BIRD FLU DEATH: A patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with severe bird flu has died, marking the first death caused by the virus in a human, state health officials said Monday. The individual, who was older than 65 and had underlying medical conditions, became the first person in the U.S. to contract bird flu last month after being exposed to a backyard flock and wild birds. Health officials said the risk to the general public remains low, but noted that people who work with poultry and cows are at a higher risk.
BREAST CANCER GRANT: Weill Cornell Medicine has received $2.3 million in federal funding to develop ways to improve access to care and educational resources for young breast cancer survivors, the institution said Monday. Investigators will use grant money from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to survey patients who have received breast cancer treatment at Weill Cornell, come up with policies to improve patient services and create educational tools. The initiatives will focus on reaching low-income patients and people of color in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.
ORTHOPEDICS DEAL: NYU Langone announced Monday that it has acquired Rothman Orthopaedics of Greater New York, adding three new orthopedic practices to its outpatient footprint. In addition to the new practices, one of which is located in Midtown East and the other two in Westchester County, NYU Langone will also gain 12 orthopedic surgeons and specialists. The hospital declined to share the price of the acquisition.
LEAD POISONING PREVENTION: The New York State Council on Lead Poisoning Prevention is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8 to discuss prevention efforts, lead in drinking water and an investigation on lead in applesauce. Tune into the meeting here.
