The MERS virus is something we’ve been following for a while, but the scary illness has mostly been reported overseas – until now. The deadly MERS-CoV virus has spread to a third U.S. citizen and officials believe that, for the first time, the man was infected while in the United States. Officials believe an Illinois man likely contracted the respiratory disease from an Indiana man, who became infected with the disease while working as a health care worker in Saudi Arabia. Most people who have been confirmed to have the infection developed severe acute respiratory illness, experiencing fever, coughing and shortness of breath. As of yet, there is no known treatment or cure. [Daily Mail]
Doctors have discovered new drugs that may lead to a cure for lung cancer. Scientists are reporting success treating advanced lung cancer with drugs such as nivolumab, and next week, trial results for the antibody drug will be presented at the world’s biggest cancer conference, for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, in Chicago. Dr Mick Peake of Glenfield Hospital in Leicester said: ‘You would expect patients in that group to survive a few months, if you’re lucky. So to get 24 per cent living two years is extraordinary.’ [Daily Mail]
A Manhattan lawyer committed suicide on Friday night, jumping from his luxury Central Park West apartment and landing in a tree. Stephen R. Hertz was found dead after diving from his 22nd-floor window. The 55-year-old Hertz sent a suicide note to his ex-wife, who forward it to a psychiatrist, who then called 911. [NY Post]
A 20-year-old father from New York was stabbed to death on Saturday near children who were playing a Little League baseball game. James Moran asked for help from spectators at the game after he was chased towards the field and then stabbed. Police have charged 28-year-old Michael Grusel with manslaughter after Mr. Moran, who had a two-year-old daughter, died in the hospital. [CBS New York]
