The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency as a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa sparks concern that the deadly virus could spread beyond the region — including into the United States.

The outbreak has been linked to dozens of suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda.

Ebola is a zoonotic, viral disease that is rare but life-threatening, according to Cleveland Clinic. Outbreaks typically develop in areas of Africa, starting in species like antelope, fruit bats and nonhuman primates.

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There are four different Ebola strains, also known as orthoebolaviruses. Bundibugyo virus is the strain that has been detected in the DRC outbreak.

While the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency, U.S. officials are warning Americans not to visit the area, escalating the State Department travel advisory from a Level 3 to Level 4 on Sunday.

One American tested positive for Ebola on May 17 while working in Congo and is being transported to Germany for treatment with other Americans who are high-risk contacts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of May 18, there have been 11 confirmed and 336 suspected cases, including 88 deaths in the DRC.

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"This is a rapidly evolving situation, and case counts are subject to change," the CDC noted.

While no cases have been detected in the U.S., there is a possibility that it could make its way into American territory, posing a threat to public health.

Dr. Jacob Glanville, a leading immunologist at Centivax in San Francisco, which is developing a universal flu vaccine, spoke with Fox News Digital about the potential spread of Ebola into the U.S.

The doctor noted that the virus has a two- to 21-day incubation period, during which an infected person can show no symptoms and the infection cannot be detected by tests.

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"It is thus possible for Ebola to move across international borders silently, bypassing screening," he said.

"Some travel restrictions from the affected area have been put in place to limit this risk, although as this outbreak was spreading silently for months, it is possible that an infected traveler had come to the U.S. in the past 21 days from the affected areas prior to the travel restrictions."

Glanville noted that while the outbreak is "growing rapidly," one week ago there were fewer than 500 global cases.

"Thus, the chance of an infected traveler having come to the U.S. remains quite low for the time being," he said.

Dr. Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, agreed that the threat to American communities remains low.

"The viruses that cause Ebola pose a very small risk, even to travelers to areas with outbreaks," the Arkansas-based expert told Fox News Digital. "This virus is transmitted only person-to-person via infected blood and body fluids from symptomatic people, and rarely from infected animals."

Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or remains of infected people or animals, including fluids such as saliva and sweat, according to Hopkins.

Cleveland Clinic notes that it is "very unlikely" for Ebola to be an airborne infection.

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The virus starts with flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting/diarrhea and loss of appetite. Other signs may include a rash or spots of blood under the skin, hiccups, bruising and red, bloodshot eyes.

As the disease is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever, it causes damage to the blood vessels and can lead to more serious symptoms, including severe bleeding or hemorrhaging, neurological disorders and severe vomiting.

For those who have traveled to the outbreak area, Hopkins recommends monitoring for symptoms for three weeks after departing and seeking immediate care if symptoms develop.

Treatments are available, along with a vaccine that can help protect high-risk individuals and prevent further spread, according to healthcare professionals.

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Avoiding contact with blood, body fluids, and sick or deceased people and animals is "highly effective in the prevention of Ebola transmission," Hopkins advised.

"If contact is required, high-quality personal protective equipment is recommended before contact with potentially infectious people and/or materials," he added.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.

An American woman who may have been exposed to hantavirus on board the MV Hondius cruise ship is now being forced to quarantine at a facility in Omaha, Nebraska.

Angela Perryman, 47, anticipated having to stay at the National Quarantine Unit for a short time after arriving last week, but on Monday she was served with a federal order to remain quarantined for at least two more weeks, she shared with The New York Times.

The order mandates that Perryman remains in the facility until May 31, which would be a total of 21 days after her arrival. Officials told her that any attempts to leave could result in law enforcement involvement, she said.

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"They won’t let us isolate at home," Perryman, who lives in Ecuador but has a home in South Florida, told the news outlet. "We’re being kept in a secured facility and threatened if we try to leave."

The woman shared that she received a negative hantavirus test result and is not experiencing symptoms. However, she said she did briefly speak with a passenger who later died from the disease.

The federal order, which the passenger shared with the Times, states that it could "constitute a probable source of infection to other people" if Perryman were to leave the facility to travel to another state.

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After receiving a medical review within 72 hours, Perryman was told she can appeal the order. She told the Times that she plans to take legal action.

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The quarantine unit includes 20 single-occupancy rooms with negative air pressure systems and en suite bathroom facilities, along with exercise equipment and Wi-Fi connectivity, according to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Global Center for Health Security website.

The quarantine order — issued under federal public health authority — was reportedly approved by Jay Bhattacharya, the acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC requesting comment.

Including Perryman, a total of 18 American passengers from the MV Hondius have been monitored at the quarantine unit since last week.

Seven other passengers who left the ship and returned home prior to the outbreak’s discovery are being monitored by their state and local health departments, per the CDC.

"The reason they’re watching these passengers so carefully is that the incubation period can be very long — up to six weeks — and when symptoms hit, patients can deteriorate very rapidly," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said during a recent episode of "The Faulkner Focus."

"This is not something that spreads easily like COVID, but because the Andes strain has rare person-to-person transmission, public health officials are being extremely cautious," he added.

At least three people linked to the outbreak aboard the ship have died, while additional passengers have been sickened, according to the World Health Organization.

The federal government last imposed a large-scale quarantine order in January 2020, when nearly 200 Americans evacuated from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. They were required to remain in isolation for two weeks at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, per the CDC.

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"Typically, we don’t hold people against their will unless there is no alternative," Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the pandemic center at Brown University’s School of Public Health, told The Times.

A new study suggests that a specific "longevity gene" may help protect the brain from the effects of aging, including Alzheimer’s disease.

The APOE gene (short for apolipoprotein E) helps the body transport and metabolize fats and cholesterol, especially in the brain.

While the APOE4 variant is known to be associated with a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the APOE2 variant of the APOE gene appears to carry a lower risk.

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Using human brain cells derived from stem cells, researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging explored the reasons for that protective effect. They found that the APOE2 gene improves neurons’ ability to repair DNA damage and to resist "cellular senescence," a process that leads to cells becoming old and worn out.

In contrast, brain cells with the APOE4 variant were more fragile and more likely to show signs of aging and dysfunction, the researchers found.

These findings were also supported by follow-up studies in mice.

"We found that APOE2, a gene linked to exceptional longevity (enriched in centenarians), helps human neurons better repair DNA damage and resist becoming senescent, or aged and dysfunctional," senior author Lisa M. Ellerby, PhD, professor at the Buck Institute, told Fox News Digital.

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"APOE has a well-known role in cholesterol transport, but the new mechanism we have discovered may explain in part why APOE2 carriers tend to live longer and have lower Alzheimer’s risk."

The researchers said they were "very surprised" that the protective mechanism of APOE2 in neurons was DNA signaling and repair.

"APOE2 is so well-known for cholesterol transport that uncovering this major pathway, and seeing it hold up across multiple human neuron models and aged mice, was striking for us," Ellerby said.

The study also found that adding the APOE2 protein to APOE4 neurons reduced their DNA damage after the stress of radiation exposure.

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These findings suggest that future treatments could aim to simulate the protective effects of APOE2 or boost DNA repair systems in the brain, especially for people who carry the higher-risk APOE4 gene.

The findings were published in the journal Aging Cell.

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Christopher Weber, PhD, senior director of global scientific initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, said this is an "exciting and significant study."

"It shifts attention beyond APOE's well-known role in cholesterol transport toward a new function — shaping how brain cells maintain their integrity as they age — and opens up some new directions for therapy development, particularly for people who carry the higher-risk APOE4 variant," Weber, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

The Alzheimer’s Association currently has 13 active projects in four countries investigating APOE2’s role in protecting against Alzheimer's disease, he noted.

Caghan Kizil, PhD, an associate professor of neurological sciences at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, recently received a $500,000 grant from the American Brain Foundation to fund research related to the APOE4 gene.

"This study goes beyond the long-known observation that APOE2 is linked to longevity and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and aims to explain why this protection may happen," Kizil, who also did not work on the study, told Fox News Digital.

Kizil agreed that the findings may help explain why some brains stay healthy longer than others, and how natural protective mechanisms may support longer-lasting brain health.

"What I find especially interesting is the idea that Alzheimer’s may partly reflect the brain losing its ability to stay resilient with age," he said. "Growing evidence in the field suggests that APOE-related risk is not only about amyloid buildup, but also about how aging, inflammation, blood vessel health and the brain’s repair systems work together over time."

Future research could explore what makes some brains naturally more resilient, and whether those protective mechanisms could be harnessed to help people who carry higher-risk genes like APOE4, according to Weber. 

"In other words, the long-term goal is to help vulnerable brains age more like resilient brains," he added. "We believe the future of Alzheimer’s research lies in preventing at-risk individuals from becoming diseased in the first place."

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There were some limitations to the new study, the researchers noted – primarily that it was not conducted in living patients.

"Our laboratory study in human iPSC-derived neurons and mice describes a biological mechanism and not a clinical treatment," Ellerby told Fox News Digital. "The precise molecular mechanism by which APOE2 stabilizes the nucleus and supports repair still needs to be fully worked out."

The researcher cautioned that people shouldn't make changes to their lifestyle behaviors based on this study alone, and that they would not recommend undergoing genetic testing for APOE purely for longevity.

"The results are complex and difficult," Ellerby noted. "The broader message is that supporting your brain's DNA repair and slowing cellular senescence are good for you."

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Some healthy ways to accomplish this include exercising, getting optimal sleep, optimizing cardiovascular health and avoiding "genotoxic" exposures like smoking. 

"These are all super beneficial to your health, regardless of your APOE variant," the researcher added.

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Australia will receive a $5 million federal grant to launch a pioneering research team for children’s health.

The grant was announced at MCRI’s 40th anniversary gala in Melbourne on Saturday night.

"For 40 years, MCRI has been a global leader in children’s health research," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told guests at the gala, which was attended by 300 of Australia’s most esteemed medical experts, political leaders, philanthropists and sports luminaries.

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"My government is proud to partner with MCRI, so our world-leading researchers have the best opportunities to support healthier childhoods for Australians now and into the future."

The $5 million will directly support medical research aimed at preventing numerous childhood conditions, including obesity, heart disease, mental health issues and disabilities.

Also announced at the gala, a lead donation from Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch will launch the Horizon Fund — a permanent endowment for MCRI aimed at funding long-term children’s health research and future medical breakthroughs.

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The goal is for the fund to raise between $50 million and $100 million in its first year and to reach $200 million within five years.

The fund is designed to back researchers’ immediate priorities while safeguarding long-term capital for future medical breakthroughs in children’s health.

In 2020, the Murdochs donated $5 million to establish a perpetual fellowship supporting leading researchers in fields including stem cell technology and genomic precision medicine.

Co-founded in 1986 by philanthropist and child health advocate Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and pediatrician and genetics pioneer Professor David Danks, MCRI comprises 1,800 scientists, researchers and clinicians.

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"Dame Elisabeth’s leadership, along with her values, shaped both the direction and the ethos of the Institute we were to become – for all children to live a healthy and fulfilled life," said Sarah Murdoch, who is Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s granddaughter-in-law and MCRI’s global ambassador and board co-chair. 

"With the generosity of a remarkable group of founding donors alongside the Murdoch family – Sir Jack Brockhoff, the Miller family, and The Scobie and Claire Mackinnon Trust – the foundations were laid for an Institute designed to bring our brightest minds, to serve all children, not only in that moment, but for generations to come," Ms. Murdoch added.

"I see what is possible when foresight, science, commitment, collaboration and heartfelt generosity come together," she emphasized.

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"Because behind every breakthrough is a child — a family desperate for answers. A future changed because of the commitment by so many."

MCRI Director Kathryn North expressed appreciation at the gala to the prime minister for the $5 million grant.

"From the beginning, MCRI has been guided by a simple but powerful purpose: to give all children the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilled life," North said.

"It reflects a belief that good health is the foundation for a full life, and that opportunity should never be limited by circumstance."

Professor North mentioned the Institute’s focus on developing therapies for previously incurable diseases.

"We are harnessing the power of human stem cell technologies to grow heart patches, functional mini kidneys, blood and immune cells … to better understand disease, and to develop regenerative therapies using a patient’s own stem cells to replace organ transplants and the risk of rejection," she said.

The Institute’s next challenge, North said, is to address chronic conditions like asthma, obesity, allergies and mental health conditions that can persist for decades.

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"These are big problems that will require significant and ongoing support," she said. "Through our work globally, we are helping communities raise their expectations to both deliver and receive the sort of healthcare we take for granted."

"Our ambition now is to translate these partnerships into population-scale solutions that improve the lives of millions of children worldwide," North added. "This is not simply the next chapter for MCRI – it is the work of building the future of children’s health."

A new drug for pancreatic cancer is showing promise in early testing.

Daraxonrasib is a daily pill designed to block cancer signals linked to the RAS gene. It has now finished an early-stage clinical trial — the first time it was tested in people — to evaluate both its safety and effectiveness.

The clinical trial, led by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, tested the drug in 168 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer whose tumors had mutations in the RAS gene. All study participants had previously received at least one chemotherapy treatment.

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The drug is designed to block multiple active cancer signals that help tumor cells grow. This is especially important because more than 90% of pancreatic cancers carry these harmful mutations, researchers said.

Existing and older drugs that target RAS mutations only work on certain types that are uncommon in pancreatic cancer, such as KRAS mutations.

At the 300-milligram dose — the amount that will be used in larger phase 3 trials — about 30% of patients saw a positive response, researchers noted. Overall, about 90% of patients had their cancer either shrink or stop getting worse.

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There were some side effects reported — most commonly rash, mouth inflammation, nausea and diarrhea.

Lead investigator Dr. Brian Wolpin, director of the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber, commented in a press release statement that this development could change the future of cancer care.

"If supported by data from future clinical trials, daraxonrasib would be a targeted therapy relevant to nearly all patients with advanced pancreatic cancer," he said.

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"This trial provides the first published data showing the safety and broad activity of a RAS(ON) multi-selective inhibitor in pancreatic cancer," Wolpin went on. "If it proves effective in larger clinical trials, it would signify a substantial shift in how this disease is treated."

In an interview with Fox News Digital, the researcher claimed that daraxonrasib represents "one of the most promising therapy advances we’ve seen in pancreatic cancer."

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This is especially significant since pancreatic cancer has had "very few effective therapies" in the past, Wolpin noted.

"The study also showed disease control in approximately 90% of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, which is extremely exciting," he added.

Wolpin noted that while side effects were common, most patients were able to tolerate treatment with "supportive care measures, and very few patients needed to stop therapy due to side effects."

As this was a phase 1/2 study, it does not "definitively prove" the superiority of daraxonrasib compared to chemotherapy, Wolpin added.

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"The study did not include a randomized control arm that directly compared daraxonrasib with chemotherapy," he said. "That being said, the results for daraxonrasib looked substantially better than what we have seen in prior clinical trials of chemotherapy in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer."

It also remains unclear how the drug may perform earlier in the disease, as the trial included patients who had already received prior treatments.

For patients and families affected by pancreatic cancer, Wolpin noted that daraxonrasib signals "real momentum" toward effective treatments, but it is still investigational and is not a cure.

"Pancreatic cancer remains a challenging disease, and additional research is needed to determine how best to sequence or combine therapies to provide the most durable responses and cures," he said.

Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, applauded this development in a separate interview with Fox News Digital.

"We are anxiously awaiting the upcoming plenary presentation of RASolute 302 at the ASCO meeting later this month," said the expert, who was not involved in the study. "Greater than 90% of pancreatic cancers have activation of kRAS, which is a major factor in the development and progression of these cancers." 

"If the full dataset results that will be reported later this month confirm what was earlier released, I believe this will be one of the most important breakthroughs in all solid tumors," Slomovitz went on. "Doubling the survival time in pretreated patients is unprecedented."

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The doctor added that the "magnitude of benefit" could "reshape the treatment landscape" and "establish a new standard of care."

"We will need to evaluate the full dataset for efficacy and safety," Slomovitz added. "I am more than cautiously optimistic, and I am truly excited for our patients and their families that suffer from this dreadful disease."

People who regularly visit museums or participate in creative activities may be aging more slowly on a biological level, according to a new study from the United Kingdom.

Researchers from University College London analyzed data from more than 3,500 adults and found that people who frequently engaged in arts and cultural activities showed signs of slower biological aging in several DNA-based measurements.

The findings were published in the journal Innovation in Aging.

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The study examined activities including painting, photography, dancing, singing, visiting museums and attending cultural events or historic sites.

Researchers compared participation in those activities with "epigenetic clocks," scientific tools that examine chemical changes in DNA over time.

Adults who participated more often, and in a wider variety of activities, tended to show slower aging scores compared to people who rarely engaged in arts or cultural experiences.

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The association appeared even stronger among adults over age 40.

Researchers also noted that the effect sizes were comparable to those linked to physical activity, one of the most widely studied behaviors associated with healthy aging.

Jessica Mack, a health and wellness expert and founder of The Functional Consulting Group who was not involved in the study, said the findings reflect a growing understanding that health is influenced by more than exercise and nutrition alone.

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"Arts and cultural engagement may be associated with slower epigenetic aging, with effects comparable in some measures to physical activity," Mack told Fox News Digital.

She said activities such as visiting museums and engaging with music or art may help reduce stress, improve emotional regulation and increase social connection.

"These are not ‘extra’ lifestyle activities," Mack said. "They may be deeply connected to how the body manages inflammation, stress hormones, mood and overall resilience."

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Mack added that people experiencing stress, social isolation, retirement or caregiving responsibilities may especially benefit from meaningful cultural engagement.

Experts cautioned, however, that the study does not prove arts engagement directly slows aging.

"This is an observational study, not an experiment," Professor Steve Horvath of UCLA, a longevity researcher and pioneer in epigenetic aging research who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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"So when researchers find that the people who go to museums have younger epigenetic age, we cannot tell whether the museum visits slowed their aging, or whether their slower aging is what allowed them to keep visiting museums," he said.

Horvath said both explanations may be true to some degree, though he described the research as "methodologically careful" and worthy of further study.

The findings remained consistent even after accounting for factors such as smoking, income, body weight and other lifestyle habits.

He added that regardless of whether arts engagement is directly slowing biological aging, staying socially and mentally active is still associated with healthier aging overall.

"The prescription is the same," he said. "Keep going."

Fitness influencer and trainer Mark Langowski, known on social media as @bodybymark, hosted a pushup and plank competition in New York City this week, where he urged the public to get up and get moving.

On his platform of nearly two million Instagram followers, Langowski asks fit people to share their workout routines. He was able to meet more in-shape New Yorkers at his Washington Square Park meet-up, in partnership with Oikos yogurt on May 12.

A male and a female winner who achieved the most pushups or held a plank the longest were gifted $500 each.

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Besides the cash prize, the inspiration was to get more people moving, Langowski shared during an interview with Fox News Digital.

"[It’s] a way to encourage strength and overall fitness in New York City and all around the country," he said.

"We got together and we're doing a plank competition, pushup competition. We had a guy just do 111 pushups. We're just getting people moving."

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Langowski said the attributes of a great competitor include strength, humility and confidence.

"The people who ... did the most, they didn't say they were going to do the most," he said. "And there were other people who said they could do 150, and they did 70."

Having a bit of humility helps make a good competitor, the trainer added.

Pushups and planks mark a "good general baseline" for measuring fitness level, according to Langowski. Some other basics include pull-ups, squats and endurance challenges, like running a mile — the kind of basics included in an elementary school fitness assessment.

For those who haven't yet mastered these basics but want to get in better shape, Langowski shared some advice on how to get started.

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"Get with a trainer or someone who knows how to progress you," he advised. "A lot of people are like, 'I can't do a pushup, so I'm never going to do one.’ That's not the way."

Langowski recommends starting with pushups on your knees or against a wall, then gradually progressing to standard pushups by moving onto your toes and lowering yourself fully to the ground before pushing back up.

"You'll be surprised after you do that for a couple weeks, a couple months, a couple years – you're going to be able to do a lot," he said. "Nobody was born being able to do 111 pushups. They put in the work and they started somewhere."

The trainer noted that in addition to practicing, it's just as important to give the body rest and to support muscle growth with proper protein intake and an overall healthy diet.

But perhaps the most crucial step toward getting in shape, according to Langowski, is having the motivation to get started

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"I know that's easy for me to say – I've been in fitness and been relatively fit most of my life," he said. "And I know a lot of people are sitting on the couch and they either feel sorry for themselves or they're going through a tough time … You’ve just got to get out there."

The trainer suggested starting with a simple walk — even just around the block — with no gym equipment required.

"You don't need an expensive gym membership to get in good shape," he said. "Most of the people that I stop on the street, they don't have a gym membership at all. They do it in their living room."

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"And that's where you can do the exercises I mentioned – the squats, the lunges, the pushups," Langowski went on.

"So, I would encourage people just to start, but also to get some friends or get a trainer, someone to support you and do it safely."

Researchers have shed fresh light on how a simple, centuries-old Chinese practice could be almost as effective as some medications in lowering blood pressure.

Baduanjin is a form of exercise that’s been widely practiced in China for at least 800 years. It involves a series of eight slow movements, gentle breathing and meditation — and typically takes only about 10 minutes to complete.

In a clinical trial, researchers studied 216 adults age 40 and older with Stage 1 hypertension. Over the course of a year, participants performed either baduanjin, self-directed exercise or brisk walking.

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Researchers found that participants who practiced baduanjin five times per week experienced lower blood pressure within three months. 

The results were "comparable to reductions seen with some first-line medications," they wrote in their report published by the American College of Cardiology.

Baduanjin also showed "comparable results and safety profile to brisk walking at one year," the researchers further reported.

"Given its simplicity, safety and ease at which one can maintain long-term adherence, baduanjin can be implemented as an effective, accessible and scalable lifestyle intervention for individuals trying to reduce their [blood pressure]," said the senior author of the study, Jing Li, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Matthew Saybolt, medical director of the Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Structural Heart Disease Program, said he was surprised by an aspect of the study’s results.

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"I was biased and expected that higher intensity exercise like brisk walking would have resulted in greater improvement in blood pressure than baduanjin, but the effects were the same," Saybolt told Fox News Digital. (He was not affiliated with the study.)

Dr. Antony Chu, clinical assistant professor at Brown University’s Warren Alpert School of Medicine, was born and raised in the U.S. to immigrant parents — his mother is from Hong Kong and his father is from Taiwan.

Having spent a lot of summers in Asia, Chu told Fox News he experienced "the best of both worlds" concerning Eastern and Western medicine, including exposure to the benefits of baduanjin.

"[These researchers] are taking a lot of things that have been commonplace for many, many centuries or millennia and then just applying mathematical modeling and statistical analysis to sort of give [them] some credibility," Chu said.

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"Western medicine is reactionary," Chu also said. 

He compared the philosophies to a house on fire: Eastern medicine practitioners are more invested in preventing the fire, whereas Western medicine is more focused on "all those things that it would need to do to try to put that fire out," he said, sharing his opinion.

Left untreated, high blood pressure has dangers that are "too numerous to count," Saybolt said. The risks include increased risks of stroke, heart attack, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. 

Baduanjin, Chu said, is effective at reducing blood pressure, which he likened to "the water pressure and the pipes of your house," by calming the nervous system and reducing stress.

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"People are totally stressed out," Chu said. "And stress reduction is huge."

Saybolt said the study offers hope for people with hypertension — "and that hope doesn’t immediately have to include pharmaceuticals."

Saybolt added that he’s always advocated for lifestyle modifications, including healthy diet and exercise, "as key therapies for treatment of diseases and to improve longevity."

With the baduanjin data, Saybold said he is now "more optimistic than ever," as "we have evidence that a very low impact exercise with mindfulness can yield a benefit."

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Chu said that translating overwhelming medical guidelines is a big part of his job.

"It’s not to just tell somebody, ‘Hey, your blood pressure's too high, pick a pill," he said.

"Lifestyle changes" can be daunting for many people, he added.

"They always make it sound like you have to live for seven years in Tibet on a mountain somewhere, and it’s really not that."

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His simple translation for the baduanjin study is this: "Close the door in your office and just say, ‘I can't be bothered for 10 minutes,’ and just focus on breathing slowly and moving your arms or legs around."

Rudy Giuliani, 81, is recovering from a severe case of viral pneumonia that led him into a coma in early May.

The former New York City mayor returned to his online talk show "America’s Mayor Live!" on May 13 and opened up about his health status.

"I feel like I’ve recovered 100%," he said. "I’ve been home a few days and doing really, really well."

RUDY GIULIANI OUT OF ICU, CONTINUING TO RECOVER IN HOSPITAL: 'HE'S WINNING THIS FIGHT'

Giuliani reflected on his time in the hospital, revealing that he had a "very significant spiritual experience" while he was in a "state of out of it."

"I would equate it to a dream of being on line headed for — I can't say headed for heaven — headed for a trial with St. Peter," he described.

"And there was a very, very significant intervention by my Peter. I have my own Peter, Peter Powers. Peter J. Powers, my friend of my lifetime."

During this dream state, Peter said some "very significant words," which Giuliani made sure to repeat and have others record when he woke up, he shared.

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"As soon as I could, I wrote it out so that I wouldn't forget it, and it's meant a lot to me, and I've been reflecting on it quite a bit," he added.

Giuliani was able to discuss his experience with a priest — and plans to share more at a different time.

"I don't want to embellish it," he said. "I don't want to deny what was there."

Powers and Giuliani reportedly became friends in high school. Powers later served as Giuliani’s campaign manager and his first deputy mayor. He died in 2016 at 72 years old from complications with lung cancer, according to multiple news outlets.

Giuliani was hospitalized in critical but stable condition on Sunday, May 3, due to severe breathing issues.

Giuliani's doctor, Maria Ryan, told Fox News correspondent Danamarie McNicholl that the former mayor began feeling ill after returning from a trip to Paris, with his breathing deteriorating to the point that he was placed on a ventilator.

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Ryan said his condition turned critical, prompting a priest to be called to his bedside to perform last rites. But by Tuesday, Giuliani's condition had improved enough for doctors to remove him from the ventilator.

According to political strategist Ted Goodman, Giuliani's response and exposure to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks later led to a diagnosis of restrictive airway disease.

Although Giuliani and his doctors have not confirmed that he had a "near-death experience," similar encounters are often reported by people emerging from critical medical situations.

In a 2023 review published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers analyzed more than four decades of reports of near-death experiences, involving more than 2,000 studies and nearly 500 individuals.

Near-death events were categorized into four types of experiences: emotional, cognitive, spiritual/religious and supernatural.

The research identified common traits in these reports – especially having out-of-body experiences, passing through a tunnel, having heightened senses, seeing deceased people or religious figures, encountering a bright light and reviewing life events.

Although these experiences can differ by interpretation, the researchers concluded that the heightened senses and improved consciousness indicate that "these experiences are neither dreams nor sleep, nor the disorders caused."

"This phenomenon is medically inexplicable," they wrote, adding that the research points to a consistent pattern that "supports the clarity and authenticity of near-death experiences."

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Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel, author of the book "The Miracles Among Us," called Giuliani's experience the "powerful mix of faith and great medicine."

"The combination of faith and visions from heaven and the personal courage that results are powerful tools in healing and in medical miracles of recovery," the doctor, who has not treated Giuliani, told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed reporting. 

A "suspected" hantavirus case in upstate New York is being investigated, according to the Ontario County Public Health Department (OCPHD) based in Canandaigua.

The department announced in a Facebook post Thursday that it is currently "investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus case."

"There is NO connection to the cruise ship outbreak, and there is no risk to the general public," OCPHD officials wrote.

The investigation comes as global health officials continue monitoring a rare hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius luxury cruise ship that has sickened multiple passengers and crew members and left three people dead.

AMERICAN EVACUATED FROM CRUISE SHIP TESTS POSITIVE FOR HANTAVIRUS, ANOTHER HAS SYMPTOMS, HHS CONFIRMS

As of May 13, the World Health Organization (WHO) said 11 hantavirus cases had been identified in connection with the cruise outbreak, including eight confirmed cases, two probable cases and one inconclusive case. Three deaths have also been linked to the outbreak.

Health officials have emphasized that hantavirus infections remain rare and that the risk to the general public is low.

Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is considered extremely rare and has only been suspected in certain strains, including the Andes hantavirus strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak.

HANTAVIRUS IN THE US: WHERE THE RARE, SOMETIMES DEADLY DISEASE HAS BEEN FOUND

"Hantavirus infections are rare in New York," the OCPHD said. "The virus is spread through mouse and rodent droppings, especially when urine, feces, or nesting materials become aerosolized during cleaning."

The OCPHD urged residents to take precautions when cleaning enclosed spaces where rodents may be present, including wearing gloves and masks when opening or cleaning attics, cabins, sheds and garages.

The OCPHD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

REPORTED HANTAVIRUS PROTOCOL BREACH AT HOSPITAL FORCES 12 EMPLOYEES INTO 6-WEEK QUARANTINE

The cruise ship outbreak has prompted heightened precautions internationally.

In the Netherlands, Radboud University Medical Center quarantined 12 staff members after officials said a hantavirus patient’s blood and urine were not handled under the strictest international protocols required for the specific virus strain.

Hospital officials said the risk of infection to staff remained low but called the quarantine a precautionary measure.

The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius began after a Dutch cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.

According to the WHO, investigators believe the initial infection may have stemmed from rodent exposure during birdwatching excursions before boarding the ship.

Fox News Digital's Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

→ Joe Rogan podcast appearance tied to rise in demand for alternative cancer treatment

→ Hantavirus fears spark COVID flashbacks, but experts note major difference

→ Celebrity chef reveals No. 1 mistake sabotaging weight loss

→ Experimental obesity drug outperforms traditional weight-loss treatments

→ Simple body movement could help brain 'clean itself,' researchers find

→ Alzheimer’s risk slashed by eating more of common food, study suggests

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→ Andes virus linked to cruise ship deaths raises concern over human-to-human spread

→ Common health condition gets new name after global experts call current term ‘inaccurate’

A common over-the-counter medication combined with a home exercise program could help ease cognitive issues for cancer patients.

That’s according to a study from the University of Rochester, which tested the effects of physical activity and low-dose ibuprofen on patients receiving chemotherapy treatment.

"Chemo brain" (also called chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, or CRCI) is a known side effect of cancer treatment that can affect memory, concentration and multitasking ability. Up to 80% of people who receive chemo experience some degree of cognitive impairment, previous studies have shown.

BRAIN AGING MAY ACCELERATE AFTER CANCER TREATMENT, STUDY SUGGESTS

Rochester’s phase 2 trial studied 86 adult cancer patients in New York undergoing chemotherapy who were experiencing cognitive problems. The average age was 53 and nearly 89% of participants were women, according to a university press release.

Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups. One group participated in home exercise designed specifically for cancer patients, a second group combined the exercises with ibuprofen (200 milligrams, or one pill, twice a day), the third group took ibuprofen alone and a fourth took a placebo alone.

TWO POPULAR TYPES OF EXERCISE COULD REDUCE CANCER GROWTH, STUDY FINDS

The exercise program consisted of low to moderate-intensity activity, including progressive walking and training with resistance bands.

"This is one of the first studies specifically designed to assess these interventions for cancer-related cognitive impairment during chemotherapy in patients with multiple diseases using both performance-based cognitive assessments and patient-reported outcomes," said lead author Michelle C. Janelsins, Ph.D., MPH, of the University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute, in the press release.

After six weeks, exercise was linked to the clearest improvements in attention and cognitive function, according to input from family and friends. Those in the group who combined exercise and placebo showed better attention levels compared to those who took just a placebo.

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Participants who took only ibuprofen also showed greater cognitive improvements than the placebo group.

The findings suggest that ibuprofen may provide some improvement in cognitive function, although the benefits appeared to be smaller and less consistent than those seen with exercise.

This suggests that inflammation may contribute to cancer-related cognitive impairment, and that anti-inflammatory medications could be an effective therapeutic approach.

"We are encouraged by the findings of this trial that suggest possible benefits of both interventions for some cognitive domains," Janelsins said. "Clearly, we saw a more pronounced effect with exercise, which is notable considering the multiple health benefits of exercise for cancer survivors."

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No adverse side effects were reported during the trial.

The findings were published in Cancer, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

There were some limitations of the study, the researchers noted, including the small sample size and short duration. The effects were also not consistent across every measure of cognitive function.

As the majority of participants were women, the findings may not be generalized to broader populations.

Researchers are planning larger phase 3 trials to confirm whether ibuprofen and exercise can effectively improve chemo-related cognitive impairment.

"Since we saw cognitive benefits in some domains and not others, we will also consider additional doses and longer durations in future research trials," said Janelsins.

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Investigators emphasized that patients should speak with their oncology team before starting ibuprofen or exercise interventions during chemotherapy, as certain treatments or medical conditions could increase the risk of side effects and complications.

Concerns about rising hantavirus cases has Americans reflecting on the coronavirus pandemic.

Although COVID-19 began with a foreign strain and spread rapidly around the world, experts say it’s not likely that hantavirus will behave the same way.

The rare Andes virus, which was linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, is the only known hantavirus strain that has the capability to spread from person to person, usually through prolonged close contact.

RARE HANTAVIRUS HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION SUSPECTED ON LUXURY CRUISE SHIP WHERE 3 HAVE DIED

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel spoke with Fox News Digital about the similarities and differences between hantavirus and coronavirus, noting that there is "no comparison."

"You could say the comparison ends at that they're both single-stranded RNA viruses," he said. "That's a comparison, but [hantavirus] has been unchanged basically for decades."

Coronavirus was different because it began to mutate, which started to cause "all kinds of problems," Siegel noted.

"We don't know why it started to mutate, but this one doesn't appear to have done that," he said. "And every day that goes by seems to show that theory is correct – the genetics of it is the same."

DR MARC SIEGEL: HANTAVIRUS CRUISE OUTBREAK IS ALARMING BUT FEAR IS SPREADING FASTER THAN FACTS

"So, there's no comparison between these two viruses, other than that the single-stranded RNA viruses are both carried by animals."

Siegel added that COVID is an airborne virus, while hantavirus is mainly a secretion-borne virus, although it can be transmitted through dust and droppings in the air.

"It's not airborne ... in terms of respiratory droplets hanging in the air," he said. "It's very difficult to transmit."

While coronavirus "moved in the direction of humans in a significant way," hantavirus has not, except for "very rare" human-to-human transmission, according to the doctor.

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There have been hantavirus cases in the U.S. for decades, although they are "very rare," Siegel noted.

Certain factors of this disease spread are changing, including warming temperatures that are causing rodents to migrate north toward Buenos Aires, according to the doctor.

DEADLY CRUISE VIRUS TIMELINE SHOWS HOW HANTAVIRUS SPREAD AMONG PASSENGERS

The current outbreak stemming from the cruise ship did not help the cause, Siegel went on — but this spread doesn’t suggest that the virus has changed. Rather, it shows how close quarters on a ship are "very conducive" to spread, he said.

"Every day that goes by shows that ... we're not seeing a second generation of spread," he reiterated.

The better comparison to make is between hantavirus and bird flu, which is a predominantly animal-based virus that "occasionally infects humans," Siegel said.

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"There are billions of birds, and every year we talk about how it's going to cause a pandemic, but it would have to mutate significantly," he pointed out. "I feel that [hantavirus] would have to mutate significantly before it could go human to human in any significant way, because this is basically an animal virus … it's very comfortable inside a rodent host."

Siegel went on, "If you get this virus, you're in trouble, but getting this virus is very difficult."

Regarding fears that another global pandemic may be looming, Siegel said that just because one virus becomes widespread does not mean all viruses will.

"Coronaviruses are airborne anyway. This is not. And coronaviruses mutate a lot, and this does not," he said. "I'm much more concerned about flu than this. Flu can mutate all the time, and it's already going human to human all over the place, and it’s airborne."

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"Most infectious disease specialists are much more worried about flu than this, as deadly as this can be," he added.

"We're talking apples and oranges, and any comparison you make after that provokes fear."

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.

A new weight-loss drug variation is showing promise in early trials.

Research from the Institute for Diabetes and Obesity at Helmholtz Munich in Germany, published in the journal Nature, tested an experimental obesity and diabetes drug called GLP-1-GIP-Lani.

The drug combines GLP-1 and GIP — two natural hormones that help regulate appetite and blood sugar, similar to popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic — with PPAR activity, which may improve insulin sensitivity, inflammation, fat metabolism and liver health.

'NEXT OZEMPIC' AIMS TO DELIVER 30% WEIGHT LOSS WITH FEWER SIDE EFFECTS

The team of researchers, led by Professor Timo D. Muller at Helmoltz Munich, called the drug a quintuple agonist, as it targets five receptor systems.

In a press release, Muller described the drug as a "Trojan horse": the incretin component — hormones that help regulate blood sugar and appetite — allows it to enter target cells, and once inside, the PPAR "cargo" activates to help the body better use insulin, process fat and reduce inflammation.

This allows for the dosage of the drug to be lower, which could reduce side effects.

"A major advantage is the amount," Muller said. "Because the second component is not administered separately and systemically, but ‘travels along’ with the incretin part, it can be used at a dose that is orders of magnitude lower."

NEW WEIGHT-LOSS SHOT SHOWS MAJOR FAT REDUCTION, BUT EXPERTS URGE CAUTION

The study tested the drug combination in mouse models, including mice with diabetes-induced obesity, insulin resistance and genetic obesity.

In these mice, the compound was found to lower body weight, food intake, fat mass, blood sugar and insulin-related problems more than GLP-1 and GIP alone. It also outperformed semaglutide.

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The researchers reported that typical gastrointestinal side effects were similar to those seen with existing therapies.

"We see a principle with strong effects in the animal model — now the task is to optimize the approach for humans and move it toward the clinic," Muller said in the release.

Dr. Peter Balazs, MD, a hormone and weight-loss specialist practicing in New York and New Jersey, said the drug is designed to target obesity and insulin resistance "at multiple key sites simultaneously, including the brain, pancreas and metabolic tissues."

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"This is a novel mechanism because it's not just relying on a higher dose of an existing drug," he told Fox News Digital in an interview.

"Current GLP-1 medications are highly effective appetite suppressants, while this quintuple agonist seems to function both as an 'appetite brake' and a metabolic engine," he added.

While traditional GLP-1s primarily reduce appetite, slow gastric emptying and increase insulin secretion, this quintuple agonist "appears to do all of the above" while also "directly improving insulin sensitivity in the liver and muscle, reducing inflammation in adipose tissue and remodeling lipid metabolism," the expert confirmed.

"The result may be greater weight loss through a combination of caloric restriction, enhanced fat oxidation and potentially increased central energy expenditure," Balazs said.

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Although the drug provides a "promising direction for the future," Balazs noted that the study was conducted only on mouse models and there is no human safety or efficacy data, which means the drug cannot yet be recommended for clinical use.

"Additionally, it was conducted over a relatively short period of time, so we cannot draw conclusions about long-term effects," he added.

A case of clade I mpox — a more virulent version of the virus that causes monkeypox, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — has been confirmed in the U.S., as global health officials also monitor newly reported hantavirus cases in Europe.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) said Wednesday that the state’s first identified case of clade I mpox was detected in a person who recently traveled to Western Europe, where officials continue to monitor infectious disease activity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported new hantavirus cases in Spain and France, drawing attention to the rare but potentially severe disease, which can cause serious respiratory complications in humans.

Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents and can lead to severe respiratory illness, though cases remain rare, according to the WHO.

While health officials said the mpox case "does not pose a risk to the general public," they still encourage those who may be at risk to receive the JYNNEOS vaccine.

NEW MPOX STRAIN CONFIRMED IN US STATE FOR FIRST TIME

Mpox symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph nodes and a characteristic rash, according to CDC.

"Mpox hasn't gone away, and we want people to be protected, especially as many in our community prepare for travel, festivals, and gatherings this summer," CDPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said in the release.

"The vaccine is safe, effective and widely available. Completing the two-dose series is the best way to protect yourself and your partners."

HANTAVIRUS DEATHS ON CRUISE SHIP HIGHLIGHT DANGERS OF RODENT-BORNE DISEASE

Clade I and clade II mpox are genetically distinct forms of the virus with key differences in severity and geographic origin, according to the CDC and the WHO.

Clade I, historically identified in Central Africa, has been linked to more severe illness and higher mortality rates, with cases often involving more widespread rashes and complications.

Clade II, which has circulated primarily in West Africa, is generally associated with milder disease and drove the global outbreak beginning in 2022, when most patients experienced less severe symptoms and lower hospitalization and death rates, according to the WHO.

The CDC and WHO say distinguishing between the two clades helps guide risk assessments, particularly as international travel increases.

A Dutch hospital has quarantined a dozen staff members after reports of a protocol breach involving a patient infected with hantavirus, hospital officials said Monday.

The breach occurred last week at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands, after the facility admitted a patient tied to a rare and deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius luxury cruise ship.

The hospital said the patient’s blood and urine were not processed and were not disposed of using the strictest international protocols required for handling the specific hantavirus strain.

"Because of these circumstances, 12 employees will go in preventive quarantine for six weeks as a precaution despite the fact that the chance of infection is small," the hospital said.

RARE HANTAVIRUS HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION SUSPECTED ON LUXURY CRUISE SHIP WHERE 3 HAVE DIED

According to the hospital, when the patient was admitted May 7, the patient's blood was processed according to standard procedures but should have been handled under stricter protocols required for the nature of the virus.

Staff also realized Saturday that the most up-to-date international regulations for disposing of a hantavirus patient’s urine had not been followed. Instead, they had adhered to what was considered standard procedure.

Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans addressed the incident in Parliament Tuesday, reassuring officials the protocols that were followed were still considered strict.

"At Radboud Hospital in Nijmegen, strict procedures have been followed, but not the strictest procedures applicable in the case of this hantavirus," she said.

Hospital executives said they regretted what happened in a statement Monday, adding they remain committed to providing care for any new hantavirus patients who may arrive.

CRUISE SHIP LINKED TO DEADLY HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK ARRIVES OFF TENERIFE AS PASSENGER EVACUATION BEGINS

"Despite the fact that the chance of actual infection is very small, these measures have a major impact on all those involved. We regret that this happened in our [university medical center]. We will carefully investigate the course of events to learn from this so that it can be prevented in the future," Bertine Lahuis, chair of the hospital's executive board, said.

"Of course, we will ensure that the colleagues involved receive all the support they need. We have great appreciation for their commitment, and that of their colleagues, to ensure that care for the patient runs smoothly. In the meantime, our [university medical center] stands ready to admit any new patients should this be necessary."

The announcement marks a backtracking from earlier hospital statements during the patient’s admission that "appropriate isolation measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the virus, in accordance with internationally agreed protocols."

As of May 13, there have been 11 hantavirus cases — up from eight reported on May 8 — and three deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

THE EVERYDAY PLACES AMERICANS COULD BE EXPOSED TO HANTAVIRUS — WITHOUT KNOWING IT

The agency reported that two of the most recent cases have been confirmed and are from Spain and France. The French patient became symptomatic during repatriation, while the Spanish patient tested positive following repatriation and remains asymptomatic.

A third case returned inconclusive results, with the patient initially testing positive and later negative.

In total, eight cases are confirmed, two are probable and one is inconclusive. The three deaths also include two confirmed cases and one probable case.

Health officials say the virus can be deadly but poses a low risk to the public. Contact tracing for all individuals linked to the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship remains ongoing.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday added that it has deployed a team to the Canary Islands, where passengers disembarked, to provide onsite healthcare, including speaking with each American passenger at risk of potential exposure.

The CDC said it will not release exactly how many passengers are being monitored.

The outbreak began when a Dutch cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage. It is believed the initial infection was contracted by a passenger who may have been exposed to rodents during regional birdwatching activities prior to boarding, according to the WHO.

After multiple infection reports, the ship docked in Spain’s Canary Islands on May 10, where the remaining passengers and most of the crew were evacuated under quarantine protocols.

Passengers have been repatriated to their home countries for a recommended 42-day isolation period.

The ship, along with a skeleton crew of 25 and two medical professionals, then sailed to Rotterdam, Netherlands, The Associated Press reported.

Prescriptions for an antiparasitic drug spiked for cancer patients after a celebrity endorsed the medication during a recent episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast.

Ivermectin–fenbendazole, a combination of antiparasitic medications, was touted as an off-label cancer treatment during actor Mel Gibson’s January 2025 appearance.

Gibson spoke about three of his friends who had stage 4 cancer, noting that "all three of them don’t have cancer right now at all." 

When Rogan asked what treatments they used, Gibson replied, "Ivermectin, fenbendazole."

WOMAN WITH CANCER REVEALS THE DIET THAT SHE SAYS SAVED HER LIFE

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication used in humans and animals to treat infections caused by certain worms and parasites.

Fenbendazole, a veterinary antiparasitic drug used to treat worms in animals, belongs to the benzimidazole class of medications, according to medical sources.

"I don’t believe that there is anything that can afflict mankind that hasn’t got a natural cure for it," Gibson added.

Researchers from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, UCLA and the University of Michigan analyzed the health records of over 68 million patients in ambulatory care settings. 

HIDDEN VIRUS INSIDE GUT BACTERIA LINKED TO DOUBLED COLORECTAL CANCER RISK, STUDY FINDS

They checked for increases in same-day prescribing of ivermectin, plus a benzimidazole — albendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole or thiabendazole — with the goal of determining whether Gibson’s endorsement resulted in a spike.

After the episode, which was viewed 60 million times in the month after airing, overall prescribing rates nearly doubled, rising 2½ times among cancer patients.

Among those patients, larger increases were seen in men, White patients, people 18-64 and those who lived in southern states, the researchers found.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open Tuesday, did not measure any safety outcomes of the drug combination.

No clinical trials have supported the safety or effectiveness of ivermectin–fenbendazole for treating cancer, experts noted.

"Clinicians talk about how difficult it is when the patient demands or asks for a medication that they really feel passionately might help," lead author Michelle Rockwell, a health services researcher at Virginia Tech, said in a press release. "And that's where I think these celebrity influencers really play a big role."

While some laboratory and animal studies have shown that these drugs can promote anti-cancer activity, the required dose for even a small effect would "typically be considered toxic for humans," according to Dr. Skyler B. Johnson of the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute.

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Johnson, who was not involved in the research, shared with CIDRAP News his concerns about ivermectin’s effect on how the body processes cancer treatments and other medications.

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"This is happening in part because ivermectin has retained an allure as an alternative drug since COVID, but is not based on proven science," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital.

"Also, the desperation of fearful cancer patients regarding side effects of traditional medications fuels the increasing quest for alternatives."

While some preliminary evidence in laboratory and animal studies has suggested that ivermectin has some anti-cancer properties, especially when combined with immunotherapy, this is "hardly proof," Siegel added.

The study did have some limitations, including that it was observational in design and could not prove that Gibson’s appearance led to the increase in prescriptions. Also, the fact that prescriptions were ordered does not necessarily mean that they were filled or used.

It is also possible some patients sought out ivermectin without a prescription, perhaps from agricultural retailers who sell it for livestock.

There is also the potential that cancer status was misclassified, the researchers noted.

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The study also did not assess whether patients were taking ivermectin alongside conventional treatment or if they used it as a substitute.

"Clinical trials need to be done before this is even suggested to have a real role," Siegel added.

Patients should consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance before making treatment decisions, doctors say.

Amid the current hantavirus outbreak that started on the MV Hondius cruise ship as it sailed across the Atlantic, health experts are now examining whether Americans may be encountering the virus in everyday places without realizing it.

The rare Andes strain, which was linked to the MV Hondius outbreak, is the only known hantavirus that has the capability to spread from person to person, usually through prolonged close contact with an infected person.

Most cases of hantavirus in the U.S. occur in the desert Southwest and on the West Coast, according to Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann in the Houston area.

ANDES VIRUS LINKED TO CRUISE SHIP DEATHS RAISES CONCERN OVER HUMAN-TO-HUMAN SPREAD

"In Texas, cases are mostly seen on the west side of the state," she told Fox News Digital. "The strain of hantavirus native to east Texas and west Louisiana, the Bayou strain, is not as infectious in humans as the western strain, the Sin Nombre strain."

Hantavirus is mainly spread through contact with infected rodents – primarily deer mice – and their urine, droppings or saliva, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

People can become infected after breathing in contaminated particles that are stirred into the air or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their nose or mouth. More rarely, rodent bites can spread the virus.

HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK TIMELINE HIGHLIGHTS KEY MOMENTS IN DEADLY CRUISE CRISIS

Exposure is most likely when cleaning enclosed or poorly ventilated areas where rodents may nest unnoticed for weeks or months, health officials say.

Risky locations can include garages, sheds, cabins, attics, barns and crawl spaces. Storage units, stables, kitchen cabinets and spaces behind appliances if rodents are present.

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Rodents can also nest in unused cars, RVs, campers and boats, which can be sources of exposure when reopened.

The National Park Service says that most human cases of hantavirus occur in the spring and are linked to buildings that become heavily infested with rodents over the winter.

"Most people are exposed when cleaning out sheds and garages where rodents have been living," Yancey confirmed. "You can be exposed by just the dust and droppings left behind by rodents – you don't even need to even see the rodent to be exposed."

The risk of inhalation is also higher when opening buildings that have gone unused for longer periods of time, sweeping dusty floors or moving and unpacking boxes, experts cautioned.

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Rodent exposure is not limited to buildings. Health officials say people can also encounter hantavirus risk while handling firewood, working in rodent-prone outdoor areas or disturbing rodent nests and burrows. 

To prevent infection, if cleaning a structure that might have harbored rodents, Yancey recommends wearing a mask and using a diluted bleach solution to wet down any dust or loose debris.

"This will help kill the exposed virus and reduce the amount of infectious dust," Yancey said.

The CDC advises against vacuuming or sweeping rodent urine, droppings or nesting materials, as this can aerosolize the virus and increase the risk of inhalation.

Instead, health officials recommend wearing gloves, soaking rodent droppings with disinfectant, wiping them up with paper towels, properly disposing of waste and thoroughly cleaning surfaces, followed by careful handwashing.

Some signs of rodent activity can include droppings, shredded nesting materials, gnaw marks, strong musky odors and scratching sounds in the walls or ceilings, according to public health guidance.

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Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, emphasized that hantavirus is not something that most Americans encounter in daily life, and is more prominent in certain parts of Europe and Asia.

"It is very rare in the U.S. and is seen out west, but rarely," he told Fox News Digital. "We need to avoid overpersonalizing the risk of a very rare virus."

One of the passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship posted video showing his quarantine room at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha as officials monitor a hantavirus outbreak tied to the voyage.

Jake Rosmarin, a passenger currently under quarantine, has been documenting his experience on social media, posting videos from both the ship and the medical facility. Fox News Digital has not independently verified the video.

Health officials have said the passengers are being monitored out of caution after potential exposure to Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, and have emphasized that the risk to the public remains low.

In one recent clip, Rosmarin showed his room, which included a wall-mounted hand sanitizer, a thermometer and other health provisions. The room also featured a stationary bike.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER DESCRIBES UNCERTAINTY AFTER 3 DEATHS AMID HANTAVIRUS PROBE

"I can have stuff sent here for the duration of my stay, so I'm definitely going to be getting some things for me to feel more at home and more comfortable," Rosmarin said.

He added that he plans to continue sharing updates in the coming days and said he is currently feeling "well."

Rosmarin also said he has not tested positive for hantavirus.

The footage shows conditions inside the quarantine unit as health officials monitor passengers for potential exposure following the outbreak.

CDC SPELLS OUT NEXT STEPS AFTER AMERICANS EXPOSED TO HANTAVIRUS ON CRUISE SHIP

Health officials have said passengers may be allowed to leave the Nebraska facility before a 42-day monitoring period ends if they meet certain conditions, including remaining symptom-free and being able to safely isolate at home.

Officials will also evaluate whether individuals can maintain contact with local health departments and quickly access testing or medical care if symptoms develop.

Of the 18 individuals transported to the U.S. after the outbreak, 16 are in Nebraska and two are in Atlanta. Most are in quarantine, while one individual was placed in a biocontainment unit after an earlier test result.

Officials have emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low, noting that the Andes variant of hantavirus does not spread easily and typically requires prolonged, close contact with a symptomatic individual.

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has green-lit the first-ever non-antipsychotic drug treatment for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease patients.

The drug, Auvelity, was originally FDA-approved in 2022 for treating adults with major depressive disorder. Most recently, its use has been expanded for agitation associated with dementia.

Agitation is a common and "distressing" symptom in adults with Alzheimer’s, according to the agency. The condition is characterized by excessive motor activity, or verbal or physical aggression.

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The FDA noted that agitation can "significantly impact quality of life for patients and caregivers."

In a press release, the FDA commissioner commented that this approval "represents a significant advancement in our ability to help patients and families dealing with one of the most challenging aspects of Alzheimer's disease."

"With today’s action, patients and their families have access to an additional important treatment for complications of this devastating disease," he said.

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Tracy Beth Hoeg, MD, PhD, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, also reflected on the approval, noting that Auvelity was found to be "efficacious for treating agitation in Alzheimer’s disease" in two randomized trials.

The first study was a five-week trial of the drug, in which patients were assessed for the frequency of agitated behaviors based on caregiver reports. The results found Auvelity, which is made by Axsome Therapeutics in New York City, to be "significantly superior" in improving behaviors.

The second study looked at patients who responded to Auvelity and were then randomly assigned to continue treatment or switch, tracking how long it took for agitation symptoms to return.

Participants who continued Auvelity reported significantly longer time periods before relapse compared to those receiving placebo treatment.

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"[This approval] now represents an additional option to address one of the most difficult sequelae of the disease, especially as it progresses," Hoeg said in a statement. "We hope this approval will provide meaningful benefit to patients, their families and caregivers."

Auvelity is administered in rapid-onset extended-release tablets. The FDA urged healthcare providers to monitor blood pressure, screen for a medical history of bipolar disorder, and determine whether patients are taking other medications that contain bupropion or dextromethorphan before prescribing Auvelity.

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The most common side effects of the medication include dizziness, upset stomach, headache, diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction and uncontrolled sweating, according to the FDA.

The treatment can also cause seizures, with the risk increasing along with the dose. Other risks include elevated blood pressure, hypertension and mania in susceptible patients.

The drug's prescribing information also warns of increased suicidal thoughts in younger adults; providers should monitor patients for the emergence of these behaviors, the FDA advised.

CALLOUT: "It is a good choice [over] anti-psychotics in many cases, because it doesn't cause the same amount of drowsiness or other side effects."

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel applauded this approval in an interview with Fox News Digital.

The doctor said the treatment works on two brain targets — NMDA and sigma-1 receptors — helping to reduce agitation and depression in older adults with dementia, including Alzheimer’s patients.

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 "It is a good choice [over] anti-psychotics in many cases, because it doesn't cause the same amount of drowsiness or other side effects … and is much better tolerated by the heart in a very old person," Siegel added.