Ebola Deaths Rise Sharply; Trump’s Abortion Pill Dilemma; ‘Star Wars’ Actor Dies

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The director-general of the World Health Organization voiced concerns about the “scale and speed” of an outbreak of a rare Ebola variant in the Congo, where authorities reported a sharp rise to at least 131 suspected deaths and more than 500 suspected cases. (AP)

While there is no vaccine for this type of Ebola, some evidence suggests that Merck’s Ervebo vaccine, designed to target a different species of Ebola, might offer some protection. (STAT)

Flawed tests calibrated for the wrong strain of Ebola, samples that weren’t stored or shipped properly, and local funeral practices allowed the disease to spread undetected, Congolese officials said. (Reuters)

State-level anti-vaccine bills backed by “Make America Healthy Again” supporters have failed in part because public health groups have swayed key Republican lawmakers. (Reuters via MSN)

HHS rescinded the committee charter for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices after an administrative error and is returning the group to its original framework for the next 2 years. (Bloomberg via MSN)

President Trump remained silent on the polarizing lawsuit threatening mail access to the abortion drug mifepristone. (New York Times)

An American passenger on the hantavirus-afflicted cruise ship was ordered to remain in the federal quarantine facility for 2 more weeks even though she said she tested negative. (New York Times)

The cruise ship itself has docked in the Netherlands for disinfection. (AP)

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed repealing limits on four types of “forever chemicals” in drinking water and delayed regulation on two others. (Washington Post)

Twenty people died in Japan and 22 developed a potentially fatal liver injury after taking avacopan (Tavneos), a drug approved in the U.S. to help treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. (Wall Street Journal via MSN)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that three Bureau of Indian Education employees denied religious exceptions for COVID vaccines were entitled to monetary compensation. (Government Executive)

The U.S. reported 48 new measles cases in the past week, according to the Yale School of Public Health. Here’s where they were.

An autopsy confirmed that a Haitian man’s death in an Arizona detention facility was tied to an untreated tooth infection; he had declined to have his problematic teeth removed. (AP)

Blackstone Products recalled some lots of their Parmesan ranch seasoning products for potential Salmonella contamination, the FDA announced.

The agency also said that HH Fresh Trading recalled cases of its enoki mushrooms for potential contamination with Listeria.

A wildfire sparked by a fatal medical plane crash is spreading quickly in rural New Mexico. (AP)

The number of primary care visits in which families raised pediatric mental health issues increased from 2014 to 2023 with the greatest spike for anxiety, a study of insurance claims for 1.8 million children found. (JAMA Network Open)

Tom Kane, a voice actor behind several characters in the “Star Wars” franchise, died at age 64 from complications from a stroke he experienced years ago. (USA Today)

The 64-year-old actor Russell Andrews, known for his roles in “Better Call Saul” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” revealed he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). (NBC News)