The Nebraska Legislature began its new session Wednesday with several new members, a new incoming governor and nearly $1 billion in cash. But it faces some of the same perpetual issues over the next five months, including a likely fight over proposed abortion restrictions and what to do with that...
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Health
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Abortion, spending likely battles in new Nebraska session
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WHO worried about surge of COVID in China amid lack of infoGENEVA -- The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday the agency is “concerned about the risk to life in China” amid the coronavirus’ explosive spread across the country and the lack of outbreak data from the Chinese government.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency recently met with... Read more
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Beijing threatens response to 'unacceptable' virus measuresBEIJING -- The Chinese government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on visitors from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations.“We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more... Read more
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FDA finalizes rule expanding availability of abortion pillsWASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday finalized a rule change that broadens availability of abortion pills to many more pharmacies, including large chains and mail-order companies.The Biden administration partially implemented the change last year, announcing it would no longer enforce a long-standing requirement that women pick up... Read more
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German doctor jailed for illegally issuing mask exemptionsBERLIN -- A German doctor was sentenced late Monday to two years and nine months in prison for illegally issuing more than 4,000 people with exemptions from wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic.A regional court in the southwestern town of Weinheim confirmed Tuesday that the doctor was convicted of “issuing... Read more
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EU offers help, prepares to counter China's COVID crisisBRUSSELS -- The European Union said Tuesday it has offered China help to deal with its COVID-19 crisis, including the donation of vaccines, as the bloc seeks to coordinate how authorities should check incoming passengers from China for any new variants.Several member nations announced individual efforts over the past week.... Read more
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Macao eases COVID rules, but tourism, casinos yet to reboundMACAO -- Only a few tourists crisscrossed the wavy black and white paving of Macao's historic Senado Square on a recent weekday and many of the shops were shuttered. The gaming hub on China’s south coast near Hong Kong has endured some of the world’s strictest anti-virus controls for nearly... Read more
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Migrant shelters try to help traumatized assault survivorsCIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico -- Since he began volunteering two months ago for weekend shifts at a clinic in one of this border city's largest shelters, Dr. Brian Elmore has treated about 100 migrants for respiratory viruses and a handful of more serious emergencies.But it’s a problem he hasn’t yet managed... Read more
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Alfalfa sprout recall tied to salmonella outbreak expandedOMAHA, Neb. -- A Nebraska company on Friday expanded a recall of alfalfa sprouts after more than a dozen cases of salmonella were linked to the food.SunSprouts Enterprises doubled its recall that was first announced Thursday, Nebraska health officials said. The 1,406 pounds (638 kilograms) of raw sprouts were distributed... Read more
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Feds sue drug wholesaler AmerisourceBergen over opioid salesHARRISBURG, Pa. -- The U.S. Justice Department claimed in a lawsuit filed Thursday that a major drug wholesaler contributed to the deadly toll from opioids by turning a blind eye to warning signs about suspicious sales to its pharmacy customers.The 87-page civil enforcement action accuses AmerisourceBergen Corp. and two subsidiaries... Read more
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CDC says an eye drop brand may be connected to drug-resistant bacterial infectionsA brand of over-the-counter eye drops may be linked to a bacterial infection that left one person dead and three others with permanent vision loss, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC has identified at least 50 people in 11 states with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a... Read more
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Italy plans to loosen its anti-COVID regulations for travelers coming from ChinaItaly will loosen its anti-COVID controls for travellers arriving from China, making swabs random rather than mandatory at its airports, a document seen by Reuters on Tuesday showed.Under a new order signed by Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, Italy will require those flying from China to test negative within 48 hours... Read more
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South Korea drops indoor mask mandate, but many continue to wear them as concerns lingerSouth Korea on Monday scrapped a face mask mandate for most indoor public places in a major step to loosen COVID-19 rules, but many residents opted to keep wearing coverings due to lingering concerns over infections.The lifting of the face-covering rules in the majority of indoor locations is South Korea's... Read more
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WHO seeks to expand role in tackling next global health emergency, but faces funding issuesThe World Health Organization will push at its board meeting this week for an expanded role in tackling the next global health emergency after COVID-19, but is still seeking answers on how to fund it, according to health policy experts.The Geneva meeting sets the programme for the U.N. agency this... Read more
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China says its COVID situation is now at a 'low level' following Lunar New YearChina said on Monday that the COVID-19 situation in the country was at a "low level", and that fever clinic visits due to the coronavirus during the Lunar New Year dropped about 40% from before the week-long holiday"The overall epidemic situation in the country has entered a low level, and... Read more
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Indonesia local trader forged ingredient label that may have led to cough syrup deaths of 200 kidsIndonesian police said on Monday a local trader of industrial-grade chemicals sold them as pharmaceutical-grade, leading to their use in medicated syrups that authorities suspect may have caused deaths of more than 200 children across the country.Authorities have said two ingredients, ethylene glycol (EG) and diethyelene glycol (DEG), found in... Read more
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WHO updates list of medicines governments should stockpile in case of a nuclear emergencyThe World Health Organization released an updated report on Friday detailing medications that governments should have on hand in the event of a radiological or nuclear emergency. Governments should have a national stockpile of personal protective equipment, but also a range of pharmaceuticals, including potassium iodide tablets, antiemetics, anti-diarrhoeal agents, decorporating... Read more
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Is there a chicken coop in your future as egg costs rise? Know the health risks firstThe soaring cost of eggs may be inspiring some people to add a chicken coop or two to their backyard or property. The feathery pets, however, come with serious health risks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — so people should go into such an endeavor with... Read more
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Spain to lift mandatory mask rule on public transport on Feb. 7Spain, one of the last countries in Europe to still require people to wear masks on public transport to prevent the spread of COVID-19, will likely lift the obligation on Feb. 7, Health Minister Carolina Darias said on Thursday.She said the epidemiological situation in the country was stable and health... Read more
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European Union drug regulator determines antibiotic shortage not a ‘major event’Europe's drug regulator has decided not to label the antibiotic shortage on the continent a "major event", given existing measures to tackle the shortfall were working in the short term, it said in a statement on Thursday,A "major event" label would allow the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to coordinate action... Read more