Leukemia returns
Sager has a recurrence of the leukemia he has been fighting for the past year.
We wanted to ensure he was taken care of & that we knew what the next steps were before we shared this #SagerStrong pic.twitter.com/IhUM2nK8yl
— Craig Sager II (@CraigSagerJr) March 29, 2015
$25 million bail set
Judge Ronald S. Coen sets the rapper’s bail at $25 million. Prosecutors had argued that the bail should be set at $25 million because of Knight’s past criminal record, citing police reports showing past links to robberies, assaults and battery. After hearing this, Knight collapses and is taken to the hospital.
Cancer in remission
Quessenberry is in remission from non-Hodgkin T lymphoblastic lymphoma after having completed an aggressive series of chemotherapy treatments followed by radiation therapy. He hopes to play football in 2015.
Promising Ebola drug
An experimental antiviral drug, called favipiravir, is still in early stages in West Africa, and too few people have been treated to really know whether the drug helps shows some promise in the fight against Ebola in West Africa. It is only effective, however, if patients get it early. The survival rate of 85% in the ones who have received it is encouraging. European Commission for Research Moedas:
If these results are confirmed by the ongoing clinical trial, it will be the first-ever treatment to be deployed against this deadly disease during the current outbreak.
Liberia exposure
Eight healthcare workers are being sent home due to Ebola exposure from S.D. Cooper Hospital in Monrovia. They will be under heavy observation for 21 days. This number still remains far lower than last year when the West African nation had the worst outbreak in history. To this date, Liberia reports 3,900 Ebola deaths according to the World Health Organization. Assistant Health Minister for the country, Nyenswah states:
You cannot be under observation and then at the same time go to work to expose people. No way.
Bourbon virus
The CDC discovers a new virus termed “Bourbon,” naming it after the county located in Kansas with the first fatality and is only the eighth known case of its type.
The victim in Kansas, described as a man in his 50s, had been bitten by ticks multiple times in the days before falling ill.
Breast cancer
Rodriguez reveals that she is has breast cancer in her blog ChemoCouture.
On September 24, 2014 at age 30, I was diagnosed with stage 2B ductal carcinoma: in-situ and invasive. Fancy words for breast cancer. Now as far as cancer goes, I have the Cadillac of tumors. It’s slow growing, highly treatable and not really interested in spreading. My doctor calls it an ‘old lady cancer.’ I always knew I was ahead of my time!
Cancerous tumour
Dickinson announces he is being treated for a cancerous tumor on his tongue. Band statement:
Just before Christmas, Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson visited his doctor for a routine check-up. This led to tests and biopsies which revealed a small cancerous tumour at the back of his tongue. A seven week course of chemotherapy and radiology treatment was completed yesterday. As the tumour was caught in the early stages, the prognosis thankfully is extremely good. Bruce’s medical team fully expect him to make a complete recovery with the all clear envisaged by late May. It will then take a further few months for Bruce to get back to full fitness. In the meantime we would ask for your patience, understanding and respect for Bruce and his family’s privacy until we update everyone by the end of May. Bruce is doing very well considering the circumstances and the whole team are very positive.
Meningitis outbreak
The death of a University of Oregon student is found to be related to a bacterial infection form of meningitis. An 18-year-old is found in her room unconscious is later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. She is the fourth case at this particular university. The other three students are recovering. The university announces a full-scale vaccination program the first week in March.
LA outbreak
The deaths of two Los Angeles hospital patients have been linked to contaminated endoscopes and more than 170 other patients have been exposed. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center’s Dr. Robert Cherry:
The instruments were found to have “embedded” infections even though they had been cleaned according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Utah vaccination recommended
Utah Department of Heath follows up with 200 potential cases of measles that may have come into contact with the two youth cases in Utah. Department Health Educator Becky Ward recommends vaccination to prevent larger cases as the virus may infect other individuals during the 10-12 days prior to visible symptoms.
Often people feel good enough to be out and about, and that is what we don’t want. Spread is possible, and public health officials are trying to reduce that to zero if we can. Make sure you’re vaccinated. Measles can kill, and it did before the vaccine came along. It can cause brain inflammation and seizures, among other things. It’s a very serious disease, and this is a good reminder for people to get vaccinated.
Misses events due to chicken pox
Jolie releases a public announcement to let her fans know why she will be missing all the upcoming events for her film Unbroken.
I just wanted to be clear and honest about why I will be missing the Unbroken events in the next few days, which is, I found last night that I have chicken pox. I will be home itching and missing everyone, and I can’t believe it because this film means so much to me I can’t believe it! But such is life. There it is. I send everyone my love and hope everything goes well.
Reassures fans
Iwata addresses public concerns about his gaunt appearance post-surgery via Twitter.
I saw many worried comments over how thin I’ve become. The truth is that after a major operation, I lost weight, but during these past two and a half months, thankfully my weight has stabilized, and I’m progressing well. I would truly like to thank my doctors, the hospital staff, and everyone who has assisted me.
In induced coma
Rivers is in a medically-induced coma at St. Sinai Hospital in New York. Melissa Rivers:
Mom is resting comfortably.
Rushed to hospital in critical condition
Rivers is hospitalized after she stops breathing during throat surgery at Yorkville Endoscopy clinic on East 93rd Street, New York. She is rushed to Mount Sinai hospital after a 911 caller reports somebody in either cardiac or respiratory arrest. Her daughter, Melissa Rivers is by her side. Hospital spokesman Sid Dinsay:
This morning, Joan Rivers was taken to The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where she is being attended to. Her family wants to thank everybody for their outpouring of love and support. We will provide an update on her condition as it becomes available.
Hiding patients illegal
Sierra Leone has voted to pass an amendment to its Health Act whereby people caught hiding Ebola patients could face possible jail time of up to two years. The amendment still needs to go for presidential approval. The country has been hit hard by the current outbreak with at least 392 deaths and 910 cases recorded.
Sierra Leone majority leader Ibrahim Bundu:
[Sierra Leone has suffered] abandonment and isolation from those we viewed to be our biggest friends in the region and beyond. These ugly developments are evidenced in the cancellations of flights, closing of borders, reduction of operational hours of banks and further isolation by shutting down businesses at the time of greatest need.
He said lawmakers would soon review the country’s partnerships “so as to form a permanent record of who are true friends are.”
Nigeria: State of Emergency
Nigeria declares a State of Emergency after seven cases of Ebola are confirmed in the country after a man arriving from Liberia fell sick. Two of the confirmed cases die while several people who have come into contact with the man are under surveillance.
Arrives in US
Writebol, the second American who contracted Ebola while working with a missionary group in Liberia, is airlifted to Emory hospital in Atlanta for treatment. The aid worker, 59, is the second American to be flown into the US for treatment. David Writebol:
Now we have a real reason to be hopeful.
Pledges $200 million
The World Bank pledges $200m in emergency aid to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra-Leone, in a bid to counter further spread of the deadly virus. Jim Yong Kim, the president of the World Bank, says that he is ” deeply saddened” by the progress of the epidemic thus far. The funds will be used to undertake numerous relief activities including providing medical supplies, paying staff and driving a campaign that will contain the epidemic.Yong Kim:
I have been monitoring (Ebola’s) deadly impact around the clock and I’m deeply saddened at how it has ravaged health workers, families and communities, disrupted normal life and has led to a breakdown of already weak health systems in the three countries.
CDC concerned about spread
The CDC is now concerned about the risk of Ebola spreading beyond Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Dr. Skinner, an infectious disease specialist from the organization, says that travelers could unknowingly transfer the deadly virus beyond more international borders. Dr. Rob Dretler, CDC:
We know what to do and can completely isolate them but someone coming home who doesn’t know they are sick and is here a few days and gets sick, that’s the risk.