— Health news and commentary gathered by MedPage Today staff
October 20, 2026 • 2 min read
Note that some links may require registration or subscription.
Former MIT biologist David Sabatini, PhD, was awarded $6 million in a sexual harassment defamationopens in a new tab or window suit. (New York Times)
More than 1.5 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products were recalledopens in a new tab or window by Kayem Foods due to a possible a temperature issue during storage, according to an announcement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture web site.
Meanwhile, Lidl announcedopens in a new tab or window a recall for one lot of Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the FDA reported.
Pope Leo XIV said he will gradually resume his dutiesopens in a new tab or window following surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. (NPR)
Republicans are delaying major action on abortionopens in a new tab or window until after the midterms. (The Guardian)
Here's what a U.S. Senate win for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtonopens in a new tab or window could mean for anti-abortion efforts. (ProPublica)
Federally qualified health centers are working to patch together care for people with complex medical issuesopens in a new tab or window who are underinsured and uninsured amid Medicaid cuts and soaring insurance costs. (New York Times)
The number of babies born in freestanding birth centers in the U.S. has grown substantially, according to a Commonwealth Fund reportopens in a new tab or window.
North Korea released apparent "proof of life" photos of Kim Jong Un following unverified rumors that he'd died from a brain hemorrhageopens in a new tab or window. (New York Post)
Nearly half of American women between ages 40 and 60 reported menopausal symptoms in 2025, and 15.6% of that group are taking prescription medications for symptoms, according to the CDCopens in a new tab or window.
Pennsylvania issued an alertopens in a new tab or window on measles cases during pregnancy and congenital measles.
Meanwhile, the U.S. reported 301 new measles cases in the past week, according to the Yale School of Public Health. Here's where they wereopens in a new tab or window.
Two physicians and former Republican Congressmen warned that the measles outbreak and mixed messaging on vaccinesopens in a new tab or window may hurt their party in the midterms. (STAT)
Prosecutors in Idaho are seeking the death penaltyopens in a new tab or window for Andrea Shaw, alleging she murdered her twin toddlers and rejecting her claim that they died after adverse vaccine reactions. (New York Times)
The NIH awarded nearly 12% fewer grants in fiscal year 2026 compared to the year before the second Trump administration, according to an AAMC analysisopens in a new tab or window.
Former Theranos employee and whistleblower Tyler Shultz said Elizabeth Holmesopens in a new tab or window was "almost unrecognizable" and looked like "a broken woman" in the new documentary, "You Can See Everything." (CBS News)
A man who died at an immigration detention centeropens in a new tab or window in Texas was denied his medication, his daughter claimed. (New York Times)