This article discusses the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Ecuador's second-largest city, Guayaquil, on Saturday. The earthquake has caused significant damage to homes and buildings, resulting in the death of at least 480 people. The Ecuadorian government has declared a state of emergency and mobilized the military to assist with search and rescue operations, while the Ecuadorian Red Cross is providing medical assistance and assessing the damage. The international community has also offered its support.
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a nationwide recall for certain brands of frozen organic strawberries sold at Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and other stores due to possible hepatitis A contamination. Five people have been infected with hepatitis A after eating the frozen organic strawberries, and the strain of hepatitis A causing the illnesses is genetically identical to the strain found in frozen strawberries from the Scenic Fruit Company. Consumers are urged to check their freezers for any of the recalled products and to seek medical attention if they are experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has suggested that the fentanyl overdose crisis in the United States is caused by a lack of family support, attributing the problem to a breakdown of family values. His comments have sparked a debate about the role of family in the opioid crisis, with some agreeing with his assessment and others arguing that the crisis is too complex to be attributed to a single cause. 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the United States have been blamed on the synthetic opioid, which is trafficked by Mexican cartels.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Chinese health authorities to release genetic sequences of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, after a new analysis of genetic material collected from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China revealed animal DNA in samples already known to be positive for the virus. The analysis uncovered a significant amount of animal DNA that appears to belong to raccoon dogs, which were known to be traded at the market, and WHO has urged other countries to share their data in order to help scientists better understand the virus and its origins.
Scientists from around the world have analyzed genetic data from samples collected near the first human cases of Covid-19 in China, suggesting that the pandemic originated from animals, not a lab. The WHO has called for more research and data sharing to gain a better understanding of the virus and how it spread.
The FDA's independent advisory committee has voted in favor of full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid, for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in adults at high risk for severe disease. The drug, a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, has been available under emergency use authorization since December 2021 and has been used by over 8 million people in the US. The FDA is expected to make a decision on full approval of the drug in the coming weeks.
Key takeaways: Xcel Energy is currently cleaning up a 400,000 gallon radioactive water leak from its Monticello nuclear power plant. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency…
Sanofi, one of the three major insulin makers in the US, has announced a 78% reduction in the list price of its most widely prescribed insulin, Lantus, and a $35 monthly cap for those with private insurance. Uninsured Americans are eligible for Sanofi’s Insulins Valyou Savings Program. President Joe Biden praised the move, and Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have also announced changes to how they price their insulin this month. The Inflation Reduction Act and the actions of the three major insulin makers are a step in the right direction to make insulin more accessible and affordable for people with diabetes.