More than 121,000 Orb squeeze toys recalled over possible asbestos exposure
The CPSC recalled about 121,340 Orb Funkee squeeze toys sold nationwide after sand inside the toys was found to possibly contain fibrous tremolite asbestos.
Health
Public health, health care, hospitals, insurance, disease, behavioral health, medical research, and safety alerts.
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CMS opens comment period on permanent Medicare drug-negotiation framework
CMS proposed long-term rules for negotiating and renegotiating prices for high-cost, single-source Medicare drugs beginning in 2029. Comments are due Aug. 17, 2026.
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WHO Reports 13 Hantavirus Cases, Including Three Deaths, Linked to M/V Hondius
The World Health Organization says 13 cases of Andes hantavirus, including three deaths, have been linked to travel aboard the cruise ship M/V Hondius as international authorities coordinate tracing and infection-control work.
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WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak in Eastern Congo Is Outpacing Response
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Ebola is spreading faster than response efforts in eastern Congo, where 3,874 confirmed cases and 1,751 deaths had been recorded by Aug. 3, 2026.
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Afghanistan Food Distributions to Be Suspended as Child Malnutrition Peaks, WFP Says
The World Food Programme says funding shortages will force a suspension of famine-prevention food distributions in Afghanistan’s worst-hit areas from August through October, during the country’s annual peak season for malnutrition.
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CDC Maintains U.S. Travel and Monitoring Measures Amid Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa
Federal health officials continue enhanced traveler assessments, post-arrival monitoring and targeted entry restrictions as an Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
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UVM Health cuts 76 jobs and restructures 66 more positions amid pressure to reduce costs
The University of Vermont Health Network says it will eliminate about 76 positions and require 66 employees to reapply for restructured jobs as it seeks to reduce expenses.
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South Dakota begins five-year rural-health transformation project
The South Dakota Department of Health is launching a statewide effort for rural and frontier communities, with work focused on care access, staffing, technology and data-sharing through fiscal year 2030.
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New York sues over Medicaid work rules that state says could affect 475,000 recipients
New York Attorney General Letitia James joined 24 states and Washington, D.C., in challenging federal Medicaid work requirements scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2027.
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WHO Schedules August Review of Calcium Guidance for Pre-Eclampsia
A WHO guideline-development group will review evidence on calcium supplementation before and during pregnancy at an August 11–12, 2026 meeting. No revised recommendation has been issued.
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FDA investigates Salmonella outbreak tied to Texas-produced eggs recalled across the U.S.
The FDA opened an outbreak investigation after Midwest Poultry Services recalled white-shell and brown cage-free eggs with sell-by or best-by dates from July 20 through Aug. 17, 2026.
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CMS Sets Nationwide Medicaid Work-Requirement Framework for 2027
An interim final rule from CMS will require certain adult Medicaid applicants and enrollees to document 80 hours of work, education, training or community service each month.
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WHO and UNICEF Report Global Childhood Vaccination Reached 85% for Full DTP Protection in 2025
WHO and UNICEF say childhood vaccination coverage improved modestly in 2025, but global DTP coverage remained below 2019 levels and measles protection stayed far short of the level needed to prevent outbreaks.
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Democratic Republic of Congo Ebola Outbreak Draws $242 Million U.S. Aid Boost as Humanitarian Funding Falls Short
The United States announced $242 million in additional Ebola assistance for the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 5, but food-security operations had received only 25.2% of the funding they required by August 6.
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CMS proposes Medicare outpatient-payment changes to reduce site-of-care cost differences
The proposed changes would affect Medicare payments to hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers beginning in calendar year 2027, but rates are not final.
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Nashville Heat Patrols Continue Outreach to Vulnerable Residents
Nashville’s emergency-management office launched heat patrols July 27 and is continuing outreach to residents vulnerable to dangerous summer heat.
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WHO Reports 2,124 Confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola Cases in the DRC and a New Evacuated Case in Germany
The World Health Organization says transmission remains active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where 2,124 confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease cases and 828 deaths were reported as of July 15. Germany has also notified WHO of a confirmed case in a U.S. humanitarian worker evacuated from the DRC.
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FDA, States Continue Probe Into Multistate Cyclospora Outbreak After Faulty Lettuce Test
Federal officials remain focused on Taylor Farms lettuce as a possible source of a multistate cyclospora outbreak, even after an initially positive sample was found to be inaccurate.
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CMS to wind down Medicare drug subsidy program that helped limit some Part D costs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it would end a prescription-drug subsidy program created in 2024. The effect on beneficiaries will vary.
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Tonkawa boil order lifted after E. coli contamination prompted emergency bottled-water distribution
Oklahoma DEQ lifted Tonkawa’s mandatory boil order July 8 after a reported E. coli-positive result led to city and state testing and free bottled-water distribution.
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CHRISTUS names Kurt DeVaney president of Mt. Pleasant hospital
CHRISTUS Health named Kurt DeVaney president of CHRISTUS Health Mount Pleasant on July 7, as the system expands emergency, specialty and outpatient services in the community.
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St. Anthony receives $2 million grant for permanent PET/CT scanner suite serving Leon-area patients
A $2 million Helmsley Charitable Trust grant will support construction of a permanent PET/CT scanner suite at St. Anthony Regional Hospital, replacing the hospital’s current mobile unit and adding backup CT capacity for regional patients.