Trending News Today: Mosquitoes That Carry Zika Virus Spread Across United States

Over the past few years Theranos Inc has made headlines, both positive and negative. The latest on the startup company indicates they have reached a settlement with Walgreens Boots Alliance regarding an alleged breached contract. According to The Wall Street Journal, the tentative agreement calls for Theranos to pay Walgreens less than $30 million. Walgreens had once hosted approximately 40 Theranos blood-testing centers, providing a main conduit to consumers, the WSJ reported.

A new report shows a significant increase in mosquitoes that can spread the Zika virus across Southern counties, according to The Washington Post. Research from the CDC—–using updated data through 2016––found that 38 additional counties showed the presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, equating to a 21% increase compared with an early 2016 survey. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are 1 of 2 types that are primary transmitters or Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses. These counties were primarily located in Texas, but spread as far north as Illinois.

On Tuesday, the US Preventive Services Task Force issued recommendations advising clinicians to screen for obesity in children and adolescents 6 years and older, and offer or refer them to comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions to improve weight status. The new recommendations, published in JAMA, earned a “B” grade from the task force. The findings showed that comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions (³26 contact hours) in obese children and adolescents 6 years and older can result in improvements in weight status for up to 12 months. The harm of behavioral interventions is considered small to none, and the harms of screening are minimal. The task force concluded with moderate certainty that screening for obesity in children 6 years and older is of moderate net benefit.