighting the outbreak.

A video circulating widely among residents of Ituri features a catechist leader from the Ebola hotspot of Mongbwalu who recently recovered from the disease and spoke openly about the choice that nearly cost him his life.

“I don’t usually rush to the hospital, so I decided to go to the fields,” said Deogratias Kasereka, who went on to explain that it was his children who ultimately persuaded him to seek medical care.

His symptoms included muscle weakness, headaches, and a high fever. In its later stages, Ebola can also cause both internal and external bleeding.

The symptoms are not only frightening but sometimes humiliating, which leads some patients to prefer the relative privacy of a traditional healer over a hospital setting, according to Vincent Isimbwa, an elder among Seventh-day Adventists in a Ugandan community that experienced the very first Bundibugyo outbreak back in 2007.

“They faced it so rough,” Isimbwa said. “The challenge with Ebola is that it is so bad that some people can believe that there are supernatural powers behind it.”

That 2007 outbreak killed at least 36 people and left lasting trauma on the community. Many residents also express regret that the Bundibugyo virus bears the name of their district — a mountainous home to roughly 200,000 people, most of whom work as farmers.

In Bundibugyo, a Ugandan nurse whose blood sample confirmed the 2007 outbreak recalled that his early symptoms puzzled medical staff. Some initially thought Samuel Kuule had food poisoning. While others in the community may have sought out traditional healers, Kuule was cared for in a small hospital room by a team of caregivers that included his pregnant wife, who never contracted the disease.

Kuule said his symptoms — peeling skin, bloodshot eyes, and a severe headache — were terrifying, yet they never shook his Seventh-day Adventist faith, as they might have for others who could have interpreted their illness as witchcraft.

“For those who are weak in faith, they may (think) that they are being bewitched,” he said. “Maybe they can believe it.”

Some community members recalled that one of the first victims of the 2007 outbreak was a woman carried down the mountains on a stretcher to a traditional healer’s shrine. That healer — an older man who survived the outbreak — lost three of his sons to Ebola. Speaking through his presumptive heir, Amon Balinda, the healer said he shifted from offering blessings and prayer to prescribing herbal remedies once he learned Ebola was spreading.

“For us in African traditional societies, in most cases when you fall sick and you go to the hospitals and they give you some injections and there is no improvement, there and then you switch to your neighbor, or anybody, and say maybe he is the one bewitching you,” he said. “Then you decide to go to the witch doctor.”

Scientists believe Ebola outbreaks typically begin when the virus jumps from an infected animal — such as a fruit bat — to a human host. These cross-species transmissions often occur when people handle or consume wild meat, according to experts.

The WHO is urging early testing and the isolation of anyone who may have been exposed in the current outbreak.

Both goals are difficult to achieve in communities with strong religious traditions, whether Christian or traditional. Many insist on following established burial customs, believing that departing from them could prevent the deceased from reaching the afterlife. Pastors whose standing depends on their ability to heal are expected to lay hands on the sick. Traditional healers face the same expectations.

These concerns prompted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to publicly criticize religious leaders in a recent televised address, telling them there was no need to physically touch the sick during an Ebola outbreak. He noted that the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had told him during a visit to Uganda that many of the victims in Congo are people of faith.

“The pastors, the pastors, the pastors,” Museveni said, visibly frustrated. “The people of God — they are the ones who touch patients. … God is not deaf. You can pray without touching.”

ASTI, Italy — In just a matter of months, Irene Roggero Ugues watched helplessly as her daughter Rossella’s personality shifted dramatically, driven by a relentless stream of self-harm content pushed to her through social media. The 12-year-old ultimately died by suicide.

It was only after Rossella’s death that her parents unlocked her devices and discovered the full extent of her online activity. She had been using social media far more than they had realized, including a secret Instagram account she had named ‘Just a dead pers0n’ — spelling the word ‘person’ with a zero in place of the letter o.

According to her parents, Rossella began seeking out depressive content in September 2023, content that reflected her inner emotional state. Social media algorithms continued feeding her more of the same material, and within five months, she was gone.

“At some point, it seemed to take on a life of its own, growing until it overwhelmed the cheerful, sociable side of her — the brighter part,” Irene told Reuters during a meeting at a café in her hometown of Asti, in northern Italy.

Rossella’s family is among several Italian families who have joined a lawsuit against Meta — the company that owns Instagram and Facebook — and its major competitor TikTok. It marks the first collective legal action in Italy to directly challenge social media companies and the algorithms that drive their platforms. The families are pushing for stricter limits on minors’ access to these platforms and greater public awareness of the dangers they pose.

Both companies have rejected the lawsuit’s claims that their services cause harm to young people. They say they actively work to protect younger users by removing dangerous content, reducing exposure to risky material, and offering tools to help parents oversee their children’s accounts.

“We know parents worry about the safety of their teens online, which is why we’re consistently making changes to help protect teens,” a Meta spokesperson said, pointing to the company’s “Teen Accounts” feature and other built-in protections. “We strongly disagree with these allegations, which ignore our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.”

TikTok, for its part, said it strictly enforces guidelines designed to protect users’ mental and behavioral health, and that it removes more than 99% of content found to violate those standards. “We also continue to invest in safety measures to diversify recommended content, block potentially harmful searches and connect vulnerable users with support resources,” a TikTok spokesperson said, also referencing local suicide prevention resources.

When asked specifically about Instagram’s possible role in Rossella’s case, Meta said it would not comment on the matter while litigation is ongoing, but noted that young people’s mental health is influenced by many different factors. The company said the impact of social media depends on how platforms are used, what safeguards exist, and how involved parents are.

Irene described the tragedy as unfolding like a sudden and devastating “illness” that left her and her husband with no power to stop it. She believes the algorithm accelerated everything. “The progression of her distress — or psychosis, or whatever it was that I still cannot define — might have unfolded more naturally” without it, she said.

This legal battle is taking place against a broader backdrop of growing scrutiny of social media platforms across Europe. Britain recently announced plans to ban social media use for children under 16. In the United States, a court ruling found Meta and Alphabet’s Google negligent in designing platforms considered harmful to young people. Meanwhile, European Union regulators are increasing enforcement of the Digital Services Act, pushing online platforms to do more to protect minors and limit harmful content.

“The goal is not to dismiss the benefits of social media, but to remove the technological and marketing mechanisms that make it harmful to the most vulnerable users,” said lawyer Stefano Commodo, who is leading the lawsuit alongside the Italian parents’ association MOIGE.

Many parents involved in the case say the safety tools offered by these platforms are inadequate, pointing out that children can easily find online tutorials explaining how to bypass filters or get around screen time limits by switching to a different device.

“Monitoring social media use is a full-time job. It would require parents to spend all their time doing it, and that is simply unrealistic,” said Valentina Muraglie, a board member of Italy’s association of large families.

Muraglie shared her own experience with her son Antonio, who as a teenager put down his Harry Potter book collection and replaced reading with scrolling through social media. Now in his twenties, he struggles to read at length — something she attributes to the way social media algorithms eroded his attention span. “Once he had a phone in his hand, at 16, little by little books started to disappear,” she said. “Within a few years he stopped reading altogether.”

The World Health Organization has warned that addiction-like social media behavior is on the rise among adolescents and is associated with reduced well-being, disrupted sleep, and other health risks. Research published in JAMA Pediatrics, a U.S. medical journal, has identified measurable differences in brain development among teenagers who are heavy social media users — a population whose brains are still in the process of developing.

The Italian lawsuit argues that social media platforms use reward systems modeled after slot machines to keep users hooked, repeatedly stimulating the release of dopamine — a brain chemical associated with pleasure and reward. “Each ‘like’ or notification triggers dopamine release, tying users to the platform in a way that resembles addiction,” said Tonino Cantelmi, an advisor to the plaintiffs and director of the School of Specialisation in Cognitive-Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Rome.

The families involved in the case say brain imaging studies of social media users show activity in regions of the brain linked to addictive behavior. Spokespeople for both Meta and TikTok declined to address the scientific evidence on addiction presented in court, reiterating their earlier statements about their companies’ commitment to mental health.

Some mental health professionals urge caution when drawing sweeping conclusions about social media’s effects on young people. Federico Tonioni, who leads the Web Psychopathology Centre at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said, “The healthiest approach when dealing with adolescents is to accept that we are unprepared.” He added that he could not say with certainty that his patients would be better off in a world without social networks, and cautioned against putting too much emphasis on parental control. “If there is something dangerous, it is control over children. Young people need to be listened to. Control is not a healthy form of presence. The healthiest distance is trust,” he said.

Irene Roggero Ugues said she joined the lawsuit so that other parents can be warned about dangers she only learned of after it was too late for her daughter. “We underestimated certain risks and didn’t know they existed, but others can still act. There’s no point keeping this to myself, and I don’t think Rossella would mind,” she said.

Global drug manufacturers are applying pressure to European governments over medicine pricing policies — and they appear to be borrowing a strategy that recently worked in the United Kingdom: threatening to withdraw investment unless policymakers back down.

Germany has become the primary focus of that pressure. The country is currently debating legislation aimed at reining in rapidly rising costs within its public health insurance system. The pharmaceutical industry scored a notable victory in Britain after the government agreed to increase medicine spending as part of a broader arrangement designed to avoid tariffs imposed by Washington.

Pfizer sent a letter last week to the German chancellor warning that its investments in the country were at risk because of the proposed drug-pricing policy. AstraZeneca cautioned that it might not introduce new medications in Germany if the legislation moves forward.

Earlier this month, Eli Lilly announced it would cut a planned 2.3 billion euro ($2.7 billion) investment in half. Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim separately announced it was canceling expansion plans valued at 900 million euros. Both companies pointed to the proposed legislation as the reason.

Diarmaid MacDonald of Just Treatment, a patient advocacy group based in the UK, was critical of the industry’s approach. “The industry is delighted with how the UK government folded in the face of their pressure,” he said. “They would love to see others replicate that capitulation.”

Germany’s health ministry said this week that no final decisions had been made and declined to elaborate on any ongoing parliamentary discussions.

The pressure appears to be having some effect. A government source told Reuters on Monday that Germany would abandon part of the plan the industry objected to, replacing a variable discount system with a fixed one to reduce the investment uncertainty that companies had flagged.

However, industry sources indicated that change alone does not resolve their wider concerns about Germany’s pricing environment. The proposed law still faces months of parliamentary debate and could undergo further revisions.

Those same sources said the UK agreement was seen favorably by drugmakers not just because of changes to how new medicines are valued and paid for, but also because it included commitments around innovation and patient access.

Healthcare analyst Diederik Stadig of ING Bank noted that the industry’s response in Germany appeared more reactive compared to what he described as a more deliberate strategy in Britain, though he acknowledged the two situations were comparable.

“The German government made a proposal, ‘we want to reform pricing’. And the industry said, ‘OK, that’s all well and good, but that affects our return on investment,’” Stadig said. He added that factors including tariffs, U.S. pricing policy, the rise of China, and the attractiveness of the American market were all making Europe a less appealing destination for pharmaceutical investment. “The industry is making Europe acutely aware of this,” he said.

The dispute in Germany is part of a wider conflict playing out across the continent. In France, the national health authority accused drugmakers in April of using what it called “coercive pressure” to influence clinical assessments, including threats to pull medicines from the market. In the Netherlands, the country’s biotech lobby warned that companies were growing more hesitant about seeking drug reimbursement approvals and that the country risked falling lower on pharmaceutical launch priority lists.

Adding to the tension is the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most-favored-nation pricing initiative, which seeks to link prescription drug prices in the U.S. market to lower prices charged in other countries, including in Europe. Several major drug companies have already reached agreements with the White House to reduce U.S. drug costs in exchange for tariff relief, which is creating additional pressure to raise prices in other markets.

Some critics viewed Germany’s partial concession as a concerning sign of how much leverage the pharmaceutical industry currently holds. At the same time, they noted that European nations retain some bargaining power, since the continent remains a significant market even if it is less profitable than the United States.

Sally Gainsbury, an analyst at the healthcare think tank Nuffield Trust, offered a measured perspective. “America is not the only market in the world,” she said, while acknowledging that the UK-U.S. pricing agreement carried a cautionary message for Europe. “The depressing reality is that the ‘UK playbook’ here means health systems will spend more, but will get less health benefit for their populations,” she added.

A group of advocacy organizations sent a letter Tuesday urging the U.S. government to make an experimental Ebola treatment developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical accessible for clinical trials and emergency use in nations dealing with the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak.

The letter was addressed to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, known as BARDA, and called for coordination with the World Health Organization, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, governments of affected nations, and humanitarian medical organizations.

The organizations specifically requested that the treatment, called MBP134, along with any other experimental therapies held by the U.S., be shared with those responding to the outbreak.

MBP134 is a monoclonal antibody treatment created through a long-running public-private partnership backed by BARDA. It was originally developed to address the Sudan virus, which is closely related to other ebolaviruses.

According to the letter, BARDA holds doses of MBP134 and has invested at least $241 million in Mapp for the treatment’s development. The letter was signed by Public Citizen, Health Global Access Project, AVAC, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Doctors for America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

Government data released Tuesday showed confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have risen to 837, including 196 fatalities. Currently, a limited number of experimental vaccines and treatments are under evaluation, but no approved options exist specifically for the Bundibugyo strain.

The World Health Organization has recommended that experimental treatments, including MBP134, be prioritized for this particular strain of the virus.

The advocacy groups noted that while the U.S. has confirmed it would make the therapy available to Americans at high risk, it has not publicly committed to sharing doses for trials or emergency use in the countries affected by the outbreak.

The organizations also called on the U.S. to include provisions for global access in future research agreements involving medical products developed with public funding.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week rejected the recommendation of his own medical experts and refused to free a cruise ship passenger from a Nebraska quarantine facility, despite a federal review concluding she no longer needs to be held far from her Florida home.

The decision by Kennedy — one of the country’s most outspoken critics of vaccine mandates, government lockdowns, and public health restrictions — has ignited anger among advocates and legal scholars, who are calling the move unlawful and driven by politics rather than genuine public health concerns.

As of Tuesday, the passenger, Angela Perryman, remained confined at the facility.

“I want to be able to walk outside and put my feet in the grass,” Perryman said. “I want to be able to feel fresh air on my face when I want to. I want to be able to see people that are not in full PPE. I don’t want to be dehumanized anymore.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Courtney Spencer, explained that Florida declined to meet the federal government’s requirements for how closely Perryman would need to be monitored if she returned home. Spencer said keeping the quarantine order in place was “necessary to ensure both Ms. Perryman’s and her community’s well-being.”

“The Andes virus has a 40 percent case fatality rate – 40 times that of COVID-19 – and a known incubation period of up to 42 days during which anyone exposed to this disease can become symptomatic and transmit it to others,” Spencer said.

Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert who helped develop the current federal quarantine regulations, described the decision as “an egregious violation” of an American citizen’s constitutional rights.

“She’s being held, deprived of her liberty, which is the greatest deprivation you can have. She’s committed no crime. And there’s a broad medical consensus that she would be perfectly safe to finish her quarantine at home,” Gostin said.

Kennedy’s order, signed Monday, came after a medical review conducted earlier this month by Dr. Michael Bell of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — an agency that falls under Kennedy’s Department of Health and Human Services.

Bell examined testimony from CDC officials and an independent medical expert regarding Perryman’s challenge to an earlier order requiring her to stay at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Now five weeks since she disembarked from the ship, Perryman has developed no symptoms. Bell’s review found that one reason she hadn’t been permitted to return to Florida was because federal officials required anyone going home to undergo daily face-to-face monitoring and around-the-clock surveillance by local law enforcement or public officials.

Florida authorities rejected those conditions — which Gostin described as “overkill” and a “waste of resources” — and instead suggested Perryman simply conduct once-daily temperature checks and symptom assessments on her own.

Experts participating in the review agreed that Florida’s proposal was reasonable and that the federal demands were excessive. In a June 11 report obtained by The Associated Press, Bell recommended that Perryman be permitted to return home.

Despite that recommendation, Kennedy signed the order Monday anyway, stating that “continuation of the order is necessary to protect public health,” but offering no explanation for why he still considered Perryman a threat to public safety.

Perryman found out she would be required to remain at the Nebraska facility until June 21 when Kennedy’s order was slipped under her door Monday.

“I was appalled,” she said. “I was horrified that the secretary, who is not a physician, would override the doctor and violate the law just to keep me locked up.”

Perryman, 47, lives primarily in Ecuador but maintains a permanent home with friends in Florida. She says she wants to complete her quarantine in Florida, where she would have more freedom, be able to cook her own meals, and move around either her home or a rental property.

She compared her current situation to being confined to an airport hotel room for 23 to 24 hours a day. Occasionally, she is permitted to visit the facility’s roof for an hour under the watch of armed guards. Meals are delivered to her room twice a day by nurses wearing gloves, masks, and face shields. She described the experience as feeling like a “prison.”

Perryman was aboard a cruise ship traveling through the South Atlantic when an unusual hantavirus outbreak struck, killing three people. Roughly two dozen Americans were on the vessel, including Perryman and 17 others who were transported to the Nebraska quarantine unit on May 11.

Hantaviruses typically spread when people breathe in contaminated particles from rodent droppings. However, the specific strain involved in this outbreak — called the Andes virus — may in rare cases be transmissible between people.

Because hantavirus symptoms have taken up to 42 days to emerge in past outbreaks, the 18 passengers were to be monitored for symptoms through the end of Sunday, June 21.

Initially, the passengers were asked — not ordered — to remain at the Nebraska facility. Perryman said a CDC official told her at the time that her stay was voluntary. At the urging of that official and the facility’s medical director, she agreed to stay through May 22 to protect public health, since most people who develop symptoms tend to do so within the first three weeks. She was later informed she could not leave on that date, despite having no symptoms.

Perryman and one other passenger were then issued formal quarantine orders from federal health officials requiring them to remain at the facility until May 31. Such orders — which can be enforced through fines and even prison time — are a rare legal measure used when someone refuses a public health request. The initial orders were signed by the CDC’s acting director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.

Perryman said she was told that after May 31, she could quarantine in Florida provided the state agreed to the surveillance and in-person monitoring requirements. When Florida refused, federal officials ordered her to remain in Nebraska.

She is not the only one still there. As of Tuesday, eight passengers remained at the Nebraska facility. The others were allowed to return home earlier this month after their home states agreed to the federal monitoring plan.

The situation has drawn attention to an apparent contradiction in Kennedy’s public positions. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy raised alarms about governments imposing mass quarantines, saying in an interview for his former organization Children’s Health Defense that “quarantine kills people too” and that the costs of lockdowns should be openly debated.

“This seems to me to drip with hypocrisy, because the whole premise of Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA movement is medical freedom. And here they’re willing to detain somebody against their wishes,” Gostin said.

Rebecca Simonitsch was still processing difficult news when she boarded her flight home — doctors had just told her she might need brain surgery.

But somewhere over the clouds, an unlikely source of comfort and clarity appeared in the seat right next to her. The man reached into his bag, pulled out a notebook, and began explaining to her what the coming journey might involve.

What started as a quiet flight became a moment that helped Simonitsch better understand the medical path that potentially lay ahead of her.

A food safety recall has been issued for a popular snack product after it was found to potentially contain an undeclared allergen that could put some consumers in serious danger.

Western Mixers Produce & Nuts, Inc., based in Ontario, California, has announced a voluntary recall of First Street brand Dark Chocolate Raisins sold in 9-ounce packages. The concern is that the product may actually contain dark chocolate peanuts that were never listed on the label.

For people with peanut allergies or severe sensitivities, consuming this product without knowing peanuts are present could trigger a serious or even life-threatening allergic reaction.

Shoppers who have purchased this item are encouraged to stop eating it immediately and check whether the product is in their home. Anyone with questions about the recall should contact the manufacturer for further guidance.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed an American woman to remain in quarantine against her will and contrary to medical guidance, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The woman, Angela Perryman, 47, is one of 18 Americans who were placed in quarantine at a Nebraska facility after Andes hantavirus cases were identified aboard a cruise ship earlier this year.

A Department of Health and Human Services official told Reuters that the 42-day monitoring period will be completed at midnight on June 21. The remaining passengers at the Nebraska quarantine unit are expected to depart on June 22. That 42-day window began when the group returned to the United States on May 10, the official said.

Eight U.S. residents from the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius were released to their home states after three weeks of observation at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, according to the facility. Ten others continued to be monitored.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously requested that all individuals from the cruise ship remain at the quarantine unit through May 31.

The New York Times reported that some passengers were permitted to complete their quarantine at home through June 22, as long as local health authorities agreed to have law enforcement or a community health worker check on them. The World Health Organization recommends a 42-day monitoring and quarantine period for high-risk contacts following exposure.

Perryman wanted to return to her home in Florida, but state officials there declined to provide the required monitoring, according to both the Wall Street Journal and the Times. The CDC said during a quarantine hearing that she should be permitted to return home for the rest of the quarantine period, and a CDC medical review noted that her chances of developing symptoms were decreasing over time, the Journal reported.

Perryman told both publications that a copy of an order from Kennedy was slipped under her room door, informing her she could not go home. The order stated that despite the doctor’s findings, Perryman was reasonably believed to have been infected with or exposed to the disease, according to the Journal.

Reuters was unable to reach Perryman at the facility by phone.

A cyber extortion group is claiming responsibility for a massive data theft targeting Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company behind popular diabetes and obesity drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy — and says it tried to squeeze $25 million out of the company after the breach.

The group, known as FulcrumSec, posted a lengthy statement to its website Tuesday saying it spent more than two months quietly moving through Novo Nordisk’s computer networks, making off with what it described as more than a terabyte of sensitive information. According to the group, the stolen data includes company source code, details on both released and unreleased medications, clinical trial records, employee and patient information, data related to company production facilities, and internal artificial intelligence model data.

Novo Nordisk had already disclosed a cybersecurity incident on June 11, acknowledging that unauthorized parties had gained access to a limited number of internal IT systems and certain personal data. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding FulcrumSec’s specific claims, and Reuters was unable to immediately confirm whether the data the hacking group posted was authentic. FulcrumSec also did not respond to a request for comment.

After Novo Nordisk declined to pay the $25 million demand, FulcrumSec said it is now “exploring private sales” for some of the stolen data tied to certain drugs and other internal company information.

Thomas Willkan, who leads research at cybersecurity company Lab-1 and has closely followed FulcrumSec since the group appeared in October 2025, offered some context on the group’s credibility. He described FulcrumSec as “usually quite legit in terms of both their capabilities and also their claims.”

Despite threatening to sell some data, the group said it would hold back certain categories of information. That includes personal data belonging to thousands of company employees and physicians, as well as records for roughly 11,500 clinical trial patients whose identities had been partially obscured. FulcrumSec also said it would not release data connected to the machinery and software used at Novo Nordisk’s manufacturing facilities, describing that decision as part of a “harm-reduction strategy.”

The cybersecurity blog DataBreaches.net reported on June 15 that FulcrumSec told the site on June 14 that it first broke into Novo Nordisk’s network back in March. The blog also shared what it described as correspondence between FulcrumSec and Novo Nordisk beginning June 1, which included a file list of more than 700,000 items totaling approximately 1.3 terabytes of data.

Separately, the malware research site VX-Underground reported Monday that an unnamed hacker had also compromised Novo Nordisk. FulcrumSec addressed that report directly, stating that its own attack is a separate, unrelated incident.

NEW YORK (AP) — The rate at which babies in the United States die before their first birthday has dropped to its lowest level ever recorded, according to early government figures released this year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2025, the infant mortality rate came in at just under 5.4 deaths for every 1,000 live births. That’s a step down from roughly 5.5 in 2024 and approximately 5.6 during each of the two years before that. Though the change may seem minor, health researchers say it carries real statistical weight — amounting to hundreds fewer infant deaths annually.

Pinpointing exactly what is behind the improvement is challenging, but Dr. Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes, called it a positive sign. “This is an encouraging data point, and we hope that this trend will continue,” he said.

Infant mortality tracks how many babies die before reaching their first birthday. Because the number of births changes from year to year, researchers use rates rather than raw numbers to make meaningful comparisons over time.

The total count of infant deaths is also trending downward. Provisional CDC figures show approximately 19,350 babies died in 2025 — down from around 20,050 in 2024 and about 20,160 in 2023. Those preliminary numbers may shift slightly as further analysis is completed, but the overall direction is expected to hold.

Over the past three decades, the U.S. rate has gradually improved, falling from 7.5 deaths per 1,000 births — a decline credited to advances in medicine and public health campaigns. Even so, the U.S. continues to perform worse than other high-income countries. A study published last year found that in 2022, the American infant mortality rate was nearly double that of several comparable wealthy democracies, including Italy, Japan, Spain, and Sweden. Experts point to poverty, limited access to prenatal care, and other systemic issues as contributing factors.

That 2022 figure was notable for another reason — it marked the first statistically significant increase in the U.S. infant mortality rate in roughly two decades. Health officials linked that spike to a resurgence of RSV and flu infections among infants.

In response, U.S. health authorities in 2023 began recommending two new protective measures: a lab-created antibody shot designed to help infants’ immune systems fight RSV, and an RSV vaccine for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. A March of Dimes expert stated last year that these interventions likely played a role in the improvement seen in 2024.

Warren also noted that a drop in sudden infant death syndrome cases may be connected to growing awareness and education around safe sleep practices for babies.

The CDC posted its 2025 preliminary data in late May. On Tuesday, the agency released a more detailed breakdown of 2024 infant mortality figures. Key findings from that report include:

— Death rates fell for both the youngest infants — those under 28 days old — and for slightly older babies. Preliminary 2025 data suggest those declines have continued.

— Racial disparities in infant mortality remained pronounced in 2024. Babies born to Black women died at more than twice the rate of infants born to Hispanic, white, and Asian American women.

— Researchers observed a drop in the mortality rate for full-term infants born at 39 to 40 weeks gestation, though rates for other gestational age groups did not change significantly.

— Among individual states, Mississippi recorded the highest infant mortality rate at 9.65 deaths per 1,000 births, while New Hampshire had the lowest at just under 3 per 1,000.

Warren addressed the wide variation between states, saying: “These differences are reflective of a variety of reasons related to access to care, community factors, and policies that improve health and outcomes.”

BEIJING — China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration rolled out a revised Ebola prevention and control plan on Tuesday, tightening procedures for tracking close contacts, strengthening oversight at medical facilities, and expanding monitoring at the country’s borders.

The updated plan was prompted by recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, according to a statement from the administration.

Under the new guidelines, anyone considered a close contact — meaning someone who has had direct exposure to the blood, bodily fluids, secretions, excrement, or contaminated belongings of a confirmed or suspected Ebola patient — must be tracked and placed under quarantined medical observation for 21 days starting from their last point of contact with the infected person or contaminated item.

Medical facilities, disease control agencies, and customs offices at every level are required to report both suspected and confirmed Ebola cases through a designated online system within two hours of identification.

The scope of surveillance is also being broadened. In addition to existing port health checks and domestic disease tracking, monitoring will now include alerts from international health organizations, testing conducted by domestic laboratory institutions, and wastewater screening on aircraft arriving from abroad.

Travelers arriving in China from Ebola-affected countries or regions — or anyone who has visited such areas within the past 21 days — will be required to monitor their own health for 21 days after entering the country.

Disease control agencies at the provincial level have been directed to work with relevant government departments to follow up with individuals who have traveled to Ebola-affected regions, maintaining contact until the 21-day monitoring period is complete.

There’s nothing quite like pushing yourself on a long hike through the woods, breathing in fresh air and soaking up the peace and quiet. But too often, that healthy feeling disappears the moment you get back to camp and reach for a packaged hot dog stuffed into a white bread bun with a slice of processed cheese.

It doesn’t have to be that way, according to Aaron Owens Mayhew, a dietitian and long-distance hiker based in Orcutt, California.

“It always made me sad that people who train so hard, they exercise, they eat well at home, and then they go backpacking and pick up honey buns,” Owens Mayhew said.

Spending time outdoors is widely known to benefit both mental and physical health — but campers and hikers frequently undo some of that good by relying on heavily processed foods packed with saturated fat, salt, and sugar.

So how do you rethink what’s on your camp menu?

Most people understand that a little processed food isn’t going to hurt, especially when you’re burning extra calories on the trail. The real issue, said Owens Mayhew, is how the body handles it. She founded Backcountry Foodie, a website focused on bringing better nutrition to outdoor adventures.

Simple carbohydrates — think sugary baked goods and candy bars — can send blood sugar spiking and then crashing, leaving hikers feeling more worn out than before. Heavily processed foods tend to be calorie-dense but short on the vitamins, minerals, and protein your body needs to keep performing.

Eating well in the wild, on the other hand, can deliver steady energy all day long and help your body recover faster.

“I like to think of food as one variable that can be controlled, unlike a sprained ankle or bad weather,” Owens Mayhew said.

Her advice? Keep eating what you normally eat at home. Instead of frying bacon and eggs over a fire just because that’s a camping tradition, bring the bran cereal you have every morning — this time paired with powdered milk, which you can find in the baking aisle at the grocery store.

Many of the recipes on her website are healthier takes on family classics, including tuna casserole, garlic-Parmesan noodles, and sweet potato casserole. She also recommends packing instant brown rice, quinoa, and couscous to serve alongside grilled meat or fish. These options are lightweight, nutritious, and only require boiling water to prepare.

For extra flavor, try adding fresh ginger, herbs, or garlic and onion powder. Tossing in nuts, dried mushrooms, grated Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, or dried fruit can transform a simple starch into a satisfying full meal.

Planning ahead is everything when it comes to camp cooking, said Rashad Frazier, founder of Camp Yoshi, a gourmet adventure outfitter. Trying to figure it out on the fly usually doesn’t end well.

Long before your trip, take time to map out your meals and prep as many ingredients as possible. Chop your onions and grate your ginger at home, then store them in zip-top bags or containers. That way, when you’re out there, you can spend your time watching the sunset instead of doing prep work.

“There’s no extra bonus points for cutting onions and making mango chutney at camp,” Frazier said.

His cookbook, “Cook Out,” includes a whole section on pantry staples you can prepare before you leave. His universal spice mix, salsa verde, chutneys, curry paste, and pickled onions are all flavor-packed additions that don’t pile on extra calories. Mix and match them with whatever meat, vegetables, or grains you have on hand, he said.

Frazier also strongly recommends having a backup meal ready for when weather or other unexpected problems throw off your plans. His go-to is a Bolognese sauce he keeps frozen until it’s time to head out. But a homemade pureed soup or even a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can save the day.

“Have that one dish that’s always like, in the event of emergency, break glass, eat this,” he said.

Here are two recipes to help take your campsite cooking up a notch:

Universal Camping Spice Mix
From the cookbook “Cook Out”

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne (adjust to your heat preference)

Mix everything together at home and store in a sealed container. Rub onto any meat, fish, or vegetable before grilling on a well-oiled surface.

Parmesan Pesto Ramen
One serving — From Backcountry Foodie

1 package ramen noodles
2 tablespoons pine nuts or almonds
1 tablespoon dried basil (or 2 tablespoons fresh, if you have it)
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 oz water

Before you leave home, throw away the ramen’s high-sodium seasoning packet. Make a pesto packet by combining the nuts, herbs, garlic, and cheese in a small bag. At camp, boil water, cook the noodles until tender, drain the water, then stir in the pesto packet and olive oil. Add fresh basil if you have it.

Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit seeking to strike down an Alaska state law that mandates women visit a doctor in person before they can obtain abortifacient drugs. The organization’s regional branch, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, argues that requiring an in-person medical visit is too burdensome for women living in Alaska.

The state’s attorney general’s office has responded by announcing it will fight to uphold the law. Planned Parenthood, which is the largest abortion provider in the United States and a major distributor of abortion pills, is leading the legal challenge against the requirement.

India has moved to restrict the sale of cough syrups strictly to licensed pharmacies, particularly in rural areas, putting an end to over-the-counter sales through general retail outlets. The decision comes as the country’s drug regulators have been under growing pressure to tighten oversight following child deaths connected to contaminated medicines.

Previously, certain cough syrups were included on an exemption list under India’s drug regulations, which allowed them to be sold as common household remedies without the stricter requirements that apply to other medications. This meant vendors holding limited retail licenses — often operating in small towns or villages with populations of no more than 1,000 and no nearby pharmacy — were permitted to sell these products. Customers frequently purchased the syrups without a prescription, sometimes from stores that had nothing to do with pharmaceuticals.

As of a government notification dated June 15, cough syrups have been removed from that exemption list. Pills, tablets, and lozenges will continue to be covered under the relaxed rules.

India’s Health Ministry issued a statement explaining the change: “Consequently, the sale and dispensing of cough syrups in smaller villages will now be required to take place only through duly licensed pharmacies in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.”

The ministry added: “The measure is expected to promote responsible distribution and sale of cough syrups while ensuring greater compliance with regulatory standards across the country.”

A health ministry official, speaking without attribution, noted that in urban areas, cough syrups were already required to be sold through registered pharmacies under existing rules.

India’s pharmaceutical industry, which is largely made up of smaller manufacturers and is projected to reach a value of $130 billion by 2030, has faced mounting criticism over quality control in recent years. Since 2022, cough syrups manufactured in India have been connected to the deaths of more than 140 children in Africa and Central Asia, dealing a significant blow to the country’s standing as the so-called “pharmacy of the world.”

Last October, a syrup called Coldrif, made by Sresan Pharmaceutical, was linked to the deaths of 24 children. The country’s drug regulatory agency reported in February that it had completed inspections of nearly 90% of cough syrup manufacturers and had taken action against those found to be out of compliance.

Tushar Tayal, a doctor at CK Birla Hospital in Gurgaon, voiced support for the new policy. “We have seen people with chronic cough resorting to self-medication,” he said, noting that the latest action is necessary in light of ongoing safety and quality concerns.

Medical technology company iRhythm reported Monday that it experienced unauthorized access to data stored on certain third-party applications last week, though the company says it has found no evidence that its products, medical devices, or patient safety have been compromised.

According to a regulatory filing by the company, here is what is known so far:

iRhythm first detected the unauthorized activity on June 8 and immediately brought in outside cybersecurity specialists to investigate the breach.

The very next day, on June 9, the company received a demand for payment from a so-called “threat actor” who claimed to have taken proprietary company data, protected patient health information, and other personal details.

By June 10, iRhythm determined the incident was significant enough to be considered material, citing the large volume of data that may have been compromised.

The company says that based on its ongoing investigation, the cyberattack has not disrupted its manufacturing or distribution operations, its financial reporting systems, or its ability to continue serving patients.

Investigators found that the stolen data was obtained through social engineering tactics and came from certain business applications hosted by third-party providers. iRhythm stressed that its clinical systems, medical device infrastructure, and customer connections were not involved in the breach, and that it does not retain individual financial account or payment card data.

As of now, the company has not found any evidence that unauthorized access to its systems is continuing, though the investigation into the full scope of the incident and who may have been affected remains ongoing.

iRhythm also indicated it does not expect the incident to have a material impact on its financial condition or results, and noted that its cybersecurity insurance coverage may offset some of the losses stemming from the attack.

NAIROBI — The African Export-Import Bank has scrapped plans for its annual meeting, which had been scheduled to take place at the Egyptian resort of El Alamein next week. The decision comes in response to joint measures adopted by Egypt and the African Union following a surge in Ebola cases in central Africa.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 782 Ebola cases since an outbreak was officially declared one month ago, raising significant concerns about travel throughout the region for meetings and other gatherings. Neighboring Uganda has also reported confirmed infections.

The Cairo-based bank, known as Afreximbank, announced it will instead carry out shareholder business through “correspondence,” according to a statement reviewed by Reuters on Monday. The bank also noted that the Egyptian government has postponed other international events that had been planned for this month.

“These decisions were taken on public health and safety grounds in light of the evolving health situation in parts of the continent,” the lender stated.

Afreximbank is owned by a combination of African governments, regional financial institutions, and private shareholders.

The African Development Bank held its own annual meeting last month in Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo — shortly after the Ebola outbreak was declared by its neighbor, the DRC.

KINSHASA, Congo — Health authorities in Congo have recorded one of the largest single-day jumps in Ebola infections since the current outbreak began, with ongoing obstacles such as inadequate contact tracing, regional instability, and financial shortfalls continuing to slow efforts to contain the disease.

Congo’s Ministry of Health announced Sunday that 72 new cases were confirmed within a single 24-hour window, pushing the total number of confirmed infections to 782. That same report included 32 additional deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 181.

Officials believe the true number of cases is likely even greater. The outbreak was officially confirmed on May 15, several weeks after it is thought to have actually started. Additionally, the rate of contact tracing coverage has dropped to just 56%, a notable decline from the previous week.

This outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. Unlike the Zaire strain — which was responsible for the majority of Congo’s 16 previous Ebola outbreaks — the Bundibugyo virus currently has no approved vaccine or treatment available.

So far, 56 patients have recovered from the disease. The current fatality rate stands at 23%, according to the ministry.

The World Health Organization said Sunday that it is stepping up testing, contact tracing, and treatment efforts in response to the escalating situation.

Africa’s leading health organization also announced it is sending technical specialists and bolstering laboratory systems, active case identification, and community outreach to speed up the overall response to the outbreak.

The head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, issued a call to action, stating: “We remain committed to supporting affected countries until transmission is stopped. We call on partners and donors to urgently mobilize resources to strengthen the response and save lives.”

The vast majority of cases — more than 90% — are located in Congo’s eastern Ituri province. Additional cases have been identified in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and the disease has crossed the border into neighboring Uganda.

Containment efforts in Ituri face enormous challenges. According to the United Nations humanitarian office, nearly one million people have been displaced in the region due to armed conflict, making it extremely difficult to track the movements of those who may have been exposed to the virus. People are frequently on the move, either fleeing violence or relocating across a vast province characterized by thick forests, poor road infrastructure, and remote villages that can require days of travel to reach.

Contact tracing is further complicated by the presence of thousands of artisanal miners who routinely travel between isolated work sites throughout the mineral-rich region.

Legal challenges are now underway in New York and Illinois as advocacy groups push back against laws that allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with a physician’s assistance.

The lawsuits were filed by a coalition made up of disability rights organizations and patient advocacy groups. The coalition contends that these assisted suicide laws put people with disabilities at a disadvantage, arguing they are more vulnerable to being coerced into choosing to end their own lives.

Beyond the discrimination concerns, the groups also claim these laws run afoul of the U.S. Constitution and specific federal civil rights statutes, setting the stage for what could be a significant legal battle over the future of physician-assisted death in those states.

What if the key to becoming a better cook was already sitting in your refrigerator or on your counter — just waiting to be thrown out?

Dishes like fried rice, bread pudding, and homemade broth all have one thing in common: they begin with ingredients that most people casually toss in the trash without a second thought.

A closer look at how we handle leftovers suggests that changing your mindset about food scraps could have a big impact on your cooking. Rather than seeing yesterday’s rice or stale bread as waste, treating them as a starting point opens the door to a whole new approach in the kitchen.

Life Kit explored how rethinking the way we view leftovers can shift cooking habits for the better — turning what many consider garbage into the foundation for flavorful, satisfying meals.

Congo’s Ministry of Health announced Sunday evening via social platform X that the country’s ongoing Ebola outbreak has now reached 782 confirmed cases, with 181 people having lost their lives to the disease.

Health officials believe the actual number of infections is likely far greater. The outbreak wasn’t officially confirmed until May 15 — several weeks after it is thought to have first taken hold — and the rate of contact tracing has dropped to just 56%, a significant decline from the previous week.

This outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment available. This sets it apart from the Zaire strain, which was responsible for the majority of Congo’s 16 previous Ebola outbreaks and for which medical countermeasures exist.

The Ministry reported that 56 patients have recovered so far, and the current death rate stands at 23%.

The hardest-hit area is Congo’s eastern Ituri province, which accounts for over 90% of all cases. Additional cases have been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and the disease has also crossed the border into Uganda.

Efforts to contain the spread face enormous obstacles. According to the United Nations humanitarian office, nearly one million people in Ituri have been uprooted by ongoing conflict, making it extremely difficult for health workers to track potential exposures. People frequently move through a vast region characterized by dense forests, poor road infrastructure, and remote villages that can take days to reach.

Thousands of small-scale miners who regularly travel between remote sites in the mineral-rich area also present a significant challenge to tracing efforts.

Health workers on the ground are also dealing with hostility from some local residents, widespread skepticism about the outbreak, and ongoing armed conflict in affected areas — all of which continue to hamper the response.

Last month, U.S. officials announced that Americans who are exposed to Ebola while overseas would be sent to a newly established facility in Kenya rather than being returned to the United States. The planned center, to be located at Laikipia Air Base with space for 50 quarantine beds, sparked protests over the proposal. A court later moved to halt the project.

Danish drugmaker H. Lundbeck announced Sunday that its experimental treatment asedebart demonstrated promising results and was well tolerated in a small mid-stage clinical study targeting Cushing’s disease, a rare disorder affecting the body’s hormonal balance.

The findings were unveiled at a medical conference held in Chicago, representing a significant step for Lundbeck as the company broadens its reach into rare diseases beyond its longstanding specialty in brain-related conditions like depression and migraine.

Data gathered from 12 trial participants revealed that following dose adjustments, urinary free cortisol — a measure of how much of the stress hormone cortisol the body produces in a single day — returned to normal levels in seven out of eight patients whose results could be evaluated. This normalization is considered a positive indicator in treating Cushing’s disease.

The drug, which is delivered intravenously, was reported to be generally well tolerated, with no unexpected harmful effects and no new safety concerns identified by researchers.

Johan Luthman, the company’s executive vice president and head of research and development, told Reuters: “All the adverse events we see are very, very consistent with the mode of action of the drug.”

Cushing’s disease is caused by a non-cancerous tumor on the pituitary gland that triggers the body to chronically overproduce cortisol. Asedebart targets this problem by reducing abnormal spikes in a hormone called ACTH, which in turn helps lower cortisol production.

Lundbeck said it intends to move to a new group of trial participants to study the drug when delivered via subcutaneous injections rather than intravenously, according to Luthman. A late-stage trial is expected to launch in the first half of 2027.

Asedebart has already been granted orphan drug designation — a special regulatory status reserved for treatments targeting rare diseases — for congenital adrenal hyperplasia in both the European Union and Japan.

KINSHASA — Government data released Sunday shows the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ongoing Ebola outbreak has grown to 782 confirmed cases, following a surge of 72 new infections recorded within a single 24-hour period — one of the largest one-day increases seen during this outbreak.

The government’s most recent situation report also confirms that 181 people have died from the disease among those confirmed cases.

According to the data, this outbreak — the country’s 17th — continues to be limited to three eastern provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

However, the report reveals that Ebola has now been detected for the first time in two additional areas: the Nia-Nia health zone in Ituri province and the Mabalako health zone in North Kivu province.

The disease has now spread to 20 of Ituri’s 36 health zones and 10 of North Kivu’s 34 health zones, along with one health zone in South Kivu.

NIZI, Democratic Republic of Congo — Two weeks ago, the Kpangba displacement camp became the first in this part of conflict-ravaged Congo to see Ebola claim lives. Health teams immediately moved in to track down anyone who had been in contact with the deceased, hoping to stop the virus from spreading further.

Those efforts were quickly shut down. Residents of the camp drove away workers from the provincial health ministry, the World Health Organization, and other aid organizations, refusing to accept that the two women had died from Ebola. That’s according to Jean-Claude Lonzama, the chief doctor for the Nizi health zone — a densely populated mining region.

“Up to this day, we are not able to follow up on the contacts of these cases,” Lonzama told Reuters on Saturday.

That standoff has left health officials essentially operating in the dark as they attempt to prevent an Ebola surge inside a camp housing approximately 30,000 people, the vast majority of whom fled inter-ethnic violence in surrounding communities.

“We have 22 displaced persons sites in the Nizi health zone … with around 81,124 residents,” Lonzama said. “This is also our great worry because no preventive measures have been put in place in these sites aside from a few educational messages.”

The current outbreak was declared a month ago, and since then, several treatment facilities have come under attack. Some residents believe Ebola is a fabrication, while others are furious that traditional burial practices have been restricted to prevent the virus from spreading.

Aid organizations are particularly alarmed about the conditions inside displacement camps, where hundreds of residents may share a single toilet and open defecation is widespread. Those conditions could accelerate what is already shaping up to be one of the largest Ebola outbreaks ever recorded.

More than 5 million displaced people live across the three affected provinces — Ituri, South Kivu, and North Kivu — all of which have suffered through decades of armed conflict.

Throughout eastern Congo, health workers are running into the same wall: deep distrust of both the government and outside organizations. The attacks on treatment sites echo violence seen during a 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in the same region, which claimed the lives of more than 25 health workers.

The two deaths in Kpangba happened on May 31 and June 1, though they weren’t publicly reported until a U.N. refugee agency document was released Thursday. A Congolese health ministry report reviewed by Reuters revealed that the first victim — a 60-year-old woman — had tested positive for Ebola on May 30, but had already left quarantine and could not be found by that point.

Health experts say the combination of community mistrust, shortages of essential supplies, and ongoing armed conflict across much of the affected region has left them gravely concerned about whether this outbreak can be brought under control.

Federal health officials announced Saturday that Nara Organics has pulled its organic baby formula from shelves after a multistate outbreak of infant botulism was linked to the product.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, three infants between 2 and 5 months old fell ill in April and May after drinking Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered infant formula. The babies were from California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. All three were hospitalized and received the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism.

The formula is sold at Target stores across the country and on Nara.com. It is manufactured in Europe but distributed exclusively in the United States.

Infant botulism is a rare but potentially dangerous condition that affects babies under one year of age. Because infants have underdeveloped gut microbiomes, they are vulnerable to bacteria with spores that release a toxin inside the digestive system.

Parents and caregivers should watch for warning signs that include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak muscle tone, trouble swallowing, and breathing difficulties. Any baby showing these symptoms requires immediate medical care.

The only available treatment is BabyBIG, an intravenous medication derived from the blood plasma of individuals who have been immunized against botulism.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement urging anyone who has the formula to stop using it right away. The CDC also recommended that those with an opened can take a photo of the label, write down the lot number and use-by date, and monitor their infant closely.

“Label it ‘DO NOT USE’ and keep it stored in a safe place away from other items you feed your baby for at least a month,” the CDC advised. “If no symptoms appear after a month, throw the leftover formula away.”

The FDA noted that Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula accounts for less than one percent of all baby formula sold in the U.S., and the recall is not expected to cause any shortage concerns for families.

People around the world can’t seem to get enough protein in their diets — but the dairy industry is having a hard time keeping up with that demand.

For years, athletes and older adults have relied on whey protein concentrate — a powdered substance left over from the cheese-making process — to help build and preserve muscle through smoothies and shakes. Now, food manufacturers are adding it to a wide range of everyday products, including breakfast cereals, Pop-Tarts, potato chips, bagels, tortillas, and even certain Starbucks beverages, all in an effort to satisfy shoppers who are paying close attention to what goes into their food.

According to market research firm NielsenIQ, the average American supermarket now carries 38,708 products that promote their protein content. But that rush to capitalize on the protein trend is straining the supply of food-grade whey protein and driving prices to historic highs.

“Demand is very firm and seemingly outpacing supply for right now,” said Kathleen Wolfley, vice president of Ever.Ag Insights, a data and consulting firm serving the agriculture sector.

Wolfley noted that wholesale whey protein prices started climbing in 2024, with the increases picking up speed last year and continuing into this year. Whey protein concentrate with 80% protein content — commonly used by food producers and supplement makers — is now trading on the dairy commodities market at more than $13 per pound in the United States, a jump of 250% compared to a year ago, according to Ever.Ag. A more refined version called whey protein isolate, which contains at least 90% protein, is selling for 150% more than it did a year ago.

Those wholesale increases are working their way to store shelves. U.S. retail prices for whey protein concentrate powder have climbed roughly 15% over the past year, while the pricier whey isolate powder has seen even steeper increases, according to price-tracking company Datasembly.

The situation in Europe is similar. In late May, 80% whey protein concentrate reached a new record average price of 26,450 euros — about $30,518 — per metric ton, more than double the price from less than a year earlier, according to DCA Market Intelligence, a commodity pricing firm based in the Netherlands.

To understand why supplies are so tight, it helps to know how whey is made. Milk naturally contains two proteins: casein and whey. When cheese is produced, the casein forms solid curds and is separated from the liquid whey, which is then dried into a powder. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, every pound of cheese produced generates nine pounds of whey.

While Americans have been drinking less milk for decades, their love of cheese has stayed strong, Wolfley said. That cheese consumption produced large amounts of whey protein, and in the past, a significant portion of the surplus was shipped overseas — particularly to China. But now, growing domestic appetite for high-protein snacks and meals is keeping more of that whey at home, either as a food additive or a nutritional supplement. U.S. exports of 80% whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate to China dropped 47% from January through April compared to the same stretch a year earlier, according to Vesper, an Amsterdam-based commodity tracking company.

“There simply isn’t enough product for the U.S. customer, and exports have therefore been paused as much as possible,” said Jasper Endlich, a dairy analyst at Vesper.

Endlich added that China is now turning to Europe to fill its whey protein needs — but Europe is also experiencing shortages, partly because of the reduction in American exports.

One major driver of the surge in demand is the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, Wolfley said. Drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound work by suppressing appetite, meaning the people who take them need to make every bite count nutritionally. Experts advise GLP-1 users to eat enough protein to stay full longer and to protect muscle mass during weight loss.

According to an estimate from investment bank Morgan Stanley, roughly 6% of obese and diabetic patients in the U.S. and 2% of such patients worldwide were using GLP-1 drugs last year. Some estimates place overall GLP-1 use as high as 12% of the U.S. adult population, since many users are not obese or diabetic.

Food and nutrition companies are racing to develop protein-enriched products to appeal to GLP-1 users as well as people who turn to protein shakes as a meal replacement for weight management.

The squeeze on supplies has forced some manufacturers to raise their prices. Now Foods, an Illinois-based maker of health foods and nutritional supplements, said whey protein powder tubs are consistently its top-selling sports nutrition item. After two years of rising raw ingredient costs, the company increased its whey protein product prices earlier this year.

Bryan Morin, the sports brand manager at Now Foods, said the company does not expect to raise whey protein powder prices again this year and is instead trying to absorb some of the added costs by scaling back on discounts. The company is also exploring whether to add products made with milk protein concentrate — a powder that contains less whey and costs less — to its lineup.

“From our perspective, broader market dynamics continue to indicate a tight and evolving protein landscape,” Morin said.

Wolfley said manufacturers are putting money into expanding whey protein production, which should eventually ease the shortage — but not right away. Glanbia, an Irish nutrition company, announced in November that it plans to boost whey protein isolate production at its New Mexico facility, though that added capacity won’t come online until 2027. In February, Canadian dairy company Agropur said it intends to ramp up whey protein manufacturing at plants located in Quebec, Nova Scotia, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

In the meantime, Wolfley said, higher prices may push some consumers to stop buying whey protein products altogether — especially as grocery costs rise across the board. If retail demand softens, that could help ease the shortage at the wholesale level.

“The supply-demand dynamics could start to improve, but I don’t know if that’s a tomorrow dynamic or within a year. Some of these things are going to take time,” Wolfley said.

Health authorities are working to educate the public about a dangerous condition many people haven’t heard of: a potentially fatal meat allergy that develops after being bitten by ticks.

This condition, called alpha-gal syndrome, was initially connected to a specific tick species approximately 15 years ago. However, medical professionals are seeing more patients experiencing reactions like skin rashes, stomach problems, and severe itching after consuming even small amounts of red meat and sometimes dairy products. The allergy doesn’t affect people’s ability to eat fish or birds like chicken, turkey, and eggs remain safe to consume.

Traditionally, doctors have told patients to stay away from foods derived from cattle, swine, and sheep while keeping emergency epinephrine shots available. However, federal regulators have recently given approval to the first medication specifically for this syndrome, with additional treatments potentially coming.

The syndrome differs from other tick-related diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever because it’s not triggered by bacteria or viruses. The condition develops when a person’s immune system creates an allergic reaction to a specific sugar molecule called alpha-gal.

This sugar exists in the meat of most mammals, excluding humans and other primates. It’s also present in the saliva of certain tick species.

While consuming this sugar through food is typically safe, tick bites can deliver it straight into a person’s bloodstream. This direct exposure causes the immune system to create antibodies that learn to recognize and attack alpha-gal molecules.

“It turns out that the skin is a fantastic way to make an allergic response,” said Dr. Scott Commins, an alpha-gal syndrome researcher at the University of North Carolina. “If this all happened orally, and we were eating alpha-gal like we do with steaks or barbecue, then we wouldn’t become allergic.”

Individuals who develop these antibodies typically experience severe allergic reactions several hours after eating meat or dairy. The condition can take weeks or months to manifest, with symptoms often becoming more severe as time passes.

Medical experts attribute rising case numbers to better recognition among healthcare providers and the general population.

“I think part of it is more people have learned about it and are on the watch for this syndrome,” said Maria Diuk-Wasser, a Columbia University researcher who studies tick-borne diseases.

However, increasing cases also mirror the growing territory of the lone star tick, which is the main carrier of this condition in America. This tick, recognizable by a white mark on its back, is typically found in eastern and southern states. Recently, it has appeared in previously unaffected areas, including regions around the Great Lakes and extending north to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Scientists are concerned that additional tick species, including blacklegged ticks, might also begin transmitting the condition.

According to a 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, approximately 450,000 Americans are believed to have developed this allergy.

Patients typically seek medical care after experiencing concerning symptoms like skin rashes, lightheadedness, breathing difficulties, and swelling in the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids. Others may only have digestive symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea.

Medical professionals identify the allergy using blood test results, patient-reported symptoms, and other information including recent insect bites.

The blood test identifies alpha-gal antibodies, though not everyone with positive results develops the syndrome. The test can sometimes produce incorrect results.

“The blood test in and of itself is great, but you can’t rely on that just for diagnosis. You need the actual symptoms too,” Commins said. “In the allergy world, we have a lot of trouble with false positives on blood tests.”

Physicians typically recommend patients eliminate beef, pork, lamb, and other mammalian meats from their diets. Some individuals can still consume dairy items like milk, cheese, and butter from these animals. Those with extremely severe reactions might need to avoid products containing animal byproducts such as gelatin, found in marshmallows and gummy bears.

One unusual exception exists: meat from a limited number of genetically altered pigs that don’t produce alpha-gal. The Food and Drug Administration approved these pigs for human consumption in 2020, as they were developed for experimental organ transplantation research. Eliminating the alpha-gal gene was essential to prevent human immune systems from rejecting transplanted organs. Meat from these “GalSafe” pigs is sold by a company called Amaroo Hills.

People with this syndrome may also need to avoid certain medical devices and implants, as many heart valves are manufactured using cow or pig components.

The allergy may disappear in some patients after multiple years. Commins has observed this improvement in roughly 15% to 20% of his patients. However, preventing additional tick bites remains essential.

In 2024, the FDA authorized an injectable medication called Xolair for various food allergies, including alpha-gal syndrome. While the drug doesn’t cure the condition, it helps minimize severe allergic reactions following accidental meat consumption.

This medication received initial approval over two decades ago for patients with difficult-to-manage asthma. It functions by reducing the release of biological substances that trigger inflammation and allergic reactions.

Commins and fellow researchers hope to investigate other existing medications as potential treatment options for patients.

“There are certain (biologic drugs) out there nowadays that interfere with the allergic signaling,” Commins said. “We think that if you were on one of those — or if you got one quickly enough after a tick bite — perhaps it could interfere with the entire allergic response process.”

KINSHASA, June 13 – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo report that confirmed Ebola infections have climbed to 710 cases, with 149 people losing their lives to the disease, according to official government statistics released Saturday.

The figures reflect the cumulative total of verified cases through Friday, based on a health ministry situation report that recorded 21 additional infections during the preceding day.

A New York-based company has issued a voluntary recall of its entire line of powdered baby formula products due to concerns about potential bacterial contamination.

The manufacturer, based in New York, NY, announced it is pulling all lots of its organic powdered infant formula from store shelves as a precautionary measure. The company cited the possibility of Clostridium botulinum contamination as the reason for the recall.

According to health officials, infant botulism is an uncommon but serious condition that can be life-threatening.

When Ricky Resendez began using e-cigarettes during his eighth-grade year, the habit quickly escalated to daily use throughout high school.

“It was just kind of normal,” explained Ricky, now 17 and a recent graduate from Superior, Wisconsin. “Kids were vaping in class, in the bathrooms, wherever.”

Federal statistics reveal that approximately 6% of middle and high school students nationwide — totaling 1.63 million young people — reported electronic cigarette use in 2024. While this represents a decline from earlier years, e-cigarettes continue to be the top tobacco product choice among teenagers, with nearly 9 out of 10 youth selecting flavored varieties.

Medical professionals express concern that youth vaping numbers could climb again following the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of the first fruit-flavored vapes designed for adults seeking to quit or reduce traditional cigarette use. This policy change followed months of vaping industry appeals to President Donald Trump. An FDA document released this week indicated these fruit-flavored e-cigarettes show no significant advantage over tobacco-flavored versions in helping smokers quit.

“I understand the goal of giving adult smokers a less harmful off-ramp, but fruit and sweet flavors are precisely what draw young people in,” stated Dr. Scott Hadland at Mass General Brigham for Children and Harvard Medical School. “I worry this could erode the hard-won progress that brought teen vaping to its lowest level in roughly a decade.”

Medical professionals say parents have effective methods to combat e-cigarette appeal, educate children about vaping risks, and support quitting efforts.

Dr. Devika Rao regularly treats young patients with vaping-related breathing issues, including persistent coughing, aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and more serious lung conditions.

Research indicates teenagers who vape experience increased wheezing, breathing difficulties, and decreased exercise tolerance. Gaby Cuadra from Miami, who vaped for nine years beginning at 15, recalls how the habit damaged her high school track and field abilities.

“As the years kept going on and I would keep vaping, the distances that I used to be able to run, I, like, couldn’t do them anymore,” said Cuandra, now 25. “I would run out of breath.”

Although e-cigarette vapor lacks most of the 7,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke, the majority of vapes “emit numerous potentially toxic substances,” according to a thorough 2018 consensus report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Scientists noted that e-cigarettes’ long-term health impacts remain unclear.

Nicotine addiction represents one of vaping’s most serious risks, potentially disrupting developing brains and impacting attention, learning, and emotional regulation.

“The addiction factor cannot be overstated enough,” emphasized Rao at Children’s Health in Dallas. “Adolescent brains are primed for addiction.”

Medical professionals recommend beginning with questions. Parents might introduce the topic by mentioning a new vape shop they’ve noticed.

“Start open-ended conversations,” Rao advised.

Inquire about your child’s vaping knowledge and understanding of its dangers, whether they’ve encountered e-cigarettes, and if their peers use them.

If you discover your child is already vaping, Rao stressed staying calm and avoiding shouting. Maintain a non-judgmental approach.

Consider your child’s social media exposure, where some influencers promote nicotine as a “hack” for managing stress. Research shows many people mistake the relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms for genuine stress or anxiety reduction, and that cessation actually decreases stress. A 2025 study in the journal Tobacco Control found vaping may connect to negative mental health outcomes, with those who quit experiencing “fewer urges to vape, reduced anxiety, and stabilized mood.”

Teen choices often depend on peer influence and social acceptance, noted Anthony Alberg of the University of South Carolina, who served on the expert committee creating the National Academies vaping report. Remind your teenager they can resist peer pressure and that genuine friends won’t base friendship on vaping participation.

Younger children, Alberg suggested, might respond better to health-focused arguments, such as describing vaping as “putting poison in your system.”

Providing children with information proves more effective than simply restricting vape access, experts noted, since age limits frequently fail to prevent youth acquisition.

“Most teens get e-cigarettes from friends, older peers or online sellers rather than buying them in a store,” Hadland explained.

Ricky initially tried e-cigarettes using his older cousin’s device. Subsequently, an older friend purchased e-cigarettes for him and his peer group. He especially enjoyed blue raspberry, strawberry, watermelon, and kiwi flavors.

Initially, he believed vaping assisted with his ADHD symptoms.

“What I didn’t realize is that because I was addicted to nicotine, when I didn’t have it, I’d be anxious and really couldn’t focus,” he explained. “Instead of being something that helped me, it just made things worse.”

Vaping also depleted his energy, disrupted his sleep, aggravated his asthma, and hindered his football and wrestling performance.

Eventually, school and parental consequences followed his vaping and selling vapes to classmates. He began working with a school social worker and participated in the American Lung Association’s Not On Tobacco program for teen cessation.

The initial weeks proved extremely challenging. However, he gradually reduced his vaping thoughts and permanently quit in 2022.

Similar to Ricky’s experience, research shows most middle and high school vaping students desire to quit.

Parents can assist by first consulting their doctor, who can arrange counseling or free text-based quit programs for young people.

For heavy vaping youth, Hadland noted doctors might consider medications like Chantix or nicotine replacement therapy within supervised cessation plans.

Cuandra quit after abandoning e-cigarettes for Lent, supported by a free program created by Truth Initiative and Mayo Clinic called EX, which offers text message support, guidance, and encouragement.

“The best thing I ever did for myself was quit vaping,” said Cuandra, who now shares her experience on social media.

Since abandoning vaping, Ricky also shares his lessons learned. Typically, he asks peers about their vaping triggers and avoidance strategies, as he practiced.

“I tell them, like, ‘I’m not here to judge you,’” he said. “‘I’m here to help you.’”

A retired physician is preparing for an extraordinary birthday celebration that would challenge adventurers half his age. Art Ulene, who will turn 90 next month, has set his sights on reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain on the African continent.

NPR’s Elissa Nadworny recently interviewed the retired doctor about his ambitious plans to tackle Tanzania’s famous peak as a way to commemorate his milestone birthday. The challenging climb represents an unusual way for someone approaching their tenth decade to mark such a significant occasion.

Federal health officials have unveiled a new proposed regulation designed to create a lasting structure for Medicare prescription drug price negotiations that would take effect in 2029.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced the framework on June 12, with officials stating the goal is to reduce medication costs for millions of Americans while giving pharmaceutical companies more predictability in the negotiation process.

According to the proposal, the new regulation would establish guidelines for both initial negotiations and future renegotiations of prices for expensive medications that come from single sources.

A food manufacturer based in Hayward, California has announced a voluntary recall of its seasoned octopus products due to concerns about undeclared fish allergens.

Azuma Foods International Inc., U.S.A. is pulling 545 cases of its Tako Wasabi product from retail locations. The recalled items are sold as 3-packs containing 5.3-ounce packages of Azuma Foods Brand Tako Wasabi- Seasoned Octopus with Wasabi.

The company issued the recall after discovering the products may contain fish ingredients that are not listed on the packaging labels. This poses a potential health hazard for consumers who have fish allergies or severe sensitivities, as they could experience serious allergic reactions.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals announced Friday that its cancer treatment Zepzelca did not achieve its primary objective of extending patient survival in a comprehensive late-stage clinical trial, putting its existing regulatory approval at potential risk.

The pharmaceutical company’s stock price dropped almost 2% during pre-market trading following the announcement.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported that it has provided the study findings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and plans to engage in discussions about future requirements related to the medication’s second-line treatment designation.

The drug currently maintains accelerated FDA approval for treating patients with advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC) when used as a second-line therapy, meaning it’s given after initial treatments have proven unsuccessful.

Small cell lung cancer represents an particularly aggressive cancer type that has the ability to metastasize throughout the body, including to bone marrow tissue.

The comprehensive confirmatory study evaluated Zepzelca’s effectiveness both when administered alone and when combined with traditional chemotherapy treatments.

Study results showed that patients receiving Zepzelca as a standalone treatment survived for a median duration of 8.7 months, while those receiving the combination approach lived for 10.9 months, compared to 10.7 months for participants in the control group.

Additionally, federal regulators had granted Zepzelca approval in 2025 for use alongside Roche’s immunotherapy medication Tecentriq as a maintenance treatment for adult patients with extensive-stage SCLC whose condition remained stable following initial chemotherapy.

A widely-used supplement taken by many Americans for joint discomfort may accelerate the development of dementia, according to new research that could reshape treatment recommendations.

Scientists examined health records spanning from 2012 to 2024 for nearly 60,000 individuals experiencing different levels of cognitive decline. Their findings revealed that consistent glucosamine usage correlated with a 25% increased risk of transitioning from mild cognitive decline to full dementia.

The research, published in Nature Metabolism, also discovered that among patients already diagnosed with dementia, those taking glucosamine faced a 25% greater chance of dying during the study period.

Interestingly, patients with only minor cognitive issues showed no increased mortality risk, indicating that glucosamine’s harmful effects may intensify as brain deterioration advances, according to the study authors.

Laboratory tests on animals revealed that glucosamine worsens a destructive brain process known as hyperglycosylation, where sugar molecules improperly bind to brain proteins and interfere with essential neurological operations.

“The electronic health record data are very provocative,” said study coauthor Matt Gentry of the University of Florida. “While it’s an association and not proof of causality, it does raise an important clinical question that now deserves much more attention.”

An accompanying analysis suggested that the dementia deterioration linked to enhanced glycosylation from glucosamine consumption indicates glycosylation “is a targetable pathway for combating this disease.”

In separate research challenging conventional medical advice, scientists found that controlled screen exposure might actually benefit children recovering from head injuries.

The study, featured in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, showed that moderate daily screen usage on specific devices during the initial three days after concussion led to faster healing compared to complete screen avoidance.

“These findings support that moderate screen time – not too little or too much – may support concussion recovery,” explained study leader Jingzhen Ginger Yang, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

“A median of 141 minutes of screen time each day was associated with a 35% faster recovery, compared to 260 minutes of screen time each day,” Yang noted. “Youth who use screens for more than four hours per day or less than two hours per day may be at risk for slower concussion symptom resolution.”

The research team tracked 80 teenagers with concussions using wearable technology that monitored their after-school screen exposure across smartphones, televisions, computers, tablets, and gaming systems.

Device type proved significant in recovery outcomes. Approximately two hours daily of smartphone and television usage promoted quicker healing, while computer, tablet, and gaming activities showed no meaningful connection to symptom improvement.

“While clinical trials are needed to keep moving forward, this study shows a potential development in concussion treatment practices, contrary to previous guidance that recommended total avoidance of screens,” said study coauthor Dr. Thomas Pommering, also of Nationwide Children’s.

The United Nations refugee agency has confirmed that two people have died from Ebola at a displacement camp in eastern Congo, raising alarm among aid workers about the potential for rapid disease transmission in overcrowded refugee facilities.

Both victims were displaced individuals residing at the Kpangba camp, which provides shelter for 30,000 refugees, according to a UNHCR report released Thursday.

Since the World Health Organization designated this outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, the virus has now reached three provinces.

The affected provinces — Ituri, South Kivu and North Kivu — have endured decades of warfare and currently shelter more than 5 million displaced individuals.

A relief worker informed Reuters that the fatalities involved a mother and her daughter, who passed away on May 31 and June 1 respectively. The World Health Organisation conducted Ebola testing on both victims following their deaths.

“It’s a highly populated area so the risks of transmission are obviously higher and worrying,” the source said. “These are tents with tarp walls, where do you isolate if you have symptoms?”

Relief organizations describe overcrowded camp environments with inadequate sanitation infrastructure, where hundreds of individuals may share a single toilet facility and open defecation occurs.

“We are all really worried that Ebola in these camps will spread extremely quickly and that there will be panic and people will flee all over whether or not they’re contacts, whether or not they’re ill,” Caitlin Brady, interim country director for the Danish Refugee Council in Congo, told Reuters.

By Friday, Congo had documented 676 confirmed cases and 136 fatalities in this outbreak, which has also reached neighboring Uganda, where authorities have reported 19 cases.

This outbreak involves the uncommon Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved treatment or vaccination currently exists.

The illness remained undetected for several weeks, and emergency responders acknowledge they are working to catch up with the situation.

CHICAGO — Elite professional athletes and their medical teams report that an updated version of established surgical equipment is cutting recovery periods by weeks for specific injuries. Leading physicians believe this represents just the start of broader applications.

Cy Young recipients Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell allowed physicians to utilize the device on their valuable elbows. Connor Hellebuyck, who earned the 2025 Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, relied on it for knee problems. Multiple NFL athletes have also adopted its use.

The device is known as the NanoNeedle scope 2.0, a smaller, bendable adaptation of the standard arthroscope. While still in early stages with limited published studies on this model, it has gained a notable group of supporters.

“Each time I’ve utilized it, including during my initial laboratory work, new procedure possibilities come to mind,” stated Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who serves as head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams.

An arthroscope functions as a pencil-sized tube containing a camera that enters joints, fills the space with salt water or saline, and displays images on a monitor. Surgeons then insert additional instruments in the same location to complete the surgical work.

The reduced dimensions — measuring 1.9 millimeters across versus 4 millimeters for standard scopes — allow the NanoNeedle to minimize pain, swelling and tissue harm, resulting in quicker healing. It requires significantly less fluid than conventional scopes and has proven valuable for determining injury severity.

“We can achieve anatomical work and repairs while causing much less surgical trauma,” ElAttrache explained.

ElAttrache employed the NanoNeedle when removing a loose body from Skubal’s left elbow on May 6, and again during Snell’s comparable elbow procedure on May 19.

After Skubal — a two-time AL Cy Young Award recipient who becomes eligible for free agency following this season — joined the injured list, the Detroit Tigers announced their star pitcher would miss two to three months. However, he’s scheduled to return Saturday after throwing five scoreless innings during a rehabilitation appearance Sunday — approximately 5 1/2 weeks total.

ElAttrache has utilized the NanoNeedle scope with four patients but chose not to name the other two cases. Snell underwent a more extensive procedure that included spur removal, though ElAttrache remains hopeful about the left-hander’s timeline for rejoining the Dodgers.

“I believe his time away will be roughly half the typical duration,” ElAttrache said.

Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy recipient as the NHL’s premier goaltender, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee November 22. Doctors projected a four to six-week absence, but he returned to the net for the Winnipeg Jets after just three weeks.

Dr. James Voos, head team physician for the Cleveland Browns, has incorporated the NanoNeedle into procedures on five Browns athletes, including center Luke Wypler’s ankle fracture operation.

“Ankles and elbows represent areas where it has shown excellent utility and quick acceptance,” said Voos, who also leads the NFL Physicians Society. “We continue discovering additional applications for knees and shoulders.”

Beyond his Browns responsibilities, Voos chairs the orthopedics departments at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He has already observed advantages in treating younger athletes.

“Some very difficult elbow injuries in gymnasts and baseball players couldn’t accommodate the previous cameras, which were too big for the joint,” Voos explained. “They’re built for adult joints. The smaller camera lets us see and operate in these tighter spaces. In pediatrics and adolescence, that was more difficult and potentially caused additional damage previously, including more soft tissue harm.”

Arthrex, a Florida-based medical supply manufacturer, developed the NanoNeedle. Voos serves as an educational consultant for Arthrex, while ElAttrache has collaborated with the company for over three decades.

The original version debuted in 2019, according to Ryan Kellar, a senior product manager at Arthrex. Another version launched in 2023 before the current model — featuring improved visualization, processing and imaging — arrived in August.

“This represents our third version,” Kellar noted. “Our fourth version arrives this fall. That fourth version will offer everything conventional scopes provide with all the less invasive advantages of nano arthroscopy. We truly believe nano represents the next foundation of minimally invasive orthopedic treatment for the general population and a gold standard for athletes.”

Dr. Kyle Hammond, head team physician for the Atlanta Falcons and chief orthopedic surgeon for the Atlanta Hawks, has used the NanoNeedle in educational settings as an orthopedic surgeon at Emory Healthcare and assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine. He hasn’t yet used it on patients.

Hammond noted that other companies have created similar needle arthroscopy devices, but he commended the NanoNeedle’s camera quality, video feed clarity, and user-friendliness.

“It has essentially become very comparable to our standard arthroscopy equipment,” he said. “Just in a smaller format.”

The current NanoNeedle version is disposable, creating questions about expenses compared to sterilization costs for reusable traditional arthroscopes. Like any scientific advancement, Hammond said, extended use and research are necessary to evaluate the new design’s benefits against standard scope versions.

“To establish if they offer genuine advantages over standard care, they must be used extensively over time with data collection and statistical proof,” Hammond said.

Dr. Brian Cole, head team physician for the Chicago Bulls, said adoption rates will largely depend on clinicians’ willingness to integrate the scope into their practices.

“There’s an economic analysis combined with a healthcare analysis happening simultaneously,” said Cole, who also consults for Arthrex. “But I’d say directionally, this is our destination. Less invasive, cost-effective, predictable, eliminating potential problems with existing technology. In that respect, this is very innovative in my view, and aligns with our current direction.”

Global HIV prevention efforts experienced a devastating setback in 2025, with preliminary data from UNAIDS revealing that significantly fewer people accessed crucial prevention services compared to the previous year.

According to the agency’s Friday report, the number of individuals who received pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as PrEP, dropped by 38% across 62 nations when comparing 2025 to 2024 figures. This translates to 1.2 million fewer people accessing the preventive medication, with totals falling from 3.3 million to 2.1 million across various countries including Nigeria, Cameroon and Uganda.

The situation became even more dire for other prevention methods, as funding for condoms plummeted by over 90% in certain nations, according to the findings.

Winnie Byanyima, who leads UNAIDS, described the current crisis in stark terms. “We are undergoing perhaps the most serious disruption of HIV services since the HIV response started,” Byanyima stated. “We can’t sit here thinking that the impact isn’t so dramatic.”

According to Byanyima, the reduction in available services stems from a combination of decreased funding and growing opposition to supporting key at-risk groups, particularly LGBTQ people. She warned that without intervention, these access barriers will result in increased infection rates and fatalities in coming years.

The 2025 data showed a modest decrease in new infections compared to 2024, dropping by approximately 100,000 cases to reach 1.2 million total new infections. Yet Byanyima cautioned that HIV testing decreased by 22% in countries with high infection rates, making it difficult to assess the complete scope of the situation.

Treatment access showed more positive trends, with the number of people receiving antiretroviral medications increasing by 2.7% year-over-year, reaching 32.1 million individuals by December 2025.

While this growth rate fell short of the typical 4% annual increases seen previously, UNAIDS noted it demonstrated that nations and local communities had mobilized to address treatment gaps and prevent worst-case outcomes that some experts had anticipated when funding decreased. However, the data indicated that prevention services faced greater challenges in adapting to reduced financial support.

The report highlighted that several countries increased their domestic HIV funding for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Despite this progress, the agency expressed concern about widespread closures of community-based organizations that form the foundation of HIV response efforts and depend heavily on international financial support.

UNAIDS made this information public in advance of an upcoming high-level HIV/AIDS meeting scheduled at the UN in New York this month, emphasizing the need for international cooperation. The agency faces its own uncertain future, as UN leadership has suggested shuttering UNAIDS in 2026 due to budget constraints.

Byanyima indicated that the agency is currently undergoing a “transformation” process, with a comprehensive report expected in October.

“What I’m certain about is that the United Nations will not drop its leadership role in the global response,” she emphasized.

British health officials announced Friday they will provide meningococcal B disease protection to thousands of students through a special vaccination initiative, responding to what authorities called the nation’s most severe outbreak of the illness recorded this year.

The March outbreak in Kent, located in southeastern England, resulted in two fatalities and represented the most extensive and rapidly spreading MenB incident British health officials have documented.

Health authorities reported Friday that this year has seen an unusually high number of disease clusters, with each outbreak proving larger than anticipated.

The emergency vaccination effort beginning this summer aims to shield individuals facing the greatest immediate danger from the illness while officials evaluate new data to decide if additional vaccine distribution measures are necessary.

The two-shot program will focus on all Year 13 students (ages 17-18) throughout England, plus individuals under 25 who will be entering university or residential continuing education programs for the first time this fall.

Officials designed the initiative specifically to safeguard students beginning their university experience this autumn.

Students face disproportionate MenB risk because the disease spreads more easily through the close and extended contact typical in dormitory living situations and social gatherings.

While British teenagers currently do not receive routine meningitis B vaccinations like their counterparts in numerous other nations, the country has provided infant vaccination against the disease since 2015.

India’s pharmaceutical pricing authority has implemented a significant 50% increase in price limits for two essential cancer medications following severe shortages triggered by escalating raw material expenses, according to government documentation reviewed by Reuters.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority utilized emergency provisions to implement the rate adjustments after securing federal government authorization based on public interest considerations, as outlined in documentation dated June 11.

Healthcare facilities across the world’s most populous nation have been struggling with insufficient supplies of platinum-containing cancer medications cisplatin and carboplatin, with government-operated medical centers particularly affected by the shortages.

These medications, which are essential for treating ovarian, lung and bladder cancers, operate under government-imposed pricing restrictions and oversight.

The maximum allowable price for cisplatin increased from 7.26 rupees to 10.89 rupees ($0.1144) per milliliter, while carboplatin pricing rose from 60.49 rupees to 90.74 rupees ($0.9530) per milliliter, excluding applicable taxes, the documentation revealed.

“The authority noted concerns regarding shortage and supply disruptions of carboplatin and cisplatin formulations, which are essential oncology medicines used in the treatment of various cancers,” the NPPA stated, emphasizing that consistent availability of these medications is vital for public health.

Multiple pharmaceutical companies produce these medications, including Cipla, Intas Pharmaceuticals and specialized oncology manufacturers such as Naprod Life Sciences and Venus Remedies.

The pricing adjustment represents a temporary measure that will undergo evaluation after six months, according to the NPPA. India relies significantly on platinum imports for use across multiple industries including automotive, jewelry, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Deliveries of the precious metal from major producing nations like South Africa have decreased due to increasing costs, while Middle East conflicts have created additional supply chain complications and elevated production expenses, according to medical professionals and industry leaders who spoke with Reuters.

The enhanced price limits provide assistance to pharmaceutical manufacturers who had temporarily suspended production as platinum costs more than doubled due to limited availability, high demand and reduced stockpiles.

Pharmaceutical company Amgen has enlisted an independent research organization to conduct a fresh examination of data supporting its medication Tavneos, following federal regulators’ move to pull the drug from the marketplace.

The medication received approval in October 2021 for treating severe active ANCA-associated vasculitis, an uncommon condition that causes inflammation in small blood vessels and can harm vital organs including the kidneys and lungs.

Federal health officials proposed in April to revoke Tavneos’ market authorization, pointing to insufficient evidence of the drug’s effectiveness and misleading information provided in the initial approval request.

One month before that action, regulators documented 76 instances of liver damage caused by the medication, with evidence pointing to Tavneos as the cause, resulting in eight patient deaths.

According to a June 1 correspondence filed in regulatory records, Amgen reported that the Duke Clinical Research Institute started conducting an independent, objective analysis in February of information from the primary advanced-stage clinical study that led to Tavneos’ initial approval.

The pharmaceutical manufacturer stated it intends to provide comprehensive data to federal regulators by June 29, maintaining that Tavneos’ therapeutic value exceeds its dangers and that removing the medication would harm patient welfare.

The company has not yet provided a response to media inquiries regarding the correspondence.

Amgen obtained Tavneos when it bought ChemoCentryx for $3.7 billion in 2022.

Japanese health authorities reported approximately 20 fatalities connected to severe liver problems among patients using the medication, according to a safety alert released by partner company Kissei Pharmaceutical in May.

A nutrition company based in Deer Park, New York has broadened its voluntary recall of moringa supplement capsules over concerns they may contain salmonella bacteria.

Total Nutrition Inc. is expanding the recall of its TNVitamins and Doctor’s Pride Ultra Potent Complete Green Superfood Moringa Capsules after an ongoing investigation into its supply chain revealed additional potential contamination risks.

The company initially issued a recall but has now widened the scope following further review of its supply sources.

Parents preparing to return to their jobs after taking time off for a new baby face a challenging transition that requires careful planning and realistic expectations. Expert guidance suggests focusing on schedule management, setting appropriate expectations, and building strong support networks during this significant life change.

The transition back to the workplace represents a major adjustment period for new parents who must balance professional responsibilities with their expanded family duties. Successfully navigating this period often depends on having the right strategies and resources in place before returning to work.

Federal health regulators have blocked drug imports from a Dabur India manufacturing facility following a recent inspection that uncovered serious safety violations, the company announced Thursday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action against the plant located in India’s western Dadra and Nagar Haveli region after discovering problems with data integrity and facility maintenance during their review.

According to a Reuters report from last month citing the inspection findings, investigators discovered that crucial manufacturing documentation had been falsified to hide the fact that equipment designated for specific products was being used to make multiple different items.

Inspectors also discovered unsanitary conditions at the facility, including a live bird and bird waste in the raw materials storage area, located approximately 30 feet away from packaging supplies.

Under FDA import alert procedures, any product from the flagged facility can be held at the border without physical inspection unless the importing company proves it has resolved the cited violations.

Dabur India represents one of the country’s most established and largest consumer goods manufacturers, billing itself as a leading global provider of Ayurvedic products with more than 140 years in business. The company markets various over-the-counter and health products in the United States, including treatments for coughs and colds, antifungal medications, pain relief products, and oral care items.

Company officials stated that the FDA’s action will not create financial or operational consequences, noting that products sold domestically remain unaffected by the restriction.

The manufacturer indicated it is working with U.S. regulators by submitting “corrective and preventive action plans” while implementing measures to address the identified problems.

WASHINGTON — Internal documents show that fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes recently approved by federal health regulators didn’t perform significantly better at helping people quit smoking compared to tobacco-flavored versions, raising fresh concerns about the agency’s controversial authorization.

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration granted approval to its first fruit-flavored vaping products, effectively backing them as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes. The approval contradicted the agency’s long-held stance that fruit flavors attract young users and should demonstrate additional health advantages before receiving adult approval.

Lawmakers and health advocacy organizations swiftly criticized the move and demanded explanations from the agency.

An FDA document released this week offers additional insight into the agency’s reasoning. The six-page memo shows regulators seemingly avoiding their earlier warnings about sweet vaping flavors while recognizing flaws in research provided by vape company Glas Inc.

Under federal requirements, manufacturers must prove their products benefit overall public health. This typically involves showing that their vaping devices help adult smokers transition away from or stop using cigarettes without encouraging teenage use.

According to the memo, smokers using Glas vaping products showed much higher rates of completely switching away from cigarettes during a three-month research period.

However, the information revealed no “statistically significant differences” between adults who used the company’s mango and blueberry varieties versus those who used tobacco-flavored electronic cigarettes.

This means the newly approved vapes didn’t meet the same standards as other flavored products the FDA had previously approved, including menthol-flavored devices from Juul and NJOY. Those manufacturers demonstrated that adults using menthol products were significantly more likely to reduce or eliminate cigarette use compared to those using tobacco-flavored vaping products.

In another section, FDA officials stated that the Glas flavored products “did not have to demonstrate added adult benefit” since young people would be unlikely to access them. Glas requires customers to unlock each electronic cigarette through an age-verification smartphone application.

The agency’s decision also contradicts recent FDA guidance telling manufacturers that fruit and dessert flavors must meet “a high evidentiary burden” for adult approval due to youth risks. Tobacco-flavored products typically don’t appeal to teenagers and usually face less stringent FDA review processes.

The FDA memo is also notably short compared to similar documents.

Typical FDA memos regarding new vaping products span dozens of pages. Last year’s authorization document for Juul’s menthol electronic cigarettes exceeded 90 pages and contained comprehensive scientific information from studies involving 50,000 participants.

The brief Glas memo omits important information, including the number of smokers included in the company’s research.

The FDA typically publishes such documents immediately following authorization announcements. The Glas document appeared on the agency’s website more than a month after officials approved the products.

Congressional members have questioned the agency about this decision. Last month, 10 Democratic senators wrote to the agency seeking additional details about the authorization, describing it as a “shortsighted and reckless decision.”

The Glas application, which covered menthol and tobacco-flavored vapes as well, took a complicated route to approval. The small Los Angeles-based manufacturer submitted its marketing application to the FDA in 2021, and officials initially denied it.

In February, FDA scientists reversed their position and approved multiple flavors. However, a senior official under then-FDA Commissioner Marty Makary blocked that decision, according to internal documents the agency later made public.

The mango and blueberry-flavored products received final approval during Makary’s final full week as agency head. He left the position following months of criticism from industry groups, including tobacco manufacturers that have pressured President Donald Trump’s Republican White House for relaxed vaping flavor regulations.

A company representative was not available for comment when contacted Thursday morning.

Britain’s drug regulatory authority granted approval Thursday for a new oral weight-loss medication from Novo Nordisk, providing patients with an injection-free option for treating obesity while strengthening the Danish pharmaceutical company’s competitive position ahead of U.S. competitor Eli Lilly.

This regulatory clearance offers a more user-friendly treatment choice for over 10 million residents of England as pharmaceutical companies compete to broaden the reach of these medications, which have revolutionized the weight-loss treatment market and transformed the drug industry landscape.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has cleared the Wegovy pill for adult patients dealing with obesity who maintain a body mass index of 30 or higher, as well as individuals with BMI readings from 27 to 30 who also have at least one obesity-related health condition.

Following this regulatory clearance, Britain’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will conduct its own evaluation before the medication becomes accessible through the NHS healthcare system.

In the interim, patients may obtain the pill from private healthcare providers. Novo anticipates the medication will become accessible through private prescriptions in the coming weeks.

Danielle Brightman, clinical director at digital healthcare platform Numan, stated that clearing oral medication means “better access for more people battling obesity”.

Current NHS England data indicates that obesity impacts approximately 30% of adults in England, representing roughly 13 million to 14 million individuals.

The Novo pill features semaglutide, the identical active compound found in the company’s highly successful injectable medications Wegovy for weight management and Ozempic for diabetes treatment.

Health officials are sounding the alarm about deadly summer heat after revealing that more than 200,000 Europeans lost their lives to heat-related causes during the past four years, according to the World Health Organization’s Europe office announced Thursday.

The warning comes as forecasters predict another summer of above-normal temperatures, which pose serious health risks including heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heat stroke.

“The impacts of climate change are a clear and present danger, and its most immediate and lethal manifestation is extreme heat,” stated Dr. Hans Kluge, director of the WHO’s Europe office. “Heatwaves are no longer freak weather anomalies. They are now a recurring crisis inflicting suffering, claiming lives and fracturing our health systems and infrastructure.”

The WHO’s European division is pushing for nations and organizations to develop comprehensive heat response strategies, including establishing cooling centers and adjusting work schedules to protect employees from dangerous midday temperatures.

“Our goal is clear and our ambition is bold: zero heat-related deaths,” Kluge declared.

Adding to concerns, weather experts announced Thursday that El Nino has developed in the Pacific Ocean and may reach record-breaking intensity. Scientists warn this natural warming pattern will amplify global temperatures already rising due to fossil fuel emissions and could intensify severe weather worldwide.

Health experts recommend these essential steps to prevent heat-related illness:

Avoid outdoor exposure during peak heat hours of the day. When venturing outside at midday becomes necessary, limit physical exertion and find shade where temperatures feel cooler. Try to spend two to three hours daily in air-conditioned spaces and monitor local heat advisories.

During daylight hours, keep windows closed and use blinds or shutters for coverage. Once evening arrives and outdoor temperatures drop below indoor levels, open windows for ventilation. Program air conditioning units to 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) and use fans to enhance cooling effects. Communities with limited resources often face greater heat risks due to inadequate housing and limited access to cooling systems.

Maintain proper hydration by consuming one cup of water hourly and take cool baths or showers. When bathing isn’t available, use damp cloths or spray bottles on skin. Choose light-colored, loose clothing and breathable bedding materials. For outdoor activities, wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Vehicles must never be used to leave children or pets unattended, as interior temperatures can reach dangerous levels rapidly. Cover baby strollers with thin, damp fabric rather than dry materials that trap heat, and consider portable fans for additional cooling. Pay special attention to adults over 65 and individuals with disabilities or heart, lung, or kidney conditions. Those living alone may also need extra monitoring.

Workers in manual labor and outdoor jobs face heightened heat illness risks, particularly when work schedules cannot be adjusted for extreme temperatures.

A Japanese pharmaceutical company announced Thursday that its experimental treatment for psoriasis, developed using artificial intelligence technology, demonstrated superior performance against an existing medication in a major clinical study.

The drugmaker said its investigational once-daily pill, zasocitinib, successfully met the primary endpoint of a late-stage trial involving adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, showing better skin clearance results than Bristol Myers Squibb’s approved medication Sotyktu following 16 weeks of treatment.

Plaque psoriasis represents a chronic immune-mediated condition affecting the skin, resulting in red, scaly, and inflamed patches across the body.

The development of zasocitinib utilized artificial intelligence technology, part of an increasing movement within the pharmaceutical sector to employ AI for accelerating drug discovery, reducing clinical trial durations, and minimizing animal testing requirements.

According to the company, zasocitinib delivered complete skin clearance for 35% of trial participants after 16 weeks, representing more than 2.5 times the success rate observed with Sotyktu.

The pharmaceutical firm also reported that zasocitinib’s safety profile remained consistent with previous studies, with no additional safety concerns identified during the trial.

The daily oral medication provides a practical treatment alternative for plaque psoriasis patients, joining Bristol Myers’ Sotyktu and Amgen’s Otezla in a therapeutic area primarily controlled by injectable treatments.

The company views zasocitinib as a potentially major revenue generator to help compensate for anticipated income losses from upcoming patent expirations for its inflammatory bowel disease treatment Entyvio, which faces key patent losses by the decade’s end.

Last year, the drugmaker projected that zasocitinib, pending regulatory approval, could achieve peak yearly sales between $3 billion and $6 billion.

The pharmaceutical company obtained zasocitinib through its acquisition of Nimbus Therapeutics in 2022, in a transaction worth up to $6 billion.

The company stated it plans to share comprehensive trial data at future medical conferences and continues working toward submitting FDA approval applications for zasocitinib as a plaque psoriasis treatment during this fiscal year.

The Canadian Pediatric Society has appointed Natasha Johnson as its new president, a decision that has generated debate due to her strong stance supporting gender transition surgeries for minors.

Johnson’s appointment has raised eyebrows among critics who question her advocacy for these procedures in young patients. When addressing concerns about whether adolescents possess the maturity to make informed choices regarding life-altering medical interventions, Dr. Johnson characterizes these worries as “overstated.”

Johnson previously established a gender diversity clinic at McMaster’s Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, where she has worked to expand access to gender-related medical services for young patients.

During sweltering summer days, DeAnna Brandon enjoys watching her three dogs run around while she cools off in a backyard kiddie pool alongside her grandchildren. The 48-year-old blood cancer survivor treasures these precious moments — while questioning whether she’ll experience them in future years.

Brandon, a Rockwell, North Carolina resident, fears that upcoming Medicaid work requirements beginning next year might threaten her healthcare coverage. While she anticipated qualifying for a medical frailty exemption, fresh guidance issued by President Donald Trump’s administration last week has created uncertainty about her eligibility.

The interim final rule published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicates that Brandon’s severe fatigue and memory problems from her treatments might not suffice to avoid the new work requirements. She must declare and subsequently demonstrate that these symptoms “significantly impair” her capacity to meet the new mandates.

Should the government reject her application, she risks losing her coverage — along with the bi-monthly maintenance chemotherapy that maintains her multiple myeloma in remission. Employment remains “outside of the realm of possibility for me,” she explained during an interview.

“I was always a push-through-it person — you know, ‘Oh, you’re tired. Push through,’” Brandon stated. “It’s hard to explain to people you can’t push through it.”

Healthcare analysts have raised concerns about the Republican Trump administration’s latest guidance, which diverges from state expectations. Specialists warn it will increase the number of Americans at risk of losing health insurance and force states to scramble in their already rushed implementation efforts.

“This will mean more paperwork for Medicaid patients — specifically for the sickest Medicaid patients,” stated Adrianna McIntyre, a professor at Harvard University’s school of public health. This development, she noted, “is going to push in the direction of more people needlessly losing coverage.”

The new Medicaid restrictions formed part of Trump’s comprehensive tax and policy law in 2025. The modification impacts those covered through an expansion that most states adopted, providing additional lower-income individuals access to the government’s safety net healthcare program.

Expansion participants between ages 19 and 64 must demonstrate they work or perform community service for at least 80 hours monthly or attend school at least half-time. Exceptions exist for those deemed medically frail or enrolled in addiction treatment programs, among other categories.

Last week’s CMS announcement surprised states with a revised definition of medical frailty. The law had specified that medically frail individuals include those with substance use disorders, disabilities or serious medical conditions. However, the CMS rule went beyond this, stating someone’s condition must “significantly impair” their capacity to work, volunteer or attend school at required rates to receive an exemption.

During 2027 and once in 2028, patients can declare they meet this definition. However, when seeking coverage renewal in 2028, they must provide proof.

Advocates express uncertainty about what documentation could establish that standard. They suggest physician notes might be necessary — something some providers feel uncomfortable providing. Medicaid participants battling illness may bear the administrative burden.

Brandon, who previously attempted to prove work incapacity for disability benefits during active cancer treatment and was unsuccessful, worries about the obstacles she and fellow patients might face.

“It’s not that easy — you may have to go through four doctors,” Brandon explained. “If you’re already battling an illness like this, you don’t have the physical or the mental or the emotional energy to do that all the time.”

States have planned to utilize Medicaid claims data and additional data sources to automatically exempt qualified participants whenever feasible.

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz during a reporter call last week supported this strategy, expressing hope that most individuals would receive assistance “without ever having to talk to anybody.”

When asked to explain rule implementation, CMS informed The Associated Press via email that the agency “chose not to allow states to categorically exclude individuals from work requirements based solely on a diagnosis or condition type.” For 2028 renewal, it stated, “verification through claims data or other documentation will generally be required.”

State Medicaid officials and consultants report that Medicaid claims data cannot prove significant work impairment, and they’re unaware of existing data that does. This has created confusion about complying with the government’s rule.

“States are going to be asked to make a determination using information that doesn’t exist in their systems,” explained Kinda Serafi, a partner at consulting firm Manatt Health who assists states with these changes.

Nebraska began implementing new Medicaid work requirements early. However, it utilized diagnostic codes to identify medically frail individuals, likely requiring system modifications, according to Sarah Maresh, healthcare access program director at advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed.

Maresh expressed concern that rural state physicians already hesitant to accept Medicaid patients might cease participation entirely.

“They’re already drowning in paperwork, so to require them to do an additional step of certifying whether someone is able to work, I think is concerning,” she noted.

Preparing for the January 1 launch represents an enormous and costly undertaking. A $200 million federal allocation supports states, and CMS has collaborated with technology companies to offer free and discounted services, but expenses for additional technology requirements and staffing will likely surpass $1 billion, according to an AP analysis. This additional cost will be shared between federal and state tax dollars.

Republicans supporting the new rules describe them as commonsense measures to eliminate government freeloading and preserve benefits for those most in need. Oz last week, referencing a conservative American Enterprise Institute think tank report, claimed able-bodied Medicaid recipients spend an average of 6.1 hours daily “watching TV or just hanging out.”

“This is a concern, not a criticism,” he stated. “Work requirements are going to turn this around, we hope.”

Current participants who don’t meet work requirement thresholds say this mischaracterizes their experiences.

Mids Meinberg, a 42-year-old freelance writer from New Jersey living with chronic depression and diabetes, said that despite health challenges, he takes pride in establishing a meaningful career. However, his conditions prevent him from working 80 hours monthly. He believes many disabled individuals are “too disabled to work but not disabled enough for the state to think they can’t work.”

Brandon, in North Carolina, wants the government to recognize she’s “not just sitting around wasting time or being a drain on society.”

“I’m pouring into my grandchildren,” she said. “We’re valuable, and we can still contribute to our communities even if it’s not working.”

Health investigators in the Democratic Republic of Congo are examining a tragic chain of events that may have sparked the country’s current Ebola epidemic – beginning with a damaged wooden casket that cracked during a bumpy truck ride across rural terrain.

The investigation centers on the February 4 funeral of Pastor Paluku Makundi Denis, a 44-year-old Congolese clergyman whose body was transported from a morgue in Bunia to the remote gold-mining community of Mongbwalu for burial.

During the three-hour journey across Ituri province, the aging Nissan SUV carrying the coffin bounced violently over broken dirt roads, potholes, and rocky terrain. Young family members riding in the vehicle sat directly on top of the wooden casket during the rough trip.

When the truck finally arrived in Mongbwalu that February afternoon, the coffin had collapsed and cracked under the weight, according to four experts working on the health ministry’s investigation into the outbreak’s origins.

What followed has become the focus of investigators searching for “patient zero” – the earliest infection in an epidemic that has now caused approximately 635 confirmed cases and at least 127 deaths across eastern Congo, with health officials warning the actual numbers could be significantly higher.

The rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola currently spreading has no available vaccine or treatment and proves fatal for 30% to 50% of those infected. A surveillance epidemiologist working on the inquiry believes this particular strain had been spreading undetected for four to six months before Congo officially confirmed the outbreak on May 15.

Hospital records show that Makundi had been diagnosed with peritonitis, a serious abdominal infection, at a Bunia medical facility on February 3. Three doctors and a nurse from the hospital confirmed that no Ebola testing was conducted because Congolese health authorities were unaware of any outbreak at the time.

An infectious-disease professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, David Heymann, explained that peritonitis can be a symptom of severe Ebola infection, though determining the actual cause of Makundi’s death would be impossible without proper testing.

When the damaged coffin reached Mongbwalu – a transient community of roughly 130,000 residents – dozens of mourners had already assembled at a family compound for the funeral service.

The pastor’s 70-year-old father, Pascal Kibali, known locally as Paka, examined the broken casket in the dimming afternoon light. Makundi, called Paluku by friends, had been a respected leader in Mongbwalu’s ethnic Nande community and helped establish the area’s charcoal cooperative before moving to Bunia to pursue religious work.

Kibali later recalled his thoughts upon seeing the damaged coffin: “My eldest son cannot be buried in such a coffin.”

Family members quickly purchased a replacement casket from a local craftsman. Community members then transferred the body from the broken coffin to the new one before sunset, with residents handling the remains directly – a potentially dangerous situation if Makundi had been infected with Ebola, since victims’ bodies remain highly contagious.

The wake took place at the family compound, followed by a cemetery burial. Traditional Congolese funeral customs often involve mourners touching and kissing the deceased, though it remains unknown whether these practices occurred during Makundi’s service.

More than 80 relatives, friends, and neighbors gathered at the local cemetery that evening, according to Edmond Kambale Katuwene, who leads Mongbwalu’s Nande community. A priest conducted prayers, encouraging attendees to contemplate life’s fragility and prepare for their own mortality, Katuwene reported.

Within days of the funeral, several community members began showing signs of illness, according to Mongbwalu’s Mayor Sesereki Mandro Israel. Nearly 50 deaths occurred within two weeks of the burial, with many victims displaying classic Ebola symptoms including fever, vomiting, and bleeding.

Pastor Makundi’s brother Idi became one of the first casualties. The 36-year-old miner died on February 16 from what was diagnosed as suspected appendicitis, according to a May 16 situation report from the provincial health authority. Within weeks, another brother and a relative also died from suspected hemorrhoids and tuberculosis respectively, with the bulletin noting these deaths required additional investigation.

These family deaths preceded at least 108 additional fatalities in Mongbwalu between April and May, according to the same Ituri authority report. Patients in family groups collapsed with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes hemorrhaging symptoms.

The investigation report identifies these deaths as potentially connected to the Ebola spread, with Makundi’s case representing the earliest suspected infection. The document suggests the disease may have circulated undetected in Mongbwalu for months.

Congo’s health ministry announced on June 9 that at least 40 people in Mongbwalu had been confirmed dead from Ebola, though aid workers caution that limited testing capabilities may mean official figures are incomplete.

As deaths mounted throughout the community, frightened residents sought explanations for the tragedy. Many focused not on medical causes but on the unusual circumstances surrounding Pastor Makundi’s burial.

After the cemetery service concluded and families departed in the warm evening air, word spread that someone had set fire to the damaged original coffin.

None of six relatives and local residents interviewed claimed to have witnessed the burning, though all reported seeing the coffin’s charred remains. Pastor Makundi’s father and uncle attributed the fire to intoxicated young people but provided no additional details. The entire family remained shocked and confused by the incident.

Community leader Katuwene explained that residents viewed the burned coffin as an insult to ancestral spirits.

Tensions escalated during the burial of Tsongo Kenda Kenda, Makundi’s younger brother, when local police had to intervene in a family dispute over opening the coffin, according to the May 16 provincial authority situation report.

Katuwene said family members had argued about where to hold the pre-burial wake, leading one relative to remove and replace the coffin lid in protest. Many community members consider such actions disrespectful to the deceased.

For some residents, neighborhood chief administrator Joseph Payi Mute explained, the subsequent deaths were interpreted not as viral disease but as punishment from ancestors angered by the disrespectful treatment surrounding both brothers’ burials.

Jeremy Rayan Tamelegu, who worked as a mining-geology consultant in the same neighborhood as the pastor’s family, said the unexplained surge in illness and death reinforced the curse narrative. He witnessed people in the area suddenly becoming sick and dying within days.

The story quickly spread across social media throughout Mongbwalu and surrounding areas. Dark humor emerged among the anxious population, even inspiring a local music group to record a song about the rumors.

One verse stated: “We hear a coffin is wandering Mongbwalu, leaving devastation in its wake.”

The song sparked a TikTok trend across eastern Congo, with users posting videos showing coffins apparently moving independently along dirt roads or floating above terrified residents.

When provincial health investigators from the patient-zero inquiry reached Mongbwalu in early May, curse rumors had spread widely and some residents had become hostile toward health workers and officials, one investigator reported.

The mistrust has escalated to violence, similar to previous Ebola outbreaks where many locals blamed the disease on modern medicine.

On May 22, an unspecified number of young people in the nearby village of Mabilindey attacked a response team collecting information about a confirmed Ebola case, according to the epidemiologist on the patient zero inquiry. The following day, attackers set fire to an isolation tent that aid workers had erected at Mongbwalu General Hospital.

Medical personnel are not the only targets of blame.

Pastor Makundi’s father, Paka Kibali, said his family has been unfairly accused by some locals of causing the outbreak due to the events surrounding both burials.

“They vandalized my son’s coffin and blamed me for the deaths that followed,” he said through tears. “Yet I am the victim – it was my son’s coffin that was desecrated.”