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Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
Authorities investigating whether first Kenyan and Nigerian Ebola cases crossed paths
Nigeria this week recorded its first case of Ebola in the current outbreak, which has spread from the epicenter in Congo to several other African countries.
Trump will rally Georgia Republicans despite party divisions in battleground state
President Donald Trump's midterm campaign blitz arrives in Georgia on Friday for a rally with top Republican candidates in a state that has long been the epicenter of the president's false claims about election fraud.
How did Portland become the global epicenter of women’s sports?
Portlanders have consistently shown up for women’s sports and helped create the world of women’s sports we know today.
40 years later, a dream to rival L.A.'s art scene has become Orange County's cultural epicenter
As Segerstrom Center for the Arts turns 40, its leaders look back on its rise—and ahead to a rich and varied future.
What can Pennsylvania learn from the Texas measles outbreak?
While the outbreaks have similarities — notably, that the epicenter of the outbreaks in each state hit hardest in counties with concentrations of Mennonites — the public health approaches have differed in part.
The devastating Nepal floods highlighted the danger of glaciers. Here's where the next disaster may occur.
The glacial collapse that killed 1,400 people in Nepal in August highlighted one epicenter for such disasters — but there are other hotspots that experts are worried about.
Ebola outbreak update: Cases and deaths; Dungu health zone, Haut-Uélé province now affected
A total of 73 new confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) were reported on September 18, 2026, including 25 community deaths. Of these confirmed cases, 46 were from Ituri province, 18 from North Kivu, 6 from Haut-Uélé, and 3 from Tshopo. A new health zone, Dungu, in Haut-Uélé province, was affected during the day. As this zone borders South Sudan, strengthening cross-border surveillance is necessary. During the day on September 18, 2026, 12 deaths within Ebola Treatment Centers (ETCs)—10 in Ituri and 2 in North Kivu—were unfortunately recorded, bringing the total number of deaths for the day to 37. However, 41 patients were declared recovered (30 in Ituri, 6 in Haut-Uélé, 3 in North Kivu, and 2 in Tshopo) after testing negative for EVD twice. Since the start of the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a cumulative total of 7,614 confirmed cases, including 3,676 deaths, has been recorded, representing a case fatality rate of 48.3%. The epicenter remains Ituri province, which accounts for 77.2% of the confirmed cases reported across the seven affected provinces and also accounts for 63.0% of the new confirmed cases. A new health zone was affected on September 18, 2026. Consequently, 63 out of 167 health zones (37.7%) across 7 provinces are affected. Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube Response measures feature 97% traveler screening at entry points, surveillance expansion to new area Dungu, and community outreach sensitizing over 110,000 people in one day. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s health system faces deep, structural constraints that predate the current Ebola outbreak and make epidemic response far harder. These problems are most acute in rural areas and the conflict-affected east. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Eastern provinces have seen health facilities damaged, looted, or abandoned. Insecurity delays patients, blocks supply deliveries, and exposes staff to attacks. Millions of displaced people live in camps with poor water, sanitation, and health services, increasing outbreak risk. Vast distances and poor roads mean many people walk hours or days to reach care. These same weaknesses explain why Ebola has continued to spread into new, under-prepared health zones even as some original hotspots show improvement: surveillance, laboratory turnaround, contact tracing, and infection control remain thin outside the best-supported sites. The Ministry of Health and partners have scaled up treatment centres, laboratories, and vaccination in the current outbreak, and some digital surveillance systems (DHIS2) provide a useful backbone. However, the underlying gaps in staffing, basic infrastructure, reliable funding, and logistics have not been closed. Without sustained investment in those foundations, the system will remain vulnerable to both routine disease burden and the next large outbreak. If you like the reporting on Outbreak News Today, please consider a paid subscription for $5/month or $30 a year. Help support the cause of this niche journalism. It is appreciated.
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers
Congo has begun vaccinating healthcare workers against Ebola in Bunia, the epicenter of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in the epicenter of the outbreak
Congo has begun vaccinating healthcare staff against Ebola in Bunia, the epicenter of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in the epicenter of the outbreak
Health workers and other front-line workers in the Ebola response are being prioritized to receive the Ervebo vaccine that was effective in past Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common type of virus.
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in the epicenter of the outbreak
Congo has begun vaccinating healthcare staff against Ebola in Bunia, the epicenter of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in the epicenter of the outbreak
BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Congo on Saturday began vaccinating healthcare staff against Ebola in Bunia, the epicenter of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history as they are “particularly
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in the epicenter of the outbreak
Congo has begun vaccinating healthcare staff against Ebola in Bunia, the epicenter of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history.
Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in outbreak epicenter
Congo has begun vaccinating healthcare staff against Ebola in Bunia, the epicenter of the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease in history
A rare “boomerang” earthquake shocks scientists with its bizarre U-turn in Burma - Futura-Sciences
A March Morning That Changed Everything On March 28, 2025, a violent earthquake struck Myanmar (formerly Burma) with an estimated magnitude between 7.7 and 7.9. The epicenter was close to Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. The quake’s power rippled far—so much so that tremors were even felt in neighboring Thailand,...
Africa’s top health body warns Congo’s Ebola outbreak is rapidly spreading beyond epicenter
The World Health Organization says the situation remains out of control.
Africa's top health body warns Congo’s Ebola outbreak is rapidly spreading beyond epicenter
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record in eastern Congo is rapidly spreading beyond its epicenter, Africa’s top health body said Thursday.
Africa’s top health body warns Congo’s Ebola outbreak is rapidly spreading beyond epicenter
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is spreading rapidly beyond its epicenter, according to Africa's top health body.
Africa’s top health body warns Congo’s Ebola outbreak is rapidly spreading beyond epicenter
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record in eastern Congo is rapidly spreading beyond its epicenter, Africa’s top health body said Thursday. In recent weeks, new cases an…
Congo’s Ebola outbreak rapidly spreading beyond epicenter, health body warns
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is spreading rapidly beyond its epicenter, according to Africa's top health body
Health officials investigate possible Dengue death
The Tampa Bay area remains the epicenter of Florida's Dengue Fever outbreak. Now, the Florida Department of Health is investigating a possible death in Hillsborough County. FOX 13's Aaron Mesmer reports.
Utah measles cases are down, but health officials are still concerned
Warm weather helped slow Utah's outbreak, which had become the epicenter of outbreaks in the U.S. But the Utah State Epidemiologist still takes issue with even a single case in the state.
Nike, RAJ Epicenter Week And The Business Of Women’s Sports
Portland’s Nike Global Sport Summit and RAJ Sports Epicenter Week brought 500+ leaders together to explore investment, infrastructure and the future of women’s sports.
Here's a look inside Epicenter's Downtown Memphis office
Non-profit consulting and coaching group Epicenter has helped hundreds of businesses get off the ground. Here's how they do it.
Florida, hard-hit by Obamacare drop-off, feels the squeeze of rising healthcare costs
Florida has emerged as a national epicenter of the fallout from expired Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Parents and teachers in Congo urge delay of school resumption as Ebola outbreak rages on
Teachers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak are calling for a delayed reopening of schools due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The Proof Point / The Playbook - The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit presented by Nike
Panel #4: The Proof Point / The Playbook - The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit presented by Nike
Keynote: Dr. Stacy Sims - The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit presented by Nike
Keynote by Dr. Stacy Sims — Performance Specialist, Author
Opening remarks - The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit presented by Nike
Mel Auguste — Global VP, Sports Marketing, Nike -- with Lisa Bhathal Merage — Governor, Portland Fire & Thorns – and Alex Bhathal — Executive Chair, RAJ Sports.
The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit
Industry leaders from across women’s sports gathered at the Nike campus on Thursday for the second annual Women’s Global Sports Summit as part of Epicenter Week.
With world-class skaters, Denver Roller Derby made the city a stronghold in the sport
The Denver Roller Derby club has become a world powerhouse in a sport showcasing speed, physicality and agility — and it’s making the Mile High City an epicenter for the sport.
Dozens of health workers at epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak protest lack of payment
Dozens of health workers working at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are protesting Thursday to demand payment for their wages.
Dozens of health workers at epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak protest lack of payment
Dozens of health workers working at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are protesting Thursday to demand payment for their wages.
Health workers at epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak protest lack of payment
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are protesting over unpaid wages
Dozens of health workers at epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak protest lack of payment
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are protesting over unpaid wages.
Dozens of health workers at epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak protest lack of payment
Dozens of health workers working at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are protesting Thursday to demand payment for their wages.
Game changers: How EA Sports made a video game the epicenter of soccer culture
Long before the EAFC video game franchise nestled itself at the epicenter of soccer culture, FIFA International Soccer was an unexpected bestseller.
Game changers: How EA Sports made a video game the epicenter of soccer culture
Long before the EAFC video game franchise nestled itself at the epicenter of soccer culture, FIFA International Soccer was an unexpected bestseller.
Abdul El-Sayed Is an Epidemiologist Running for Senate. His State Is a Public Health Disaster
Michigan has been at the epicenter of the wildfire smoke and explosive diarrhea outbreaks. The progressive Democrat talks to WIRED about how he would tackle the forces behind them if he’s elected.
WV Department of Health confirms 139 cyclosporiasis cases; 15 hospitalizations
As West Virginia sits at the national epicenter of cyclosporiasis cases, the State Department of Health (WVDH) has provided updated numbers on how the parasite has spread across the Mountain State.
More health workers go on strike as confirmed Ebola cases in Congo top 2,000, including 754 deaths
Health workers at the Bunia General Hospital went on strike on Wednesday, the latest group to have walked off their job at the epicenter over payment issues.
Ebola death toll reaches 600, as new cases suspected in other parts of Congo
New suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in parts of Congo that were previously unaffected, the government said, signaling the continued spread of the disease beyond the epicenter in Ituri.
Some health workers in Congo’s Ebola outbreak go on strike over pay issues as deaths near 600
Healthcare workers at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are walking off their jobs to protest delays in their payments.
Residents in Congo cling to hope as a new Ebola treatment trial begins
Residents at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are pinning their hopes on two experimental treatments.
Residents in Congo cling to hope as a new Ebola treatment trial begins
Residents at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak are pinning their hopes on two experimental treatments.
An AP journalist describes a month in the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak
An Associated Press journalist spent a month in the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak documenting the toll and the challenges for health workers in a conflict zone.
Newsom Vowed To Transform Kids’ Mental Health. Many California Schools Are Still Waiting.
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched an ambitious initiative to make public schools the epicenter of mental health services for young people. Five years after he promised transformation, many schools have struggled to get the program up and running, and hundreds more have yet to try.
DR Congo health workers battle Ebola despite scant protection
In Ituri, DR Congo's Ebola epicenter, overwhelmed clinics and a lack of protective gear leave health workers exposed as the outbreak spreads beyond control.
In the Ebola epicenter, a gold-mining town reacts with fear, disbelief and grit
NPR reports from Mongbwalu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fight to contain the virus faces obstacles from lack of supplies to residents who doubt that the virus is real.
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
Health workers in Congo's Ebola crisis say they get little pay or rest
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
MONGBWALU, Congo (AP) — Dr. Richard Lokudu, the medical director of Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital, has received barely any compensation for his work on the front line of one of Congo's deadliest Ebola virus outbreaks.
Health workers in Congo fight Ebola outbreak with little pay or rest
Health workers inside Mongbwalu, the epicenter of Congo's outbreak, say they are working with little pay or rest.
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
Health workers inside Mongbwalu, the epicenter of Congo's outbreak, say they are working with little pay or rest.
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
Health workers inside Mongbwalu, the epicenter of Congo's outbreak, say they are working with little pay or rest.
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
Health workers inside Mongbwalu, the epicenter of Congo's outbreak, say they are working with little pay or rest
Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest
Health workers inside Mongbwalu, the epicenter of Congo's outbreak, say they are working with little pay or rest.
Congo Reopens Main Airport in Ebola Epicenter as Officials Brace for Long Outbreak
Congo reopened the main airport in the eastern province hardest hit by Ebola, after health officials reported tentative signs the outbreak may be slowing despite a continuing struggle to trace exposed contacts and investigate suspected cases.
WHO chief visits Ebola outbreak epicenter in eastern Congo as cases outpace response
WHO chief lands in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, epicenter of Ebola, as outbreak outpaces response
The head of the World Health Organization has arrived in eastern Congo’s Bunia, where a rare type of Ebola is spreading faster than the response.
🗞️ Araujo, Julián Álvarez, Gordon... Today’s front pages
Today’s newspaper front pages in Spain are dominated by a full-blown earthquake in the transfer market, with FC Barcelona at the epicenter, along with a strong human and mental health angle surround...
RAJ Sports announces opening date for Thorns and Fire Performance Center
RAJ Sports and Nike bring back Epicenter Week, a five-day event focused on the growth, investment, and innovation surrounding women’s athletics.But the centerpi
RAJ Sports, Nike to host The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit during Portland’s Epicenter Week
RAJ Spots and Nike announced Thursday the return of Epicenter Week, a five-day series of events centered on women’s sports that will take place Aug. 19-23 in Portland and Beaverton.
"Catastrophic collision of disease and conflict": Ebola grips eastern Congo
Mongbwalu, a once-thriving gold-mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is now emerging as the epicenter of the country's latest Ebola outbreak.
Ebola, chemical plants and health, hantavirus, common colds, heat and more
As they say, bugs have ears. Public health has had a relentless May. Chemical plant (near) explosions, Ebola, hantavirus, and that's before you even get to the usual suspects: common colds, heat, and ticks. Here’s an attempt to keep you up to speed and, more importantly, what it means for you and your community. But first, an announcement: World Cup The World Cup starts in 15 days (not like anyone is counting down), and we are hanging TVs in the Health Security Operations Center. It’s going to be a gorgeous, chaotic celebration of basically every culture on earth. And it’s going to take a team effort—from communities to individuals, from public health to health care—to keep people healthy. That’s where you come in. If you’re going to the games or live within 30 miles of a stadium, we would love to hear from you. Sign up for a weekly survey here. Thanks to the more than 1,280 people who have already signed up…you will be hearing from us soon!! Global disease “weather report” Hantavirus: Two more cases The global count of cruise ship passengers with hantavirus has now increased to 13 cases (11 confirmed), with three deaths. The two new cases are overseas and among people who were already quarantining: A crew member in the Netherlands. A Spanish national passenger who was quarantining at home tested positive through daily monitoring. They are now in a biocontainment unit. In the U.S., everyone remains negative. There may be more cases, given that the incubation period of hantavirus (the time from exposure to infection) is 45 days. But this week, we will reach a major milestone: the median incubation window is 18 days, and that will pass on May 29. What this means for you: Your risk from this cruise ship outbreak remains essentially nil at this point. Ebola rages on in Central Africa Big thanks to Dr. Craig Spencer, a humanitarian physician who has treated and survived Ebola, for jumping in to provide the YLE community with an update. Craig, take it from here… The combined confirmed and suspected Ebola cases in DRC are now more than 1,000. All signs are pointing to a very long and catastrophic outbreak in Central Africa: This is a vast undercount. We know this because the test positivity rate is hovering around 50%, only 20% of contacts are being traced (and in some areas, no contacts at all), and more cases keep popping up with no known connection. This all points to widespread and undetected community transmission. This is in only a week of detection. Compared to previous outbreaks, the growth is very fast, as the huge West Africa outbreak in 2016 was first detected at 49 cases and rose to 208 cases a month later. It took four months for that outbreak to reach the size of the current one in the DR Congo. The cases are spread out across 16 health zones. There are now multiple epicenters, making containment very difficult. Next door in Uganda, the case count is seven. While this number is low compared to DRC, a concerning development is that two health care workers recently tested positive with uncertain exposure histories. If they weren’t treating known Ebola cases, this means it’s spreading undetected in Uganda as well. On the ground, backlash, including the burning of health centers, has emerged, a pattern seen in nearly every outbreak and rooted in deep community distrust. It often stems from outside actors working in communities without fully understanding or addressing local priorities. Affected populations may recognize the severity of Ebola while still holding other concerns as more pressing, such as where their loved ones are buried. Community trust is essential to an effective response, but difficult to build during an active emergency. It is best established long before a crisis begins. U.S. priorities are made clear, and may backfire. The U.S. Administration has shown that its first priority is keeping Ebola out, with helping end the outbreak in the DRC a secondary concern. That's meant travel restrictions broader than anything we've imposed before — covering travelers from across the region, and reportedly some green card holders and permanent residents as well. For example, just these past two days, news broke that high-risk American travelers will be subject to a mandatory quarantine in Kenya before they are allowed to return. If an American is infected, the U.S. government plans to send them to a hospital it is standing up from scratch in Kenya. (Currently, Americans who were in the area are allowed to return but are diverted to three airports—Houston, Atlanta, and DC—for further screening.) Past administrations have used travel notices and stepped-up screening; this goes much further. At first blush, these strict precautions may sound prudent. But this approach could backfire in three ways: Restrictions this blunt give people every reason to hide where they’ve been and whom they’ve been near — making the people we most need to find harder to track, not easier. They also breed a false sense that this is someone else’s problem. But diseases are humbling. They find the small cracks in even the most impenetrable-seeming defenses. Lives lost. There is no treatment for this Ebola strain, which means survival depends heavily on the quality of the health system. We have that system in the States, but we are choosing not to use it for infected Americans. This is unbelievable and infuriating. (See a deeper dive from me here.) The only real way to lower the risk to Americans — and everyone else — is to end the outbreak in the DRC and across the region. What this means for you: If you have travel plans to this region, it’s time to cancel them. This is a high-risk situation in Central Africa, and CDC released a Level 4 Travel Advisory. There is also great uncertainty if and when the Administration will let you back in. To the general public in the U.S., your risk remains very, very low right now. U.S. disease “weather report” Ticks: past peak season? Good news, especially for people in the Northeast and Midwest: tick numbers continue to decline. Though we are at the peak of the season, this unusually early year is trending favorably. Heat-related illnesses in the North Heat risk is certainly not blanketing the entire country yet, but this week it will be moderate in the Midwest and the Southeast. What this means for you: Be sure to check the CDC HeatRisk tool. A red day isn’t the best day for that soccer game for a kid with asthma, and a stretch of orange days is a great time to check on your elderly neighbor. Common colds surging As far as respiratory viruses go, the only thing really going around right now is the common cold. It is higher this year than last year, but should peak very soon before returning this fall. Spotlight: Chemical plants Over the weekend, YLE California covered the serious situation that unfolded around a chemical plant in Orange County, California. Thankfully, the worst-case scenario (a chemical explosion) was mitigated, but only through luck. The health implications in a densely populated area could have been catastrophic. As the situation was winding down, another chemical explosion struck Washington State. This one was fatal. Health officials say the risk to surrounding residents from chemicals in the air and ground remains low, though the community deserves far greater clarity. Clean air and clean water consistently rank as Americans’ top public health concerns — yet when chemical disasters strike, communities are too often met with reassurances rather than transparency and accountability. Residents near the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment, for example, are still waiting to understand the long-term impact on their health, with few clear answers. What this means for you: Many are wondering if facilities processing potentially dangerous materials are in their neighborhoods. This interactive map allows you to enter your ZIP code and see all facilities monitored by the EPA, including any violations. Good news Ebola vaccines and treatment for the Bundibugyo species are in development. Two vaccine platforms are being explored, at least one of which may be deployable in as little as 2 months. One vaccine is being developed by Oxford, and the other uses the same biotechnology as the FDA-approved Zaire species of Ebola. (It may provide cross-protection, but it’s unclear at this point.) On the treatment side, two promising monoclonal antibody cocktails are likely to be deployed, though doses are limited and logistical hurdles remain significant challenges. Anni over at The Biotech Tea had a great explainer about the Ebola vaccine gap, if you want to read more. [ The Biotech Tea The Ebola vaccine gap, reading vessel damage, & the Makary exit 🗝️ Paid subscribers get the Biotech Term of the Week at $30/year (~$2.50/month). I try to keep it intentionally accessible, but if cost is ever a barrier, send me a message. A few people asked about expensing your subscription, so I put together a short email template… Read more 6 days ago · 10 likes · Annicka Evans, PhD ](https://www.thebiotechtea.com/p/the-ebola-vaccine-gap-reading-vessel?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), following more than a decade of debate and input from roughly 22,000 clinicians, researchers, and patients worldwide. This is good because the old name was medically misleading, leading to patients without visible cysts being dismissed or overlooked entirely. The WHO estimates that 70% of people with the condition remain undiagnosed. A more accurate name should improve recognition, reduce stigma, and ultimately help the millions of people living with this condition get diagnosed and treated sooner. Poll Loading... Bottom line Public health situations are everywhere right now. Staying healthy takes public health professionals and systems working tirelessly behind the scenes and each of us showing up for our neighbors and communities. Love, YLE Big thanks to Ed Nirenberg for staying on top of the Ebola vaccines, Hannah Totte for all the figures, Dr. Craig Spencer for the Ebola insight, and Dr. Matt Willis for covering the chemical situation in CA. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “Translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
Second Ebola treatment center set on fire in epicenter of disease's outbreak
A second Ebola treatment center is set ablaze in eastern DR Congo, with 18 suspected cases fleeing
Angry residents of a town at the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) attacked and burned a tent that was part of a health center where people are being treated for the virus, the staff there said Saturday. It was the second such attack in the region in a week.
Local business leaders grapple with the utility of AI
In Silicon Valley, the epicenter of artificial intelligence, local businesses’ usage of the technology varies widely. One business leader who uses AI heavily says it has saved her ten hours of work week while other business owners said it's not as relevant to work in the physical world.
THE FORUM Brings Together Leaders from Sport, Leisure and Entertainment to Debate the Future of Football as a Global Industry
Madrid has become the global epicenter of the sports and leisure business with the celebration of THE FORUM, an exclusive event promoted by Atlético de Madrid and Apollo Sports Capital. Held at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, it brought together some of the most influential leaders in the industry, with more than 400 attendees. The event […]
Measles and Moab? Pitkin County Public Health raises awareness in off-season
With Utah becoming the epicenter of the U.S. measles outbreaks this month, Pitkin County Public Health is recommending all those planning to travel to Moab, Utah and even further to make sure they are protected against the virus.
Utah measles outbreak speeds up but there are few changes to daily life
Health officials in the outbreak's epicenter are relying on social media and talk radio to reach residents. Many aren't listening.
Fighting to Protect the Entertainment Industry
For decades California has been the undisputed global epicenter of film and television production. Over the past several years, the volume of film and television production shooting in California has
First look at Epic Entertainment: Could it be a spark for Northgate Mall's redevelopment?
Epic Entertainment is an indoor adventure park, expected to open at Northgate Mall early next week. It could also provide a spark for Northgate's redevelopment.
Inside Las Vegas's Electric Reinvention Into a Sports Capital
Long the world’s entertainment capital, this desert playground has now become the epicenter of sports tourism.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar prepares a run for Minnesota governor
Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota filed paperwork on Thursday to form a campaign committee to run for governor of her home state, which has become an epicenter of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in America.
Minnesota finds itself in an unwelcome, divisive political spotlight
Minnesota has found itself at the epicenter of the political world, reeling from tensions sparked by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shooting a woman — an incident that…
Trilith entertainment zone, ‘next-generation’ cinema near grand opening
Following years of design tweaks and construction, the full scope of a public-accessible Trilith project described as a new metro Atlanta epicenter for arts, culture, and entertainment is just weeks from its world premiere. Officials with Trilith LIVE, the entertainment and special events component of the massive New Urbanism project a half-hour south of Atlanta, today announced their grand opening season will officially kick off Jan. 15.
West Palm Beach is at the 'epicenter’ of Florida’s business growth, leaders say
Related Ross Executive Vice President Jordan Rathlev and health-tech firm Visium CEO John Rajchert speak to Fox News Digital about the influx of businesses and employees moving to West Palm Beach and how their companies are leading the charge.
Walz faces political jeopardy over Minnesota fraud controversy
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is facing a challenging political future as he finds himself at the epicenter of a growing fraud scandal in his home state. The controversy, which focuses on hundr…
Small Business Saturday sends shoppers flocking to stores
WHEELING — Throngs of shoppers spent Saturday making sure at least part of their holiday spending stayed local, as Small Business Saturday brought them out in droves to locally owned stores. Customers lined the sidewalks of Wheeling’s Centre Market, an epicenter of local shops selling everything from clothing to novelties to antiques to artwork. That […]
Shoppers in Wheeling Keep It Local for Small Business Saturday
WHEELING — Throngs of shoppers spent Saturday making sure at least part of their holiday spending stayed local, as Small Business Saturday brought them out in droves to locally owned stores. Customers lined the sidewalks of Wheeling’s Centre Market, an epicenter of local shops selling everything from clothing to novelties to antiques to artwork. That […]