The latest MedPage Today roundup captures a health landscape marked by both therapeutic advances and persistent public health emergencies. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ongoing Ebola outbreak has now reached 8,067 confirmed cases and 3,901 deaths, a record-breaking toll. Separately, Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has grown to 890 cases, and Hillsborough County, Florida, has declared a state of emergency over 170 locally acquired dengue fever cases.
On the regulatory front, the FDA approved zilurgisertib (Atebrioz) for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva in patients 12 and older, marking the third treatment for that rare condition where bone grows outside the skeleton. The agency also expanded baricitinib (Olumiant) to treat severe alopecia areata in children 12 and up, and approved belzutifan (Welireg) plus lenvatinib (Lenvima) for previously treated advanced renal cell carcinoma with a clear cell component. These actions reflect a continued push to address rare and difficult-to-treat diseases.
Food safety also drew attention: the FDA warned of a nine-state E. coli outbreak linked to recalled raw-milk cheese from Sierra Nevada Graziers, with 13 illnesses and eight hospitalizations. Recalls were also issued for a cinnamon seasoning product due to potential elevated lead levels and for alfalfa sprouting seeds over possible E. coli or Salmonella contamination. The roundup includes many other items, from a nurses' strike vote in Boston to a study linking early smartphone ownership with eating disorder symptoms, underscoring the breadth of issues facing the health system.