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Congolese report constant burials as deaths in new Ebola outbreak reach 87
World
AP

Congolese report constant burials as deaths in new Ebola outbreak reach 87

  • By The Associated Press
  • Updated

Authorities say at least 87 people have died in Congo’s new Ebola disease outbreak in the eastern Ituri province. They also say health workers are racing to intensify screening and contact tracing to contain the disease. Meanwhile, The Associated Press in Ituri's capital, Bunia, interviewed locals who recounted their fears and constant burials for the dead. Officials first confirmed the outbreak on Friday, reporting 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases. By Saturday, Africa CDC reported 336 suspected and 13 confirmed cases. Africa CDC is warning of an “active community transmission.” Uganda on Friday also confirmed an Ebola case that authorities said was “imported” from Congo.

World
AP

Canadian cruise passenger gets a presumptive positive hantavirus test result after ship outbreak

  • By JIM MORRIS - Associated Press
  • Updated

Canadian officials have reported that one of four Canadians returning from a cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak has a “presumptive positive” test result. Confirmation from the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg is expected soon. British Columbia's public health officer says the patient in their 70s is stable with mild symptoms. The outbreak on the MV Hondius has led to three deaths and 12 cases. Nine of them are confirmed. Henry reassures that hantavirus isn't like COVID-19 and lacks pandemic potential. She emphasizes that infection control measures are in place to ensure public safety.

France says cruise ship Andes virus matches known South American viruses
World
AP

France says cruise ship Andes virus matches known South American viruses

  • AP
  • Updated

France’s Pasteur Institute has fully sequenced the Andes virus found in a French passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship. They discovered it matches viruses already known in South America. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said Friday on X that there's no evidence of new characteristics making it more transmissible or dangerous. Genomic analysis confirmed the virus is identical to others on the ship and similar to those in southern Latin America. The data will be shared with the international scientific community. Virological investigations are ongoing with French health authorities and international partners.

When should you get a mammogram? Conflicting advice makes it hard to know
Ap
AP

When should you get a mammogram? Conflicting advice makes it hard to know

  • By LAURAN NEERGAARD - AP Medical Writer
  • Updated

Deciding when to get a routine mammogram is confusing. Guidelines disagree on whether to begin at age 40, 45 or 50, and whether a yearly or every-other-year scan is best. New research aims to one day help tailor advice by using genetics and other factors to determine whether a woman's risk of breast cancer is low, high or somewhere in between. For now, experts say talk with your doctor about factors such as cancer in the family and your own health history to decide when to start screening — and then stick with it.

FDA official who scrutinized COVID shots and antidepressants is out in latest shake-up
Health
AP

FDA official who scrutinized COVID shots and antidepressants is out in latest shake-up

  • By MATTHEW PERRONE - AP Health Writer
  • Updated

The Food and Drug Administration's top drug official is leaving in the latest shake-up at the powerful health agency. Dr. Tracy Beth Hoeg said in a social media post late Friday that she was fired from the FDA. She had been leading efforts scrutinizing antidepressants, COVID-19 vaccines and other therapies at FDA. Her departure follows the resignation of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary earlier in the week. The FDA has been rocked for months by layoffs, leadership upheavals and scientific controversies. Hoeg and Makary both came to the agency as medical contrarians and critics of COVID-19 health measures. That stance aligned with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s agenda.

A judge is protecting youth gender care in Kansas while a settlement in Texas attacks it
National
AP

A judge is protecting youth gender care in Kansas while a settlement in Texas attacks it

  • By JOHN HANNA - Associated Press
  • Updated

A Kansas judge has protected access to gender-affirming care for transgender minors as the nation’s largest children’s hospital moved to restrict such care in Texa and buckled under pressure from the Trump administration. Houston-based Texas Children’s Hospital said Friday that it had agreed to the settlement to avoid lengthy and costly litigation. The agreement includes a $10 million payment to Texas and a requirement that the hospital open what Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called a “detransition clinic." The U.S. Supreme Court says states can ban gender-affirming care for minors, but in Kansas, a state district judge ruled Friday that Kansas' ban likely violates the state Constitution.

Yankees pitcher Max Fried to go on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow bone bruise
Pro National Sports
AP

Yankees pitcher Max Fried to go on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow bone bruise

  • By MIKE FITZPATRICK - AP Baseball Writer
  • Updated

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried will be sidelined for at least two weeks and perhaps longer because of a left elbow bone bruise. The 32-year-old left-hander had an MRI and CT scan Thursday, a day after his start at Baltimore was cut short following the third inning. He also was examined by Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad. The team said Friday that Fried will be placed on the 15-day injured list and the imaging will be reviewed by Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.