Outbreak Deaths Grow to 80; RFK Jr. Nemesis Loses Primary; Metal Bits in Ice Cream

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The Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals from pharmaceutical companies that object to negotiating Medicare drug prices with the federal government. (AP)

Eighty deaths and nearly 250 suspected cases have been linked to Congo’s Ebola outbreak, which has spread to neighboring Uganda. (PBS News)

The Congolese health minister announced the opening of three treatment centers in the eastern Ituri region as the country grapples with the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, which has no approved therapeutics or vaccines. (AP)

The CDC said it mobilized its response protocols and is “actively coordinating the safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans” impacted by the Ebola outbreak, but said the risk to the U.S. public remains low.

In other outbreak news, the CDC tightened its home monitoring recommendations for Americans with high-risk hantavirus exposures. (Washington Post)

The U.S. hantavirus response is being led by a penile implant specialist who touted conspiracy theories about COVID-19. (People)

Meanwhile, Canada’s national health agency confirmed that one of four Canadians who returned home from the cruise ship hit with a hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus. (AP)

The CDC said that Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry have hospitalized 53 people across 31 states.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.), a thorn in the side of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., lost his primary race; President Trump backed one of Cassidy’s opponents. (The Hill)

Sources say Kennedy-supporter Sen. Roger Marshall, MD (R-Kan.), has been gunning for Cassidy’s spot as chair of the powerful Senate health committee. (Politico)

The FDA’s acting leader is trying to reassure anti-abortion groups about his past work as an outside counsel for Planned Parenthood. (Politico)

A veterans group sued the Trump administration over a ban on abortions and counseling that prohibits services even in cases of rape or incest. (The Hill)

The FDA announced approval of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and atezolizumab and hyaluronidase (Tecentriq Hybreza) for the adjuvant treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer with circulating tumor DNA molecular residual disease after cystectomy.

AstraZeneca said the FDA approved benralizumab (Fasenra) for hypereosinophilic syndrome in patients ages 12 years and up.

The agency also approved the first interchangeable biosimilars for golimumab (Simponi) for treating rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

ProPublica reporters detailed their investigations into FDA lapses in regulating the safety of generics.

Drugmakers and insurers are blaming hospitals for high healthcare costs. (Politico)

Straus Family Creamery recalled five flavors of its organic ice cream sold in 17 states, due to possible contamination with metal, according to an FDA notice.