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Huntingdon Health and Rehab wraps up annual Fall Festival
The Fall Festival at Huntingdon Health and Rehab has wrapped up after a full afternoon of family fun.
'AI slop' or a boost for business?: How online AI promos are changing jobs in Sarpy County
As small businesses turn to generative AI for labels, menus and advertising, an Omaha-area graphic designer says the technology is reducing opportunities for human creatives.
Man accused in chainsaw killings ordered into emergency mental health treatment
Court records show the order was filed Oct. 16.
Manny Rutinel smashes Colorado House race fundraising record in 8th CD
Democratic congressional candidate Manny Rutinel raised more than $4.2 million in the most recent quarter in his bid to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado’s most competitive U.S. House race, hauling in more than twice as much as Evans and setting a new state record. Across the board, the state’s Democratic nominees outraised […]
Smears, confusion and white powder: a week in the US midterm campaign
This week in US politics, a candidate with the flu fell victim to a false rumor, a campaign ad aired in the wrong city, and packages with suspicious powder were mailed to election officials. Packages ...
Former classmate accuses James Talarico of putting political ambition over truth
Fox News host Will Cain discusses accusations from James Talarico’s former classmate Mike Garcia about the Democratic Texas Senate candidate's honesty on 'The Will Cain Show.'
Knoxville mom turns rivalry pinatas into business, creative outlet amid daughter’s rare diagnosis
Rivalry Row Pinatas let fans take a swing at Tennessee’s opponents at tailgates
Douglas County flu cases rise 61% in a week, health department says
The Douglas County Health Department has started its weekly tracking of flu cases for the season, with early numbers showing an increase in cases.
Financial advisor advises to review health plans before cutting costs
Open enrollment is underway, and one financial advisor says there are specific places to cut costs and places not to.
North Star Sports and Entertainment Network to broadcast 14 Minnesota Men’s Hockey matches
The North Star Sports and Entertainment Network, in partnership with FOX9, will broadcast 14 regular-season Minnesota Men’s Hockey matches during the 2026-2027 season.
Man accused in chainsaw killings ordered into emergency mental health treatment, court documents say
Court records show the order was filed Friday, October 16. It says 47-year-old Thomas Steele’s mental condition has “deteriorated” since a judge first ordered a competency evaluation Tuesday, October 13.
More than $1 million in federal funding headed to rural Wisconsin businesses
More than $1 million in federal funding is headed to rural communities across Wisconsin, including three in southern Wisconsin where officials hope the money will help fill empty downtown storefronts.
Beverly Latest To Get Hit By Business Break-Ins; Multiple Arrests Made
Thursday's burglaries in Beverly were part of a series of smash-and-grabs across the city this week, and multiple persons of interest are in custody, Ald. Matt O'Shea said.
WKU celebrates CAYA Advancing Research and Community Health Institute
Western Kentucky University celebrated the newly established CAYA Advancing Research and Community Health (ARCH) Institute.
Staff Turnover and Missing Funds: A Tumultuous Week at Trump’s White House
With just over two weeks remaining before the midterm elections, things inside the White House are turbulent. Even though President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, he is top of mind for many as they head to the polls. Republicans across the country are already working to persuade voters not to ...
Barbara Bush's latest political move backs James Talarico's U.S. Senate bid
Barbara Bush gave $2,500 to Lone Star Rising PAC, which supports Democrat James Talarico in his U.S. Senate race against Republican Ken Paxton.
Community invited to 5th annual Night of the Living Health Fair
The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23 at RHI’s Anna health center.
Airline High School students run their own store to build real-world business skills
Airline High School students are getting a hands-on lesson in business through the Viking Exchange, a student-run store designed to help prepare them for the workforce and life after graduation.
Inside 'Dancing With the Stars' rehearsals with Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: Sore ribs, sharp humor and 'no days off'
Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik talk "DWTS" rehearsals, taking criticism and who's on his "dead to me" list.
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7.1 rolling out for Pixel
Google is rolling out Android 17 QPR2 Beta 7.1 today a week after the last preview for Pixel devices. This small update...
Heart surgeons now earn more than $1 million per year
Cardiac surgeon compensation is up 11%, according to new survey data from MedAxiom and the American College of Cardiology. Vascular surgeons experienced an increase in pay as well, but it was much smaller.
Banana Ball returning to Las Vegas Ballpark in March 2027
Banana Ball returns to Las Vegas Ballpark March 18-20, 2027, general admission lottery closes Oct. 31, 2026.
Belief in change matters more than political anger when it comes to voting intentions, study suggests
With the 2026 midterm elections around the corner, voters may be feeling everything from excitement to fear. But how might anger motivate political activism and, ultimately, influence who turns out to ...
Ford Airport in Iron Mountain sees hangar boom as business grows
Officials say airport expansion reflects wider economic growth in Dickinson County.
Amarillo VA Health Care System to host Veterans Flue Fairs next week
The Amarillo VA Health Care System set to host a walk-in Veterans Flue Fair Next week, October 19-24.
Sports Overtime: Week 8 (Friday, Oct. 16, 2026)
Watch highlights and view scores from Week 8 of the 2026 NSAA football season.
Small but Mighty: The Path to Prosperity Starts With America’s Small Businesses
Join the Center for American Progress for a discussion on the challenges facing America’s small businesses and the policy solutions that can promote entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses found recording audio without wearers' consent
The bug is fixed, but privacy concerns remain.
Winona Health holding memorial ceremony for infant loss
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Timothy Busfield's child sex-abuse case dismissed
Timothy Busfield's child sex-abuse case has been thrown out.
Judge dismisses indictment of actor Timothy Busfield on child sexual assault
By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES, Oct 16 (Reuters) - A judge in New Mexico on Friday dismissed sexual assault charges against "West Wing" actor Timothy Busfield, according to court documents.
SBA Offers Relief to Small Businesses and Nonprofits Impacted by Grand Canyon Flooding
Congressman Eli Crane
Community invited to 5th annual Night of the Living Health Fair
The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23 at Rural Health, Inc.'s Anna location.
Mayor Parker’s administration told Congress it doesn’t endorse Krasner and Bilal’s anti-ICE statements
In its report, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee portrayed Philadelphia as obstructive to ICE, saying that officials ignored 162 detainer requests between January 2024 and June 2026.
Why Apple is finally making its own smart home devices
The Home Collection might not be for you
Students explore careers from health care to skilled trades at Career Connect
Wood County Christian School swapped its traditional college and career fair for face-to-face conversations this year, launching a Career Connect panel that brought local professionals to the gymnasium Friday.
Aurora Behavioral Health hosts first Connect Fest to connect families with care
More than 40 health organizations gathered in one place with the same goal: helping Valley families connect with the resources they need.
Phoenix mental health clinic hosts event to connect families with care
Aurora Behavioral Health hosted its first-ever Connect Fest at its location near 59th Avenue and Peoria Avenue.
Julien Boone Heads to ESMO 2026 to Explore Emerging Science in Oncology
Julien Boone Heads to ESMO 2026 to Explore Emerging Science in Oncology / cancer, cancer medicines, esmo 2026, European Society for Medical Oncology, Fanny
Idaho receives $329,000 federal grant to boost small business exports
Idaho secures a $329,000 federal grant through the State Trade Expansion Program to help small businesses expand into international markets.
Science Museum of Virginia Opens “Rescue” Exhibit
Watch Virginia This Morning each weekday from 9 to 10 a.m. Find the show on Facebook and Instagram at @VirginiaThisMorning.
Great Lakes Sports & Entertainment Network to air Pistons-Raptors game Friday
The Detroit Pistons are taking on the Toronto Raptors for a preseason game, and there’s a new way to watch.
A new UNC initiative aims to bring AI tools to rural and low-resource health care clinics
From transcription tools to customer service, many small clinics don't have the bandwidth to navigate AI.
Show-Me-State Politics: Good news for farmers; midterms near
KY3's Tyler Wayne and KY3 Missouri Capitol Bureau Chief Hannah Falcon discuss this week in Missouri politics.
Business temporarily evacuated after gas leak in Horry County
A business was temporarily evacuated after a gas leak in Horry County on Friday.
Microplastics Have Been Linked With Myriad Human Health Problems. Scientists May Have Finally Figured Out How They Harm the Body
Lab experiments suggest that tiny bits of plastic can react with water inside us to produce highly reactive molecules. They can lead to damaging oxidative stress and inflammation
Microplastics Have Been Linked With Myriad Human Health Problems. Scientists May Have Finally Figured Out How They Harm the Body
Lab experiments suggest that tiny bits of plastic can react with water inside us to produce highly reactive molecules. They can lead to damaging oxidative stress and inflammation
Important Players to Watch: College Football Week 5
The season is progressing but Jesse Legree and Jeremiah Smith are elevating every week along with others
Small business optimism dips in September NFIB survey
Small business optimism slipped in September as owners grappled with rising costs, higher interest rates and a persistent shortage of qualified workers, according to a monthly survey released by the National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.8 points to 97.9, just below the survey’s 52-year average of 98.0. The […]
Does Being Circumcised Make Sex Better or Worse? Here’s What Science Says.
A study found small differences in sexual satisfaction and erectile function, but researchers say the results aren't definitive.
Small Business Administration loans approved for Aspen Acres Fire
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved Colorado's request for disaster assistance loans following the Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo and Custer Counties, Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday.
Scientists Kept Finding The Same Mysterious DNA In Their Samples. The Marine Microbe It Belongs To Has The Smallest Genome Ever Identified
This tiny marine organism may demonstrate just how little genetic material a cell needs to survive.
WDBJ7+ Hometown Health Special: October 2026
WDBJ7+ Hometown Health Special: October 2026
Greensboro bank makes rival bid for Durham's historic M&F
A rival offer could preserve the historic Black-owned bank's identity ahead of an Oct. 20 vote.
Health officials issue water quality advisory for Fort Walton Beach park
The advisory remains in effect until follow-up testing confirms bacteria levels have dropped back into acceptable safety ranges.
NMSU Aggie Career Studio to host 12th annual Health Professions Fair
New Mexico State University’s Aggie Career Studio will host its 12th annual Health Professions Fair from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, on the first floor of Corbett Center Student Union. The...
This week in health care policy: October 8–15, 2026
Innovation watch Merck expects faster production of its personalized cancer vaccine. CEO Rob Davis told CNBC the six-week turnaround for intismeran autogene, built from each patient’s tumor and paired with Keytruda, will shrink over time. In August, Merck and Moderna reported that the vaccine delayed recurrence and spread in a 1,137-patient Phase 3 melanoma trial, […]
The new Apple TV 4K just got its first (very small) discount
The electric screwdriver’s half off.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Steve Carleton, Chief Clinical Officer with Porch Light Health joins us in studio to talk about Mental Health Awareness Week.
Exclusive-US Strikes One-Year Deal to Fund Maternal and Newborn Health Donations in Poorest Countries
By Ammu Kannampilly, Jennifer Rigby and Victoire Mukenge NAIROBI/LONDON/NYANGEZI, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The US government has struck a deal to continue supplying some of the world's poorest nations with free life-saving medication and equipment for mothers, infants and ...
SSM Health St. Anthony ranks No. 1 in OKC in US News hospital rankings
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital ranked as Oklahoma City’s top regional hospital in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 rankings.
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel said he has hydrocephalus, a condition affecting his balance, memory, vision and hearing, and that he is unable to perform or drive.
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Shawnee business honors first responders with pancakes and gratitude
EnviroTech Heating and Cooling owner James Gallet said the idea started last year when his daughter suggested hosting a breakfast for the community’s first responders.
Music star who attended Berklee College hits Trump with 3-word insult onstage
A Grammy-winning singer with a Berklee College background used some choice words about President Donald Trump during a recent performance.
How much are D.C.'s sports teams worth?
The Commanders are valued at $9.64 billion — $3.59 billion more than their 2023 sale price. Here's what the city's other franchises are worth, according to Sportico.
Hilary Swank addresses ‘backlash’ over pregnancy at 52: ‘You’re too old’
Meanwhile, she said men don’t receive the same criticism.
How Chick-fil-A started, grew into a major company
Chick-fil-A has come a long way since opening as a small roadside diner in Georgia in 1946.
Health officials warn mosquito-borne illnesses confirmed on Gulf Coast
We're taking a look at what these illnesses are, where they are being reported and what's being done to stop the spread.
Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic down 5.4% through September
Traffic out of the Fort Smith Regional Airport fell more than 20% in September, which followed a 12.5% decline in August. The declines result from fewer departures out of the...
Health officials warn mosquito-borne illnesses confirmed on Gulf Coast
IN-DEPTH WITH SARAH WALL: A warning from health officials about several mosquito-borne illnesses confirmed on the Gulf Coast: We're taking a look at what these illnesses are, where they are being reported and what's being done to stop the spread.
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Oct. 12, 2026
Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Kuakini Breast Health Institute expands access to cancer screening and treatment
The Kuakini Breast Health Institute is now open in time breast cancer awareness month, offering specialized cancer treatment, including screening, surgery and monitoring.
Lisandro Martínez's future at Manchester United uncertain after board criticism
Manchester United currently occupies 13th place in the Premier League with six points from six matches, having won only two of nine games this season.This decline in form, which includes a five-game ...
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
What Science Changed Its Mind About in 2026
Bats were thought to have fixed, unmoving eyes. Starfish were assumed to feed passively. Queen bumblebees were considered helpless in water. New research in 2026 has quietly dismantled some of science's longest-standing assumptions about the animal kingdom.
Truist CEO shakes up bank's consumer, small business leadership
New Truist Financial CEO Mike Lyons revamped the Charlotte-based bank’s consumer and small business leadership and jettisoned one of the key digital initiatives of his predecessor CEO.
Apple Pre-Orders Kick Off With First Discounts on HomeView and Apple TV 4K
Pre-orders are now live on Apple's newest devices, including the HomeView and Apple TV 4K, and Amazon has the first-ever discounts on these devices. We're also tracking great deals on MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and Apple Watch SE 3 in this week's best Apple deals. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Alabama Department of Public Health discusses measles
Alabama Department of Public Health discusses measles
Le Bus restaurant is closing
“I want to have more time for myself and for the bakery,” said David Braverman, who said he is healthy at 77 and wants to keep it that way.
Opinion: Before you vote for Chicago’s school board, ask candidates these four questions
Voters deserve to know how each candidate for the Board of Education would actually govern, say two Chicago-area professors.
Detroit Lions Trade Target Gaining Steam as Deadline Approaches
Detroit Lions trade speculation surrounding Zyon McCollum is growing. A new assessment reveals what Tampa Bay might demand before November 10.
Davids Urges Federal Action as Kansas Small Businesses Squeezed Out of Tariff Refunds While Large Corporations Cash In
Today, Representative Sharice Davids demanded immediate action to ensure Kansas small businesses receive the tariff refunds they are owed. Following this year’s Supreme Court ruling overturning the president’s reckless tariffs, the federal government began processing billions of dollars in refunds.
Small business supports "orphaned" solar panel owners with Claude
When solar panel installers go out of business, homeowners can be left "orphaned" with loan payments due and no clear path to repairs for their panels.
New SBA lending rules create hurdles for aspiring business owners
Some worry the updated rules to the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan program would make it harder for some would-be buyers to obtain financing, putting business acquisitions further out of reach.
How Mexican MSMEs Can Ensure Business Continuity and Succession
Mexican MSMEs must institutionalize and plan succession to ensure business continuity, protect jobs, and avoid failure, writes Jorge Arellano.
Christine Drazan says she’s her own person, but will it matter?
When asked if she’s MAGA, the Republican standard bearer in Oregon said she’s an Oregon Republican and her own person regardless of who’s in the White House.
Morocco health alert issued due to diphtheria: US Embassy
In the North African country of Morocco, the country’s Ministry of Health reported a small diphtheria outbreak with clusters in multiple regions in Morocco in late September. Moroccan health teams are tracing contacts and providing preventive treatment and vaccines. This has prompted the US Embassy to issue a health alert for U.S. citizens in Morocco. Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. It spreads primarily from person to person through coughs and sneezes (respiratory droplets). Most Americans were vaccinated as children and have received Td or TdaP boosters as adults. The risk to U.S. citizens in Morocco remains low. U.S. Citizens may contact their local doctors if they would like immunizations. Embassy officials advise citizens to watch out for the following symptoms: Sore throat or hoarse voice, mild fever, a thick gray or white coating in the throat or nose, swollen neck and trouble swallowing or breathing. If you or a family member has trouble breathing or swallowing, please contact your local doctor. They also advise on the following actions concerning vaccines: Check your vaccination records and your family members’ records. Get a booster if you need one. Adults need a diphtheria booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years. Make sure your children are up to date on their routine vaccines. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Northwest Side Burglary Spree 'Crushing' For Small Businesses Trying To Stay Afloat
A group of men drove a stolen Kia across the Northwest Side Wednesday morning, where they targeted at least 23 businesses, police and business owners said.
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Comedian Brad Williams bringing his “Tall Tales Tour” to Roanoke
Brad Williams brings Tall Tales Tour to Roanoke this month.
Plague is stoppable. The next health threat may not be.
The word plague is scary. Centuries ago, the Black Death killed tens of millions of people and changed the course of history. Plague still kills people around the world, and the word still evokes catastrophe. New fears of plague surfaced on October 2, when a lab worker in Irkutsk, Russia, died of pneumonia. Reports suggested that she may have contracted plague through a laboratory exposure. Understandably, people were alarmed. On October 7, the World Health Organization called for the Russian Federation to be transparent about what it knew. WHO issued an update on October 10. Russian authorities told WHO that testing did not identify plague and that investigations found no laboratory release. WHO said confidence in its risk assessment remained limited and that further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory information was needed. The cause of the woman’s illness remains unknown, and WHO says a laboratory-associated exposure cannot be excluded. As I explained in a recent interview, this incident is very unlikely to lead to a pandemic. Plague is still active, including in the U.S., which sees a handful of cases each year. But it is a disease we can prevent and treat. Plague doesn’t spread readily, and it responds to antibiotics. The standard response—isolate the patient, trace contacts, and administer antibiotics and monitor for symptoms among contacts for seven days—works. We have even planned for antibiotic-resistant plague. At CDC, we developed a playbook for antibiotic-resistant plague and ran exercises on how to find and stop it. CDC guidance anticipates engineered resistance and recommends two different classes of antibiotics if there’s reason to suspect it. There is no evidence that resistance—or even confirmed plague—is involved in this incident. We have thought through how to address plague, but we’re not ready for the next major health threat that emerges from a lab or from animal spillover to humans. What should concern people is how little stands between the world and the next pathogen to get loose. Since peak COVID, epidemic preparedness has fallen off the political agenda, but the risk is greater than ever. More labs handle dangerous pathogens with more ways to make those pathogens deadlier, and more people live and work in close contact with animals. There are actions we can take now: We need better lab safety in every country. The number of labs that work with dangerous pathogens has increased worldwide over two decades, but there’s no enforceable international standard and no inspection regime; the Biological Weapons Convention, fifty years on, still has no verification mechanism. Labs that study dangerous germs need strong safety systems, training, and oversight. We need to reduce spillover events. Three in four emerging human infections start in animals, and there’s a lot we can do to reduce spillover risk, but the world is doing very little of it. Live-animal markets are one place to act. For instance, closing live-bird markets helped control H7N9 influenza in China. Reducing opportunities for people to encounter infected animals can prevent infections before they become outbreaks. In The Formula for Better Health, which is now out in paperback along with the hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook versions, I argue that labs do too many risky experiments with too many dangerous pathogens in too many institutions, and that every experiment should first answer one basic question: Is the likely benefit greater than the risk? Spillover risk can also be reduced: In the book, I discuss how Brazil cut its deforestation rate by 70% from 2004 to 2012 while increasing agricultural production and reducing risky contact between people and forest animals. We need faster detection and response. Delay costs lives. Strong surveillance, good labs, and trained responders can turn a single case into a small cluster of infections instead of an epidemic. Resolve to Save Lives has worked for nearly a decade to help countries find and stop outbreaks faster. The 7-1-7 target, which Resolve to Save Lives developed with partners in Uganda and elsewhere, provides a clear standard: detect within 7 days, notify within 1 day and complete all essential early response actions within 7 days. In Uganda’s Kasese district, for example, a review of a measles outbreak using 7-1-7 identified shortages of accessible funds, fuel, and vehicles that delayed the response. District leaders established funds they could access quickly. When, a few months later, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever appeared, the district detected it in three days, notified authorities in one, and mounted an effective response in two. Only one case was confirmed, and the patient survived. Because funds were available before the emergency, authorities were prepared and able to act. This kind of preparation can’t wait until the next crisis begins. Plague is an old disease we that know how to stop. The next threat may be harder to recognize, harder to treat, and easier to spread. Safer labs, less risk of spillover, and faster outbreak detection and response need sustained investment now, while we still have time to prevent the next emergency. Share
Seoul National University of Science and Technology Researchers Show How Smartphones Can Help Detect Lung Problems in Children
/PRNewswire/ -- Respiratory disease in children is a major global concern. Although stethoscopes help clinicians detect abnormal lung sounds, access to...
HOMETOWN HEALTH: Epilepsy leading to greater risk of developing dementia before 65, study shows
Researchers said the overall risk of dementia is still low, and more study is needed to understand the link.
SBA Opens 2027 Small Business Awards Nominations » CBIA
The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting nominations for its 2027 National Small Business Week Awards through December 7.
Truist's new CEO is reshaping the bank's consumer and small-business leadership
Former Bank of America and PNC executives will report to CEO Mike Lyons as Truist consumer banking chief Dontá Wilson departs