Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Congo Ebola Outbreak Still Not Global Emergency: WHO
Even though the Ebola outbreak in Congo recently caused deaths in neighboring Uganda, it’s still not a global emergency, the World Health Organization says.
The outbreak has resulted in more than 1,400 deaths since it was declared last August and is the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, the Associated Press reported.
Some experts say the outbreak long ago met the criteria to be designated an international emergency. Such a designation would typically bring more funding, resources and political attention to the crisis.
But in its third meeting to assess the outbreak, a WHO expert committee concluded that while the outbreak is an “extraordinary event’ of deep concern, it does not yet qualify as a global emergency, the AP reported.
In Uganda, three members of family died of Ebola after going to the funeral of an infected relative in Congo.
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Drug Makers Challenge New Rule Requiring Drug Prices in TV Ads
Three large drug makers have launched a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s rule requiring the prices of drugs to be included in television ads.
A lawsuit against the rule, set to take effect July 9, was filed Friday in federal court in Washington, D.C., by Merck, Eli Lilly and Amgen, The New York Times reported.
A trade group for advertisers is also part of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit contends that the rule is illegal because it violates the companies’ First Amendment rights and that the pricing information could mislead consumers because insurers often cover most of a drug’s cost, The Times reported.
The rule applies to any drug with a list price of more than $35 a month.
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Flour Recalled Due to Possible E. Coli Contamination
Three brands of five-pound bags of flour produced by the same milling company have now been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.
The recalled bags of flour were produced by ADM Milling Co. but distributed to consumers under the Pillsbury, Aldi’s and King Arthur brands.
The recall includes Pillsbury Best Bread Flour, UPC Code 0 5150020031 5, with lot code 8 342 and Use-By Date: JUN 08 2020 and lot code 8 343 and Use-By Date: JUN 09 2020, distributed in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The recall also includes all lot codes and all “best if used by” dates for Aldi Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.
The third recalled product is King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour with the following best by dates and lot codes: 12/07/19, Lot: L18A07C; 12/08/19, Lots: L18A08A, L18A08B; and 12/14/19, lots: L18A14A, L18A14B, L18A14C.
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