Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Salmonella Outbreak That Sickened 134 in 13 States Is Over: CDC
A total of 134 people in 13 states were sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to chicken produced by Foster Farms of Livingstone, Calif., according to a final investigation released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thirty-one percent of the infected people were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported. Most of the illnesses occurred in two states, Oregon (40) and Washington (57).
The outbreak appears to be over, the CDC said.
However, the agency noted that raw poultry from any producer can have salmonella. That's why it's important for consumers to follow proper food safety steps when handling raw poultry to help protect themselves and others from food-borne illness.
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Texas House Passes Stringent Abortion Bill
Controversial abortion limits were passed Wednesday by the Texas House, less than two weeks after Senate Republicans failed to pass the bill. A final vote could be held as early as Friday in the Senate.
The House voted mostly along party lines. On Tuesday, lawmakers spent more than 10 hours debating the bill and Republicans rejected every attempt to amend the bill, the Associated Press reported.
The bill bans abortions after 20 weeks, only allows abortions in surgical centers, and requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
Opponents of the bill say it would effectively ban abortions in much of the state by forcing the closure of 37 of its 42 abortion clinics. Supporters say it will improve the safety of women who have abortions.
Democrats are limited to trying to slow the bill down and lay the groundwork for a federal lawsuit to block the bill once it becomes law, the AP reported. Federal courts have ruled that states can regulate abortions but not to the point that they are impossible to obtain.
