Summary

The parents of a 6-year-old unvaccinated Texas girl who died from measles stated in an interview that the disease “wasn’t that bad” despite her death.

The family belongs to a Mennonite community and remains opposed to the MMR vaccine, citing perceived risks. Four other siblings contracted milder cases.

Health officials and public figures, including RFK Jr., urged vaccination to curb the outbreak. The girl’s symptoms worsened to pneumonia before she died in intensive care.

The case marks the first U.S. child measles death in nearly a decade.

Summary

The Montana medical board renewed Dr. Thomas C. Weiner’s license twice despite evidence of patient harm, including overprescribing narcotics and administering chemotherapy to non-cancer patients.

Documents detailing at least 10 suspicious deaths have been in the board’s possession since 2021. The board did not elevate the case for full review, and staff inquiries stalled.

Some patients and families expressed outrage, while the Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation.

Weiner, who denies wrongdoing, lost a legal appeal but somehow remains popular among some community members.

Summary

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), an incurable and fatal prion disease affecting deer, elk, moose, and reindeer, is spreading across 36 US states and other countries.

Scientists warn of a potential human spillover crisis, with tens of thousands likely consuming infected venison. Experts criticize labeling it "zombie deer disease" as it downplays the threat.

Concerns include contamination through carcass transport and feedgrounds. Calls grow for better surveillance and prevention, but conflicting policies and resistance to reducing wildlife feedgrounds hinder efforts.

Summary

The USDA will invest up to $100 million to fund research into therapies and potential vaccines for bird flu, which has killed nearly 170 million birds since 2022.

The funding targets vaccine makers, states, universities, and other entities. The U.S. will also import more eggs from South Korea to lower prices.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discussed virus containment with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who opposes vaccination.

The USDA continues to mandate culling infected flocks and is seeking vaccine candidates matched to circulating variants.

Summary

In February, a 6-year-old Texan became the first U.S. child to die from measles in two decades. Instead of serving as a warning about vaccine hesitancy, anti-vaccine groups have weaponized her story.

The girl's grieving Mennonite parents gave an interview to Children's Health Defense, claiming measles is "not as bad" and advising others against vaccination.

A measles outbreak has spread through their Texas community, sickening over 190 people.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now HHS secretary, has used his platform to spread misinformation about vaccines while alternative practitioners promote unproven treatments.

Summary

The FDA is halting production of compounded tirzepatide, a cheaper alternative to Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound, as it declares the shortage over.

Patients who relied on compounded versions, like fear losing access due to high brand-name costs. Some are stockpiling, while others consider risky gray-market sources.

Compounding pharmacies will stop production but can sell remaining stock.

Critics argue that Eli Lilly's discount programs are insufficient, leaving many unable to afford the branded medication.

Summary

IVF patients face limited legal protections and oversight after devastating mistakes, like embryo mix-ups and equipment failures.

A lack of federal regulation means clinics aren’t held to the same standards as hospitals, and most errors are treated as negligence rather than malpractice.

NBC found over 300 related lawsuits from 2019 to 2024. Calls for stricter regulations grow amid concerns that IVF mishaps are underreported.

However, increased oversight risks sparking debates over embryo rights and complicating access. Trump’s executive order seeks to reduce IVF costs.

Summary

Trump’s EPA announced plans to roll back 31 environmental regulations, including clean air and water protections, sparking backlash from experts and advocates.

The repealed rules were projected to prevent nearly 200,000 deaths and save $254 billion annually in healthcare costs. Critics warn deregulation will increase respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and pollution-related deaths, especially among children.

The EPA also faces deep budget cuts and staff reductions, raising concerns it will not enforce existing protections.

Environmental groups vow legal challenges, calling the move disastrous for public health.

Summary

Purdue Pharma filed a revised bankruptcy plan to finalize a $7.4 billion opioid settlement after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a previous deal.

The plan increases the Sackler family’s contribution to up to $7 billion but allows creditors to opt out and sue the Sacklers directly.

Purdue will pay $900 million and become a public benefit company.

The settlement allocates $850 million to individuals harmed by opioids, with most funds directed to states and communities for addiction treatment and prevention programs.

Summary

A new study in Science Advances finds that prolonged heat exposure accelerates aging at the molecular level, similar to smoking and drinking.

Researchers analyzed DNA from 3,600 older adults and found those in hotter areas, like Phoenix, aged 14 months faster than those in cooler places.

Heat-induced "epigenetic aging" increases risks for diseases like dementia and heart problems. Climate change is worsening heat exposure, especially for older adults, further straining health systems.

Scientists aim to study how indoor heat affects health and explore ways to mitigate long-term damage.

Summary

Texas' measles outbreak has reached 279 cases, nearing last year’s total of 285 nationwide.

Most cases involve unvaccinated individuals, with children aged 5-17 most affected. At least 36 people have been hospitalized, and Texas recorded the first U.S. measles death in a decade.

A second possible death occurred in an unvaccinated New Mexico resident, where 33 cases have been reported. The CDC has confirmed 301 cases across 14 states.

Health officials recommend early MMR vaccination for infants in affected areas to curb further spread.

Summary

A New York law now requires doctors to discuss treatment costs with patients before they agree to pay, but providers can still require payment agreements upfront under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget.

Physicians argue cost discussions create logistical burdens, while patient advocates say current practices lead to financial risk.

The law aims to increase price transparency and reduce medical debt, alongside other consumer protections. Some advocates seek stronger measures, like written cost estimates.

Summary

A Cornell study funded by the FDA found that H5N1 bird flu remains infectious in raw milk cheese for at least two months, raising public health concerns.

The virus appears stable due to milk’s fat and protein content. Although no human infections have been linked to consuming contaminated dairy, experts warn of potential risks.

Pasteurization effectively inactivates the virus, and increased cheese acidity may reduce contamination.

The FDA's ongoing study has found no viable virus in pasteurized products, reinforcing recommendations to avoid raw dairy.

When the FDA announced in January, before President Joe Biden’s term ended, that it would ban a dye called red dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs, the federal agency cited just one 1987 study on rats to support its action.

Summary

Newborns at University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, were exposed to measles after an infected woman gave birth.

Hospital staff are administering immunoglobulin injections to protect infants, though long-term immunity requires vaccination.

Public health officials fear this exposure could worsen the ongoing outbreak, which has spread from Texas and New Mexico into Oklahoma. Texas has reported 259 cases, with one confirmed child death.

Officials continue tracing contacts to contain the virus, which can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.

Summary

Three former EPA administrators warned that Trump’s plan to roll back 31 environmental rules will endanger millions.

Ex-EPA heads from both parties called it a “catastrophe,” with one saying Trump’s EPA is serving the fossil fuel industry instead of protecting public health.

The changes target air and water pollution limits, climate regulations, and clean energy policies. Critics say the rollbacks could cause severe environmental and economic harm.