MedPage Today’s October 21 public health roundup reports that the CDC is investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw oysters. The outbreak has sickened 27 people and hospitalized five across 12 states. In Pennsylvania, the CDC also confirmed a third measles death, although that confirmed figure still falls short of the number the state itself has reported.
Separately, Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case in a woman who had traveled there from Uganda, while Kenya confirmed a new case, bringing that country’s total to nine. The roundup also notes that the U.S. fertility rate fell 1% in 2025 to a record-low 53.2 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 44, and that Idaho ob/gyns who remained after the state’s abortion ban are described as cracking under pressure.
Other items in the same roundup are unrelated: an AI startup says it used AI-designed viruses to treat a patient, researchers report an AI model that predicts cancer mortality from a facial photo, and HHS announced new kidney care and sickle cell initiatives.