Missouri Surgeons Separate Twins Conjoined at Head

Surgeons at a children's hospital in Missouri successfully separated infant twin sisters who were born conjoined at the head. The procedure was performed earlier this year, according to hospital officials cited by ABC News.

A separate report from Reuters details the ongoing sale of dangerous, mercury-containing skin-bleaching products. These items have evaded international bans and are available on major online marketplaces like Amazon.

Health Alerts and Outbreaks

In North Carolina, a teenager died after contracting the rare brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. State and local officials said the likely source of infection was a water feature at a community center.

Pennsylvania is experiencing a measles outbreak centered in Lancaster County. The outbreak has led to a surge of patients at local clinics and hospitals.

Michigan's school vaccine waivers reached a new high in 2025.

Medical Research and Policy

A BMJ investigation suggested some adverse events linked to mRNA COVID vaccines may have been initially missed. The report indicates officials might not have covered all bases in statistical analyses of real-world monitoring data.

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine issued a statement on managing high-risk pregnancies where abortion care is restricted. Separately, the Center for Reproductive Rights sued Oklahoma on behalf of two women who fled the state for abortion care. The lawsuit seeks to expand access for families facing fatal fetal diagnoses.

Broader Health Trends

Employer-sponsored health insurance plans are expected to adjust their coverage of GLP-1 drugs, according to a Washington Post report. In a Commonwealth Fund survey, nearly one in three adults with private insurance said they were paying off medical debt over time.

A national study showed a majority of U.S. Adults have experienced physical violence. Nearly half have experienced sexual violence.

Following several high-profile medication errors, Nashville's Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown hospital implemented corrective measures. The hospital stated it is now back in good standing for CMS reimbursement.

Progress is being made against an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization Director-General said transmission is going down in parts of Ituri province.

In Japan, the number of people aged 100 or older crossed the 100,000 mark this year. The tally reached 107,677 centenarians, an increase of 7,914 from the previous year.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said she no longer has evidence of breast cancer after months of treatment. In unrelated legal news, the NIH was sued by researchers who argue the Trump administration violated the First Amendment by canceling scientific grants based on certain keywords.