Category: Health

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.”

Companies across the nation are preparing to eliminate insurance coverage for popular weight loss medications next year, even as pharmaceutical manufacturers reduce prices for these treatments.

Research from the Business Group on Health reveals that approximately 10% of companies currently providing coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs intend to discontinue this benefit in 2027. A separate study conducted by benefits consultancy Mercer found that 5% of large companies – those with workforces exceeding 500 people – are making similar plans.

Current coverage rates vary between studies, with Mercer reporting that 44% of large companies provide obesity drug benefits, while the Business Group on Health indicates 67% of major employers offer GLP-1 coverage in 2026.

Health insurer Cigna recently stopped providing weight-loss medication coverage for its own workforce beginning in July, directing employees to purchase these medicines through alternative sources.

Pharmaceutical companies now offer both newer pill forms and traditional injections through their direct-to-consumer websites at reduced rates, facilitated by arrangements with the Trump administration’s TrumpRx.gov platform.

Novo introduced its Wegovy pill option in January, followed by Lilly’s launch of Foundayo pills in April. Both oral medications begin at approximately $149 monthly.

Lauren Remspecher, who serves as a director at Purchaser Business Group on Health, explained that many companies remain frustrated by their inability to secure the same cost reductions through pharmacy benefit managers that individual cash-paying customers receive.

“One advantage of having the direct-to-consumer and some of the government-negotiated pricing more transparent is that now employers can see how much more they’re paying and where there is an opportunity for improvement,” Remspecher stated.

The introduction of oral alternatives has significantly boosted medication demand this year, attracting individuals who previously avoided GLP-1 treatments, which continues to drive up employer expenses according to five industry specialists.

Multiple experts noted that companies are observing longer treatment durations and expanded patient populations compared to other medical interventions.

Clinical trials demonstrate that Foundayo and Wegovy pills achieve weight reductions of 11% and 14% respectively, showing less effectiveness than injectable versions but appealing to patients who prefer avoiding needles.

“Even though we have seen the unit cost come down, the patient population keeps growing,” explained Louis Zollo, a pharmacy practice leader at healthcare consultancy Segal.

Benefits consultancy Aon has documented both existing injectable users switching to oral formulations and new patients selecting pill options. Aon also anticipates reduced GLP-1 coverage in the coming year.

Dan Mendelson, CEO of Morgan Health, a healthcare division of JPMorgan, predicted that pill options will drive down individual treatment costs this year.

“But every year there’s going to be market growth,” he noted. “There’s going to be more people taking these drugs, so on aggregate this still represents a major cost driver for employers.”

Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and collaborating institutions announced Wednesday that reducing deep belly fat through lifestyle changes can offer long-lasting protection against type 2 diabetes, even when people put weight back on years later.

The research, which appeared in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, drew from extended follow-up data spanning two clinical studies that tracked how dietary changes and exercise influence fat distribution and metabolic wellness. Study participants were monitored for five and 10 years following 18-month intervention programs, providing scientists with an unusual extended perspective on outcomes after structured weight management efforts conclude.

The investigation centered on visceral adipose tissue, which represents fat deposits located deep within the abdominal cavity surrounding vital organs. This type of fat differs from subcutaneous fat found beneath the skin, and earlier research has established strong connections between visceral fat and insulin resistance, inflammation, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes development.

Scientists discovered that decreasing visceral fat showed stronger connections to lasting metabolic improvements compared to general weight reduction. According to the research, a 10% decrease in visceral fat corresponded with a 28% reduction in type 2 diabetes development risk throughout the follow-up period. Study participants who achieved visceral fat reduction also demonstrated enhanced blood glucose control, better insulin function, and additional positive cardiovascular and metabolic indicators.

Researchers noted that similar long-term protective benefits were not observed for reductions in liver fat, pancreatic fat, or subcutaneous fat deposits.

These results contribute to expanding research evidence indicating that body composition and fat placement can be equally important as, or more significant than, scale weight. Medical professionals have traditionally relied on body weight and body mass index as general health risk indicators, but these metrics cannot reveal fat storage locations or metabolic activity levels.

The research indicates that lifestyle modification programs focusing on enhanced nutrition and increased physical activity could deliver enduring health benefits even when weight reduction is not permanently sustained.

A major obstetrics and gynecology organization issued its own vaccination guidelines Wednesday, creating recommendations that contradict current federal health guidance.

The vaccination schedule targets pregnant women, new mothers, and those who are breastfeeding. These recommendations mirror previous guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prior to modifications implemented during the Trump administration under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists left a CDC vaccine advisory panel earlier this year following these policy shifts, which have resulted in court challenges.

“So now for the first time, ACOG has made the decision to formally release its own immunization schedule to provide and communicate clear evidence-based guidance and to address the growing vaccine misinformation that is circulating,” said Dr. Christopher Zahn, the OB-GYN group’s chief of clinical practice.

Thirteen additional professional and medical organizations have backed the new guidelines. Other groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have also issued vaccination schedules this year that diverge from CDC recommendations.

The organization recommends four vaccinations during pregnancy:

— Influenza vaccination, available during any trimester throughout the year, though early fall timing is preferred.

— COVID-19 vaccination, which can be administered during any trimester year-round, with earliest possible timing during pregnancy being optimal.

— Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination, ideally given as early as possible within the 27 to 36-week window.

— Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination, administered between 32 and 36 weeks during first pregnancies, typically from September through January across most U.S. regions. Women who received RSV vaccination in previous pregnancies don’t need repeat doses, though their newborns should receive antibody shots after delivery. Babies can receive this shot as an alternative to maternal vaccination.

Additional vaccines for pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B may be necessary for women with specific risk factors. The organization advises discussing these options with healthcare providers.

Three additional vaccines are suggested either before conception or following delivery, providing protection against human papillomavirus; measles, mumps and rubella; and chickenpox.

The most significant departure from federal guidance concerns COVID-19 vaccination.

Kennedy declared last May that COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy pregnant women and children — a decision that drew immediate criticism from multiple public health professionals.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment.

Healthcare professionals addressed vaccination concerns during the guideline announcement event.

“Vaccine hesitancy is huge in this country right now,” said Carol Hayes of the American College of Nurse Midwives. “Patients come in all the time saying I’ve done my own research, and sadly, they’re doing research and they’re getting information that is not scientifically based.”

Sarah Vaillancourt of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health reported similar experiences among her organization’s membership. Social media platforms are contributing to the confusion, she noted.

Given this environment, she described the OB-GYN group’s effort to deliver reliable information to patients as “really useful.”

As soccer enthusiasts across the globe celebrate and commiserate over World Cup games throughout North America, public health authorities are maintaining vigilant watch for potential disease outbreaks.

While extreme heat presents the most apparent health risk, contagious illnesses can rapidly transmit through large crowds. Health experts are closely monitoring sewage systems, emergency room data, and social media platforms to detect early indicators of possible disease transmission.

The highly transmissible measles virus tops the list of health concerns, prompting an alert this week from the Pan American Health Organization. With nearly six weeks of crowded stadiums, entertainment venues, and tourist attractions across 16 cities, authorities are tracking numerous potential infections, including norovirus and mosquito-transmitted dengue fever.

“This is truly a marathon,” said Palak Raval-Nelson, Philadelphia’s health commissioner.

These large-scale events occur during a challenging period for financially constrained health agencies nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, significantly impacted by staffing reductions during the Trump administration, is simultaneously managing an expanding Ebola outbreak in central Africa and a cruise ship hantavirus situation. Although CDC officials have provided guidance to state and local health departments, their anticipated World Cup disease monitoring dashboard remained “in final development” just days before competition started, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Our public health professionals are pretty stretched,” said global health specialist Rebecca Katz of Georgetown University, who is leading an unusual new hub to help.

The Health Security Operations Center, a collaborative initiative between Georgetown and MedStar Health, is examining information from nationwide sources to notify health officials and emergency departments about potential warning signs. This facility distributes daily situation updates regarding disease patterns near World Cup venues and team training facilities to hundreds of local and federal health organizations, emergency coordinators, hospital administrators, and other registered recipients.

“It’s important that we don’t become alarmist,” said MedStar emergency medicine specialist Dr. Shane Kappler. “We’re trying to be the insurance policy.”

More than 2,000 Americans have contracted measles this year, approaching the total count from the previous year, CDC data shows. Infected individuals can transmit measles before developing the characteristic rash and recognizing their illness. Previously, the United States rarely encountered measles cases except through international travel by unvaccinated individuals.

Currently, with regular domestic outbreaks occurring, “actually a lot of our international partners are worried about measles being exported to them after the games,” said Georgetown’s Katz.

Canada is also experiencing measles transmission, while Mexico has recorded over 11,000 cases, according to PAHO. The organization encourages soccer fans to verify their vaccination status through a health initiative warning that one measles patient can infect up to 18 vulnerable individuals.

Brown University’s Dr. Craig Spencer, who recovered from Ebola during his work in the West Africa outbreak more than a decade ago, noted frequent inquiries about Ebola risks during the World Cup — but “for me, Ebola is not the No. 1 or No. 2 or even No. 3 threat.”

“I am concerned about importation of measles, I am much more concerned about the importation of other infectious threats that may not seem as scary to us as Ebola,” Spencer said.

Most health professionals concur that Ebola transmission risk in the United States remains minimal. This assessment stems partly from government travel screening procedures and restrictions on individuals recently present in outbreak zones. Additionally, Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids from symptomatic patients, rather than airborne transmission like measles or respiratory infections.

“One fortunate thing about this virus is you’re most contagious when you’re really quite ill. It’s not like COVID, where you could be sitting next to someone who doesn’t even know they’re infected and perhaps contract the virus,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown’s Pandemic Center.

Individuals carrying certain viral or bacterial infections release genetic traces detectable through advanced sewage testing, creating an early alert system. For instance, measles evidence can emerge in wastewater several days before emergency departments encounter initial patients.

Current surveillance updates from Katz’s center indicate that recent wastewater analysis identified diarrhea-causing rotavirus, hepatitis A, and norovirus in various U.S. regions — developments worth monitoring as soccer audiences gather.

Dallas authorities have intensified wastewater monitoring, including at the international airport, employing broad screening rather than targeting specific diseases, explained Dr. Phil Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services.

His department is also expanding routine mosquito surveillance, testing not only for West Nile virus commonly found domestically but also for infections more prevalent in other nations like dengue and chikungunya.

Health officials have spent months preparing, Philadelphia’s Raval-Nelson explained, conducting practice emergency exercises and establishing communication networks with colleagues nationwide.

“I don’t want to send a message that there’s one key thing,” she said. “We have the frameworks in place to carry out what we need to.”

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Motorcycle taxi drivers in eastern Congo organized a public awareness campaign Tuesday to educate communities about Ebola prevention as distrust and violence against medical personnel continue to obstruct efforts to control the deadly outbreak.

The drivers donned white shirts reading “Stop Ebola” and carried educational materials and visual guides about disease prevention while traveling through Bunia and Rwampara, communities located in Congo’s eastern Ituri province where the outbreak is concentrated.

Ituri province represents over 90% of all recorded cases. Additional cases have been documented in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, plus several instances reported across the border in Uganda.

Congolese officials reported late Tuesday that 115 people have died from confirmed cases of the disease among at least 598 total confirmed infections.

However, the outbreak response continues to face community doubt and false information, with some residents questioning the existence of the outbreak or strongly resisting strict burial protocols implemented by medical teams to limit disease transmission.

Ituri province residents have conducted no fewer than three assaults on medical facilities while demanding the return of deceased patients’ remains. In total, more than 520 incidents affecting healthcare workers have been documented, according to Marie Roseline Darnycka Belizaire, WHO’s emergency director for Africa.

Motorcycle taxi operators can help communicate that healthcare workers are simply working to prevent disease spread, explained Jacques Maliro, the World Health Organization’s Risk Communication and Community Engagement Officer, who helped organize the caravan.

“Response teams have been attacked in some areas, and that is one reason why we chose to involve motorcycle taxi drivers. They are an important group because they transport both sick and healthy people, so they too need to be informed and engaged,” Maliro said.

False information circulating throughout Ituri communities has prevented residents from following health guidance or getting medical treatment, according to health officials. When the outbreak began, certain churches informed their members that the outbreak was fabricated and that religious faith eliminated the need for medical intervention.

“Those who do not believe in it need to understand that it is real,” said Josue Mbabona, a motorcycle taxi driver from the caravan, adding that he has already lost three family members to Ebola.

Healthcare workers on the front lines, working with minimal compensation or rest periods, have also been prevented from accessing certain communities isolated by fighting with armed rebel groups.

Eastern Congo has experienced years of violence from numerous separate rebel and militant organizations, some connected to neighboring Rwanda or the extremist Islamic State group.

Supply shortages have also complicated response efforts. Bunia residents and local leaders cited Wednesday a lack of water necessary for the regular handwashing protocols recommended to reduce virus transmission.

This Ebola outbreak stems from the uncommon Bundibugyo virus, which lacks approved vaccines or treatments unlike the “Zaire virus,” which caused most of Congo’s previous 16 disease outbreaks.

“The vaccine needs to be available so that we can protect ourselves, move forward, and return to normal life,” David Kasimwa, a student participating in the caravan said. “This disease has disrupted many activities: We are no longer able to travel freely because we are afraid,” he added.

Three potential vaccines are currently under development. Africa’s leading public health organization announced last month it plans to make a vaccine and treatment for Bundibugyo virus available before year’s end.

At the same time, multiple nations have established travel limitations or increased screening protocols for passengers arriving from Ebola-affected regions, although WHO has not recommended widespread travel prohibitions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday urged European countries to tighten travel restrictions on people arriving from Ebola-affected countries in Africa, warning that failure to do so could lead to stricter U.S. travel measures for arrivals from Europe, including during the World Cup.

There are relatively few direct flights between Africa and the United State per day but more than 300 direct daily flights between Europe and the United States.

Testing for Ebola has ground to a halt at three laboratories in Democratic Republic of Congo after facilities ran out of essential supplies, according to the World Health Organization.

The WHO reported Tuesday that testing facilities in Bukavu and Lwiro located in South Kivu province, along with a lab in Goma in North Kivu, have depleted their inventory of reagents needed to conduct virus tests. Officials said these laboratories are waiting for new shipments of the chemical substances required to process accumulated samples.

The health agency has not yet responded to inquiries about the number of samples waiting to be processed or whether new supplies have been delivered since the June 7 data collection.

The Congolese government announced Tuesday evening that the current Ebola outbreak has produced nearly 600 confirmed infections and claimed more than 115 lives. The epidemic has also spread across the border, with 19 cases and two fatalities reported in neighboring Uganda. The WHO has designated this outbreak as an international public health emergency.

Initial testing efforts faced delays because standard Ebola diagnostic tools could not identify the Bundibugyo virus strain. However, testing capabilities have expanded significantly under the leadership of specialists at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa. Security concerns and armed conflicts in the most affected regions continue to create access difficulties.

Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe, director of INRB, stated that diagnostic capabilities have substantially improved, with regional laboratories now able to provide same-day results.

During a Wednesday online briefing, he expressed concern that other aspects of the outbreak response are lagging behind, especially efforts to build trust with affected communities and help them implement protective measures. Drawing from experience with 16 previous Ebola outbreaks in the country, he emphasized this as a crucial lesson.

“For the moment I am a bit disappointed, because I don’t see in practice these experiences on the ground,” he said. “It seemed we have to learn again how to involve the community in this outbreak.”

A newborn infant has died from Ebola at a religious orphanage in eastern Congo, underscoring the heightened dangers the deadly virus poses to children during the ongoing outbreak.

The baby, named Buswaza, arrived at the church-operated facility in Bunia after losing her mother in late May. Nuns caring for the infant noticed she had developed a fever, and within several days, the newborn succumbed to what was later confirmed as Ebola.

Following Buswaza’s death, medical staff and caregivers reported that six additional infants at the 69-child orphanage in Bunia became suspected Ebola cases. The city sits in Ituri province, which has become the center of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s current outbreak.

Medical personnel transported the six babies to a hospital facility, where five eventually received negative test results and were released from isolation on Tuesday. Staff wearing complete protective equipment handed the infants over to joyful nuns at the Evangelical Medical Centre (CME).

“We thank the hospital staff, we are very grateful,” said Sister Clarisse, carrying a baby in a pink hooded gown.

However, one infant remains hospitalized with confirmed Ebola – an orphaned triplet girl under one year old who goes by the nickname “Cherie” or “darling,” according to medical professionals and caregivers who spoke with Reuters.

Dr. Freddy Kibwana, who heads the CME, reported on Wednesday that the child’s condition had worsened over recent hours. “The intensive care team and paediatricians are evaluating her,” he said. He noted that a nun from the orphanage is also receiving treatment at the medical center for Ebola and shows minimal disease symptoms.

Young children and infants can readily spread the illness through bodily fluids including vomit, waste, and saliva, which become highly contagious when individuals contract Ebola.

Beyond the hospitalized infant, three caregivers who looked after the deceased newborn, including one nun, have received positive Ebola test results, aid organizations and medical staff confirmed.

The sisters working at the orphanage, which Belgian nuns founded during the colonial period, are offering prayers for those affected.

“We are nuns but we are also humans and it has been very emotional,” one sister told Reuters, requesting anonymity due to concerns about Ebola-related stigmatization.

Buswaza, whose life lasted fewer than two weeks, represents one of the youngest casualties in the epidemic that has infected nearly 600 individuals and claimed at least 115 lives throughout Congo.

Beyond fluids such as blood and saliva, the World Health Organization reports Ebola has been found in amniotic fluid and placental tissue, suggesting her mother could have passed the virus to her before birth or during delivery.

Should the mother have contracted the virus following childbirth, transmission to her child might have occurred through breast milk, where medical experts have also identified the virus.

Children currently represent nearly one-fifth, approximately 17% of confirmed Ebola cases in this outbreak, according to preliminary data from the U.N. children’s charity (UNICEF). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned this outbreak could exceed the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic. The number of child fatalities remains unknown.

Although young children comprise a smaller percentage compared to other age categories, the World Health Organization indicates they may face elevated risks of serious complications and death.

However, limited information exists regarding this uncommon virus strain, Bundibugyo, and how it affects children, the organization stated.

UNICEF expresses concern that children’s survival prospects could be compromised by existing health issues in a region marked by widespread malnutrition and incomplete vaccination coverage.

A 2023 study in Ituri documented a chronic global malnutrition rate of 52.1% among children under five years old. Many youngsters at the orphanage have survived armed conflicts throughout eastern Congo.

“In this fragile context, children could deteriorate more quickly if they become infected,” said UNICEF’s Douglas Noble, who leads on health emergencies and visited Bunia last month.

Buswaza received burial in late May inside a sealed, waterproof body bag designed to prevent disease transmission.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reports maintaining supplies of child-sized body bags to perform safe and respectful burials for children in the region.

Medical teams now conduct daily visits to the orphanage to monitor both children and staff members.

“This epidemic has hit an area already in humanitarian crisis,” said Babou Rukengeza, a senior health adviser with Save the Children aid group. “This place is the only refuge for these children.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it has broadened the approved applications for an arthritis medication manufactured by Organon, allowing doctors to prescribe the drug for dangerous immune system reactions in cancer patients and severe COVID-19 cases requiring respiratory assistance.

Key details of the FDA’s decision include:

• Federal regulators expanded approval for Tofidence, which mimics Roche’s Actemra, to address severe or potentially fatal cytokine release syndrome in certain cancer patients, as well as COVID-19 cases where patients require oxygen therapy or mechanical breathing assistance along with systemic corticosteroids.

• Cytokine release syndrome occurs when the human body produces too many inflammatory proteins.

• Organon announced that Tofidence is now authorized for use in adults and pediatric patients starting at age two for both newly approved medical conditions.

• The medication is classified as a biosimilar, which means it closely replicates Roche’s Actemra that doctors use to treat various forms of arthritis, another condition for which Tofidence already has regulatory approval.

• “In the U.S., biosimilar adoption may help reduce the affordability burden of high-cost brand biologics on the health care system,” said Jon Martin, U.S. commercial lead, biosimilars and established brands, at Organon.

• Organon noted that federal regulators granted Tofidence approval in 2023 as the first American biosimilar alternative to Actemra.

• This past April, India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries announced plans to acquire Organon through an all-cash transaction worth approximately $11.75 billion including debt, representing the largest international purchase by an Indian pharmaceutical corporation.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation has reached a settlement agreement with the Trump administration that will end its provision of gender transition services to minors. Under the terms of the deal, the medical organization will discontinue assistance to children seeking to transition to a different gender identity and will contribute $2 million toward helping individuals who wish to reverse previous transitions.

Federal officials had been examining potential fraudulent billing practices related to the clinic’s gender-transition care for minors. As part of the resolution, the medical facility has committed to permanently ending sex-change surgeries and the administration of puberty-blocking medications to young patients.

Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi announced on June 10 that it has discontinued a major clinical trial for its experimental drug riliprubart following disappointing interim results that indicated the treatment would not demonstrate adequate effectiveness.

The discontinued study, known as the MOBILIZE trial, was testing riliprubart as a potential treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, specifically targeting patients who had not responded to conventional therapies for this rare neurological disorder.

According to the company’s announcement, an independent data monitoring committee conducted the interim review and determined no safety concerns were associated with the experimental treatment during their analysis.

Sanofi indicated it will now assess whether to continue other ongoing studies involving riliprubart, including another Phase 3 trial called VITALIZE.

The pharmaceutical company stated that ending this trial will not result in substantial financial losses or alter its projected financial outlook for 2026.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo announced Tuesday that confirmed Ebola infections have reached 598 cases, prompting increased efforts to educate communities about critical prevention measures.

Officials declared the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain on May 15, but authorities later acknowledged the virus had been spreading undetected for several weeks, putting health workers at a disadvantage in controlling the epidemic.

The outbreak represents one of the most significant Ebola emergencies globally, affecting three provinces plagued by ongoing armed violence: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

According to the government’s most recent update posted on X, the confirmed case count has reached 598, with 115 fatalities recorded.

Health officials also reported that 22 individuals have successfully recovered from the illness, while noting that recent infections have not expanded into additional health districts.

The epidemic has affected 17 health districts within Ituri province, along with seven districts in North Kivu and one district in South Kivu.

“If you have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or severe weakness, you should go to the nearest health center immediately,” the government statement advised, encouraging residents to cooperate with medical personnel and refrain from violent acts against them.

Community distrust and opposition have created significant obstacles for the emergency response, with documented assaults on burial crews and medical facilities.

Healthcare workers are also facing shortages of essential protective equipment needed to maintain safety and limit disease transmission, according to more than a dozen physicians, aid workers and public health experts.

The International Rescue Committee issued an appeal Tuesday for financial support necessary to control the outbreak in Ituri province and prevent its expansion to other areas.

Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have released findings from two comprehensive studies examining more than 264,000 pregnancies, concluding that widely-used pain relief medications during pregnancy do not increase the likelihood of birth defects.

The research, which appeared in PLOS Medicine and Human Reproduction Open, was spearheaded by Dr. Sharon Daniel and utilized twenty years of medical data from the siPREG (Southern Israeli Pregnancy Registry), a database that monitors health outcomes for mothers and babies.

The first investigation looked at Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen medications like Advil and Nurofen, when taken during early pregnancy. Scientists analyzed 264,858 pregnancies recorded at Soroka University Medical Center from 1998 to 2018, with over 20,000 cases involving NSAID use.

While birth abnormalities seemed somewhat more frequent initially among mothers taking NSAIDs, scientists noted that this difference vanished when they accounted for variables like fever, pain conditions, inflammatory disorders, chronic health issues, and maternal demographic factors.

“The results showed that NSAID medications are safe to use during the first trimester and are not associated with the development of congenital malformations,” Dr. Daniel stated.

The companion study examined acetaminophen, commonly known as paracetamol and available under brand names like Acamol and Tylenol. Scientists looked for possible connections between pregnancy exposure and various outcomes such as birth abnormalities, stillbirth, underweight babies, poor Apgar scores, newborn kidney problems, and early closure of the ductus arteriosus.

Medical records showed paracetamol use in 15.5% of first-trimester pregnancies and 14.1% of third-trimester pregnancies. Scientists discovered no independent connection between the drug and negative pregnancy results after controlling for medical and pregnancy-related variables.

“At first glance, raw data might suggest a slight increase in birth defects among women who took these medications,” said Dr. Daniel. “However, our analysis revealed that the risk was actually tied to the mother’s underlying condition—such as a high fever, infection, or chronic illness—rather than the painkillers themselves.”

To tackle worries about unreported non-prescription medication usage, the research team performed supplementary analyses.

“We had to ensure that ‘real-world’ habits didn’t skew our results,” said co-author Dr. Ariel Hassidim. “We demonstrated that the volume of unreported use would have to be impossibly high.”

The collaborative research team consisted of scientists from Ben-Gurion University, Soroka University Medical Center, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, and Ariel University.

Medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders reported Tuesday that a devastating cholera crisis in Nigeria’s northeastern region has claimed 74 lives and sickened over 7,000 individuals since beginning in early May.

The deadly outbreak has spread across 14 of the 27 local government areas within Borno state, striking communities already weakened by almost 20 years of violent conflict with the extremist organization Boko Haram.

Cholera regularly affects Nigeria during certain seasons, particularly problematic given that government statistics from 2020 show just 14% of the nation’s more than 200 million residents can access properly managed clean water services.

Conditions prove even more challenging throughout Borno state, including the crowded capital city and isolated areas where poor sanitation and cleanliness standards persist partly due to limited oversight from health officials.

Doctors Without Borders reported caring for 7,439 cholera cases at their medical facilities, averaging 185 new patients daily. The organization documented 500 cases on a single Friday last week, marking the highest one-day total since the outbreak began.

“Open defecation is making it worse also, and there is less partners (on the ground),” explained Jessie Kurnurkar, who coordinates projects for the medical charity, commonly referred to by its French initials MSF.

“By the time we know the cases in the community, the local transmission has happened, and it is difficult to respond, because the spread has become more,” Kurnurkar stated.

The Associated Press interviewed patients receiving care at an MSF treatment facility in the state capital about their experiences during the health crisis.

Aisha Ibrahim, currently being treated for cholera at the center, described experiencing continuous diarrhea since falling ill and remaining hospitalized for over four days.

“When they discharged me, the vomiting stopped, and when I got home, I started stooling again, and it became severe (so) I was rushed back to the center,” Ibrahim explained.

Federal health officials announced Tuesday they have approved the first new sunscreen ingredient for American consumers in over 25 years, opening access to a protective compound that has been available in Europe and other regions for decades.

The Food and Drug Administration determined that bemotrizinol meets agency requirements for shielding skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation while producing minimal irritation or penetration into the skin. Officials stated the compound is safe for use by adults and children six months of age and older.

The ingredient will debut in American stores through Dutch company DSM Nutritional Products, marketed as Parsol Shield with an anticipated release later this year. Following an 18-month exclusive period, other manufacturers will gain access to use the ingredient in their products.

The introduction of new sunscreen formulations has faced significant delays for years due to the FDA’s complex administrative process for updating approved nonprescription drug ingredient lists. Bemotrizinol represents the first compound to navigate a faster approval pathway that Congress established in 2020.

Industry specialists indicate bemotrizinol addresses a significant gap in the American sunscreen market by defending against both ultraviolet A and B radiation without creating the white residue typical of mineral-based products.

“For decades, Americans have used outdated sunscreen tech while the rest of the world moved forward,” said David Andrews of the Environmental Working Group. “The approval of bemotrizinol will help change that.”

Andrews’ organization has consistently advocated for the FDA to strengthen sunscreen regulations and approve additional ingredients for consumer use.

According to FDA regulations, all sunscreen products must defend against UVB radiation, which creates most sunburn damage, plus UVA radiation that presents the highest risk for skin cancer and aging effects.

Chemical-blocking compounds currently on the market typically protect against only one type of radiation. Manufacturers usually combine multiple chemicals to create “broad spectrum protection.”

Mineral-based compounds, such as zinc oxide, block both UVA and UVB radiation but create a white, chalky appearance on skin.

European regulators approved bemotrizinol in 1999, and the compound was initially submitted to the FDA for evaluation in 2005.

“The FDA is committed to ensuring the American consumer has access to the most effective and safe therapies, including over-the-counter products like sunscreens,” said Dr. Mike Davis, acting director of FDA’s drug center.

The FDA has been progressively revising its sunscreen regulations. In 2011, officials prohibited misleading terms such as “waterproof” and mandated that all products filter both UVA and UVB radiation. Previously, some formulations protected only against UVB rays.

In 2021, the FDA suggested additional changes including limits on SPF ratings and enhanced UVA protection requirements, though these proposals remain incomplete.

After three decades as a professional dancer and choreographer, Bengie Santos could have easily retired when she reached the age where most performers step away from the spotlight. Instead, she launched a new chapter as a fitness instructor.

Santos, now 72, has spent 14 years leading classes at the YMCA of Greater Seattle, where she’s developed a devoted group of older participants — including many in their 80s and 90s — who attend her stretching, dancing and weight-lifting sessions several times weekly.

Her classes feature everything from Doris Day classics to hip-hop beats and country line dancing, getting participants moving with kicks, pops and spins.

Several of Santos’ participants note that younger instructors — while skilled — don’t connect with them quite the same way.

YMCA coordinators and fitness experts emphasize that older instructors often serve as effective role models, communicating with their age group in ways that make working out more enjoyable.

Sharon Ruff, 81, was drawn to Santos’ sessions because of the diverse musical selections and appreciates the instructor’s vigor and positive attitude. During her teaching career, she rarely exercised consistently. “I didn’t really like it, because it wasn’t fun,” she says.

Her companion Ann Kashiwa, 91, frequently attends back-to-back hour-long sessions. She began participating in Santos’ classes during the pandemic and continued even while receiving pancreatic cancer treatment.

“She is not only a fantastic teacher, but she gets people together,” says Kashiwa, whose YMCA connections have provided support during difficult periods.

Santos describes the motivation as mutual. Her participants encourage her to continue, she explains, and “I’m hoping I inspire them to keep going.”

Physical activity and social interaction are essential for healthy aging, making it important to find ways to make these activities appealing.

“Everybody has to figure out what their barriers are” and develop approaches to make physical activity rewarding, says Daniel E. Lieberman, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard and author of several books, including “Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding.”

Having someone to encourage movement, whether an instructor or companion, can help overcome natural reluctance.

“People who stay active as they get older are important role models for everyone,” Lieberman says.

Harry King, an 83-year-old personal trainer in Greenville, South Carolina, acknowledges that finding motivation for that initial step is challenging for many, becoming even more difficult as mobility decreases.

King maintained an active lifestyle — kayaking, hiking and playing basketball — but after retiring from his career as an insurance executive and business coach, he found himself drawn to relaxing in front of the television. That quickly became tedious, so when he noticed a Help Wanted sign at Planet Fitness, he applied and eventually became a trainer.

The majority of his clients are 50 or older.

“I’ve heard people say I set a good example and I try to,” he says. “At my age, if I can exercise, why can’t other people too?”

The Seattle YMCA recognizes the benefits of having older instructors lead senior programs.

“We don’t put an age limit on our applicants,” says program executive Kerry Ashby, who began there as a younger instructor for the Active Older Adults program. The Y does recruit from within the older adult classes, and a lot of instructors are former participants.

“We know it’s more than just fitness for the majority of our active older adults,” Ashby says. “It’s also the mental and emotional aspect.”

Tom Kleinecke, 67, has belonged to the Y for 18 years and has tried various classes. Younger instructors, he observes, tend to teach their classes, while Santos leads and inspires.

Kleinecke reports that his fitness and stamina have improved significantly since he began attending three of Santos’ weekly classes. Despite being in good shape, he finds it challenging to match her pace.

One session includes a high-energy dance class not specifically designed for older participants. Initially, some movements were difficult to master, he noted, but soon he learned all the choreography, from mambo to moonwalk.

“If you’re worried about being out of sync and uncoordinated, don’t worry about it because nobody is paying attention to you,” Kleinecke says. They’re all watching the instructor.

Now, he and his wife enjoy dancing on weekends.

Santos explains that she considers her students’ ages and experiences when selecting music for her exercise classes.

“I always tell other instructors it isn’t your class, it’s their class,” she says.

She also conducts smaller sessions at three senior living facilities. Those participants range from 80 to 102.

“The caregivers wheel them out. I play their music. It triggers their memory,” from Judy Garland to Louie Armstrong, Santos says. “When they see me they think they’re going to party.”

Some even waltz in their chairs.

A federally-commissioned research project examining alcohol’s impact on health has finally been released through an independent publication after the Trump Administration decided against using its conclusions to shape new U.S. drinking recommendations issued this year.

The research, now published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, reveals that minimal alcohol consumption can elevate health dangers. According to the findings, Americans who consume one alcoholic beverage daily face a lifetime death risk from alcohol-related incidents, including accidents and injuries, of at least 1 in 1,000. This risk jumps dramatically to 1 in 100 for individuals consuming two daily drinks.

For American men specifically, the study determined that consuming two drinks daily – commonly considered moderate consumption – creates a 1 in 25 lifetime risk of death from alcohol-related causes.

The research also linked single daily drinks to heightened risks of specific cancers and injuries.

Critics from the alcohol industry and certain U.S. lawmakers have challenged the study’s approach, claiming its methods were unclear and problematic. They argue the research process contained bias and conflicts of interest, led by scientists who oppose alcohol consumption.

Instead of using this study, the Trump Administration relied on separate research from the non-profit National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine for their alcohol guidance updates. That alternative study concluded that moderate drinking correlates with reduced risk of death from any cause.

Earlier in 2025, six U.S. health officials had been working on a proposal to restrict alcohol recommendations to one drink daily for all Americans, changing from the previous guidelines of two drinks for men and one for women in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines. The Trump Administration ultimately issued new guidance encouraging Americans to reduce drinking for improved health, though without specific serving recommendations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had originally commissioned the Alcohol Intake and Health Study to inform alcohol recommendations in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which were released in January.

While a preliminary version of the study appeared in January 2025, the Trump Administration excluded its conclusions from their updated alcohol guidance and declined to release the complete study version, which has now been published independently.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – A devastating cholera epidemic that started in early May has claimed at least 74 lives and sickened more than 7,800 people in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, according to the international aid organization Médecins Sans Frontières, which announced the figures on Tuesday.

As of June 7, MSF reported that 7,850 suspected cases have been documented across 14 local government areas, with the state ministry of health reporting that new infections are climbing dramatically each day.

The epidemic is putting enormous pressure on an already weakened healthcare infrastructure in an area that has been devastated by a 17-year Islamist insurgency, massive population displacement, and inadequate water and sanitation systems, creating conditions that could lead to broader transmission if efforts to control the disease fail.

In response to the crisis, MSF has partnered with the state ministry of health to establish a cholera treatment facility in the regional capital Maiduguri.

“Every day, we see more people arriving with severe watery diarrhoea and dehydration, many of whom have travelled long distances to reach care,” stated Bienfait Tombola, MSF project medical coordinator for the surge response in Maiduguri.

MSF reports treating 7,439 patients, with an average of approximately 230 new admissions daily. The organization recorded more than 500 cases on June 5 alone, marking the highest single-day admission count since response efforts began.

The waterborne illness flourishes in environments where clean water and proper sanitation are unavailable. According to MSF, officials are preparing a vaccination initiative while the aid organization continues expanding treatment capabilities, hygiene measures, and disease monitoring to stop the outbreak’s spread.

Researchers published an alcohol health study independently on Tuesday after the Trump administration opted not to incorporate their findings into updated dietary guidelines, following resistance from the alcohol industry and a House committee.

Published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, the research aligns with previous scientific work, concluding that health dangers increase with as little as one daily drink and that no amount of alcohol provides mortality protection. The scientists determined that even consumption levels deemed “moderate” elevate risks for early death and over 200 conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

This research represented one of two federal reviews intended to guide new dietary recommendations. The guidelines, issued earlier this year, recommended drinking “less alcohol for better overall health.” However, the study’s authors argue this guidance lacked specific practical information about drinking dangers.

An official from the study commissioned under President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration claimed President Donald Trump’s Republican administration “sidelined” the work — a charge the Trump administration disputes.

Robert Vincent, a former alcohol policy official with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration who spearheaded the multi-year project, leveled these accusations in an editorial accompanying the study. Vincent lost his position last year during government workforce reductions.

“The challenges confronting alcohol policy today are not rooted in scientific uncertainty,” Vincent wrote. “What remains contested is whether evidence will meaningfully inform policy when it conflicts with commercial interests.”

This controversy highlights growing tensions between medical and scientific communities and the Trump administration, which has challenged established science in policy decisions, dismissed numerous veteran federal scientists, and reduced scientific funding that supporters claim keeps America leading in medical breakthroughs.

Following the researchers’ draft report release last year, the alcohol industry organized opposition, launching efforts to undermine the work’s credibility. The House oversight committee also criticized the research, issuing a report this year labeling it “fraught with bias” and claiming authors reached predetermined conclusions based on previous work and associations.

Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, rejected suggestions the study wasn’t evaluated.

HHS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture “reviewed the study alongside the broader body of available scientific evidence and followed the established process for developing the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” she said. “The Guidelines are informed by the totality of the scientific record, not any single report or analysis.”

Vincent told The Associated Press during an interview that researchers underwent thorough conflict screening and the results were scientifically valid. He stated that during his time in the Trump administration, he was “asked to kill the study” but refused. HHS did not immediately address this allegation.

The Trump administration released new dietary guidelines earlier this year recommending consuming “less alcohol for better overall health.” The researchers stated they don’t challenge this advice but believe their results support more detailed and stronger recommendations that current adult drinkers limit consumption to one drink or less daily.

“I’m glad that they had a message that corresponds with our science, and that is that less is best,” said Dr. Timothy Naimi, director of the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and one of the study’s authors. “But giving people quantity information is necessary to make a truly informative guideline.”

The study contrasted with other government-commissioned research used to inform dietary guidelines, which found moderate alcohol consumption linked to reduced all-cause mortality risk but increased disease risks.

Priscilla Martinez-Matyszczyk, one of the new study’s authors and a deputy scientific director at the Public Health Institute’s Alcohol Research Group, explained their research focused on alcohol-attributed mortality rather than all-cause mortality to eliminate confounding variables.

Martinez-Matyszczyk also responded to concerns raised by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz regarding the new guidelines: that drinking serves as “a social lubricant that brings people together” and while abstinence is preferable, socializing offers health advantages.

“I don’t know of any studies that have teased out the social effect from the health effect,” she said.

The new results are “in line with the latest science that basically shows less is better when it comes to health,” Naimi said.

For instance, a 2019 Lancet study determined that moderate drinking marginally increased stroke and hypertension risks while providing no health protection.

Moderate consumption was previously believed to benefit heart health, but improved research methods have debunked this notion. Earlier studies compared groups based on consumption levels rather than randomly assigning drinking habits, preventing cause-and-effect conclusions. When researchers controlled for factors like education, income, and healthcare access, the benefits typically vanished.

Approximately half of Americans aged 12 and older consumed alcohol within the past month, researchers noted, making it the nation’s most widely used addictive substance. One drink equals roughly one 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce wine glass, or one liquor shot.

Health officials working to contain an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo say their contact tracing efforts are making progress but remain significantly below necessary levels, the World Health Organization reported Tuesday.

The latest WHO data shows 550 confirmed Ebola cases with 101 fatalities, plus an additional 94 suspected cases.

Health authorities first declared the outbreak on May 15, though officials now acknowledge the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola had been spreading undetected for several weeks, making containment more challenging.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva from Bunia in the DRC, Dr Abdi Mahamud from the WHO explained the current situation. “We have reached 62% of contacts, but our target is 90-95%,” he stated.

“It is slow steady progress, but we have not reached where we want to be,” Dr Mahamud continued, emphasizing how crucial it is for healthcare workers to establish community trust to properly identify cases, make referrals, and conduct contact tracing.

“With the ramp up of contact tracing and community workers, we hope to achieve that target in the coming weeks,” he added.

Response efforts have faced significant obstacles from community distrust and opposition, including violent incidents targeting burial teams and treatment facilities.

The most recent violence occurred Sunday when attackers targeted a burial team at the Nyamurongo cemetery in Bunia, leaving two people with serious injuries and damaging two vehicles, according to a source with knowledge of the government’s response.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released additional data Tuesday showing contact tracing success varies dramatically by location, reaching 78% in Bunia while achieving 0% coverage in certain health zones.

Medical breakthroughs using the mRNA technology that powered rapid COVID-19 vaccine development are demonstrating significant progress against aggressive cancers, including melanoma and previously untreatable pancreatic and brain tumors.

These promising developments in cancer vaccine research – considered among the most rapidly expanding areas of cancer treatment studies – are emerging even as federal officials have sent mixed messages regarding the technology’s value and safety profile.

Over 130 research presentations focusing on these therapeutic approaches were shared at this month’s American Society of Clinical Oncology conference held in Chicago.

Leading the field are Moderna and Merck, whose combined treatment using a potent immunotherapy medication alongside an individualized mRNA cancer vaccine has successfully prevented melanoma recurrence for five years – marking a significant achievement in developing customized vaccines that teach immune systems to target cancer cells.

Both companies are currently conducting mRNA-based therapy trials across nine major and intermediate-sized studies targeting lung, kidney, bladder and pancreatic cancers, with potential preliminary data from their comprehensive melanoma confirmation trial expected within the year.

Meanwhile, extensive early-stage research conducted at academic institutions and medical facilities has advanced to development phases at pharmaceutical companies such as Roche and BioNTech.

Vision Research Reports, a market analysis firm, projects that the personalized cancer vaccine market, primarily driven by mRNA technology, could generate $8.5 billion in annual revenue by 2034.

Traditional vaccines for infectious diseases work by training immune systems to identify and combat viruses, providing extended protection.

“That principle can now be applied to cancer, and that’s a big advance,” stated Merck Chief Medical Officer Eliav Barr.

These developments occur despite the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., eliminating $500 million from mRNA vaccine initiatives. Kennedy has challenged mRNA vaccine safety and effectiveness without supporting evidence while making inflated statements regarding adverse effects.

However, the National Cancer Institute continues working with the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health through a $200 million public-private collaboration funding trials for promising cancer vaccines, including mRNA-based options.

Scientists warn that separating mRNA research into isolated categories could hinder progress in a technology that has been safely administered to over 700 million individuals during the COVID pandemic.

“We have to be able to innovate around technologies that are going to improve healthcare for all,” explained Dr. Elias Sayour, who leads an RNA engineering laboratory at the University of Florida and advises the NCI’s cancer vaccine initiative. “If we don’t do it, other countries will.”

HHS did not provide a response to requests for comment.

Ten years ago, Dr. Vinod Balachandran from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was among pioneering researchers who recognized mRNA’s potential for treating even the most lethal cancers.

He observed that occasionally, certain patients managed to survive pancreatic cancer, a condition researchers thought remained hidden from immune system detection.

Research showed that in these instances, patients’ immune systems successfully identified and attacked their tumors. The challenge was determining how to make this occurrence more frequent.

Balachandran theorized that mRNA, which can be produced rapidly, could create personalized vaccines based on unique mutations found exclusively in patients’ tumors following surgical removal.

A phase 1 study involving 16 patients began in December 2019, testing a combination of chemotherapy, Roche’s immunotherapy Tecentriq, and a custom-made mRNA vaccine from BioNTech that targeted mutated proteins specific to individual patients’ tumors.

During April’s American Association for Cancer Research meeting, Balachandran reported that among eight pancreatic cancer patients whose immune systems responded to the vaccine, seven remained alive up to six years following treatment.

A 260-patient international phase 2 trial is currently ongoing to validate these findings.

“What a breakthrough it would be if mRNA was the technology that finally was able to achieve an immune response that was clinically meaningful,” commented Dr. Robert Vonderheide, director of Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center and AACR’s president-elect.

Messenger ribonucleic acid, or mRNA, exists naturally within every body cell. Its function involves transporting genetic instructions from cell nuclei to cellular components that produce specific proteins.

University of Florida’s Sayour describes mRNA as the human body’s software. It can be reprogrammed for various functions, including creating proteins that train immune systems to attack infectious agents or abnormal cancer cells, he explained.

This research is being conducted at Mount Sinai, where Brian Brown, director of the Icahn Genomics Institute, has created a method for designing lipid nanoparticles – the fatty capsules that transport mRNA into cells – to control their destination within the body.

Research published in Nature Biotechnology during April indicates mRNA could be enhanced or reduced to strengthen immune responses or decrease harmful reactions, potentially leading to more effective cancer treatments or novel approaches for autoimmune diseases.

Sayour has created a vaccine involving injections of lipid nanoparticle clusters into glioblastoma patients, rather than the single nanoparticle approach used in COVID vaccines.

Administered through intravenous delivery, the goal is to rapidly stimulate immune systems to combat the aggressive brain cancer, which has a five-year survival rate below 7%.

Targeting a cancer like glioblastoma represents a significant challenge for any vaccine, Sayour acknowledged. However, he stated, “if it can cure or even make a dent in glioblastoma, the implications for all forms of human cancer, in my mind, are extraordinary.”

Healthcare professionals worldwide are finding artificial intelligence helpful in their daily work, but a new study reveals that most say they’re not getting adequate training on these emerging technologies.

The research, conducted as part of the Future Health Index study, surveyed over 2,000 healthcare workers and more than 20,000 patients in 10 countries to examine how AI is being used in medical settings.

Medical professionals are turning to artificial intelligence for various tasks, including using it as a conversational partner for work-related discussions, converting voice recordings into written clinical notes, and managing patient appointment schedules.

On the medical treatment side, the technology can alert providers about potentially harmful medication interactions, recommend possible diagnoses when presented with patient symptoms, and assist in reviewing medical imaging like X-rays and scans.

The time-saving benefits are substantial, according to the findings. Nearly half of all surveyed healthcare workers reported saving at least 132 hours each year on average, while 50% indicated that AI has expanded their ability to treat more patients.

Medical professionals, including nurses and physicians, reported that artificial intelligence helps them work with greater accuracy and attention to detail, stay current with medical research and developments, and analyze patient cases more thoroughly.

However, the study uncovered a significant gap between individual adoption and institutional support. About 64% of healthcare workers said they resort to using personal AI applications when their workplace tools don’t meet their requirements.

“The organizations aren’t moving fast enough to provide the tools and the training,” said the Chief Innovation Officer at the company that conducted the research, speaking to Reuters.

A striking 70% of healthcare professionals indicated that their workplaces either don’t offer AI training or provide instruction that is limited or inconsistent.

The study’s authors emphasized that “expanding structured, role-specific training will help clinicians develop the digital skills and clinical judgment needed to work effectively with AI.”

Despite embracing the technology, healthcare workers remain cautious about AI’s role. Nearly all participants – 90% – stressed the importance of maintaining human involvement as artificial intelligence continues to advance, while 86% believe that all AI-generated results need human review and oversight.

Medical care at a correctional facility in New York remains in crisis as nursing personnel continue to leave their positions, compounding existing problems with healthcare delivery and compensation for medical staff.

The facility’s healthcare challenges persist despite recently transitioning to a new medical service provider following the financial collapse of the previous vendor, which declared bankruptcy.

The ongoing departures of nursing staff represent a new layer of difficulty for the jail, which has been battling to maintain proper medical services for inmates while also addressing payment issues affecting healthcare workers.

SECUNDA, South Africa — Witnessing HIV’s destructive impact on her family and neighbors motivated 19-year-old Olwam Plaatjie to begin taking preventive HIV medication three years ago.

“Sometimes they’d lose weight, they would get sick and have to go to the clinic, and I didn’t want that for me,” she told The Associated Press. “I’d see the people I live with taking (antiretroviral) pills for HIV every day, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle that life.”

Plaatjie joined thousands of South Africans participating in clinical studies for lenacapavir, a groundbreaking injectable drug administered twice yearly that overcomes the challenges associated with taking daily oral prevention medication.

Even though she experienced night sweats and other adverse reactions, she continues taking the treatment after South Africa launched the program this month, making it among the first nations worldwide to offer the drug.

At a stadium event announcing the medication’s introduction, President Cyril Ramaphosa described lenacapavir as a “turning point” for South Africa, the nation with the globe’s largest HIV population.

However, health advocates argue the country should receive significantly more doses given South Africa’s essential contributions to the research that made this breakthrough medication available worldwide.

More than 8 million South Africans are infected with the virus. Officials hope lenacapavir will reduce annual new infections, which currently number between 140,000 and 170,000.

“If South Africa can deliver it equitably and at scale, it could make a meaningful contribution to reducing new HIV infections,” said Leila Mansoor, a senior scientist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa.

Researchers in South Africa and Uganda tested lenacapavir’s effectiveness in clinical studies. The drug was created by Gilead Sciences. A pivotal trial conducted in Johannesburg found the six-month injection provided complete protection against HIV infection.

“It was a groundbreaking finding,” said Dr. Nkosi Ndlovu, senior clinician at the research institute Wits RHI.

South Africa’s government has obtained enough doses to treat 456,000 individuals for one year, supported by a $29 million Global Fund grant. Following this period, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi stated South Africa plans to finance its own program with donor assistance.

Several South African advocacy groups criticize the distribution strategy as insufficient, arguing that at least 2 million annual doses are needed to substantially impact new infection numbers.

While Ramaphosa has promised to reach 3 million South Africans within three years, he hasn’t provided specific implementation details.

Questions remain about South African access to the drug despite the nation’s vital role in making lenacapavir available, according to Tian Johnson, health strategist for the Johannesburg-based health advocacy group African Alliance.

“Our communities participated in the research, our clinics hosted the trials and our scientists helped produce the data,” Johnson said. “Yet we are still waiting for Gilead to determine how much of the product we receive, when it arrives and how quickly access can expand.”

The health minister reported that Gilead agreed to provide a voluntary manufacturing license to a South African company after granting six licenses to other nations last year. This arrangement enables production of less expensive generic versions for lower-middle-income countries at $40 per person yearly, compared to the initial $28,000 cost.

Manufacturing will begin in South Africa once a committee selects the appropriate company, he explained.

The initial shipment of 37,920 doses is being delivered to 360 healthcare facilities across six provinces with elevated HIV rates.

South Africa is initially targeting high-risk populations, including people who inject drugs, sex workers, transgender individuals, young women between 15 and 24, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Reaching these groups presents challenges. Extensive U.S. funding reductions by the Trump administration resulted in closure of many specialized facilities these populations preferred for HIV treatment.

“Key populations, sex workers, people who use drugs, they don’t normally use public clinics” because of challenges like long lines and staff attitudes, said Bellinda Thibela, international policy and advocacy coordinator for the Health Global Access Project.

“So it means that we’re going to lose them unless the government acts fast and ensures that they put the resources to reach those people,” Thibela said.

South Africa’s health minister explained that patients from the 12 closed U.S.-funded clinics were moved to existing government facilities, with ongoing efforts to train personnel and establish private consultation areas.

“What we have lost is that confidentiality, where they were going to these clinics that are very special to them, where they feel very safe,” Motsoaledi said. “So we are trying to train our doctors to take over.”

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Health officials report that no fewer than 100 individuals have lost their lives to Ebola in under four weeks since authorities announced the disease outbreak in Congo’s eastern region.

Violence directed at medical personnel by frustrated community members, distrust from certain local populations, and ongoing armed violence in affected areas continue to hamper efforts to contain the disease’s transmission.

According to Monday evening’s most recent status update, 550 confirmed disease cases have been documented through Sunday, resulting in 101 fatalities and 19 people who have recovered. Officials believe the actual case count exceeds these figures due to the delayed confirmation of the outbreak by several weeks, with response efforts further complicated by the absence of any authorized vaccine or therapeutic treatment for this virus strain.

This current Ebola disease emergency stems from the uncommon Bundibugyo virus strain, which lacks any sanctioned vaccine or medical treatment, unlike the Zaire virus strain that has been responsible for Congo’s previous 16 disease outbreaks.

BENI, Congo (AP) — For Vianney Kambale Kombi, simply hearing the word Ebola brings back a flood of painful recollections.

The eastern Congo resident vividly recalls the terror and suffering that gripped his community in Beni during the devastating 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic, which became the second-largest outbreak in history with more than 3,400 confirmed cases and over 2,200 fatalities. That outbreak was eventually controlled through vaccination efforts.

Kombi also recalls widespread doubt about the disease’s existence, violent incidents targeting healthcare personnel, and patient resistance that he believes accelerated the virus’s transmission.

“We thought it was witchcraft,” said Kombi. “The community had not accepted that this disease existed and it had not accepted that we could recover from it.”

In Beni, a thriving trade center located near the Uganda and Rwanda borders, residents worry that repeating past errors from Congo’s previous epidemics and the absence of an authorized vaccine could complicate efforts to combat the current outbreak.

The ongoing epidemic, caused by the uncommon Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola, has resulted in 515 confirmed infections, with 91 fatalities and 12 people who have recovered.

Kombi described becoming infected after contact with other carriers of the virus. He explained that information about the illness was scarce then, and while many attributed it to supernatural causes, others called it a “Western conspiracy for funding reasons.”

“The community had not accepted that we could recover from this disease, that’s why reintegrating into the community at first was a bit difficult,” he said.

“When a pandemic hits here in Congo, we initially think it’s a political issue,” said Bienfait Wanzire, who also survived after becoming infected during the 2018 outbreak.

“At first, we thought it was a spiritual illness,” he said. “Then because there were election campaigns, we believed it was political.”

Dr. Babah Mutuza Lusungu, a physician at “Dieu Est Grand” Medical Center in Beni, recalled losing his uncle and two colleagues while attempting to persuade people that the outbreak was genuine.

“There was very strong resistance,” said Lusungu. “And so there was a climate of mistrust that took place between the population, the authorities, the partners too, right, and the health workers.”

Young people were excluded from response activities at that time, he noted, encouraging local officials to collaborate more effectively with youth leadership to educate communities about the disease.

“If we wait until they have so many declared cases to start making an effective response, we will have totally missed the target,” he said.

Esperance Masinda, who was employed by the U.N. children’s agency in Beni during the 2018 outbreak, described the exceptional challenges of caring for children orphaned by Ebola.

She became ill while caring for her physician husband. Despite both recovering, the vaccine that helped save their lives created distance between them and their community.

“When we were in the community, we were told that you’re not going to make it even five years, you’re going to die with that medication that you took there,” Masinda said.

“And today, when they see us, these people no longer stigmatize us,” she said. “We are all humans, even though we have been victims of Ebola, all of us are humans.”

A pet food company based in Cottonwood Heights, Utah has widened a recall that was initially announced in February to encompass another batch of its freeze-dried chicken dog food product.

Go Raw LLC announced on June 8, 2026 that it is extending its February 17, 2026 recall to cover one additional lot of Steve’s Real Food Freeze-Dried Chicken Recipe. The company cited concerns about insufficient thiamine levels in the affected product.

Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, is a crucial nutrient for pet health. The recall expansion indicates that testing has revealed the additional product lot may contain inadequate amounts of this essential vitamin.

The international vaccine alliance Gavi announced Monday it expects to receive $600 million in restored United States funding that will primarily support malaria vaccination programs and other immunization initiatives.

The funding, originally authorized by Congress for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, had been blocked by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who questioned the organization’s safety protocols last June without offering supporting evidence. The United States also has not committed additional resources for Gavi’s future operations.

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the government was ready to resume cooperation and confirmed the $600 million allocation would be transferred to Gavi in the near future, though he did not provide a specific timeline. Questions remain about whether the U.S. will provide additional funding beyond this amount.

According to a Gavi representative, obtaining these congressional funds along with commitments from other international donors remains essential. The spokesperson emphasized that insufficient funding would significantly impact the organization’s malaria vaccination work, its capacity to conduct disease prevention campaigns for illnesses such as cholera, and its ability to maintain adequate global vaccine reserves.

“Securing these Congressional appropriations, as well as pledges from other donors, will be critical,” said a Gavi spokesperson, pointing to the impact a lack of funding would have on the group’s malaria work, as well as its ability to support preventive campaigns for diseases like cholera and keep global vaccine stockpiles replenished.

Earlier this year, Gavi reported a significant $1.9 billion budget shortfall for the 2026-2030 period, warning that this gap would limit access to new malaria vaccines for children across sub-Saharan Africa.

The restored funding will also help accelerate Gavi’s transition to two alternative vaccines that do not include thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative. Kennedy had made eliminating thimerosal a requirement for continued U.S. support.

Anti-vaccination organizations, including one established by Kennedy, have spent decades asserting connections between thimerosal and autism or other developmental conditions, despite extensive scientific research worldwide finding no evidence of such safety concerns.

The vaccine alliance intends to transition toward supporting nations with an updated meningitis vaccine and an expanded immunization that guards against six diseases instead of five, providing enhanced protection. Both newer formulations are manufactured without thimerosal.

Gavi’s chief executive stated last week that the organization had already begun planning this transition prior to Kennedy’s demands, as part of its ongoing commitment to provide countries with the most advanced tools available, though U.S. financial support would facilitate the changeover.

Summer vacation planning takes on new urgency as weather forecasters predict temperatures will climb above normal levels this season.

Weather experts warn that higher-than-typical temperatures may dominate the summer months, with a developing El Nino pattern potentially bringing even hotter conditions later this year or next summer. These blazing temperatures present more than just discomfort – they pose serious health risks including heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heat stroke.

Vacation planning should incorporate heat safety measures to ensure enjoyable trips, experts advise.

“The same way that we prepare for more extreme travel in the cold, we should start to consider those tips to keep us safe in the summer months,” said Dr. Alexander Azan with NYU Langone Health, who co-directs the Project HEATWAVE initiative.

Prior to departure, travelers should research both daytime and nighttime temperatures as well as heat index readings, which factor in humidity levels, Azan advised.

When forecasts show extreme heat, maintain scheduling flexibility. Consider moving to cooler coastal areas or higher altitude destinations. Schedule demanding outdoor activities such as hiking or extended walking during early morning or late evening periods, avoiding peak heat times. Indoor alternatives like theaters, museums, or cafes work better during midday hours.

Verify that accommodations feature dependable air conditioning and research whether the destination has experienced recent electrical outages or power reductions. Research public cooling facilities and keep emergency contact numbers accessible.

Consider travel companions’ health needs alongside packing lists. Certain medical conditions and medications can increase heat vulnerability during travel.

“A lot of the prescription drugs that we take for common conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, they actually interrupt our body’s ability to thermoregulate,” said Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University.

Seniors, pregnant individuals, young children, and babies face heightened risk – requiring modified plans. Carrying infants close to the body increases heat transfer, for instance.

Essential items include refillable water containers and light-colored, breathable garments for temperature control. Include sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and cooling towels. Portable fans help in moderate temperatures but become counterproductive in extreme heat by circulating hot air.

Road trip preparations should include vehicle maintenance several weeks ahead, focusing on engine cooling systems and battery condition. International travelers should confirm rental vehicles include air conditioning.

Stock vehicles with water and snacks for passengers and animals, planning regular stops for hydration and movement – never leaving children, pets, or elderly passengers unattended in vehicles, even briefly.

Maintain vehicle coolness by seeking shaded parking and using windshield protectors. When entering hot vehicles, activate air conditioning without recirculation initially to expel stale air. Crack windows slightly, then close them and engage recirculation once cooling begins.

Prevent roadside emergencies by maintaining fuel levels above one-quarter tank, advised AAA senior automotive manager David Bennett. If stranded with a functioning engine, cycle it periodically for air conditioning access. Avoid walking roadside in dangerous heat – remain in the vehicle or nearby shade with reflectors or cones positioned for visibility. Keep car chargers available for emergency calls.

Vacation behavior changes can amplify heat dangers. Extended outdoor exposure, intensive activities, or increased alcohol consumption elevate heat-related health risks.

Problems arise when people disregard environmental conditions and physical warning signs. “They think they can push through. That is a mistake,” Ward said.

During daily activities, use partner systems to monitor heat illness symptoms including dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, and cool, clammy perspiration. When feeling unwell, move to shade, sip water slowly, and loosen restrictive clothing.

Serious symptoms requiring immediate medical attention include slurred speech, unconsciousness, severe confusion, or hot skin temperature – indicating possible heat stroke.

When extreme temperatures make travel impossible, cost recovery options exist. Cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance provides partial reimbursement for heat-related cancellations. Services like Sensible Weather and WeatherPromise offer reimbursement for travel and lodging costs when trips are disrupted by rain, heavy snow, or excessive heat. These weather guarantees require additional fees when booking through participating travel and hotel partners.

As temperatures rise, health experts emphasize that vacationers must prioritize body awareness and maintain flexible planning.

Through vigilant monitoring, cooling measures, and plan adjustments when needed, travelers can maintain both safety and enjoyment during their trips.

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Physical affection was off-limits, warm embraces were forbidden, and the dance floor remained nearly empty. Yet romance prevailed.

Congo continues fighting an Ebola disease outbreak that has claimed close to 100 lives among more than 500 confirmed infections, prompting local officials to implement stringent controls to contain the virus, including restrictions on public events and mandatory physical distancing.

Jean Claude Érable and his new wife Solange Hahati found themselves marking their Saturday wedding ceremony under these challenging circumstances, which meant several family members and friends could not attend their special celebration.

“We had planned 300 guests (but) only 50 people were allowed to enter,” Hahati told The Associated Press. “It was really difficult because we wanted to celebrate with our friends.”

The current Ebola disease outbreak, triggered by the uncommon Bundibugyo virus, has centered in Congo’s eastern Ituri province. Health officials in Congo report 515 confirmed infections, with 91 fatalities. The actual case count is suspected to be greater since the outbreak’s confirmation came weeks behind schedule, and containment efforts face additional hurdles due to the absence of an approved vaccine or therapeutic treatment for this virus strain.

In efforts to reduce transmission, regional officials have encouraged residents to minimize physical interaction, maintain frequent hand hygiene, and promptly notify authorities of any suspected infections.

Inside the Catholic Church located in Bunia, Ituri’s capital city, where Érable and Hahati exchanged vows, the religious service included multiple couples participating in their wedding ceremonies.

These safety protocols, while not universally followed, are transforming community customs in a nation where marriage celebrations traditionally feature lively, all-day festivities that unite hundreds of family members, friends, and community supporters.

While the choir performed and brides wearing white dresses proceeded down the church aisle, the small gathering of relatives and friends inside maintained proper spacing, offered cheers, and captured photographs. Beyond the church walls, a group gathered to sing with enthusiasm.

“We are adhering to the preventive measures and respecting social distancing,” said Érable, the groom. “I must say that there is no problem, no obstacle, because we are doing our best to respect all the measures dictated by the state.”

His new wife beamed as he placed the wedding band on her hand. Following the wedding service, she joyfully showed off the ring while her husband escorted her to their vehicle.

The newlyweds relocated portions of their celebration to an outdoor setting, providing guests with additional space to maintain distance.

Religious leaders emphasize that adaptation has become necessary.

Several families have already delayed their planned wedding ceremonies due to the new health protocols, according to the Rev. Aimé Lokanabego, who conducted their wedding service.

The church has suspended other religious ceremonies that present greater exposure risks, including baptisms, he explained.

“This is, in a way, how we are dealing with this Ebola epidemic at our level. The situation is critical,” said Lokanabego.

The question of whether someone is taking weight loss medication is becoming more common as these drugs gain popularity.

Each year brings wider acceptance of GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications prescribed for weight management and diabetes control that are also showing potential in other medical applications. These treatments are transforming how Americans look, feel, and eat.

However, these breakthrough medications come with trade-offs. While users may consume fewer calories and better control their weight, nutritional needs remain constant, making each meal choice more significant. The dairy industry argues their products are uniquely suited for this new reality.

The industry points to several key advantages:

Protein content tops the list. Dairy items deliver complete, high-quality protein in compact servings, which matters when medication suppresses hunger. Products like Greek yogurt, milk, and cheese contain all necessary amino acids, helping preserve muscle mass and metabolic function during weight reduction.

Nutritional density extends beyond protein. Dairy supplies 13 vital nutrients, particularly micronutrients that become harder to obtain when eating less. Elements like calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and vitamin B12 support bone strength, nervous system function, and energy processing. Preserving bone health during weight loss remains important, and dairy contributes to this objective.

Convenience also plays a role when portion sizes shrink. When full meals feel too heavy, options like yogurt, cottage cheese, or smoothies become more manageable. These products offer flexibility through combinations with fruit, blended drinks, or as ingredients in other dishes. This adaptability helps people maintain steady nutrition without feeling overwhelmed.

Dairy products also contribute to feelings of fullness and blood sugar management. The mix of protein, fats in certain varieties, and carbohydrates slows digestion and extends satisfaction. For those balancing glucose levels while using GLP-1 treatments, milk and yogurt offer steady, moderate carbohydrate sources that avoid sudden blood sugar increases, working alongside the medication’s glucose-lowering properties.

When hunger decreases, nutritional value per bite becomes paramount. Dairy combines protein, vital nutrients, easy digestion, and lasting satisfaction. For GLP-1 users, these products offer a straightforward method to sustain proper nutrition and support ongoing health goals.

Disease surveillance specialists will spend this summer analyzing sewage systems and social media platforms to protect soccer enthusiasts and communities from serious health threats during the World Cup, which represents one of the most massive and internationally diverse gatherings ever planned.

A Washington D.C.-based public health team intends to track wastewater and online discussions to identify and monitor infectious diseases that might surface in U.S. or Canadian cities welcoming World Cup teams, matches, and millions of visitors, according to event coordinators.

The 39-day tournament begins in Mexico on Thursday. Over 6.5 million soccer enthusiasts from more than 100 nations are anticipated to attend 104 matches across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The magnitude of the competition and worldwide travel patterns create elevated risks for swift disease spread during a period when overwhelmed U.S. public health systems are managing domestic and international outbreaks of measles, Ebola and hantavirus, according to health security specialists.

Funding reductions and personnel cuts during the Trump administration, combined with the U.S. exit from the World Health Organization, have intensified these difficulties, according to coordinators of the new disease-monitoring program.

The recently established team of public health specialists has transformed a Georgetown University laboratory into an epidemiological operations center. The setup combines academic institutions, non-profit organizations and private companies supporting government agencies.

The group is currently developing daily status updates to identify emerging threats and any urgent action requirements for hospital emergency coordinators and public health officials at local, state, federal and international levels, plus FIFA, soccer’s governing organization and World Cup coordinator.

The command center, established through partnership with the MedStar Health regional hospital network, serves as a practice run for upcoming events, including the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. MedStar operates one of the country’s 13 biocontainment facilities.

Sophisticated wastewater testing, utilizing DNA and RNA sequencing to identify genetic material from various microorganisms without requiring laboratory cultivation, represents a crucial component in tracking infectious disease dangers, explained Rebecca Katz, director of Georgetown’s Center for Global Health Science and Security and leader of the new disease monitoring program.

“It’s incredibly powerful,” Katz said. Her group is currently obtaining such information from collection points in the U.S. and Canada, plus various other health monitoring resources in all three World Cup host nations.

Identifying disease-causing organisms in wastewater can indicate a developing outbreak, providing health authorities time to alert medical professionals to watch for symptoms of illnesses that could otherwise be incorrectly diagnosed, and to encourage the public to take protective measures.

Significant media coverage has concentrated on the ongoing Ebola crisis in Africa. However, Katz described the frequently deadly hemorrhagic fever as presenting a “very low risk to the general public” in North America. The World Cup squad and support personnel from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the nation at the center of the Ebola outbreak, have undergone precautionary isolation in Belgium before traveling to the United States, though most players were in Europe when the outbreak occurred.

Katz indicated her team would focus particularly on measles transmission, which is nearing a record for U.S. case totals this year – approximately 2,000 thus far – and has returned in areas of Mexico and Canada.

Further dangers come from mosquito-transmitted illnesses such as dengue, also called “breakbone fever,” and a related disease, chikungunya. Both emerge from tropical regions and can be transported by infected travelers and then spread by mosquitoes.

Katz recruited 20 colleagues plus donated support and help from 30 additional organizations for her operations facility. These include multiple wastewater monitoring companies that are gathering and examining sewage samples and providing their findings to Katz’s team at no cost.

Additional essential methods include monitoring anonymous information from electronic health records and examining open-source social media sites for details indicating transmission clusters, Katz explained.

She referenced a previous case of public health officials identifying a gastrointestinal illness outbreak through social media discussions about a sudden increase in toilet paper purchases.

The Georgetown team will supplement the efforts of multiple U.S. agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Katz noted.

Funding for the center has originated from a small family foundation and Georgetown, along with donated contributions from partners such as the University of Nebraska.

A celebrated Australian cancer researcher who transformed himself into a test subject for experimental treatment has passed away at age 59, leaving behind a legacy that revolutionized how doctors treat melanoma.

Richard Scolyer died Sunday night after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, according to Australian media reports.

The pathologist and co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia received the honor of joint 2024 Australian of the Year alongside his longtime research partner Georgina Long. Their groundbreaking work in immunotherapy transformed advanced melanoma from a death sentence into a manageable condition for countless patients.

After receiving his glioblastoma diagnosis in 2023, Scolyer volunteered for an unprecedented treatment approach that adapted melanoma therapy techniques to target his brain tumor. Long and her research team developed the innovative treatment, which involved using immunotherapy prior to surgical intervention to trigger the body’s immune system to attack the cancer. This groundbreaking approach has since launched a clinical trial in the United States earlier this year.

Throughout his illness, Scolyer maintained a public presence, documenting his journey to shed light on the challenges faced by cancer patients and their families while encouraging continued research innovation. In a posthumous letter, he shared his motivation for transparency during his battle.

“Having dedicated my 35-year working life to patient care, cancer research and improving lives, I wanted to keep contributing, even in my darkest hour,” he wrote.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mourned the loss, describing Australia as having lost “one of our brightest lights and one of our biggest hearts.”

“Every day, this remarkable man – the cancer specialist who became his own subject – took us into his confidence, and he lifted us all in the process,” Albanese posted on X, characterizing Scolyer’s public battle as “an act of profound generosity.”

The Prime Minister noted that a newly created Richard Scolyer Chair at Sydney cancer centre Chris O’Brien Lifehouse will honor his memory, stating: “One day when a cure is found, Richard’s name will be spoken.”

Scolyer leaves behind his wife, Dr Katie Nicholl, and three children: Emily, Matthew and Lucy.

Parents preparing to return to their jobs following parental leave can find guidance through a newly released resource offering practical advice for this significant transition.

The guide addresses key challenges including schedule coordination, setting realistic expectations, and building support systems as new parents navigate returning to the workplace after this major life change.

Boehringer Ingelberg announced Sunday that its investigational weight loss medication demonstrated effectiveness in reducing dangerous abdominal and liver fat while better preserving muscle mass during advanced clinical testing, as pharmaceutical companies compete in the expanding obesity treatment market.

The experimental medication, called survodutide, was obtained through licensing from Denmark’s Zealand Pharma. This injectable treatment works by copying GLP-1 and glucagon proteins to produce satiety sensations. Earlier results from April revealed patients achieved average weight reduction of 16.6% during a 76-week treatment period.

Examination of trial participants who underwent MRI scans before and after the 76-week study period revealed survodutide decreased dangerous belly fat by as much as 34% and liver fat by up to 63.1% compared to starting measurements, according to Boehringer’s announcement.

Industry experts noted the weight reduction figures were similar to current GLP-1 treatments from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, though lower than some competing drugs under development, indicating the company must highlight the medication’s unique advantages.

Muscle tissue represented only 10.8% of body composition changes at the maximum 6-milligram dosage, indicating weight reduction primarily came from fat loss rather than muscle deterioration.

The medication’s impact on liver fat elimination and muscle preservation will determine its commercial success, along with patient tolerance and treatment adherence rates. Complete study findings may help Boehringer argue that survodutide should be evaluated based on fat distribution changes, not just total weight loss.

“We believe survodutide will become an important new option at the intersection of obesity and liver disease, two conditions that are deeply connected but rarely addressed together,” said Boehringer executive Shashank Deshpande, who leads the company’s human medicines business.

Boehringer obtained exclusive development and marketing rights for survodutide from Zealand in 2011, with Zealand receiving royalty payments from worldwide sales.

During separate advanced testing involving overweight or obese patients with fatty liver disease known as MASLD, survodutide achieved both primary objectives.

Following 48 weeks of treatment, up to 84.2% of patients receiving the drug experienced liver fat reduction of at least 30%, compared to 24.3% of those receiving placebo. Patients taking survodutide also achieved weight loss of up to 12.2%, versus 1% for placebo recipients.

The medication helped 61% of patients reach normal liver fat levels below 5%, compared to 5.7% of placebo patients.

U.S. biotech company Altimmune is similarly developing a treatment targeting both GLP-1 appetite suppression and glucagon hormones.

Additional advanced studies are ongoing for survodutide, including trials for patients with fatty liver disease and fibrosis.

Healthcare professional organizations have taken legal action against the federal government over recently implemented student loan regulations that affect medical education financing.

The legal challenge centers on new borrowing limitations that impact students pursuing physician assistant and nursing degrees. The organizations are seeking more favorable loan caps for these healthcare training programs.

NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe conducted an interview with Tom Pickard, who serves as president of the American Academy of Physician Associates, regarding the legal proceedings aimed at modifying the current student loan restrictions.

MONGBWALU, Congo (AP) — The medical director of Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital, Dr. Richard Lokudu, has barely received any payment for treating patients during one of Congo’s most devastating Ebola virus outbreaks.

Lokudu works alongside his fellow medical staff throughout the day caring for a surge of patients. Alerts about potential cases arrive even during late evening hours.

“I have not received my allowance (and) what happened to others could happen to me as well,” Lokudu said to The Associated Press. “Despite all the infection prevention and control measures we are implementing, we do not know what may happen.”

Medical officials believe this outbreak caught eastern Congo off guard after it spread undetected for several weeks, beginning in the busy mining community of Mongbwalu in Ituri province.

Mongbwalu has become the center of the unusual Bundibugyo strain. The community draws numerous workers to its extensive gold mining operations featuring muddy gold deposit pools, tight shafts and underground chambers. These workers reside in poor neighborhoods including overcrowded camps with limited access to adequate health measures.

These circumstances heighten the risk of disease transmission, as the virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids including perspiration, blood, waste and vomit.

Additionally, there has been significant doubt about the disease among residents, complicating medical treatment efforts for Lokudu and his team, while some healthcare personnel and emergency responders have lost their lives to the virus.

“It is one thing to be far away and hear statistics being reported, but what is happening on the ground is enormous,” Lokudu stated. “People are sacrificing their rest and comfort for this cause. There should be recognition that they deserve compensation. These workers should receive their salaries regularly.”

The Congolese government did not respond to a request for comment from the AP.

Congo’s health officials have verified 452 cases with 82 fatalities. On Thursday, the Central African country documented 71 new infections in one day, which officials describe as evidence of “active community transmission.”

The uncommon Bundibugyo strain lacks approved immunizations or treatments, leaving healthcare workers to address symptoms. Government officials report that at least five individuals have recovered from Ebola since Congo’s Ministry of Health officially acknowledged the outbreak on May 15.

The illness “had a big head start,” stated World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Regional hospitals lacked the ability to test for the specific Ebola variant that had been circulating weeks before official confirmation.

Medical personnel are managing the disease with limited supplies as organizations work urgently to deliver assistance to the area. Protective masks, gloves, boots and medicines were all scarce initially.

“There has been an erosion of the health system,” explained Heather Kerr, country director for the International Rescue Committee in Congo. “There has not been investment in the health system, and this has been going on for years.”

“During the first week, we did not even have time to go home and eat. The second week was the same. We only eat once a day, what amounts to breakfast in the evening,” stated Alice Bamuhinga, a nurse at the Mongbwalu hospital.

Despite continued skepticism and neglect of health guidelines, many residents are beginning to understand the outbreak’s serious nature.

Asero Jeanne was a mother of five children. Two passed away from the illness within a two-week period. When her daughter fell ill, the family believed it was malaria and community members urged them to stay away from the hospital, claiming “anyone who went there would die immediately,” Jeanne, 52, recalled.

The daughter passed away after three weeks of shuttling between medical facilities and home, followed by a son who died days later. Then Jeanne fell sick.

“I saw about 20 people die,” Jeanne recalled. “I watched them being taken to the morgue, yet God is allowing me to leave here alive. I thank the doctors.”

Tedros, the WHO director-general, announced a $518 million response plan on Friday to fight the outbreak, stating “containing Ebola depends on political commitment, sustained financing, and the trust and engagement of communities.”

Disease containment efforts have also been complicated by fighting between the government and Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, along with attacks by Islamist militants.

For medical workers battling Congo’s Ebola outbreak on the front lines, their work has grown more challenging as the disease spreads beyond their current treatment capabilities.

“Despite the alerts we receive and the teams we have on site, we lack the means to travel into the field,” Lokudu explained. “As a result, there are alerts we are unable to investigate.”

A recent clinical study has demonstrated that a wearable blood sugar monitoring device can significantly help type 2 diabetes patients who don’t require insulin injections better manage their condition.

The medical device company presented findings at the American Diabetes Association on Saturday showing their continuous glucose monitor G7 provided superior blood sugar management compared to traditional monitoring methods.

The 26-week clinical trial involved 283 diabetic patients not using insulin treatment. Researchers divided participants into two groups – half received the G7 monitoring system while the other half continued with standard blood glucose self-testing. The majority of study participants were taking typical diabetes medications including metformin, GLP-1s and SGLT2s.

Results showed those wearing the G7 device achieved an average 1.6% decrease in blood sugar levels over the study period, representing a 0.9% greater improvement than participants using conventional monitoring methods.

“Our hope is that this will substantially influence (the standard of care) and it’ll improve access for all people with type 2, including those not on insulin to CGMs,” said Tamara Oser, professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz and the study’s principal investigator, in comments to Reuters.

Continuous glucose monitoring devices are worn on the body and track blood sugar levels without requiring finger stick blood tests. These devices are gaining popularity due to increased awareness, expanded insurance coverage and user-friendly design.

The research found that combining the G7 monitor with standard diabetes medications produced even better blood sugar control results.

Participants taking GLP-1 medications who also used the monitoring device experienced a 1.4% drop in blood sugar levels, while the comparison group saw only a 0.2% reduction.

“…it proves without a doubt that there’s significant benefit here for these users. I think both the clinical community as well as the health care system and payers, they will, with this type of result, recognize both the health benefits, as well as the economic benefit,” the company’s CEO Jake Leach told Reuters.

Leach stated in a company announcement that these findings “will help establish a new standard of care in the U.S. and around the world.”

Researchers are currently conducting an additional six-month extension of the study, which will provide effectiveness data covering up to one full year of device use.

A medical facility in Berlin announced Saturday that an American doctor who received treatment for Ebola has been released from the hospital.

The Charité hospital reported that no traces of the virus have been found in the patient since May 30. The doctor, who was previously identified by Serge Christian organization as medical missionary Peter Stafford, was brought to the facility on May 20 after becoming infected with Ebola while caring for patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hospital officials said the patient’s Ebola symptoms “subsided significantly” following treatment that involved “combined antiviral therapy and additional supportive medical measures.”

“We are very pleased with the successful course of treatment and consider this a significant therapeutic success,” stated Leif Erik Sander, a Charité official.

The hospital also reported that five family members of the patient were placed in quarantine as high-risk contacts at Charité, but none developed any signs of infection.

According to the latest figures as of Friday, the ongoing outbreak in the DRC and Uganda has resulted in 82 confirmed Ebola fatalities.

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly shared encouraging clinical trial data with healthcare professionals on Saturday, revealing that its experimental obesity medication retatrutide delivered multiple health benefits beyond weight reduction, including improvements in sleep breathing disorders and joint pain relief.

During a Phase 3 clinical study, researchers discovered that weekly doses of retatrutide decreased the severity of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea by 60.6% among obese participants. The company’s existing medication Zepbound has already received regulatory approval for treating this sleep disorder.

The same clinical trial demonstrated that the experimental drug lessened knee osteoarthritis discomfort by as much as 73.1%, according to Lilly’s findings. These research outcomes were shared during an American Diabetes Association medical conference taking place in New Orleans.

The pharmaceutical company had earlier revealed results from the two research studies featured on Saturday, which showed obese participants achieved 28% body weight reduction while adults managing type 2 diabetes saw substantial decreases in their blood glucose measurements.

During one research study, 2% of diabetic participants receiving the medication’s smallest dosage experienced serious cardiovascular complications. However, according to comprehensive findings published in the Lancet on Saturday, these medical events weren’t definitively linked to the drug treatment.

Retatrutide represents Lilly’s investigational “triple G” medication, designed to activate GLP-1 pathways, a secondary obesity-controlling hormone known as GIP, and the body’s receptor sites for a third hormone called glucagon.

The Indiana-headquartered pharmaceutical firm is competing alongside competitors such as Denmark’s Novo Nordisk to capture the rapidly expanding marketplace for obesity and diabetes treatments.

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer released trial results on Saturday revealing their experimental weight-loss medication designed for monthly injections produces side effects comparable to competitor Novo Nordisk’s weekly Wegovy treatment.

The pharmaceutical giant hopes their compound berobenatide will become the first monthly GLP-1 weight-loss medication available, helping distinguish it from popular treatments like Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.

Earlier this year in February, Pfizer announced the medication demonstrated weight reduction of up to 12.3% in non-diabetic patients during their mid-stage VESPER-3 clinical trial.

Industry experts are examining the drug’s adverse reaction patterns to determine its potential market success.

Company representatives reported that most trial participants experienced minimal or moderate side effects, with digestive issues primarily occurring during initial doses and shortly after injection administration. These findings were shared at the American Diabetes Association conference in New Orleans.

“Because of the very long half life here, you get a very smooth profile compared to weeklies,” Pfizer Chief Internal Medicine Officer Jim List said in an interview. “When you give it monthly … it’s very front-loaded. It does not persist through the month.”

List noted that researchers observed increased negative reactions when participants transitioned from weekly to monthly dosing during testing, prompting the company to plan more gradual dose increases in future late-stage studies.

Saturday’s data presentation revealed the average nausea occurrence across all VESPER-3 study groups was approximately 38%, while the average vomiting rate reached about 23.3%.

In May, JP Morgan analyst Chris Schott indicated that investors would be monitoring whether the medication’s vomiting rate stayed “20-25% or lower.”

Approximately 25% of participants taking Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy experienced vomiting in that company’s weight-loss study, while roughly 44% reported nausea symptoms.

This investigational medication represents the cornerstone of Pfizer’s obesity treatment approach following their $10 billion Metsera acquisition in the previous year. The purchase provided the pharmaceutical company with a fresh pipeline of metabolic treatments after being required to halt two of their own weight-loss drug candidates due to liver safety issues.

Pfizer believes monthly berobenatide dosing will set their drug apart from current weekly injection options, maintaining that less frequent administration could enhance patient compliance and appeal to different patient populations.

When the band she loved most stepped onto the stage, Kristin Shires positioned herself right at the front barrier.

The moment Misterwives began their performance, thundering percussion and brass instruments echoed from the massive sound system. Shires absorbed every note — but during her trip home, an unwelcome noise filled her head.

“The half hour after the show my ears were like, ‘Are we okay?’” said Shires, a social media coordinator from Houston. “There was some ringing going on.”

Live music events provide that unique, powerful chance to experience beloved songs performed in person — at maximum volume — while singing along with devoted fans. Using earplugs to lower the sound might appear to defeat the entire purpose.

However, medical professionals explain that earplugs reduce volume levels rather than eliminate them entirely. Growing numbers of younger attendees — including Shires — are adopting this practice, implementing a straightforward measure to safeguard their hearing for countless future shows. To address worries about appearing overly cautious, stylish alternatives featuring attached jewelry and decorative elements help the protective devices blend better with concert outfits.

“People think that we are young and invincible, and that’s true to a certain extent,” said Asia Pon, an audiologist at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California, who goes to concerts — and wears earplugs at them. “But repeated exposure over time can certainly accumulate and lead to permanent damage in the long run.”

Hearing damage occurs through a mix of excessive noise and duration, medical experts explain. Beginning around 85 decibels — comparable to urban traffic — extended listening over several hours can harm hearing. Sound levels at live performances — from massive amplifiers and cheering audiences — typically exceed this threshold significantly. Higher volume means shorter exposure time needed for ear damage.

Delicate, microscopic hair cells fill the inner ear, transforming sound vibrations into electrical messages transmitted to the brain.

Pon said to think of the those cells like a field of grass. If trampled once, the blades bend over but eventually stand back up. “But if you keep walking across that same area again and again, eventually that grass doesn’t bounce back,” she said.

Hair cells that suffer irreversible harm can cause lasting issues including tinnitus and reduced hearing ability.

Ear ringing occurs when these cells experience temporary strain from excessive noise. However, the absence of ringing doesn’t guarantee no harm has occurred.

Numerous concert halls and music festivals provide complimentary earplugs through their customer service areas, and various non-prescription choices are available at retail outlets and pharmacies.

When selecting earplugs, seek a noise reduction rating, usually marked as NRR on the package, ranging from 15 to 30 decibels. This range provides an effective compromise between musical enjoyment and ear protection.

Proper fit is essential for effectiveness — ensure you find a tight-fitting pair. For foam earplugs, Pon recommends straightening the ear canal by pulling the ear upward and backward. Compress the plug and squeeze it small before inserting it as far as possible. Then, hold the plug in place with your finger until you feel the plug expand.

Once inserted, check a mirror to ensure no large portions are protruding. Test the sound quality by playing music or television at home.

If finding properly fitting store-bought earplugs proves difficult, concert attendees can visit an audiologist for custom-fitted options. Though more costly, these usually feature adjustable filters suited to different venues and can be used repeatedly. Foam varieties should only be used once.

During Shires’ initial experience wearing earplugs at an alternative pop band Valley concert, she felt uncertain about what to anticipate. The adjustment period was brief, but soon everything felt natural and she could distinguish the music clearly while some audience noise was reduced.

“After the first few songs, it’s like they weren’t even there. I was just enjoying the show,” she said. Now, she keeps them in a case attached to her keys and has worn them to see many of her favorite artists including Hayley Williams and Taylor Swift. Many of her concert-going friends wear earplugs too, and she gets asked about them by the friends who don’t wear them.

Should your ears feel blocked or muted, or if ringing continues for days or weeks after a performance, consider consulting an audiologist for a hearing evaluation. Additionally, seek medical attention for more serious symptoms such as dizziness, discomfort, or fluid discharge from the ear.

A minor adjustment to how concerts sound today can maintain hearing capabilities for years ahead. Audiologist Meaghan Reed with Massachusetts Eye and Ear frequently treats patients who report that music no longer sounds as crisp or authentic as before.

“It might have a temporary impact of your enjoyment of the music right now, but it’s offset by saving your ability to hear music in the future,” Reed said.

Argentine health officials announced Friday they are broadening their investigation into a deadly hantavirus outbreak that occurred on a cruise vessel last month, deploying research teams to capture and examine rodents in Mendoza province while awaiting laboratory findings from the southern city of Ushuaia.

Officials from Argentina confirmed that biologists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will participate in next week’s research mission in Mendoza.

The unusual outbreak aboard the MV Hondius resulted from the Andes hantavirus, an illness transmitted by rodents native to Argentina and Chile and considered the sole hantavirus strain capable of human-to-human transmission under certain circumstances.

Tracing the transmission pathway presents significant challenges, and Argentine officials acknowledge they may never determine precisely where the initial known patients — a Dutch couple who perished in April — became infected before joining the cruise in Ushuaia. However, specialists believe understanding this outbreak will provide crucial insights into how this uncommon virus spreads and offer important guidance for future disease management.

While repatriated cruise passengers from over 20 nations have disembarked and entered specialized isolation facilities, disease investigators are analyzing the 11 confirmed hantavirus infections, including the movements of the three fatalities, to gain better insight into the transmission sequence.

Argentine researchers are attempting to trace the Dutch travelers’ journey, suspecting the shipboard virus originated from the man’s contact with rodent waste during their months-long journey through Argentina and Chile prior to the vessel’s departure. The standard incubation time before symptoms manifest is approximately three weeks but may last up to eight weeks.

Following news of the outbreak, Argentina’s Health Ministry identified Ushuaia as a potential infection source and dispatched investigators from the Malbran government research facility last month to gather rodent specimens from various forested locations surrounding the city.

Local officials in the tourism-reliant city of Ushuaia, known for its position at “the end of the world,” have strongly contested claims that the virus began there. Although the Andes hantavirus affects several dozen individuals annually in Argentina’s northern Patagonian areas, it has never been found in Ushuaia or the broader Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

The Health Ministry stated Friday that laboratory results from those examinations are still pending to establish whether the couple became infected in that location.

Ministry officials announced Friday that experts from Malbran, working alongside U.S. colleagues from the CDC, are preparing to examine rodents for hantavirus in Malargüe, Mendoza from June 8-12.

A representative from the Malbran Institute verified that the Dutch couple traveled through Malargüe while driving across the wine-producing Mendoza region toward the northeastern Misiones province during their final portion of travel in Argentina.

Malbran’s director, Claudia Perandones, conducted meetings with CDC investigators in Argentina on Friday regarding the operation, which she explained will require teams wearing extensive protective gear to collect blood specimens from deceased rodents and transport samples to the primary laboratory in Buenos Aires for analysis. Officials indicated test results may require up to one month.

The World Health Organization has emphasized that due to limited transmission risk, the hantavirus will not develop into a pandemic concern.

Nevertheless, the Andes hantavirus has generated worldwide alarm because of its fatality rate, reaching as high as 30%, and the present absence of treatments and preventive vaccines.

A food distributor has pulled a popular pancake and waffle mix from Puerto Rico stores after discovering the product contains milk and soy ingredients that weren’t listed on the package label.

Ballester Hermanos announced the voluntary recall of a limited number of 5.99-ounce bags of Pearl Milling Company Original Pancake & Waffles Complete mix distributed throughout Puerto Rico.

The company issued the recall because the pancake mix contains undeclared milk and soy, which could trigger serious reactions in consumers who have allergies or severe sensitivities to these ingredients.

People with milk or soy allergies who consume products containing these undeclared ingredients face potential health risks ranging from mild reactions to severe allergic responses.

Federal health authorities warn that the current Ebola crisis in Central Africa may balloon to 20,000 infections or higher, based on how effectively health workers can isolate sick individuals to prevent further transmission, according to fresh analysis from American disease experts.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released computer-generated projections showing potential outcomes ranging from 10,000 infections up to more than 20,000. Should the dire predictions prove accurate, the worst-case numbers could rival the most devastating Ebola crisis on record — the 2014-2016 West African epidemic that produced over 28,000 documented infections and claimed more than 11,000 lives.

“Without strong public health interventions, the modeling work suggests an outbreak of that scale is possible,” said Dr. Satish Pillai, incident manager for the CDC’s Ebola response, in a briefing with reporters.

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University’s Pandemic Center, said the modeling “affirms what we have worried about since the beginning: This outbreak is following dangerous trajectory” if more is not done to stop the spread of Ebola.

However, she warned that forecasting outbreak patterns can be exceptionally challenging. “I wouldn’t read too much into the specific numbers. It’s really hard to make an accurate projection when you have limited data,” she added.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that approximately 400 confirmed infections have occurred, resulting in 63 fatalities. Health experts believe additional cases likely exist that remain undiagnosed or unreported.

The pathogens responsible for Ebola disease transmit through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood and semen. No targeted treatments or vaccines exist for the Bundibugyo virus driving the current crisis. The illness frequently proves deadly.

The World Health Organization classified the outbreak as a global health emergency in May. Some specialists think infections may have begun in February, though health workers initially conducted tests for a different Ebola strain.

Response efforts have faced complications from armed conflict between Congo’s government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, plus attacks by the Islamic State-affiliated group the Allied Democratic Force. The fighting has triggered massive population displacement in affected regions, authorities report.

Earlier this week, Nuzzo indicated the threat to the United States appears minimal. “I don’t think it’s a scenario that it’s going to come here and spread broadly,” she told reporters. The CDC supported that evaluation in Friday’s published analysis.

This assessment stems partly from U.S. government choices to prohibit entry of non-passport holders, plus green-card holders who visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the preceding 21 days. Additionally, American passport holders who traveled to those nations undergo health examinations and processing through four designated airports.

The CDC’s modeling study seeks to forecast potential developments based on various factors — including existing infection and death totals, plus response team effectiveness in rapidly identifying and isolating infected individuals before transmission to others occurs.

Assuming roughly 50 fatalities had occurred with about 20% of infected persons successfully isolated by late May, most simulations indicate at least 20,000 cases and 4,000 deaths will happen in Africa over three months.

Pillai noted the actual isolation rate remains unknown but is believed to fall “on the lower end of the scenarios” that CDC modeled.

Improved isolation rates of 50% or 70% might reduce case numbers closer to 10,000, CDC representatives stated. However, if actual May death counts exceeded current recognition, outcomes could worsen, CDC officials explained.

Some CDC projections during the major West African Ebola outbreak proved wildly inaccurate. The CDC released modeled figures in 2014, as the epidemic spiraled beyond control and international health authorities rushed to organize response measures.

The CDC predicted that in a worst-case scenario with no intervention, as many as 1.4 million people could become infected. That estimate exceeded actual results by more than 50 times.

A Danish pharmaceutical company announced Friday that its experimental weight-loss medication demonstrated better tolerability in clinical testing, potentially offering patients a more comfortable alternative to current obesity treatments on the market.

Zealand Pharma shared new data about its drug petrelintide, developed in partnership with Swiss company Roche, at the American Diabetes Association meeting in New Orleans. The results showed promising signs for patients who struggle with side effects from existing obesity medications.

Key findings from the mid-stage trial include:

• Just 1.5% of patients receiving weekly injections of petrelintide stopped their treatment because of stomach-related problems

• Digestive side effects that did occur were generally mild, with 19.6% experiencing nausea and 3% reporting vomiting, compared to 6.2% nausea in patients receiving placebo

• Less than 7.5% of participants in both treatment and placebo groups experienced diarrhea or constipation

• The medication also showed benefits for heart health, reducing inflammation markers, waist measurements, and triglyceride levels beyond what placebo achieved

Zealand previously announced in March that petrelintide helped patients lose up to 10.7% of their body weight over 42 weeks in a study involving 493 participants. However, those weight-loss results disappointed investors and caused the company’s stock value to drop significantly, particularly after a competing drug from Eli Lilly demonstrated up to 20.1% weight loss in similar testing.

The Danish company is working to establish itself in the profitable obesity treatment market by positioning its medications as having milder side effects than current leading treatments Zepbound and Wegovy, manufactured by market leaders Lilly and Novo Nordisk respectively.

Petrelintide works differently than existing blockbuster drugs. While Wegovy and Zepbound target the GLP-1 hormone to suppress appetite, amylin-based medications like petrelintide activate brain receptors and slow stomach emptying, potentially causing less severe side effects while better preserving muscle mass.

Roche obtained rights to petrelintide through a collaboration and licensing agreement worth up to $5.3 billion that was finalized last year.

A food manufacturer has announced a voluntary recall of pancake and waffle mix products due to the presence of undeclared allergens that could pose serious health risks to consumers with specific food sensitivities.

Ballester Hermanos has issued the recall for a limited quantity of Pearl Milling Company Original Pancake & Waffles Complete mix, sold in 5.99-ounce (170-gram) packages. The Spanish-language product name is listed as “Mezcla Para Panqueques Y Waffles.”

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product contains milk and soy ingredients that are not properly disclosed on the packaging labels. These undeclared allergens present a significant health concern for individuals who have allergies or severe reactions to milk and soy products.

The affected products were distributed in Puerto Rico. Consumers who have purchased this product and have milk or soy allergies are advised to avoid consumption, as exposure could result in serious allergic reactions.

A dairy company based in Bayshore, New York has issued a voluntary recall for its Requeson Cheese products over concerns about bacterial contamination.

Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC is pulling one-pound packages of the cheese from shelves after discovering they could contain Listeria monocytogenes, a harmful bacteria that poses serious health risks.

The contamination is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups, including young children, elderly individuals, and people with compromised immune systems, who could face severe or potentially deadly infections from exposure to the organism.

Consumers who have purchased the affected cheese products are advised to dispose of them immediately and not consume them.

A groundbreaking cellular treatment initially created to combat blood cancers is now opening doors for kidney patients who previously had no chance of receiving a transplant, according to new research that could transform care for thousands of patients.

Medical researchers have successfully used CAR T-cell therapy to help patients whose immune systems are “sensitized” – meaning they’ve developed antibodies against foreign tissue from prior blood transfusions, pregnancies, or previous transplants. These antibodies typically cause their bodies to reject most available donor kidneys.

Finding compatible donor kidneys for these highly sensitized individuals has traditionally been extremely challenging or completely impossible.

The innovative treatment works by extracting a patient’s immune cells, altering them in laboratory settings to reduce antibody production, then returning the modified cells to effectively restart the patient’s immune response system.

Research teams working independently – one treating two patients at a U.S. medical facility and another caring for one patient in Germany – achieved remarkable results. All three individuals showed significant decreases in the dangerous immune antibodies that normally attack transplanted kidneys.

Consequently, all three patients successfully received kidney transplants, according to findings published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.

“This is the first demonstration that CAR T cells can be used not only to treat cancer, but also to help patients who previously had no opportunity to receive a compatible donor kidney,” said Dr. Ali Naji of the University of Pennsylvania, who oversaw treatment for the two U.S. patients.

“For patients who have spent years on the kidney transplant waiting list, this approach could be transformative,” Naji added.

The cellular therapy is also demonstrating potential benefits for difficult-to-treat autoimmune conditions, based on four preliminary studies presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology conference in London.

In one trial, six individuals with treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis received an experimental CAR-T therapy called mivocabtagene autoleucel, developed by Kyverna Therapeutics. All participants showed reduced disease activity, with half achieving lasting remission.

During follow-up periods spanning 24 to 36 weeks, five of the six patients remained free from immunosuppressive medications, reported Fredrik Albach of Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin.

In separate research, Yajing Zhang from Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital in China studied 11 patients with treatment-resistant systemic sclerosis, a serious autoimmune condition causing tissue hardening. Following CD19/BCMA CAR-T cell treatment, both skin thickness measurements and lung scarring showed substantial improvement.

“By effectively targeting both skin fibrosis and lung progression, this immunological ‘reset’ strategy offers true curative potential, paving the way for (mid-stage) trials to redefine the future management of this severe disease,” Zhang stated.

Additional research by Yuichi Maeda of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg examined an experimental therapy called zorpocabtagene autoleucel from Miltenyi Biomedicine in patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, or idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, focusing on improving intestinal bacterial balance.

Harmful bacterial overgrowth “decreased to levels comparable to those of healthy controls after the treatment,” researchers noted, while immune activity driving patient symptoms decreased significantly.

The study authors determined that CAR T-cell therapy modifies gut bacteria in autoimmune disease patients, and these immune-microbial changes may support extended disease remission.

Finally, Xiaobing Wang of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and research partners documented that CAR-T cell therapy in four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic sclerosis achieved “deep, tissue-level remission.”

Parents in Michigan previously had to complete mandatory in-person educational sessions before they could exempt their children from required school vaccinations. However, the state has now eliminated this requirement following heightened debate and resistance that emerged after the pandemic.

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — An uncommon strain of Ebola known as Bundibugyo has caught residents of Congo off guard after silently circulating for weeks before detection. When officials declared the health emergency in May, hundreds of suspected infections had already emerged, though many community members rejected the announcement as part of a “Western conspiracy.”

Congo’s health officials revealed the latest Ebola crisis on May 15. By Wednesday’s count, the disease had claimed 62 lives among 363 laboratory-confirmed infections. However, the response effort faces obstacles including public doubt, violence targeting medical personnel, and false information.

Vérité Johnson, who works as a journalist and editorial secretary for Radio Télévision Mont Bleu in Bunia — the main city of eastern Ituri province where infections are clustered — launched a special program to counter false claims.

This radio broadcast has become a crucial resource for reaching community members who lack accurate information or question the reality of Bundibugyo.

The 45-minute daily broadcast airs at 10 a.m., warning listeners about health risks while regularly hosting medical experts who share current information and respond to listener concerns. Musical segments about the disease play throughout the day, and community members can phone in with their questions.

“So far, there’s still a layer of resistance within the population, and that’s where the media plays an important role,” Johnson said.

Public opposition to health measures during disease emergencies frequently occurs in Congo, which faces its 17th Ebola crisis since scientists first discovered the virus there in 1976. Currently, no licensed vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain, creating additional anxiety.

False claims, typically stemming from anxiety and incorrect information, prevent community members from following health guidance or getting medical care during disease emergencies, according to health authorities. Citizens often learn about illnesses through news reports while officials and global partners rush to control the situation.

Certain community members claim diseases like Ebola are exaggerated by people seeking financial gain.

“They don’t separate people who have Ebola from those who have the flu at the hospital. Given the manner in which people are treated, we deduce it is about money,” said Samson Gerson, 52-year-old Bunia resident and father of seven children. “I can never take the vaccine, I prefer to die because if the vaccine arrives, it can scare us even more.”

Experts indicate that some Congo residents have accepted false information because they distrust the medical system and because certain local leaders haven’t actively participated in disease control efforts.

“What is key is to involve the local actors at all levels. If we try to impose what we think is right to the community, we are running towards failure,” said Basile Rambaud, emergency programs director for Mercy Corps in Congo. “If people do not trust the response, they end up delaying to seek care, rejecting protective measures, or avoiding working with health teams, giving the virus more time to spread.”

People in Ituri province have carried out no fewer than three assaults on medical facilities, insisting on retrieving bodies of dead patients. Several individuals suspected of having Ebola departed the facilities during these incidents, and medical staff lost track of where they went.

“We don’t even know what the body of a person who died of Ebola looks like, but we just see images and montages on our phone,” said Bunia resident Chantal Francine, who expressed doubts over the reported deaths.

The disease has quickly expanded from three original health districts to 24, according to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said Wednesday that the virus “had a big start.”

Specialists and WHO representatives have cautioned that the statistics may not show the epidemic’s actual size since weeks of testing for an incorrect strain delayed virus containment efforts.

The health crisis has worsened due to continuing military conflict between Congo’s government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, plus attacks by the Islamic State-affiliated group the Allied Democratic Force, which killed 16 people in Beni territory in North Kivu on Tuesday.

Violence from both organizations has forced massive population movements from conflict zones, authorities reported.

Even with the expanding Bundibugyo crisis and circumstances that help the disease spread, Johnson stated that Radio Télévision Mont Bleu keeps delivering essential facts to residents.

“Everyone is free to think what they want, but the information remains the same. The epidemic is here,” Johnson said.

The Pan American Health Organization announced Thursday that it’s ramping up assistance to nations throughout the Americas to bolster their Ebola readiness, despite the continued low threat level of the disease in the region.

The organization has put its incident management system into action and is collaborating with health departments to enhance monitoring, laboratory testing and infection prevention measures, enabling nations to quickly identify and handle potential cases.

According to the agency, it’s getting ready to send supplies and testing materials for identifying the Bundibugyo ebolavirus to certain nations that have adequate biosafety capabilities, determined through risk evaluations.

This uncommon Ebola variant called Bundibugyo has led the World Health Organization to issue a public health emergency declaration of international significance.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has documented 344 verified cases and 60 confirmed fatalities, plus 116 additional suspected cases currently being examined.

Verified cases have emerged across multiple provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. Uganda has documented 15 confirmed cases, with one resulting in death.

“Even with low risk, countries must be ready to detect and respond quickly to any possible importation to protect health workers and communities, and to prevent further transmission,” said Dr. Ciro Ugarte, director of health emergencies at the organization.

The agency is additionally coordinating international cooperation to guarantee prompt laboratory testing by sending samples to specialized regional testing facilities.

The organization also emphasized that nations should enhance their readiness systems while avoiding travel or trade restrictions.

A Danish pharmaceutical company announced Thursday that its investigational migraine medication demonstrated effectiveness in reducing monthly headache episodes during a mid-stage clinical trial.

The company, Lundbeck, reported that bocunebart showed promise as a treatment for migraines, which rank among the most prevalent neurological conditions worldwide. The experimental medication works by targeting the PACAP pathway associated with migraines, which differs from the CGRP pathway addressed by some current preventive medications. This distinction could provide a treatment alternative for individuals who don’t respond effectively to existing therapies.

During the intravenous portion of the clinical study, bocunebart achieved its main objective among participants who had experienced one to four unsuccessful previous preventive treatments. The medication decreased monthly migraine episodes by an average of 4.24 days during weeks one through 12, compared to 2.86 days for participants receiving placebo treatment.

According to Lundbeck’s presentation at the American Headache Society congress in Orlando, Florida, this represents a placebo-adjusted decrease of 1.38 days.

Financial analysts from Jefferies had anticipated that multiple intravenous treatments would demonstrate a “modest step up” from an earlier study, where a single administration reduced monthly migraine days by two on a placebo-adjusted basis over a four-week period.

When examining combined data from mid-stage studies involving patients with severe, chronic migraines, Lundbeck reported an enhanced effect. In this population, bocunebart decreased monthly migraine days by 2.31 more days compared to placebo treatment.

The experimental drug showed good tolerability overall, with researchers reporting no new safety concerns. The most frequently observed treatment-related side effect, occurring in at least 5% of study participants, was nasopharyngitis, which causes cold-like symptoms.

Jefferies analysts project the medication could achieve peak worldwide sales of $400 million.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical announced Thursday that its medication successfully maintained kidney function during a year-long clinical trial involving patients with an autoimmune condition that targets the kidneys.

The medication, marketed under the name Voyxact, received approval last November for treating proteinuria in individuals diagnosed with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy, a condition that triggers kidney inflammation and may ultimately result in organ failure.

The clinical trial included 320 participants, with those receiving the treatment demonstrating improved kidney function as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which indicates the kidneys’ ability to filter harmful substances. Meanwhile, participants receiving placebo treatment experienced declining function.

These findings suggested therapeutic benefits and offered preliminary evidence that the medication could potentially slow kidney function deterioration in individuals with IgA nephropathy.

IgAN develops when immunoglobulin A antibodies accumulate in the kidneys, triggering inflammation that damages tissue and allows blood and protein to leak into urine.

The pharmaceutical company anticipates receiving 24-month study data within two months, according to chief medical officer John Kraus, who spoke with Reuters.

“This stability of eGFR over that time is incredibly encouraging. And it demonstrates that the reduction we saw in proteinuria did indeed translate to maintaining or preserving the kidney function of those patients that had been randomized to sibeprenlimab,” Kraus said.

Voyxact functions as a monoclonal antibody requiring administration every four weeks, with options for caregiver or patient self-administration, allowing for home-based treatment convenience.

The pharmaceutical company has initiated a rolling submission process with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to obtain traditional approval for the medication, utilizing 24-month data from the identical trial.

Additional companies, including Vera Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, are currently developing treatments for IgAN.

A food processing company based in Brooklyn has issued a voluntary recall of dried herring products due to potential botulism contamination risks.

Prime Food Processing LLC announced the recall of 69 cases of “Dried Herring Fish” after discovering the products had not been properly eviscerated. According to New York State Agriculture and Markets regulations, selling fish that has not been adequately eviscerated is prohibited due to increased risks of Clostridium botulinum spore contamination.

The recall affects products that were distributed with inadequate processing that could pose serious health risks to consumers. Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

Consumers who have purchased the affected dried herring products are advised not to consume them and to dispose of them immediately. The company is working with regulatory authorities to address the safety concerns.

Stock prices for ADC Therapeutics dropped dramatically by nearly 53% during premarket hours Thursday following concerning results from a major clinical trial of their blood cancer treatment that showed increased patient mortality rates, even though the study achieved its primary effectiveness target of extending progression-free survival.

The large-scale confirmatory trial evaluated ADC’s drug Zynlonta combined with Roche’s antibody treatment Rituxan for patients suffering from relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, an aggressive form of blood cancer that rapidly spreads through the lymphatic system.

According to the company’s Wednesday evening announcement, the treatment group experienced 27 deaths representing 13.2% of patients, while the control group receiving Rituxan plus chemotherapy saw only 9 deaths or 4.6% of participants. The company noted that most fatalities in the treatment group occurred among patients who were 75 years old or older.

Guggenheim analyst Michael Schmidt observed that while other measures of effectiveness appeared promising, the elevated death rate in the Zynlonta treatment group overshadowed these positive results.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Zynlonta accelerated approval in 2021, making this confirmatory study essential for demonstrating clinical benefits necessary for complete U.S. approval.

Company officials stated they plan to conduct meetings with the FDA in August and intend to file a supplemental application during the fourth quarter of this year.

Schmidt commented on the treatment’s market position, saying “The overall value proposition of the combination — which is targeted as a community-friendly & easy-to-administer therapy for patients that are not bispecific antibody candidates — will likely be debated by some investors.”

Zynlonta functions as an antibody-drug conjugate engineered to specifically attack cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue.

The company explained the elevated mortality rate by pointing to factors including the advanced age of many patients and extended monitoring for adverse events in the treatment group, where participants remained on therapy for longer periods as control group patients frequently switched to alternative treatments early.

Regarding the death rates, Schmidt noted, “While Grade 5 TEAEs (deaths) are generally unfortunately not uncommon in the treatment of DLBCL, most other regimens have single-digit percentage Gr 5 TEAE rates, with higher rates reported due to COVID-19 during the pandemic.”

In the eastern Congo city of Bunia, 28-year-old Aline Kasiwa spends each day tending to her ailing mother – feeding her, helping her drink water, and washing her clothing – while living in constant fear of contracting Ebola during one of the most rapidly expanding outbreaks ever recorded.

“She is the only family I have left. I cannot abandon her,” Kasiwa shared with The Associated Press. She explained her reluctance to bring her mother to medical facilities for potential diagnosis, stating, “These days we hear that many people are dying there, even nurses.”

Armed with nothing more than an inexpensive face covering for protection, Kasiwa represents countless women throughout eastern Congo who traditionally assume caregiving responsibilities – a cultural role that medical professionals believe significantly increases their vulnerability to the virus.

Dr. Furaha Elisabeth, who heads the Karibuni Wa Maman gynecology and obstetrics clinic in Bunia, explained the pattern: “It’s the woman who gives them a bath, it’s the woman who feeds them, and it’s the woman who’s there to wash the dirty clothes and everything else.”

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved treatments or vaccines exist. Medical personnel report lacking basic protective supplies including masks and gloves needed for safety.

This situation forces women, particularly expectant mothers, into devastating dilemmas.

Anny Ekyambo, a 32-year-old Bunia resident who is five months into her pregnancy, expressed her terror: “When you see the way people die — even the nurses who treat us are dying — how can you not be afraid?” She described being too frightened to seek prenatal care at medical facilities.

Health officials identified the outbreak several weeks later than optimal because initial testing failed to screen for the uncommon Bundibugyo variant. Congolese officials reported Wednesday that they have verified 344 infections, resulting in 60 fatalities, with additional suspected cases under investigation. Uganda has documented 15 confirmed infections and one death.

While exact numbers of infected women remain unclear, historical patterns indicate women bear a heavier burden during Ebola outbreaks.

During the initial recorded outbreak in the 1970s, women represented 56% of fatalities, according to UN Women. Throughout Congo’s 2018-2020 outbreak – the nation’s most devastating – women and girls comprised approximately two-thirds of documented cases.

Sofia Calltorp, UN Women’s chief of humanitarian action, predicted in a statement: “We will certainly see the same pattern emerge in the current outbreak. Ebola transmission follows social realities. The virus spreads along the lines of care-giving, domestic labor, front-line health work and burial practices.”

Traditional burial preparations in many eastern Congo communities also fall to women.

Staff at the Karibuni wa Maman clinic report receiving no personal protective equipment since the outbreak’s beginning, despite repeated requests to health authorities.

The facility examines symptomatic patients before transferring them to larger treatment centers, creating potential exposure risks for medical staff with inadequate protection.

Julienne Lusenge, who leads Women’s Solidarity for Inclusive Peace and Development – the organization operating the clinic – described their efforts to obtain protective gear from multiple partners, receiving only hand sanitizer and limited masks for nursing staff.

She emphasized that the equipment shortage also threatens women providing home care for sick relatives, with most unaware that Ebola might be the underlying cause.

“During previous outbreaks, many women died because they were the ones nursing sick family members,” Lusenge noted.

Although recent aid deliveries and improved health facility organization have occurred, Doctors Without Borders reports the virus continues spreading more rapidly than response efforts can contain.

Dr. Alan Gonzalez, the medical charity’s deputy director of operations, stated: “Nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak.”

The crisis unfolds in challenging terrain. Ituri province features inadequate road infrastructure and under-resourced medical facilities located more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.

Violence from the Allied Democratic Forces – a rebel organization linked to the Islamic State group – and a coalition of ethnic militias has complicated response efforts. Additional cases have emerged in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group maintains control over major cities Goma and Bukavu.

Decades of regional conflict have created deep suspicion of outsiders, another factor driving people away from medical facilities and into women’s care.

Concerns about contracting Ebola at healthcare centers have become widespread.

Ekyambo, the expectant mother in Bunia, said fellow community women share her reluctance to visit clinics.

“I know that there are steps we must follow with the doctors to monitor the pregnancy and the baby, but we have no choice because this epidemic frightens us,” she explained.

UN Women has noted that pregnant women may face increased exposure through their regular interactions with health services.

However, Lusenga cautioned that avoiding medical care could result in missed essential prenatal and postnatal consultations.

“We risk seeing a rise in prenatal and postnatal mortality, for both mothers and children,” she warned.

Mundane responsibilities such as handling bills, ending subscriptions and responding to neglected emails are becoming the foundation for social gatherings known as “admin dates” among friends, couples, roommates and others.

These relaxed meetups happening at coffee shops, welcoming bars and homes transform boring adult duties that people often put off into productive social time. Working through personal task lists with others serves dual purposes – accomplishing necessary errands while strengthening relationships.

“You can have both — getting things done and connecting with people,” said Thema Bryant, a psychology professor at Pepperdine University and former president of the American Psychological Association. “At the gym, if I’m taking a group exercise class, I’m less likely to stop in the middle of other people. … In the same way, admin dates can help with accountability, motivation and connection.”

Couples or business partners seeking alignment, along with club members or volunteers working on major projects, may also benefit from admin dates. Professionals generally recommend avoiding these gatherings with workplace colleagues, particularly supervisors, since it could create unwanted pressure or self-consciousness that defeats the purpose of tackling inbox problems.

Experts explain why admin dates have gained popularity on social media and offer guidance for organizing successful sessions:

For 21-year-old roommates Alexia Ruvalcaba, Sami Hawkins and Mandi Bluth at Northern Arizona University, socializing with friends is central to college life, but their hangouts frequently center on daily tasks made more pleasant with iced white mochas topped with cinnamon.

“Being together helps us get things done,” explained Ruvalcaba, a junior studying hotel and restaurant management. She noted they seek locations where others are working, typically among Flagstaff, Arizona’s numerous coffee shops.

“There’s not a single person here that doesn’t have a laptop,” Ruvalcaba observed from inside Foxtail Coffee Co., a local franchise of the Florida-based company. “I don’t know them, I haven’t talked to them, but all the people here are working or studying.”

Managing numerous unfinished tasks can overwhelm some individuals, but tackling them alongside trusted companions or even strangers focused on their own devices can reduce mental clutter and build community feelings, said Bryant, who wrote “Matters of the Heart: Healing Your Relationship with Yourself and Those You Love.”

Admin dates boost productivity partly through modeling, a behavioral psychology concept involving learning through observation and imitation, she explained. Watching others complete agenda items motivates us similarly, Bryant noted.

“In some ways, the reward is in community. That social support is a big protector of our mental health,” she said. “On the flip side, it can cultivate a sense of joy and connection. So it can be inherently rewarding to be in the company of people that we enjoy, even if we’re not doing a fun activity per se, but that presence in and of itself can be healing.”

Before beginning group tasks, experts recommend discussing meeting frequency and duration, desired social interaction levels, and types of pending work. The latter influences admin date locations. Some people need relative quiet, while certain tasks become noisy or require specific locations, such as grocery shopping or home repairs.

Building emotionally secure and mutually beneficial environments also determines guest lists – supervisors typically make poor choices – and may require establishing ground rules. While admin dates “are intended to be helpful to everyone,” self-driven participants sometimes end up mentoring others rather than addressing their own responsibilities, Bryant observed.

Participating in admin dates may demand mental preparation from everyone involved. Self-criticism about being disorganized or unproductive creates stress that makes overcoming overwhelm or breaking procrastination cycles harder, said Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a Harvard Medical School physician specializing in mental health.

Nerurkar, author of “The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience,” explained that for people with harsh self-judgment, having reasonable task lists for admin dates plus group support can quiet unhelpful thoughts and make the experience more manageable.

The objective, she said, involves creating mental space for focus so lists “empower you instead of overwhelm you.”

Task prioritization matters since admin dates’ social components can excuse procrastination. Experts also warn against comparing yourself to other participants, emphasizing the goal is drawing motivation from watching friends pursue similar objectives.

“This is not about a competition. This is very much a collaboration,” Nerurkar said.

Food and drinks typically feature in admin dates, so deciding whether to share them and cost-splitting arrangements require consideration. Organizers should also determine participants’ comfort with consuming beer, wine or cocktails during events mixing personal matters with socializing.

Since admin dates emphasize community, concentrating solely on tasks requiring intense focus or silence can diminish the social aspects that make them attractive initially. Despite lengthy to-do lists, remember allowing space for conversation, life updates and laughter.

To maintain enjoyment, experts urge admin daters to celebrate themselves and each other. Resume updated? Money saved? Take breaks acknowledging accomplishments or treat yourselves at the coffee shop. This approach increases motivation and confidence, experts say.

Bluth mentioned her college group previously wrote everyone’s tasks on whiteboards and congratulated each other when items were completed.

Sometimes the students become distracted having excessive fun, but “by the end of the day, what we need to do gets done,” Hawkins said.

SANTIAGO, Chile — A lethal virus carried by rodents infected cruise ship passengers with no available treatments or vaccines to help them, highlighting a critical gap in medical preparedness.

The outbreak involved hantavirus, part of a virus family that scientists have studied for decades and believe exists worldwide. Unlike the novel coronavirus that sparked the pandemic, this pathogen has been recognized for years.

Research groups across Chile, Argentina and the United States have worked extensively to create medications and vaccines. However, because these viruses occur infrequently and rarely transmit person-to-person, governments, global health organizations, and pharmaceutical companies haven’t provided sufficient ongoing funding for comprehensive safety and effectiveness studies required for approval.

Nevertheless, recent developments offer hope. Scientists published findings Wednesday suggesting that a medication for autoimmune conditions might help hantavirus patients combat the most severe complications.

Researchers believe the cruise ship incident — along with concerns that hantavirus cases may increase as climate change brings more human-rodent contact — could generate fresh support for their work.

“I hope this situation will help us continue our research and strengthen the collaboration between healthcare workers, the community, and the necessary resources,” said Dr. Fernando Tortosa of the National University of Río Negro in Patagonia, Argentina, the study’s lead author.

These viruses typically transmit when people breathe in contaminated particles from rodent waste. Different hantavirus species exist globally, each with distinct traits and symptoms.

The Andes virus, responsible for the cruise ship cases, draws particular research attention because it’s the only hantavirus believed capable of human-to-human transmission in certain situations. Though infections remain uncommon, they prove extremely lethal.

“That is why it is a public health problem,” said María Inés Barría, a virologist at the Universidad San Sebastián in Chile who studies hantaviruses.

Among the 13 probable cruise ship cases, three resulted in fatalities. Additionally in Chile, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 15 deaths and 42 cases this year. Argentine authorities have documented 32 deaths and 102 cases since June 2025. In the U.S., 35% of hantavirus cases have proven fatal since monitoring began in 1993, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Argentine researchers are examining whether tocilizumab, a rheumatoid arthritis treatment, could combat hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious infection from both the Andes virus and Sin Nombre virus found in North America.

Tocilizumab suppresses IL-6, a molecule that causes harmful inflammation in autoimmune and other conditions. IL-6 also appears involved in the inflammatory response to infection, which can quickly cause lung fluid buildup and failure.

Five patients at an Argentine hospital survived after receiving tocilizumab alongside standard hantavirus pulmonary syndrome care, the research team reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

This report documents the first patients treated with tocilizumab in an ongoing “compassionate use” study, allowing doctors to administer it to qualifying patients. Five other eligible patients who received only standard treatment died. Two deteriorated too rapidly, while the hospital lacked supplies for the others, researchers noted.

The research team emphasized that the five patients who didn’t receive the drug were older and sicker than those who did. Still, they concluded tocilizumab deserves additional study.

Barría’s team, including Chilean scientists, U.S. National Institutes of Health Rocky Mountain Laboratories researchers, and Robert Koch Institute scientists from Germany, pursues a different strategy — using cloned antibodies from hantavirus survivors to prevent infections. The team published 2018 research showing animal success, but couldn’t secure funding for human trials, partly because resources shifted to coronavirus pandemic response.

“We are truly at the forefront, at a very important stage of moving to the next phase,” Barría said.

Multiple other groups, including teams at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Vanderbilt Center for Antibody Therapeutics, also develop antibody treatments.

Vaccines against Old World hantaviruses have been created and utilized, though the World Health Organization states no currently licensed hantavirus vaccines exist. New vaccines are under development, including ones targeting the Andes virus. A team led by Jay Hooper of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases works on a vaccine that successfully produced antibodies against the virus in early human trials, according to their 2020 study.

Dr. Paul Bollyky, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford Medical Center in California, explained that securing sustained support for rare disease vaccines and treatments like hantavirus proves extremely challenging.

Laboratories typically lack what Bollyky describes as necessary equipment to test and validate vaccines and treatments for uncommon infections. Additionally, because hantavirus outbreaks occur sporadically and unpredictably, studying this virus proves much more difficult than researching common germs like influenza that circulate regularly.

“That also makes clinical trials in this space super difficult because of the number of people you would have to immunize to protect against one infection,” he said. “It’s just impractical.”

This also means limited or inconsistent markets for vaccines or treatments, since predicting exposure timing and populations proves difficult.

Still, researchers and physicians feel frustrated knowing potential treatments could help people now with sufficient sustained investment.

“What happened was a tragedy, but it can happen not only with this but also other diseases,” Tortosa said, referring to the cruise ship outbreak.

A routine medical visit in January 2026 turned into a life-changing moment for Taylor Jacobus, a dedicated turkey hunter from Hanover, when his doctor delivered shocking news: “You have a tumor growing in your head.”

Jacobus had visited his physician seeking relief from headaches, mild ear ringing, facial sensations, and sinus pressure. Instead of simple treatment, the doctor ordered an MRI that revealed a 2.5-centimeter vestibular schwannoma — also called an acoustic neuroma — developing on the nerve connecting his ear to his brain.

The 38-year-old consulted with four neurosurgical teams nationwide before facing a frightening but necessary decision: undergo a craniotomy to extract the tumor before it could further compress his brain stem.

While acoustic neuromas are rare, affecting roughly one in 100,000 people each year, they are usually non-cancerous. Despite various surgical risks, Jacobus faced one particularly devastating possibility — complete hearing loss. For someone who had pursued turkey hunting passionately for more than twenty years, this prospect was heartbreaking.

Sound plays a crucial role in successful turkey hunting. Hunters rely on treetop gobbles and ground-level spitting and drumming to track, locate, and call in their prey. The thought of hunting turkeys with hearing in only one ear seemed insurmountable to Jacobus, though dedicated turkey hunters understand the value of determination.

Seventy-four days after his diagnosis, Jacobus endured more than eight hours of surgery at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina. He awakened to remarkable news: surgeons achieved 90-95 percent tumor removal, preserved his facial nerve completely, and most surprisingly, maintained partial hearing in his right ear. The outcome felt like a miracle, particularly with spring turkey season approaching.

Recovery required 11 days with a walker, 28 days without driving, and 37 days unable to lift his son. Jacobus persevered through the challenging initial weeks and received medical clearance after five and a half weeks — perfectly timed for week three of Virginia’s spring turkey season.

The cool, dewy April mornings soon called Jacobus back to the forest. Armed with specialized hearing aids and physical therapy experience, he headed to his childhood home in Doswell to hunt familiar territory.

His first obstacle was navigating in darkness. With his vestibular system relearning balance, walking became especially challenging without adequate lighting. Step by step, he carefully made his way to a trusted corner of the family land where the powerline intersected with oak trees.

Locating birds presented his next challenge. After sunrise and several mouth calls, gobblers responded from various directions. While ideal for hunting, determining their exact locations proved difficult. Minutes stretched endlessly as Jacobus wrestled with uncertainty, questioning whether to trust his compromised senses or rely on instinct.

Drawing on muscle memory, Jacobus made one final call before falling completely silent, controlling his breathing and calming his racing heart. This strategy paid off when the closest tom immediately responded again, this time clearly moving in his direction. Jacobus knew the bird was approaching.

Using only his eyes to scan the area, Jacobus spotted the gobbler’s fanned tail appearing over the hill, heading directly toward his decoys. The long-awaited moment had arrived. What once seemed impossible was now strutting toward the decoys in full display. After watching the aggressive tom confront his jake decoy and circle once, Jacobus achieved perfect focus and made a clean, lethal shot.

This successful hunt carried extra meaning, occurring exactly six weeks after his surgery. The experience created a feeling and memory he will treasure forever. Life presents challenges similar to turkey hunting, but this story demonstrates that with determination, obstacles can be overcome.

Caitlyn Jacobus is the DWR Digital Marketing Manager and Taylor Jacobus’ wife.

A nutrition company based in Deer Park, New York has voluntarily widened its recall of moringa capsule supplements because of potential salmonella contamination.

Total Nutrition Inc. is expanding the recall of its TNVitamins and Doctor’s Pride Ultra Potent Complete Green Superfood Moringa Capsules after discovering the products may contain salmonella bacteria.

According to health officials, salmonella is a dangerous bacterial organism that has the potential to cause severe infections that can sometimes result in death.

The World Health Organization’s top official acknowledged Wednesday that responders are still trailing behind Congo’s deadly Ebola outbreak, despite improvements in diagnostic capabilities.

“We’re still behind” because the outbreak “had a big head start,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, though he emphasized “we are catching up” as laboratory testing capabilities expand.

Congolese health officials report 344 confirmed infections and 60 fatalities from the uncommon Bundibugyo strain of Ebola since authorities declared the outbreak in mid-May across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. Suspected case numbers have dropped significantly from 906 to 116.

Uganda’s health ministry reported Tuesday that the neighboring country has documented 15 confirmed infections, resulting in one fatality.

When asked about a controversial U.S. quarantine facility in Kenya that has sparked demonstrations, the WHO chief declined to comment directly, stating “I think based on their risk assessment … they can do whatever they think is right for them.”

Health experts indicate the virus circulated for weeks in one of the globe’s most at-risk areas before laboratory confirmation. Emergency supplies, including protective equipment, have been dispatched to combat this Ebola variant for which no approved treatments or vaccines exist.

Five individuals have successfully recovered from the infection, providing rare encouraging developments.

Doctors Without Borders cautioned Monday about case count accuracy, noting “The true extent of the outbreak remains difficult to assess. Extremely limited testing capacity and difficulties accessing certain areas necessitate interpreting these figures with caution.”

Delivering a potential vaccine to affected areas could require several months.

Dr. Aruna Abedi, a Congolese epidemiologist experienced in managing the country’s previous outbreaks, explained to The Associated Press that “It’s difficult to have an effective vaccine that adheres to the scientific protocol available quickly.”

Despite enhanced laboratory and diagnostic capabilities, Tedros noted that tracking individuals who contacted infected persons in Congo remains inadequate.

“Only about 45% of contacts have been followed up, and to get ahead of the outbreak we need to get that number up to above 90%,” he explained. “Insecurity, displacement and mobile populations make contact tracing especially difficult.”

Military groups operating in the area include the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel organization that captured major cities Goma and Bukavu more than a year ago, plus an Islamic State-affiliated group known as the Allied Democratic Forces active along the Congo-Uganda border. Years of instability have produced a massive and at-risk displaced community.

Suspicious local residents have assaulted medical facilities during the outbreak, sometimes demanding relatives’ remains. Medical personnel are also confronting incorrect beliefs among some community members that Ebola doesn’t exist, preventing some from getting treatment.

Medical researchers have unveiled promising results for a new approach to treating brain cancer that could transform patient outcomes following surgery.

Scientists presented findings at a major oncology conference showing that a small radiation-emitting device implanted during brain tumor removal surgery delivers superior results compared to conventional radiation therapy.

The innovative treatment involves placing a thin collagen tile infused with cesium-131 radiation directly into the space where surgeons removed the tumor. This device immediately begins destroying any remaining cancer cells while traditional treatments require patients to wait up to six weeks after surgery before radiation can begin.

During this waiting period with standard care, leftover cancer cells in the brain can multiply and spread, researchers explained. The new implant eliminates this dangerous gap by providing instant radiation treatment that gradually diminishes as the device dissolves naturally into the body.

A comprehensive study involving 230 patients with operable brain metastases compared outcomes between those receiving the implant versus standard radiation therapy after surgery.

The results showed dramatic improvements: only 1% of patients with the implant experienced tumor regrowth in the surgical site after one year, compared to 11.9% of those receiving conventional treatment.

Patients who received the device had more than a 50% lower risk of cancer returning or dying compared to standard care. Two-year survival rates reached 61.7% with the implant versus 35.7% for traditional radiation.

Side effects and quality of life measures remained comparable between both treatment approaches, according to researchers.

“These patients have faced important challenges with existing treatment approaches,” stated the chief medical officer of the company that developed the technology.

He added that the study data “delivers the high level of evidence to support GammaTile as a new up-front treatment option.”

In related cancer treatment advances, researchers also reported breakthrough results for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma using a new dual-action drug that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells directly.

Additionally, an experimental vaccine combined with immunotherapy reduced melanoma recurrence by nearly half in a five-year study, offering hope for personalized cancer treatments that target specific tumor characteristics.

SAO PAULO – A controversial experimental therapy for spinal cord injuries has created a medical phenomenon in Brazil, attracting patients from countries like Mexico to a small laboratory while propelling a researcher to celebrity status – all without completed safety trials.

The experimental therapy uses polylaminin, a protein derived from placenta tissue designed to encourage nerve tissue regrowth. This treatment has captured worldwide attention from thousands of prospective patients, with many securing legal representation to obtain access to the medication.

Without completed clinical evidence proving both safety and effectiveness, medical professionals are advocating for careful consideration while attempting to distinguish between scientific reality and patient optimism.

Research conducted on animals beginning in the early 2000s indicates polylaminin may encourage damaged nerve tissue to regenerate.

While Phase 1 human trials continue, widespread public fascination with polylaminin surged following promotion of a 2024 preliminary study by Cristalia, the Brazilian drug manufacturer that owns the patent rights.

Brazilian researcher Tatiana Sampaio, who leads the research team, informed Reuters that a peer-reviewed polylaminin study nears publication but would not identify which medical journal will publish it.

Brazil’s public reaction has been extensive, with well-known Brazilian performer Joao Gomes acknowledging Sampaio during this year’s Carnival celebration: “You are the biggest celebrity here,” he declared.

This excitement represents national pride for Brazil.

“A female scientist made a groundbreaking discovery for the world, and she is Brazilian,” Sampaio stated.

**OFFICIALS OPTIMISTIC, RESEARCHERS CAUTIOUS**

Should polylaminin prove both safe and effective, it would represent a significant achievement for Brazil’s pharmaceutical sector, which has traditionally focused on generic medications, and for a nation investing only 1.2% of its economic output in research and development, based on 2023 World Bank statistics.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s administration, currently seeking reelection, has embraced this positive outlook.

“It is something so important to us that it was the first product analyzed by the newly created Innovation Committee at Anvisa,” stated Health Minister Alexandre Padilha regarding the national health regulatory agency. “If the clinical study yields good results, it can be made available to the population as quickly as possible.”

Several medical professionals caution against allowing excitement to outpace scientific rigor.

Marco Baptista, chief science officer at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, described polylaminin as “innovative” and “promising,” while emphasizing it represents just one among numerous experimental therapies in early development phases.

Baptista explained that the foundation, established by the “Superman” actor following a 1995 horseback riding accident that caused his paralysis, monitors encouraging research globally but avoids placing excessive confidence in initial findings.

“It is not the only approach out there and we need to see if it’s safe and efficacious,” Baptista commented.

Leading figures within Brazil’s research community also recommend caution.

“We want the research to be successful… but we need to meet certain criteria,” stated Delson Jose da Silva, president of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology.

**VARYING OUTCOMES**

The initial human polylaminin research included eight patients with complete spinal cord damage, with four experiencing paraplegia and four experiencing tetraplegia, all treated within days of their injuries.

Two patients died from their injuries. However, all six surviving patients recovered some voluntary movement ability, and one patient who sustained neck injuries in an automobile crash achieved complete recovery within two years.

“I believe polylaminin was crucial for my recovery,” stated Bruno Drummond de Freitas, 31, who now walks independently.

Freitas, injured at age 23 and treated with polylaminin within 24 hours, has become an advocate for the therapy.

Some medical professionals warned that excessive excitement about the treatment’s potential could result in disappointment.

Luiz Fernando Mozer, a 38-year-old automotive painter, underwent treatment several days following a motocross crash in early December. His only improvement has been restored feeling in his legs.

His gradual progress has caused frustration. “We are eager to get results, but they just don’t happen.”

**EXPENSIVE LEGAL COSTS**

Brazil’s court system permits patients to obtain experimental treatments through legal proceedings. Following public disclosure of the medication, dozens of legal cases requesting polylaminin access have been submitted, according to Anvisa.

This excitement could expose vulnerable patients to financial exploitation. Health law expert Vanessa Patricia reported observing situations where attorneys charge patients with chronic conditions for treatments they cannot receive.

Sampaio explained that animal research and preliminary human evidence suggest polylaminin functions most effectively within 72 hours of injury and up to three months afterward.

Some patients have sought legal assistance because Anvisa may require up to 45 days to decide on such applications.

Anvisa has started expediting approvals when clear treatment indications exist, reducing the need for court involvement, Patricia noted.

Currently, 84 patients have obtained Anvisa’s permission for compassionate polylaminin treatment, with 44 receiving approval through court decisions, the regulatory agency reported.

Attorney fees for representing patients seeking polylaminin access range from 15,000 to 300,000 reais ($3,000 to $60,000).

**CLINICAL STUDY AUTHORIZED**

Sampaio acknowledged she can no longer personally manage all cases, which may include 24-hour court orders requiring immediate treatment before researchers can thoroughly evaluate each situation. However, she remains dedicated to the research and hopes trials will demonstrate the medication’s clinical value.

Rogerio Almeida, vice president of research and innovation at Cristalia, confirmed the company provides the medication at no cost to patients with acute injuries following Anvisa’s approval.

Cristalia, located in rural Sao Paulo state, has invested more than 110 million reais ($22 million) in polylaminin development.

The Phase 1 study approved by Anvisa will evaluate polylaminin’s safety in five patients between ages 18 and 72 who received treatment within 72 hours of complete thoracic spinal cord injuries requiring surgical intervention.

Natalia Pasternak, who directs a nonprofit organization promoting evidence-based public policy, noted that public records do not clarify Anvisa’s rationale for authorizing the study. She is pursuing additional documentation through legal channels.

“Well-detailed clinical trials that follow a solid protocol take time,” she explained, “and rushing them can compromise both quality and safety.”

($1 = 5.0109 reais)

Two women are defying cancer odds thanks to breakthrough treatments that specifically target their tumors’ genetic makeup, representing a growing trend of Americans living longer with the disease.

Cathy Smithwick, age 67, has battled breast cancer followed by ovarian cancer for over two decades using a combination of targeted therapies, immune system treatments, chemotherapy and hormone medications.

Michelle Vacca, recently 59, has managed lung cancer for almost a decade and continues thriving on an investigational treatment that addresses a uncommon tumor genetic change.

These cases reflect a broader shift as researchers decode cancer’s biological foundations and create medications tailored to each tumor’s genetic blueprint.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 18 million Americans with cancer histories remain alive currently.

An unprecedented seven in ten cancer patients now live at least five years beyond diagnosis, compared to fewer than half in the 1970s and 63% during the mid-1990s when targeted cellular treatments first appeared, the cancer organization reports.

Traditional chemotherapy that destroys all rapidly dividing cells — which remains central to cancer care — was previously the sole treatment avenue for most malignancies.

“It’s taken decades for us to really understand the biology of cancer,” stated Rebecca Siegel, head of surveillance research at the cancer group. She anticipates survival statistics will keep climbing, though cancer will likely stay the second leading cause of death behind heart disease as it becomes more frequent with aging.

The recently completed American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago featured research demonstrating cancer fatalities among 15 to 49-year-olds decreased 25% since 1990, alongside trial outcomes for innovative life-prolonging treatments for pancreatic, skin and blood malignancies.

Cancer emerges when DNA mutations cause cells to multiply and spread without control. Environmental exposures like tobacco or ultraviolet radiation can trigger these changes, though inherited mutations account for fewer cases.

New treatments must prove safety and effectiveness for regulatory clearance, often measured by tumor reduction rather than extended lifespan. Fewer than one-third of recently approved cancer medications demonstrated life extension benefits.

Trial success rates are advancing partly because studies selecting participants based on particular genetic markers or mutations have nearly doubled the effectiveness of non-selective trials.

Emerging treatments like Revolution Medicines’ daraxonrasib, which targets a RAS gene variant driving cancer progression, enable patients to overcome resistance to conventional therapies, explained Dr. Vincent Chung, pancreatic cancer specialist at City of Hope, a national cancer research and treatment organization.

“This is how you have patients that are living with cancer… if you’ve been on a targeted therapy, you’re going to be probably more sensitive to the older chemotherapy again,” he stated.

Smithwick, who served as a management consultant in Silicon Valley before retiring following a second ovarian cancer return four years ago, received her breast cancer diagnosis in 2005. Her tumor showed positive results for HER2 protein — present in approximately 25% of breast cancers — leading to treatment with Roche’s Herceptin, among the first antibody medications designed to block cancer-promoting proteins.

BRCA1 gene mutation testing occurred only after her sister’s breast cancer diagnosis years later.

Following surgery in 2010, Smithwick faced ovarian cancer diagnosis. When her cancer developed drug resistance, alternative treatments began, but an allergic response to platinum-based chemotherapy eliminated that option.

Currently taking an estrogen-blocking medication, she will undergo biopsy testing for additional genetic markers if tumor growth occurs, with doctors at Kaiser Permanente planning comprehensive marker analysis.

“They will test for all available markers,” said Smithwick, who completed a 4-mile Himalayan climb in Bhutan last November and plans her fourth Kenya trip this summer. “Meanwhile I am living my life.”

Vacca, an office manager in Orange County, California, who never smoked, discovered her early-stage lung cancer through an unrelated chest x-ray.

Post-surgery biopsy revealed an EGFR mutation, leading to treatment with AstraZeneca’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor Tagrisso, though the cancer returned.

Another medication caused an infected rash. City of Hope identified her cancer’s EGFR 20 insertion mutation, found in roughly 2% of lung cancers, resulting in enrollment three years ago in a CLN-081 drug trial.

“It’s still working for me,” Vacca said. “I don’t really have any side effects… It hasn’t stopped me from traveling to K-pop concerts.”

Dr. Saro Armenian, director of City of Hope’s survivorship program, said the center is “doubling down on research to understand the journey of cancer survivors,” while recognizing patients may still face serious prognoses.

Dr. Julie Gralow, the organization’s chief medical officer, stated: “We’re going to have to look at the full genomic profile of every cancer.”

A physician who once had to study outdoors among weeds because her family couldn’t afford a table has been honored for becoming a groundbreaking figure in Israeli medicine. Dr. Nadia Khir recently received the “Habama Shelahen” (“Their Stage”) award from Jewish philanthropist Miriam Adelson for her historic achievement as Israel’s first female Druze doctor.

Speaking to The Media Line following the ceremony, Khir shared how a quote commonly linked to Mahatma Gandhi has shaped her journey: “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” These words, she explained, captured the resolve that enabled her to overcome obstacles and create opportunities for future generations of Druze women.

Currently practicing at four Clalit Health Services clinics throughout the Galilee region – including Julis where she resides, plus Tamra, Jatt, and Yanuh – Khir notes that approximately 40 female Druze doctors now work in Israel. However, when she enrolled at the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology during the mid-1980s, she stood alone as the only one.

Growing up in extreme poverty in Peki’in in northern Galilee, Khir recalled that she “studied on the weeds,” since her family lacked even basic furniture like a table. The village was then a diverse community housing Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze residents. When Jewish neighbors relocated to nearby Nahariya, she would use the steps of their vacant houses as a quiet study space.

“There was too much noise at our house, and I couldn’t study,” she remembered.

Khir’s challenging upbringing continues to affect her today. Her father left the family when she was just five years old, and during a recent phone interview, she became emotional discussing her mother, who battled a serious illness while single-handedly raising five children.

Observing her mother’s medical struggles and witnessing how healthcare providers could assist people during their most vulnerable times “was a very strong motive” for pursuing medicine, she explained.

“It touches a painful place for me,” Khir acknowledged. “It still hurts,” she said regarding her childhood experiences. “But I was strong. I overcame it.”

Watching her mother – who served as both the family’s sole income source and only parent – repeatedly fall ill was frightening. Each time her mother required medical treatment, Khir observed directly how physicians could provide crucial help during people’s most desperate moments.

“I said to myself, ‘I also want to help people. I also want to be someone who can take care of others and take care of my mother,’” Khir stated. “I had no support growing up, no one to lean on, so I wanted to grow up and become support for my daughters.”

She admits uncertainty about how she managed to achieve her medical career given the overwhelming challenges she faced. Beyond her economic disadvantages, Druze society maintained very conservative traditions, and women were typically discouraged from seeking advanced education, particularly in medical fields. Many community members worried that girls who left their villages for university studies would abandon their religious beliefs. Consequently, she needed to demonstrate that pursuing higher education was compatible with maintaining loyalty to her cultural traditions.

Two individuals provided crucial encouragement during this period. Her brother offered both financial assistance for her education and emotional support for her goals. He eventually departed from the faith before facing “excommunication,” according to Khir.

Despite her brother’s backing, she remained terrified that her devout mother might face social isolation, which could have devastated their family. Khir witnessed the punishment imposed on families of two nursing students, who were banned from religious services and excluded from community activities.

However, shortly before beginning her studies, Khir encountered former Druze religious leader Sheik Farag Fadool on the street. When she expressed her educational aspirations but voiced concerns about potential consequences for her mother, she recalled that he promised to protect her family from community ostracism. This assurance provided the confidence she needed to proceed with her plans.

Khir understood that her choice would help transform the community.

“I wanted that change to come,” Khir remembered.

However, she never anticipated becoming such an influential symbol for her community of approximately 180,000 people in Israel.

“Dr. Nadia Khir’s story is one of courage, faith, and perseverance,” stated Dr. Yaffa Ashur, director of Yoseftal Medical Center and head of Clalit Health Services’ Eilat region, who participated in presenting the award last week. “One woman who refused to give up on her dream and, in doing so, opened doors for an entire generation of women. She is a tremendous source of pride for Clalit and for Israeli society as a whole.”

When asked whether she ever contemplated abandoning her goals during difficult periods, Khir responded, “That was never an option. Even today, I’m an extreme person in that sense. Once I start something, it has to be completed fully.”

The Technion presented particular difficulties. Accustomed to communicating in Arabic, she suddenly needed to study, attend classes, and interact in Hebrew. She also found herself among some of Israel’s most academically elite students.

“Being among people from wealthy backgrounds was not easy for a girl from a struggling family in Peki’in in the Galilee,” she observed.

During particularly challenging times, she would visit the head of the student advancement unit and break down emotionally in her office. “She used to encourage me,” Khir said. “She would tell me, ‘Nadia, they’ll write a book about you.’ She always treated me like I was some kind of historical figure.”

Khir chose to specialize in gynecology specifically to serve Druze women and advance her community’s progress.

“It’s something I bless every day,” she said. “Being a gynecologist is so essential to women’s lives. … If they get married, they need guidance. If they want birth control, they need a gynecologist. If they become pregnant, they need a gynecologist. … It contributes tremendously.”

She always knew gynecology would be her specialty because strict cultural rules governing physical contact between men and women in Druze society meant that treating male patients would not have been socially acceptable. She needed to select a medical specialty that operated within those cultural parameters.

Currently, she noted, women’s status and societal attitudes toward women have transformed dramatically. Women are no longer regarded as property or merely as household laborers. Women are recognized as human beings with ambitions, desires, and the capacity to make independent decisions. She also credited some of this advancement to the laws of the State of Israel.

She also plays an important role in conversations about contraception within the Druze community, where the topic is not always readily embraced.

“Women often need convincing. Also, today there is more sexual freedom, so I see more women in the clinic with sexually transmitted diseases. But it’s still very uncomfortable to openly lecture in villages about sex, sexually transmitted diseases, and related issues. There isn’t enough openness,” she explained.

Currently, her three daughters are pursuing similar paths. One works as a doctor at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. Another is studying electrical engineering at Tel Aviv University, and a third is studying software engineering at the Technion.

“When I left to study medicine, I never imagined I would become a symbol. I simply wanted to fulfill a dream and help people,” Khir said. “Today, when I see young women choosing to study and advance without fear of breaking boundaries, I understand that the journey was worth everything. It is a great privilege for me to be an inspiration to my daughters and to the next generation.”

She described Israeli society as “wonderful,” and believes it is not as divided as people perceive. “I’m a Druze woman, an Arab woman, so you would expect me to encounter racism from Jews. But the opposite has happened. The greatest encouragement I received came specifically from Jewish people. They were the ones who supported me and believed in me.”

She added that during the past two-and-a-half years of war, she observed that people from all sectors of society had come together and supported one another.

“The people who unite society are the ones worthy of leadership, not those who divide us,” Khir declared.

She also expressed appreciation for how Israel supported the Druze community in Syria. “I never imagined that one day Israel would be the country protecting the Druze in Syria,” she admitted. “The State of Israel, strong and stable, is an anchor and support for Druze throughout the Middle East, especially in Syria.”

Severe weather events including hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other natural disasters can trigger intense feelings of anxiety and psychological distress.

Mental health professionals who work with disaster survivors say there are effective strategies to manage this stress. Creating a comprehensive emergency plan stands out as one of the most crucial steps, experts emphasize.

“Preparation is always one of the most powerful tools that I can imagine — not just for safety, but also for mental health,” said Ruben Juarez, a health economist at University of Hawaii professor who directed the Maui Wildfires Exposure Study, which looked at health and social impacts of the deadly 2023 fires.

After a disaster passes, mental health experts recommend working to rebuild normalcy through seeking support networks, returning to daily routines and assisting others in recovery efforts.

Kevin Westmoreland, who co-owns The Corner Kitchen in Asheville, North Carolina, had previously learned meditation and breathing techniques to manage restaurant industry pressures. These skills proved valuable when Hurricane Helene’s remnants brought devastating flooding two years ago, sending water and debris through his establishment and leaving “everything was tossed around inside the building as if it was in a blender,” he recalled.

“All you could do to get through it is try to take a breath and move forward, step by step,” he said.

Advance preparation represents a powerful tool for reducing disaster-related anxiety, including developing detailed response plans for emergency situations.

Creating evacuation strategies and assembling emergency supply kits can help people feel more in control during uncertain times, said Melissa Brymer, a psychologist and director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

She recommends a step-by-step guide for families at ready.gov/plan. The American Red Cross also has extensive guides for hurricane preparedness. Make sure to consider special preparations for anyone with disabilities, special needs, new mothers and expectant mothers, Brymer advises. Also make sure that pets are included in disaster plans.

Since weather patterns remain unpredictable, accepting that certain factors will remain beyond personal control can help reduce stress levels.

Staying well-informed through reliable sources can also help people feel more prepared for extreme weather situations. Mental health experts suggest focusing on factual information and monitoring official weather alerts and warnings.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America recommends discussing worries and concerns with trusted friends, family members, therapists or other supportive individuals.

When speaking with children, parents should use straightforward language while explaining that storms occur naturally. While children may feel scared of severe weather, many are also curious to understand these phenomena better.

Adults should acknowledge when situations feel stressful, Brymer noted. However, some discussions should remain between adults to prevent unnecessarily frightening young people.

“Kids kind of register our panic, and then they’re going to panic if we’re starting to panic,” she said. “We don’t want them to start worrying for us.”

Research from the Maui wildfires study revealed that psychological impacts spread throughout entire communities, affecting many residents who lived outside the directly burned areas, Juarez explained. This highlights the importance of recognizing that community disasters can affect mental health even when homes or neighborhoods escape direct damage.

Westmoreland said maintaining perspective helped him manage stress after Helene’s impact.

“We try to look at it like it’s just a business and equipment — as long as our employees are safe, those are the important things,” he said.

The historic restaurant, constructed around 1895 by American industrialist George Vanderbilt in the Biltmore Village section of Asheville, has reopened following extensive renovation and repair work.

Additional recommendations from the Anxiety and Depression Association include:

— Engaging in meaningful activities like blood donation, assembling care packages or volunteering to assist others. These actions can provide purpose and counter feelings of helplessness.

— Connecting with others facing similar challenges for mutual support.

— Recognizing that persistent symptoms lasting several weeks may indicate post-traumatic stress disorder and warrant professional assistance.

Five American citizens who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship during a hantavirus outbreak have been discharged from medical monitoring and allowed to return to their home states, officials announced Tuesday.

The passengers had been under observation for three weeks at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center following the disease outbreak on the vessel.

Health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had mandated that these individuals remain at the facility until May 31 for monitoring purposes.

Medical center officials stated that the released passengers will undergo continued surveillance for an additional 21-day period under the supervision of their respective local and state health agencies.

The CDC reports that a total of 41 American citizens are currently being watched for potential infection. Of these individuals, 18 were passengers aboard the cruise ship who had already returned to the United States prior to health authorities identifying the hantavirus outbreak.

Two prominent news organizations have disclosed their investigative approach used to examine claims of inadequate medical treatment within immigration detention facilities operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the second Trump presidency.

The news outlets examined thousands of immigration-related court filings to uncover healthcare allegations from individuals held in ICE custody. Due to the absence of a complete, publicly accessible database containing medical grievances from those detained by ICE, the organizations turned to immigration court documents to locate healthcare-related accusations presented in federal court proceedings.

While these court filings are primarily intended to contest the lawfulness of someone’s detention rather than address confinement conditions, they occasionally contain claims about insufficient medical attention.

However, these legal documents aren’t always accessible to the public. Federal regulations limit public access to these petitions filed by immigration detainees. Most case information available on court websites includes only judicial orders and case summaries describing other documents. The original petitions can only be obtained through physical visits to federal courthouses nationwide. A nonprofit organization called the Immigration Justice Transparency Initiative operates Habeas Dockets, which organizes volunteers across the country to collect these documents and publish them online.

The news organizations examined case records from approximately 33,000 cases submitted by detainees between Jan. 20, 2025, and March 2026. Most cases contained only basic procedural details, including filing dates and court decisions. Only around 4,400 cases included the original petitions.

The organizations also collected several dozen additional case files from courthouses, attorneys, and the Massachusetts federal district court website, which publishes most petitions under a special court order.

Reporters conducted keyword and computer-assisted searches of court documents, including petitions, motions, and orders, looking for terms potentially indicating medical neglect, including surgery, medications, insufficient medical care, and treatment for ongoing health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

The search identified approximately 500 cases that potentially contained medical neglect allegations. Multiple reporters manually examined each case, resulting in more than 300 cases that included specific accusations in sworn court documents of delayed, refused, or inadequate healthcare.

To maintain strict standards, the organizations excluded dozens of cases that claimed insufficient medical care but provided no specific details, such as a petitioner stating they were sick but not receiving proper treatment, or a judge noting that a petitioner complained about ICE ignoring medical issues. Cases were also excluded when petitioners only claimed they were denied special diets, exercise, or other health-related accommodations, such as someone with Parkinson’s disease unable to exercise properly or claims that provided food was unsuitable for diabetic patients.

The organizations noted that their analyzed cases were not randomly chosen and do not represent all immigration court filings nationwide. The allegations were not independently confirmed. Many court documents remain unavailable to the public, and not all detainees present medical concerns in court proceedings, meaning their findings provide only a partial view of the overall situation rather than a complete assessment.

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — In the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola crisis, Arlette Basekawike dedicates her days to cooking meals for patients and medical staff from a modest shelter beside a healthcare center.

Wearing a pink head covering, Basekawike works as a volunteer with the United Nations food agency, creating breakfast dishes like porridge, eggs and bread for those receiving care at the Evangelical Medical Center. For other meals, she might serve fresh fish alongside fufu, a traditional dish made from mashed plantains, topped with fruit.

“Even though the patients have this disease, they still feel better when they eat, and the doctors have the energy to treat the sick and give them medication,” Basekawike explained to The Associated Press on Monday while cooking vegetables and potatoes with goat meat in a large pot. “I’m here for them like a parent, preparing food so they feel comfortable.”

While her work might seem straightforward, it has emerged as vital support for the area confronting the fast-moving rare Bundibugyo virus, the Ebola strain identified in eastern Congo during May.

By Tuesday, the World Health Organization reported 321 confirmed Ebola infections and 48 fatalities across the Central African country’s three eastern provinces: Ituri, North and South Kivu. Uganda has documented nine cases and one death according to WHO data, leading Uganda to seal its border with Congo.

Prior to this health emergency, the troubled region was already experiencing one of the planet’s worst food emergencies because of continuing warfare that has forced millions to flee as government troops battle insurgents. The viral outbreak has created additional complications that the United Nations cautions could hinder efforts to control transmission among a population already filled with distrust.

“We are in a region where we already have large segments of the population suffering from acute food insecurity linked to either war or displacement,” explained Olivier Nkakudulu, who leads the World Food Program in Ituri province. “So there are already needs and Ebola is an additional crisis on top of a crisis.”

The financially strained World Food Program confronts difficult decisions as funding reductions from the U.S. and other key donors have disrupted activities in this vulnerable area. Attempts to control the disease, which the World Health Organization has classified as a global health emergency, have been hindered by insufficient funding as international partners have either pulled out or decreased their commitments.

Additionally, assaults by distrustful community members on medical personnel and delayed aid delivery caused by the persistent conflict have made containing the disease’s spread challenging.

Nevertheless, the agency and healthcare workers report they have successfully maintained patients’ nutritional requirements thus far.

“Today we need to increase the amount because the number of patients has gone up,” stated Esther Bao, a nurse and volunteer. Some patients, due to their medical conditions, “don’t eat just any meal,” she noted.

No approved vaccine or cure exists for the Bundibugyo virus. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, and five individuals have made recoveries.

The outbreak keeps expanding, growing from three affected health zones initially to 22 as of this past weekend, based on Congo’s Ministry of Health data.

On Sunday, 120 meals were distributed across four medical facilities, totaling 404 meals since food support started on May 28, Nkakudulu reported. However, the financial outlook remains challenging, he said.

“Without more funding, we might not be able to prioritize every suspected case,” Nkakudulu warned. “We might have to focus on some and not have food to give to others.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo has restored passenger flight service to the main airport serving the province most severely affected by the current Ebola outbreak, according to an official government announcement that reverses a decision some locals said had isolated them from essential resources.

Authorities in Kinshasa had announced the previous month they were halting commercial passenger service to Bunia, the primary airport serving Ituri province, after the initial Ebola infections were identified there. Medical and humanitarian aircraft operations continued with required government authorization.

According to a statement released Monday evening by Congo’s transport ministry, necessary measures are now established “to allow a gradual and safe resumption of air transport activities” with the airport resuming operations without delay.

The ministry outlined that all travelers will undergo temperature checks prior to departure and upon landing, must sanitize their hands before boarding, and anyone displaying fever symptoms will be prohibited from flying.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, marking Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, on May 15, with the World Health Organization quickly designating it a public health emergency of international concern.

Health officials report the outbreak, now ranking as the third-largest on record, went undetected for several weeks, leaving authorities working from behind and facing challenges in containment efforts.

The airport reopening decision came after a visit from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who informed media Monday that he observed positive developments in the response efforts, citing five certified recoveries. However, he emphasized the necessity to expand testing and treatment capabilities while building trust in health workers.

Monday’s latest government data shows 321 confirmed Ebola cases with 48 confirmed fatalities.

The disease has spread to 15 of Ituri’s 36 health zones, with additional cases documented in North and South Kivu provinces as well as in neighboring Uganda.

The International Rescue Committee issued a warning Monday that the outbreak likely exceeds official statistics in both scale and progression.

The humanitarian organization indicated the virus may have been circulating for as long as three months prior to the first official case confirmations in mid-May.

Five American passengers who were quarantined at a Nebraska medical facility following hantavirus exposure on a cruise ship have been cleared to return home, federal health authorities announced Monday.

The individuals will finish their monitoring period at home after staying healthy and fulfilling requirements for supervision outside the isolation unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

These five passengers are departing Omaha approximately three weeks after they and 13 other Americans were transported to Nebraska following a fatal hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise vessel in the South Atlantic Ocean.

While hantaviruses typically transmit through inhalation of contaminated rodent waste particles, the strain responsible for this outbreak, known as the Andes virus, may occasionally spread between humans.

According to the World Health Organization, 13 confirmed or suspected hantavirus infections, including three fatalities, have been connected to the cruise ship.

Health authorities stated that no Andes virus infections have been verified in the United States, and public risk remains minimal.

A spokesperson for Nebraska Medicine confirmed Monday that none of the American passengers has displayed any symptoms.

Previous outbreaks have shown hantavirus symptoms can emerge up to 42 days after exposure, though medical professionals note most individuals who become ill develop symptoms within 21 days.

Omaha physicians overseeing the passengers had previously indicated they would evaluate each individual case to determine suitability for completing the recommended 42-day isolation period at home.

Government officials coordinated transportation for the five departing individuals, working with state and local agencies. Authorities specified the travel would not involve commercial airlines, with proper containment protocols implemented. State health departments will maintain daily symptom tracking, round-the-clock supervision and advisory services.

Two of those returning to their residences live outside New York City, according to city Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin.

Jake Rosmarin, one of the passengers remaining in quarantine, wrote on his blog Sunday that he intends to complete his final three weeks at the Omaha facility to ensure immediate medical access if needed and to avoid potentially exposing others.

Rosmarin, who shares daily updates about his situation, said he respects others’ decisions to leave.

“For me personally, this experience has been incredibly traumatic,” Rosmarin said. “I don’t think I’ve fully processed everything yet, and right now I don’t want to leave until I know there is no risk of me getting sick or putting my family, friends, or the general public at risk.”

Not all quarantined individuals in Nebraska have been satisfied with the arrangement. Approximately one week after the 18 passengers arrived, federal health officials issued mandatory quarantine orders requiring two passengers who wished to depart to remain at the facility.

A pharmaceutical company executive revealed that the firm is working with international health organizations to potentially deploy its COVID-19 antiviral medication against a devastating Ebola outbreak currently spreading in Africa.

The crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo has infected an estimated 1,100 individuals and claimed 42 lives. Health officials are particularly concerned because this outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, a rare form of the virus for which no authorized vaccines or treatments currently exist.

Eliav Barr, chief medical officer at the company’s research laboratories, explained the potential application during an interview at the American Society for Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago on Sunday. “Molnupiravir is a non-specific RNA virus drug. We’re thinking about how we could use that,” Barr stated.

“We’re talking a lot with different parties about this,” Barr added.

The medication, created by the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company in partnership with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and marketed as Lagevrio, received emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration during the pandemic. It was approved for treating mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults facing high risk for serious illness.

While not currently authorized as an Ebola therapy, molnupiravir has demonstrated effectiveness against Ebola in laboratory animal testing and might prove valuable for preventing infections in high-risk individuals. However, the medication is not advised for pregnant women.

The company also produces an Ebola vaccine named Ervebo, which has approval for protecting against the more prevalent Zaire Ebola virus. Barr indicated that the vaccine’s underlying technology might prove helpful in creating a new vaccine.

“They may be able to alter it. We’re looking at that,” he explained.

Barr described the expanding outbreak as “very frightening,” pointing out that his company operates HIV research facilities in Uganda, located across one of Africa’s major lakes from the DRC. Uganda has already confirmed nine Ebola cases and recorded one fatality.

“We’re watching with trepidation,” he said.

Congo’s health ministry announced late Sunday that confirmed Ebola cases have climbed to at least 282 during the central African country’s current outbreak, while healthcare workers who beat the disease shared their experiences of survival with The Associated Press.

The eastern Ituri province remains the center of the outbreak, accounting for 264 of the documented cases, according to Congo’s Ministry of Health. Officials report more than 1,000 suspected cases involving the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola, for which no approved treatment or vaccine exists.

Health ministry officials identified several key obstacles in controlling the outbreak, including swift case detection and isolation, thorough contact tracing, proper burial procedures, and improving infection control measures at medical facilities.

Current contact tracing efforts have reached 45% coverage, with 220 suspected cases being investigated, ministry officials stated.

Five individuals who have successfully recovered from the illness shared their experiences with The Associated Press, describing their tremendous relief.

Nurse Baraka Bulambulu expressed his overwhelming happiness after receiving two consecutive negative Ebola test results.

The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented recovery certificates to Bulambulu and other survivors during Sunday’s opening of a new Ebola treatment facility in Bunia, Ituri province’s capital.

“The first one came back positive, but the second and third were negative for me,” Bulambulu said with a wide grin. “Coming out of this illness alive is an indescribable joy.”

Another recovering nurse, Ezo Étienne, described how his symptoms began while making hospital rounds to check on patients.

“That was how it started,” he recalled. “I called the team and told them, ‘Something’s wrong here.’ I checked my blood pressure and saw that I was immediately experiencing hypotension (low blood pressure). I decided to rest for a bit, and a few minutes later I started vomiting.”

The WHO confirmed all five survivors work in healthcare – four as nurses and one as a laboratory worker – representing the group most impacted by the outbreak.

Medical care has primarily focused on managing patients’ symptoms, the organization reported.

“Your courage gives hope and your living story, that this outbreak can be stopped,” Tedros told the health workers on Sunday.

Uganda has documented nine Ebola cases and shut down its border with Congo to prevent further transmission.

While Congo and Uganda have experienced more than 20 Ebola outbreaks, the Bundibugyo virus strain occurs infrequently. The absence of approved vaccines and treatments, combined with remote locations and armed conflict in affected areas, has complicated response efforts.

Dr. Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, director-general of Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, called the recoveries “a victory worth celebrating” despite ongoing challenges.

“It’s a strong message that it is possible to recover from Ebola when seeking care early in a dedicated health facility,” he added.

Pharmaceutical company Moderna announced Monday that it has joined forces with a global health coalition to create a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain responsible for the current Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The announcement comes amid urgent efforts by health officials around the world to find medical solutions for containing the outbreak, which has resulted in more than 900 suspected cases and over 220 suspected deaths.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has pledged up to $50 million through this partnership to fund preclinical development and initial clinical trials of Moderna’s experimental BDBV vaccine candidate.

CEPI also announced it would provide up to $8.6 million initially for a vaccine created by the University of Oxford and produced by the Serum Institute of India, plus an initial $3.2 million for a vaccine developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

Last week, the World Health Organization issued recommendations to prioritize multiple experimental treatments, including antibodies, antivirals and vaccines, for both treating and preventing BDBV.

CEPI operates as a global partnership focused on speeding up vaccine development against epidemic and pandemic threats.

In a separate announcement Monday, global vaccine alliance Gavi pledged up to $50 million, with up to $40 million designated to speed up vaccine access and $10 million allocated for outbreak response support.

The Pandemic Fund announced last week that it would provide up to $220.6 million in grants to address critical gaps in the Ebola outbreak response.

A Japanese pharmaceutical company announced Monday that federal health regulators have given the green light to its oral medication designed to prevent COVID-19 in people who have been exposed to the virus.

Shionogi & Co said the Food and Drug Administration has approved Ensitrelvir, which goes by the brand name Xocova, for preventive treatment following COVID exposure.

“XOCOVA is the first and only oral option clinically proven to help prevent symptomatic COVID-19 after exposure among study participants regardless of vaccination status,” Nathan McCutcheon, CEO of Shionogi’s U.S. unit, said in a statement.

The company indicated that potential revenue from the FDA’s approval of Xocova through March 2027 was already factored into financial projections released last month.

Stock prices for Shionogi dropped 4.5% on Monday, even as Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, climbed 0.9%.

NEUILLY-SUR-MARNE, France — Mental health patients at a psychiatric facility outside Paris are finding healing through an innovative program featuring therapy donkeys in what appears to be a first-of-its-kind initiative in France.

The therapeutic sessions take place within historic 19th century farm structures surrounded by trees at the Ville-Evrard hospital complex in Neuilly-sur-Marne. During a recent Friday session, patients walked alongside five donkeys and provided care for the animals. Several participants confidently lifted the animals’ hooves to clean away debris, with many concluding their time with embraces.

“When you take medication that helps you relax … it’s exactly the same,” said Nathalie, a 60-year-old patient. She and others were identified by their first names only to protect their privacy.

“I’d call it animal medicine,” she said. “It brings relief. You stop thinking about everything else.”

The therapeutic sessions are provided at no cost to patients as part of their care, with funding coming from France’s public health system.

Each participant typically works with one of the donkeys — Nono, Pitou, Oscar, Manolo or Malraux. Through repeated interactions, both patients and animals develop familiarity with one another’s temperaments.

Audrey Seffar, a nurse at the animal therapy unit, said Nathalie’s improvement after just a few sessions was remarkable.

“At first, she wouldn’t get out of the cart (provided for people with physical difficulties). But little by little, with encouragement, she did,” Seffar said. “The animal serves as a mediator. It’s such an extraordinary one that today she was able to leave the cart and stand beside her donkey.”

Another patient, Jérôme, 52, said the program helps reduce loneliness.

“Talking with people, taking part in activities I wouldn’t normally do, it helps me in my daily life,” he said.

He added: “It helps you break away from the routine of treatment and medication. Staying at home isn’t good for me.”

The donkeys first came to Ville-Evrard hospital in 2016 through an initiative started by Ermelinda and François Hadey.

Ermelinda, a nurse specializing in psychiatry, strongly believed in animal therapy benefits and thought donkeys, known for their calm and social nature, would be perfect. Her husband learned how to train donkeys for therapy work. Some of the animals were adopted through shelters after experiencing neglect or mistreatment.

“A donkey is very intelligent. It understands things very quickly, but you have to explain slowly,” François Hadey said. “Donkeys are calm, serene animals that are generally close to people. Once they’re involved in these interactions, they connect very well with patients. They’re emotional sponges.”

Beginning in 2022, the animal therapy program received formal recognition as a health care unit within the hospital, enabling the hiring of three full-time nurses. Volunteers from a nonprofit organization assist with animal care.

The initiative has grown to encompass guinea pigs, chickens, doves, goats, turtles and rabbits. Activities are customized based on individual needs and interests, with smaller animals able to visit patient rooms.

Alicia Fabi, an 18-year-old nursing student, said the activity gives patients a chance to leave the hospital environment.

“Every time we come back from the activity, they say they feel good, calm and relaxed, and that they enjoyed the outing. That’s really positive,” she said.

Walking together also allows patients and health workers to develop a deeper relationship.

“We talk about many different things, their illness, their lives and just about everything else. We don’t focus only on the illness because we don’t want them dwelling on it all the time,” Fabi said.

Medical staff describe the sessions as therapeutic interventions for managing anxiety, depression, autism, schizophrenia or other conditions. Personnel report the activities can enhance emotional regulation, communication, social interaction and self-esteem.

“Everything we do with the animals allows us to work with the patient,” Ermelinda Hadey said. “We work on feeding the animal, which helps us address the patient’s own eating habits. We work on the animal’s hygiene, and by mirror effect, we work on the patient’s hygiene as well.”

Many patients receive intensive treatments, including antipsychotic medications or sedatives, which can make it difficult to find the motivation to participate in activities, she said. That’s where the relationship to donkeys and other animals play a role, she stressed.

“It does not replace a doctor or a medical prescription, but it can help patients regain confidence and a sense of self-worth,” Hadey said.

She said more scientific evaluation is needed. They would like animal therapy to be formally recognized by the psychiatric community as a complementary form of care.

“To do that, we need research. We have plenty of accounts from patients … Caregivers who accompany them see the benefits every day as well. But doctors have so many other responsibilities that they don’t necessarily witness it firsthand,” she said.

As Friday’s session concluded with patients continuing their conversations, a nurse captured the program’s essence: “Donkeys are my best colleagues.”

Brazilian health officials announced Sunday they are investigating two potential Ebola cases after patients who recently returned from Africa developed concerning symptoms.

According to local health authorities, one patient in Sao Paulo state has tested positive for meningitis, while a second suspected case has emerged in Rio de Janeiro state where the patient tested positive for malaria. Officials emphasized that finding these other diseases doesn’t eliminate the possibility that either patient could also have Ebola, and both cases remain under active investigation.

The Sao Paulo patient is a man from the Democratic Republic of Congo who developed a fever following a recent trip to that African nation. The Rio de Janeiro patient had recently returned from Uganda. Health officials noted that both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are currently dealing with Ebola outbreaks.

Brazil’s Health Ministry released additional information about the Sao Paulo case, revealing that the patient has been placed on a ventilator and is in serious condition.

African health authorities have documented 263 confirmed cases of Ebola spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as of May 30, according to Jean Kaseya, the director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials are currently examining more than 1,100 additional suspected cases, while 43 fatalities have been confirmed from the uncommon Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, Kaseya stated in an opinion piece published by the Financial Times on Sunday.

Key points from the health crisis include:

• Kaseya emphasized that national incident systems must be activated rapidly, and investments in pandemic preparedness must become permanent

• International partners play an essential role, but their support matters most when it aligns with strategies that are built by African institutions and African governments, he said

• The current Ebola outbreak represents the 17th occurrence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and ranks as the third-largest since the disease was first identified fifty years ago, with the spread surpassing the pace of global response efforts

• Medical personnel and humanitarian workers report shortages of fundamental equipment including masks, following weeks where the outbreak’s expansion went unnoticed

• The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak affecting the DRC and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern

A promising new cancer treatment from China has shown remarkable results in extending survival for patients battling advanced lung cancer, according to research findings shared at a major medical conference on Sunday.

The experimental medication, ivonescimab, developed by China-based Akeso, demonstrated a 15% improvement in patient survival compared to BeOne Medicines’ immunotherapy Tevimbra. Additionally, the treatment reduced death risk by more than one-third among study participants.

Clinical trial data revealed that patients receiving ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy survived for an average of 27.9 months, while those treated with Tevimbra and chemotherapy lived an average of 23.7 months, based on study summary information.

The research findings were unveiled at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting taking place in Chicago on Sunday. The head-to-head comparison study, conducted entirely in China, enrolled 532 patients recently diagnosed with advanced stage 3 or stage 4 squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Both treatment groups also received chemotherapy alongside their respective medications.

In October, the company had previously announced that ivonescimab achieved the study’s primary objective, demonstrating a 40% reduction in disease advancement or death compared to Tevimbra, though overall survival information wasn’t available at that time.

Dr. David Spigel, chief scientific officer of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, addressed the findings during a Saturday press briefing, noting uncertainty about whether the China-based trial results would apply to broader populations due to ethnic differences that can influence drug effectiveness. However, he described the outcomes as “very encouraging.”

Ivonescimab represents a newer category of treatments called bispecific antibodies, which target two different mechanisms simultaneously. The medication blocks both the PD-1 protein that helps cancer cells evade immune system detection and the VEGF protein that can fuel tumor development.

In contrast, Tevimbra functions as a monoclonal antibody targeting only PD-1, similar to other commonly prescribed immunotherapies including Merck’s Keytruda.

Company representatives stated that given the enhanced survival outcomes from the dual-targeting strategy and the medication’s positive risk-benefit characteristics, it should establish itself as the new treatment standard for managing advanced squamous NSCLC.

Safety data published in The Lancet medical journal showed that approximately 69% of patients receiving the drug experienced serious adverse effects, compared to 59% in the standard treatment group. Treatment discontinuation due to side effects occurred in about 5% of participants across both study arms.

Summit Therapeutics holds licensing rights for the medication in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan through an agreement valued at up to $5 billion, while Akeso maintains rights for China and remaining global markets.

Dr. Julie Gralow, ASCO’s chief medical officer, explained that these new findings won’t support U.S. regulatory approval since the trial was conducted exclusively in China. She noted that a separate, ongoing worldwide late-stage study comparing ivonescimab with Keytruda is anticipated to yield preliminary results this year.

“We’ve kind of moved from monoclonal antibodies to antibody drug conjugates. Now I think bispecific antibodies are the hot new area,” Gralow said. “If we see the same kind of benefits in this global trial, it will undoubtedly lead to an approval in the U.S.”

Medical researchers have announced encouraging results from a clinical trial testing a new medication for advanced pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal forms of the disease.

The experimental treatment, known as daraxonrasib, demonstrated significant benefits for patients whose cancer had spread and stopped responding to previous therapies. In a study of 500 participants, those receiving the daily medication survived for a median of 13.2 months, compared to 6.7 months for patients given standard chemotherapy treatments.

“While not curing the cancer, it is a very large step forward,” said Dr. Zev Wainberg, of the University of California, Los Angeles, who helped lead the study.

The medication works by targeting a mutated protein that drives tumor development in more than 90% of pancreatic cancer patients – a biological target that scientists have struggled to address for decades. The research findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented Sunday at the American Society for Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.

Dr. Rachna Shroff of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, who was not part of the research team, expressed her emotional reaction to the results. “Having treated pancreatic cancer for 16 years, I actually started crying” when first seeing the study results, she said from the ASCO meeting. She noted how “patients stayed on this treatment because it was providing durable and meaningful benefit to them.”

Patients taking the experimental pills experienced fewer severe side effects and reported better quality of life as their tumors decreased in size. Many participants continued using the medication longer than the comparison group remained on chemotherapy, and some were still taking it when data analysis concluded.

Dr. Brian Wolpin, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, presented the findings Sunday. He indicated the drug should become “a new standard of care” for previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer. Researchers plan to investigate its potential use earlier in treatment progression and explore whether tumor reduction might make more patients eligible for surgical intervention.

The most common side effects that could impact treatment continuation included potentially severe skin rashes and mouth sores, according to Wolpin.

Revolution Medicines, the company that developed the medication, funded the research. The Food and Drug Administration has committed to fast-track review of the drug while simultaneously allowing “expanded access” to qualifying patients. The treatment gained public visibility when former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse discussed on “60 Minutes” how he experienced reduced pain while using it. Cancer specialists report being overwhelmed with patient requests as the special access program launches.

Pancreatic cancer ranks among the most fatal cancer types primarily because early detection proves difficult before it spreads to other organs. The American Cancer Society projects approximately 67,000 new diagnoses in the U.S. this year, with more than 52,000 deaths expected. The five-year survival rate stands at just 13%.

While other cancer types have benefited from diverse treatment alternatives beyond chemotherapy, pancreatic cancer has remained particularly challenging to treat effectively.

Cancer experts not participating in this research expressed hope that these results may represent a breakthrough moment in developing new treatment options, noting dozens of experimental medications currently under development.

The medication targets mutations in the RAS gene family, which typically controls cell growth. KRAS mutations play a particularly crucial role in pancreatic cancer development. However, the protein structure made it difficult for drugs to attach to the mutated proteins, leading scientists to consider this cancer driver “undruggable” for many years.

Revolution Medicines’ treatment uses what researchers describe as molecular adhesive to connect with multiple KRAS variations. Wainberg indicated that future research will examine whether the medication showed greater effectiveness against specific subtypes.

Dr. Andrew Coveler of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, who was not involved in the study, predicted the drug will transform pancreatic cancer treatment approaches. “This thing works drastically differently,” he stated.

Wainberg noted that other medications in development focus on specific KRAS variations. Additional experimental approaches include vaccines designed to prevent cancer recurrence following pancreatic surgery by training the immune system to identify the mutated protein.

An experimental medication for treating pancreatic cancer has achieved unprecedented results in clinical trials, offering new hope for patients battling one of the most lethal forms of cancer, according to research findings released Sunday.

The once-daily pill, called daraxonrasib and developed by Revolution Medicine, demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in a study involving 500 participants. Patients taking the medication lived significantly longer than those receiving conventional chemotherapy treatments, with researchers finding the drug cut the overall death risk by 60% for those with advanced pancreatic cancer.

The clinical trial focused on patients whose cancer had not responded to an initial round of chemotherapy. Results showed the experimental treatment stopped or reversed cancer progression in nearly one-third of patients, compared to just 10% of those receiving standard chemotherapy. These findings were unveiled Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference.

“It ticks all of the boxes,” stated Dr. Rachna Shroff from the University of Arizona Cancer Center, who serves as an expert in pancreatic cancer for the medical organization. She emphasized that such dramatic improvements in survival rates and death risk reduction have never before been observed in patients whose cancer continued advancing after chemotherapy.

Earlier data released on April 13 revealed the medication extended patient survival from diagnosis to 13.2 months, compared to 6.7 months for those receiving standard chemotherapy. This announcement caused the company’s stock value to surge by 40%.

Dr. Brian Wolpin from Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who led the clinical trial, predicted significant impact from these findings. “These results will change how scientists, clinicians, and patients think about treatment for pancreatic cancer,” he said.

While the medication showed promise, researchers noted that 86.3% of patients developed skin rashes after beginning treatment. However, Dr. Wolpin indicated this side effect can typically be managed effectively using antibiotics and topical steroids.

Pancreatic cancer ranks among the deadliest of all major cancer types. The American Cancer Society projects approximately 68,000 Americans will receive pancreatic cancer diagnoses this year, with roughly 53,000 expected to die from the disease.

Statistics show only 3% of patients whose cancer has metastasized beyond the pancreas survive five years. About 80% of cases are identified when the disease has already reached advanced or metastatic stages.

Revolution Medicines’ chief executive Mark Goldsmith revealed the company is currently conducting additional trials testing daraxonrasib in earlier disease stages and in combination therapies, aiming to further “significantly elevate” patient survival rates.

Among those participating in expanded trials is Menta “Steve” Wallace, a 74-year-old Houston, Texas resident. After experiencing abdominal pain, he received his pancreatic cancer diagnosis in January and began the experimental treatment on February 12 through the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Following initial symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, and what he described as a rash that was “not bad at all,” Wallace reports feeling well and being “very pleased” with his progress. His most recent medical scan revealed his tumor had decreased in size by 46%.

The improvement has allowed Wallace, who enjoys traveling, to resume retirement plans with his wife that had been postponed. After receiving medical clearance last week, he intends to bring his medication on ice during a Caribbean cruise planned for late June.

Daraxonrasib represents the first medication in a new category called RAS(ON) inhibitors, which target specific variants of the RAS gene responsible for driving cancer growth.

For patients carrying a particular RAS mutation known as G12, tumors remained controlled for an average of 7.3 months among those taking daraxonrasib, versus 3.5 months with chemotherapy. Similar results were observed across the entire study population.

Among patients with the G12 mutation, approximately 33.2% experienced tumor shrinkage or disappearance, compared to about 11.8% in the chemotherapy group. In the broader study population, 31.6% of patients saw their tumors shrink or disappear, versus 11.2% who received chemotherapy.

The most frequently reported side effects included mouth inflammation, nausea, diarrhea, and skin rash, with 86.3% of patients experiencing rashes. Serious or life-threatening side effects occurred in 43.6% of patients taking daraxonrasib, compared to 57.5% in the chemotherapy group, representing higher rates than observed in earlier, smaller studies.

Skin rash was the most common serious side effect, affecting 14% of patients, followed by mouth sores and inflammation in 12% of cases. A Jefferies analyst had hoped to see severe rash rates below 10% before the results were announced.

Only 1.2% of patients taking daraxonrasib discontinued the trial due to side effects, compared to 11.2% of those receiving chemotherapy.

On May 1, the Food and Drug Administration approved expanded access to the medication and has committed to conducting an expedited review process.

Dr. Shubham Pant from MD Anderson, who served as a co-principal investigator, shared an example of treatment benefits. He described one patient, an enthusiastic golfer who had been forced to abandon the sport, who was able to decrease his narcotic pain medication dependence and return to playing golf after one month of treatment.

“I have multiple patients like that,” he noted.

A major clinical study has shown promising results for men facing high-risk prostate cancer, with findings that could transform how doctors treat the disease.

Research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago revealed that Johnson & Johnson’s cancer medication Erleada, when combined with hormone-suppressing treatment before and after prostate removal surgery, dramatically improved patient outcomes.

The comprehensive study tracked more than 2,000 patients over five years and found striking differences between treatment approaches. Men who received the combination therapy were nine times more likely to show minimal detectable cancer in their prostate during surgery compared to those who only received testosterone-blocking treatment.

Additionally, adding Erleada to the treatment plan cut the risk of cancer progression or death by 20%, according to the pharmaceutical company’s announcement.

The trial examined two different treatment timeframes. For patients receiving six months of the combined therapy before and after surgery, only 8.9% had little to no detectable cancer at the time of operation, versus just 1% of those getting hormone therapy alone.

When researchers extended the treatment to a full year before and after surgery, the benefits were even more pronounced. These patients averaged more than six years before needing additional treatment – nearly twice as long as those receiving only hormone therapy. This extended approach reduced recurrence and death risk by 29%.

“No ARPIs are approved for localized high-risk prostate cancer with either surgery or radiation. So the (data) would be paradigm changing,” said Dr. Mary-Ellen Taplin, the study’s lead researcher from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

The findings address a significant medical need. Johnson & Johnson reports that approximately 40% of the 330,000 Americans diagnosed annually with prostate cancer fall into the high-risk category. Currently, nearly half of patients who undergo standard prostate removal surgery and radiation experience cancer recurrence requiring further treatment.

Erleada, scientifically known as apalutamide, works by blocking cellular signals that fuel prostate cancer growth. It belongs to a medication class called androgen receptor pathway inhibitors.

“The patient benefit here is unequivocal,” said Mark Wildgust, Johnson & Johnson’s medical affairs lead for oncology, in an interview. “I think that the evidence is really showing that Erleada is adding something that we had not seen before.”

The medication received initial approval from U.S. regulators in 2018 and is currently prescribed alongside hormone treatments that suppress testosterone production, which drives prostate cancer development.

Side effects from the combination treatment remained consistent with previous research, including hot flashes, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. The company noted that the safety profile was in line with earlier studies.

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to collaborate with regulatory agencies worldwide to secure approval for using this combination therapy in earlier stages of prostate cancer treatment.

Other widely prescribed medications in the same drug class include Pfizer’s Xtandi and Bayer’s Nubeqa.

The director-general of the World Health Organization announced Sunday that five individuals have successfully beaten a rare strain of Ebola during his visit to Bunia, a city in eastern Congo that has become the center of an ongoing outbreak.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement while inaugurating a new Ebola treatment facility in Bunia, which serves as the provincial capital of Ituri.

“Four people will be discharged today and there was one that was discharged the day before yesterday,” Tedros stated during the facility’s opening ceremony.

“Of course, we’re still working on vaccines and treatments but that doesn’t mean that people cannot recover from Ebola,” he added.

According to WHO officials, one patient had previously recovered from the Bundibugyo virus strain – the specific type of Ebola currently circulating – marking the first documented recovery of a confirmed Bundibugyo patient since this outbreak began. This particular strain has no approved treatment or vaccine available.

Current official statistics reveal 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths from the outbreak. In nearby Uganda, health ministry officials reported Friday that nine cases have been confirmed with one fatality.

Despite improved health infrastructure and additional aid resources, the virus is spreading more rapidly than response efforts can contain it, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which issued a statement Saturday demanding immediate expansion of testing capabilities, quicker deployment of medical personnel, and reliable access for medical supplies.

Health workers are facing increased dangers due to community anger over strict medical procedures for handling deceased victims, which conflict with traditional burial customs. At least three attacks on health facilities have been carried out by local residents.

During Sunday’s treatment center opening, Tedros emphasized the critical need for community participation in outbreak response efforts.

“If you come to health facilities when you have symptoms, you can get the support and recover, so the key is to come forward as early as possible and to get the necessary support,” the WHO chief said.

“We can stop this Ebola and anyone who has it can also recover. But the rule … is this thing is everybody’s business and every citizen should be involved,” he added.

Response efforts have also been complicated by attacks from the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel organization with ties to the Islamic State group, along with a coalition of ethnic militias operating in Ituri.

The disease has also appeared in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, located south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group maintains control over major cities including Goma and Bukavu. The rebel group has documented two cases.

“The final message we would like to share with the Ituri community is that there is hope,” Pierre Akilimali, Incident Manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, said during the inauguration on Sunday.

“With the symptomatic treatment that we are currently providing, we are seeing patients recover,” Akilimali added.

“We truly have hope. The virus here is not as complicated as those we have dealt with in the past, and with the support of all our partners, we believe we will be able to bring this outbreak under control as quickly as possible,” said Davin Ambitapio, another doctor at the treatment center.

Medical officials in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state are examining a potential Ebola infection that was reported over the weekend in the state’s capital city, according to authorities.

A man from the Democratic Republic of Congo developed fever symptoms following a recent trip to that African nation, which is currently dealing with an Ebola outbreak.

Medical officials confirmed in a statement that the patient has been placed in isolation at a medical facility that specializes in treating suspected or confirmed cases of the illness.

When Jenna Carberg’s newborn daughter was placed on her chest immediately following delivery, something felt wrong.

“I felt a disconnect right away,” she remembered.

Back at her Orlando, Florida home, Carberg found herself crying daily while battling overwhelming exhaustion and anxiety. Medical professionals later determined she was suffering from postpartum depression — a serious mental health condition that can transform what should be a happy period into one filled with overwhelming sadness.

This mental health challenge is becoming increasingly common. Research published in 2024 in JAMA Network Open revealed that rates in the United States have more than doubled over approximately ten years, rising from 9.4% in 2010 to 19% in 2021. This increase is attributed in part to better screening methods and improved diagnostic practices.

Distinguishing this condition from the much less severe and more widespread “baby blues” caused by dropping hormone levels can be challenging. However, identifying and addressing postpartum depression is essential, according to OB-GYN Dr. Tiffany Moore Simas from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.

Women who don’t receive treatment may struggle to form bonds with their infants and have difficulty providing proper care. Additionally, they face a heightened risk of taking their own lives.

“A healthy you will ultimately be important for a healthy baby,” Moore Simas explained.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

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Approximately 8 out of 10 new mothers experience baby blues, which typically begins soon after giving birth.

“Moms will feel kind of more emotional than normal,” explained Dr. Jennifer Payne, a reproductive psychiatry specialist at the University of Virginia.

However, the emotional outbursts and sad feelings aren’t intense enough to disrupt daily functioning. Mothers should remain capable of taking care of both themselves and their newborns.

Assessment tools can help determine whether the situation is more concerning. A frequently used 10-question survey, typically administered during a postpartum visit, evaluates how frequently a mother has experienced emotions like sadness, panic, or anxiety. An elevated score suggests the need for additional assessment.

Medical professionals say postpartum depression doesn’t have a single root cause. Hereditary factors, bodily changes, and psychological stress may all play a role.

“We’re pretty sure that having a case of the baby blues doesn’t increase your risk of postpartum depression,” Payne noted. “But it does seem that both conditions can develop in the same person.”

When sadness persists beyond two weeks, that serves as one warning sign.

Additional symptoms include overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, lack of interest, guilt and worthlessness, fatigue, and reduced focus and appetite. Mothers might constantly fret about their infants, experience insomnia, or go without bathing for extended periods.

They “feel negatively and badly about themselves. They’ll feel that they’re a bad mother. They might not feel attached to the baby very much,” Payne described.

Some may even consider harming themselves.

Carberg, whose daughter was born in 2016, experienced such thoughts on multiple occasions — including once while driving with her child. She spent several days at a psychiatric treatment center and showed improvement temporarily.

However, she later experienced a serious mental health crisis. She sent apologetic text messages to her husband, Chris, before shutting off her phone. Chris frantically attempted to contact her, fearing she might harm herself.

“She luckily went to the hospital ER,” he recalled.

Eventually, discovering the appropriate medication became crucial for Jenna Carberg’s healing process.

“I felt like myself again,” she shared after beginning treatment with the stimulant Vyvanse.

Additional treatment options include antidepressant medications like Zoloft or Prozac, or Zurzuvae, the first oral medication specifically approved for postpartum depression. Counseling represents another standard approach, and medical professionals emphasize the significance of adequate rest and support from loved ones.

To assist others facing similar challenges, the Carbergs created an online resource — postpartumdepression.org — designed to offer support and connect patients with professional assistance.

Medical professionals recommend that anyone suspecting they or someone they care about might have postpartum depression should contact their OB-GYN, primary care physician, or mental health specialist.

When needed, be assertive, advised Dr. Kerry Hudson, an OB-GYN at Newport Women’s Health Services in Rhode Island. When she experienced postpartum depression twenty years ago, her physician dismissed her concerns, claiming she was simply an overwhelmed medical resident. She eventually received help after having an emotional breakdown during a professional presentation in front of coworkers.

Following therapy and medication treatment, Hudson went on to have another child. The Carbergs also had a second baby. Everyone is thriving now.

“When we get people help, I think they can have a good future ahead of them,” Hudson stated. “You don’t have to suffer in silence.”

A pharmaceutical company’s cancer drug combination has demonstrated effectiveness in treating an aggressive form of blood cancer, though it comes with increased risks of adverse reactions.

The drug combination featuring the company’s Monjuvi medication, along with a Bristol Myers Squibb treatment called Revlimid and a standard chemotherapy protocol known as R-CHOP, lowered the chances of disease advancement, return, or patient death by 25% when compared to the standard treatment by itself.

The pharmaceutical firm initially shared these findings in January and indicated that comprehensive survival statistics for the drug mixture would be available at a future time. The company’s research chief, Pablo Cagnoni, described the survival analysis as being in its “early” stages while noting it demonstrated a distinct pattern of enhancement.

The clinical study examined the effectiveness of combining Monjuvi, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Revlimid, and R-CHOP against R-CHOP treatment alone. The trial involved approximately 900 patients who had recently been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which represents the most prevalent form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Medical experts and financial stakeholders had been eagerly awaiting additional information about side effects and treatment discontinuation rates from this intensive multi-medication approach.

Serious negative reactions occurred more frequently among patients receiving the Monjuvi combination, affecting nearly 87% compared to 76% of those who received only R-CHOP, a treatment involving five different medications.

Treatment cessation due to therapy-related complications was also elevated at 25.7%, in contrast to 18% for the standard approach. Fatalities attributed to adverse reactions reached 6% in the group receiving the company’s drug combination, while the standard care group experienced 3.8%.

Despite these concerns, the overall mortality rate was actually lower for the combination therapy at 18.5%, compared to 21.7% for R-CHOP alone.

“Sometimes when you add another drug, you obviously see a little bit more side effects, which is why it’s so important to report the survival data, because all of this gets integrated into survival,” explained the company’s Cagnoni.

These comprehensive findings were shared at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference held in Chicago.

Cagnoni noted that more than half of high-risk patients currently receiving R-CHOP treatment could qualify for this new treatment approach as their initial therapy once regulatory approval is obtained.

Government statistics indicate that between 18,000 and 25,000 Americans receive this cancer diagnosis annually.

The medication Monjuvi, scientifically known as tafasitamab, has already received expedited approval in the United States when used alongside Revlimid for patients whose condition has returned or failed to respond to previous treatments, particularly those ineligible for stem cell transplantation.

The company plans to pursue broader approval in both the United States and Europe for using this combination therapy as an initial treatment for newly diagnosed patients.

“This doubles the potential eligible population,” Cagnoni stated.

The head of the World Health Organization urged local communities on Saturday to take a leading role in battling Congo’s current Ebola crisis.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday to help organize efforts against the Ebola emergency, which had reached 1,028 suspected cases as of Friday, Congolese officials reported.

“The communities understand the problems better and they know the solution as well,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said to media representatives following his arrival in Bunia, Ituri province’s capital city and a center of the current Ebola crisis.

“Yes, the international community is involved, under the leadership of the government of DRC. At the same time, community ownership is important. That’s why we are here to discuss with the community to see how the response is running and, if there are challenges, to help,” Tedros said.

Upon reaching Congo’s capital city Kinshasa on Thursday, Tedros appealed for increased global assistance for combating Ebola, noting the WHO had received just one-third of its required funding.

French humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) issued a warning Saturday that the current Ebola emergency — the 17th occurrence since 1976 — was advancing at an unparalleled rate.

“Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration,” Alan Gonzalez, MSF deputy director of operations, said in a statement.

The quantity of specialized medical organizations working on-site to address the crisis, along with the assistance level being offered to combat the emergency, remains significantly below what is necessary, Gonzalez stated.

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — The World Health Organization’s top official touched down Saturday in Bunia, located in eastern Congo, where a dangerous strain of Ebola continues to spread more rapidly than containment efforts can manage, even with improved medical facilities and increased international assistance.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus plans to tour a medical treatment facility and hold meetings with regional officials, healthcare personnel and families impacted by the disease outbreak in Bunia.

“The best way to address this is to provide all the necessary support to fight the disease at its epicenter and to continue offering every assistance needed,” Tedros stated to media representatives on Friday evening.

Health officials reported Friday that 906 potential cases and 223 suspected fatalities have been documented, according to WHO data. In neighboring Uganda, nine confirmed cases and one death have been recorded, the Ugandan health ministry announced Friday.

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola, which lacks any authorized treatment options or preventive vaccines.

“This is a difficult situation, and we recognize that. But the Democratic Republic of Congo has faced the Ebola virus many times before. We are confident that it can once again bring this outbreak under control,” Tedros informed reporters Friday following discussions with Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka.

European Union medical supplies reached Ituri province, the center of Congo’s Ebola crisis, on Thursday, with additional deliveries scheduled over the coming eight days. The United States pledged an extra $80 million in assistance the same day, raising its overall financial commitment beyond $112 million.

Medical response activities at Bunia’s Rwampara and General hospitals show improved coordination, featuring additional personnel, safety equipment and medical resources, although new patients arrive continuously throughout each day, an AP journalist noted Friday.

However, containment measures have failed to match the pace of what ranks among the most rapidly expanding outbreaks in recorded history, Doctors Without Borders, known as MSF, cautioned Saturday.

“Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration,” Dr. Alan Gonzalez, MSF’s deputy director of operations, stated in a released announcement.

“Nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak,” Gonzalez added, demanding urgent expansion of diagnostic testing, accelerated deployment of medical personnel and reliable access for essential supplies.

Healthcare workers face increased risks due to community frustration over strict medical procedures for managing deceased victims’ remains, which conflict with traditional funeral customs. Community members have conducted at least three assaults on medical facilities.

Violence in Ituri by the Allied Democratic Force, a militant organization connected to the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias have further complicated response activities.

The disease has also appeared in the Congolese regions of North Kivu and South Kivu, located south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-supported M23 rebel faction controls numerous important cities, including Goma and Bukavu. The militants have documented two infections.

Uganda and Rwanda have sealed their frontiers, while the Trump administration implemented restrictions last week prohibiting entry of non-U.S. passport holders who recently traveled to Congo, Uganda or South Sudan.

Tedros criticized border shutdowns and travel restrictions Friday as “not effective at all” for preventing the outbreak’s expansion.

“Closing borders, as some countries have done, only discourages transparency. The Democratic Republic of Congo is reporting the situation openly and transparently,” he stated, encouraging nations to reconsider these policies.

Laboratory testing has ruled out Ebola in two individuals who were suspected of carrying the deadly virus, Zambian health officials announced as the country increases disease monitoring efforts amid a regional outbreak.

The heightened vigilance comes as authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo reported Friday that suspected infections from the uncommon Bundibugyo variant of Ebola have climbed to 1,028 cases. This particular strain has no available vaccine for prevention.

Uganda has also documented infections within its borders.

Health officials in Zambia acknowledged Friday evening that the risk of the disease spreading across their nation’s borders remains elevated, though laboratory analysis confirmed the two suspected patients do not have Ebola.

“Zambia has developed screening tools and protocols, which are already being used to screen for Ebola at entry points into Zambia and on people within the country who have Ebola-like symptoms,” the ministry added in its statement.

The Bundibugyo variant, which takes its name from the Ugandan region where researchers first documented it almost two decades ago, has concerned health experts due to its prolonged undetected transmission through heavily populated communities, complicating efforts to track and quarantine those who came into contact with infected persons.

The World Health Organization describes Ebola as initially presenting symptoms similar to influenza, including elevated body temperature, exhaustion, general discomfort, aching muscles, head pain and throat irritation that can begin abruptly, progressing to nausea and loose stools, and ultimately resulting in internal and external hemorrhaging along with failure of multiple organs.