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- First death reported in Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease outbreak as ...
New York City health officials announced Friday that the first person has died in connection with a growing Legionnaires' disease outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side as the number of confirmed infections continued to rise."I am saddened to report that one person has died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease community cluster on the Upper East Side," New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said in a statement."My deepest condolences are with their loved ones, and out of respect to their personal privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information on the individual."NYC HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN CENTRAL PARK VISITORS AFTER LEGIONNAIRES’ OUTBREAK GROWS ON UPPER EAST SIDEThe death comes as the outbreak has sickened 67 people as of Thursday night, up from 63 cases reported a day earlier. Twelve people remain hospitalized, according to city health officials.Investigators are tracing the outbreak to Legionella pneumophila bacteria found in 76 cooling towers across the Upper East Side and one on the Upper West Side. Buildings that tested positive, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers.Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which naturally occurs in water but can multiply in building water systems such as cooling towers. The illness can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early.DEADLY LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE OUTBREAK SPARKS CONCERN IN MAJOR US CITY: KNOW THE SYMPTOMSCooling towers, commonly found on rooftops, help regulate large building cooling systems and can release mist containing the bacteria. Health officials have emphasized that the outbreak is not linked to New York City's drinking water or indoor air conditioning.Health officials urged anyone who lives, works or has visited the affected area since late June and develops flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider immediately.Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches and headaches. The disease spreads through contaminated water droplets and is not spread from person to person.Older adults, smokers and people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems face the highest risk of severe illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 10 people diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease die from complications.City health officials said early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antibiotics can significantly improve outcomes for patients who become infected. [TheTopNews] Read More.3 weeks ago - Wildfire smoke is invading more than 20 states — doctors reveal who should wor...Canadian wildfire smoke is drifting across parts of the U.S., prompting doctors to warn that even healthy people may face risks from prolonged exposure to polluted air.More than 180 wildfires are burning in Ontario alone, while nearly 850 are active across Canada, sending smoke into the Midwest and Northeast, according to NASA.More than 20 states have been affected, prompting widespread air quality alerts from the Upper Midwest to the East Coast.DOCTORS WARN YOUR 'STOMACH BUG' MAY ACTUALLY BE A PARASITE THAT'S HARDER TO DETECTThe greatest concern comes from fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream."The main concern is fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5," Dr. Fernando Safdie, director of endoluminal and airway surgery and a lung cancer specialist in Miami Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital. "These particles are small enough to get deep into the lungs, and the smallest can pass into the bloodstream.""Smoke also carries irritant gases," he added. "That combination is what triggers symptoms."IS LETTUCE STILL SAFE TO EAT AMID TACO BELL ILLNESS PROBE? DOCTORS ANSWERThe EPA considers an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 100 unhealthy for sensitive groups, while levels above 150 are unhealthy for everyone.The most common effect of wildfire smoke is irritation to the respiratory system."Most people notice burning or watery eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose or coughing," said Safdie."It can progress to chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, headaches, fatigue and a faster heartbeat."For anyone with asthma, COPD or chronic bronchitis, smoke can set off a flare or make existing symptoms noticeably worse, the doctor cautioned.Wildfire smoke can also strain the cardiovascular system, according to the American Heart Association. It has been linked to increased emergency room visits for ischemic heart disease, irregular heart rhythm, heart failure, pulmonary embolism and stroke.THINK YOUR CORTISOL IS TOO HIGH? EXPERT REVEALS THE TRUTH BEHIND VIRAL WELLNESS CRAZEShort-term exposure to wildfire-related fine particulate matter can also worsen heart failure and contribute to premature death, the EPA notes.Studies have linked long-term exposure to an increased risk of premature death, chronic heart and lung disease, lung cancer, cognitive decline and dementia, as well as pregnancy complications such as preterm birth and low birth weight, according to the EPA and recent research.Children are at the highest risk because… [TheTopNews] Read More.3 weeks ago
- Doctors warn your ‘stomach bug’ may actually be a parasite that̵...Health officials are warning that what many people dismiss as a routine summer stomach bug may actually be cyclosporiasis, as the U.S. experiences one of its largest foodborne parasite outbreaks on record.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 1,600 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May, with over 5,100 additional cases currently under investigation.The intestinal infection is caused by Cyclospora (Cyclospora cayetanensis), a microscopic parasite that spreads through contaminated food or water.IS LETTUCE STILL SAFE TO EAT AMID TACO BELL ILLNESS PROBE? DOCTORS ANSWERThe outbreak has sickened thousands of people, particularly in Midwestern states such as Michigan and Ohio, causing prolonged bouts of severe gastrointestinal illness.Symptoms usually begin about one week after consuming contaminated food or water, although the incubation period can range from about two days to two weeks, according to the CDC.Early symptoms can overlap with those of a common viral stomach bug, including abdominal pain, nausea and watery diarrhea. Some patients also experience loss of appetite, fatigue and weight loss.The primary differences lie in how long the illness lasts and how severe the symptoms become, according to Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician based in South Carolina.HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS STOMACH BUG SPREADS FAST, HITTING CERTAIN PATIENTS HARDESTRoutine stomach bugs are typically short-lived, resolving within 24 to 48 hours, the doctor said. Even if mild symptoms linger, patients generally feel better after two days."Cyclospora is different in this regard," Perry told Fox News Digital. "It lasts longer, with far more profound watery, foul-smelling diarrhea and abdominal cramping."It is possible to test for Cyclospora, but healthcare providers must specifically request it, as the parasite is not routinely included in standard stool testing and many gastrointestinal PCR panels do not detect it, according to the CDC.Diagnosis is made by examining stool specimens, although patients may need to submit several samples collected on different days, as even symptomatic people may not shed enough of the parasite for it to be readily detected, per the above source.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERIf symptoms strongly suggest Cyclospora despite an initial negative test, the screening may need to be repeated, Perry noted.A primary care physician is often the best point of contact for patients seeking a diagnosis, as most routine stool tests performed in emergency departments do not screen for Cyclospora. A family doctor can order the specialized test if it's suspected.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES"The emergency department is… [TheTopNews] Read More.3 weeks ago
- Game-changing cholesterol pill wins FDA approval after cutting LDL nearly 60%Millions of Americans with high cholesterol now have a new treatment option, as the FDA has approved the first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor.Merck, the New Jersey-based manufacturer of Lipfendra (enlicitide), announced the approval on Thursday.Lipfendra blocks the action of PCSK9, a naturally occurring protein that affects how the liver removes LDL ("bad") cholesterol from the bloodstream.DR OZ LINKS OBESITY TO CHRONIC DISEASE SURGE, SAYS GLP-1S CAN 'JUMPSTART' BETTER HEALTH"PCSK-9 is a protein that works in the liver, preventing the recycling of LDL receptors, as a result increasing bad cholesterol in the blood," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital."In the caveman days, this was useful when we were hunter-gatherers and didn't always have food, but now it mainly forms plaques that lead directly to heart disease."YOUR RESTING HEART RATE COULD REVEAL MORE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH THAN YOU THINK, DOCTORS SAYThe pill is approved as an add-on to diet and other LDL-lowering therapies in adults with high cholesterol, including inherited forms of high cholesterol, Merck stated.In phase 3 clinical trials, Lipfendra was shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by roughly 56% to 60% when combined with statin therapy.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ"This is around double the impact of statins," Siegel noted.The pill was generally well-tolerated in the trials, Merck reported. The most common side effects were diarrhea and dizziness, while serious side effects and treatment discontinuations occurred at rates similar to those in the placebo group.Statins, which work by blocking an enzyme in the liver that the body uses to make cholesterol, are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications, according to the American Heart Association.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERFor many people, statins are effective on their own. But for some patients who have very high cholesterol levels, inherited forms of high cholesterol or adverse side effects when taking statins, another medication — such as a PCSK9 inhibitor like Lipfendra — may be necessary, per the AHA.Until now, PCSK9 inhibitors — such as Repatha and Praluent — have only been available as injections, a factor experts say may have contributed to their underuse.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES"Repatha, the injectable form, is very useful, with few side effects," Siegel noted. "The oral form, Lipfendra, is also well-tolerated and just as effective."Additional research is needed to determine whether Lipfendra also reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths. Results from a… [TheTopNews] Read More.3 weeks ago
- Doctors reveal hidden danger for some Ozempic, Wegovy users with brain disordersNeurologists are warning that popular weight-loss medications could have severe negative effects on neurodegenerative conditions like ALS.Jinsy Andrews, MD, a neurologist and director of NYU Langone’s ALS Center, says the very mechanism that makes these drugs popular — rapid weight loss — can go against the biological needs of patients with neuromuscular disorders.GLP-1 agonists have shown to be highly effective at managing diabetes and obesity, which are major health concerns across the population. However, the doctor emphasized that the clinical rules shift when dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).DR OZ LINKS OBESITY TO CHRONIC DISEASE SURGE, SAYS GLP-1S CAN 'JUMPSTART' BETTER HEALTHIn addition to mitigating some of the inflammation related to obesity and diabetes, GLP-1 medications have been linked to other protective effects.The therapies have been helpful in reducing cardiovascular disease, stroke risk, liver disease and addiction, according to Andrews.However, when it comes to an incurable neurodegenerative disease, losing weight and body fat can accelerate a patient's physical decline.For an ALS patient, losing weight can cause the condition to progress faster, Andrews said, because the disease's unique traits make it dangerous to be in a caloric deficit.BIG MEDICARE CHANGE SLASHES WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG COSTS FOR ELIGIBLE SENIORSIn fact, standard clinical care guidelines for ALS often recommend that patients actively maintain or even gain weight to help preserve their remaining nerve and muscle function."In certain conditions where hypermetabolism is something that negatively affects the disease […] losing weight actually makes the disease worse and move faster," Andrews told Fox News Digital..CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES"So, in the setting of a person with ALS — whether they have diabetes or not — using GLP-1s may actually worsen the disease and make for a rapid progression."In a 2025 case report published in the medical journal Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, a 52-year-old ALS patient was prescribed semaglutide to treat her type 2 diabetes.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERPrior to starting the medication, her physical functions were declining at a predictable rate on the standard ALS rating scale.According to the case report, the patient lost 25 pounds in three months. At the same time, she experienced a sudden, dramatic shift in her disease trajectory, with symptoms worsening significantly.Once the semaglutide was discontinued at the advice of medical professionals, the patient's rapid physical decline stabilized.Andrews pointed out that this published documentation, alongside retrospective cohort data of ALS patients with diabetes, provides… [TheTopNews] Read More.3 weeks ago
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