Parasite Outbreak, Catnip for Mosquitos, & An Age-defying Waterskier

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Adam Rogers
July 09, 2026

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Michigan has confirmed at least 992 cases of cyclosporiasis since June 22, with 36 hospitalizations, making it one of the state's largest recorded outbreaks of the intestinal illness. Michigan typically reports only about 50 cases in an entire year.
Health officials believe the outbreak is linked to contaminated fresh produce, but they have not identified a specific fruit, vegetable, grower, or supplier. The parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with feces and has been tied to imported produce in previous outbreaks.
The CDC is also investigating 145 cases reported across 17 other states since May, though Michigan's outbreak accounts for the vast majority of recent infections. Symptoms typically begin about a week after exposure and commonly include severe watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.

A German palliative care doctor was sentenced to life in prison yesterday after being convicted of murdering 15 patients between 2021 and 2024. Prosecutors said Johannes M., 41, used lethal combinations of sedatives to kill patients ranging in age from 25 to 94, and in some cases set fire to their apartments to conceal the crimes.
The doctor confessed this week to killing patients, telling the court he now understood "the extent of the suffering" he had caused. Investigators said he administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant without patients' knowledge, causing respiratory failure within minutes.
Authorities believe the 15 convictions may represent only a fraction of the deaths linked to the doctor. Prosecutors are investigating more than 70 additional suspicious patient deaths, making it one of Germany's largest suspected serial murder cases involving a medical professional.

Researchers testing a catnip-based mosquito repellent in Uganda found that a lotion containing 6% catnip oil was as effective as a 15% DEET repellent at preventing mosquitoes from landing on volunteers.
The active ingredient, nepetalactone, is the same compound that attracts cats. Researchers said the lotion can be produced locally using catnip grown in Uganda, offering a lower-cost alternative to commercial repellents that are often too expensive for rural communities.
The project is aimed at helping combat malaria, which infected an estimated 282 million people and killed about 610,000 worldwide in 2024. Researchers plan to expand local production, though outside experts said additional studies are needed to measure how well people consistently use the repellent in everyday settings.

A federal judge ordered the release of E. Jean Carroll's $5.8 million award after the Supreme Court declined to hear President Trump's appeal. (More)

President Trump said the US was preparing additional strikes against Iran after both sides resumed attacks following the collapse of a ceasefire. (More)

Colorado State University sharply lowered its Atlantic hurricane forecast, predicting a well-below-normal season as a strong El Niño suppresses storm development. (More)

Britain will conditionally pardon Ruth Ellis, the country's last executed woman, more than 70 years after her hanging for murdering her abusive partner. (More)

Authorities recovered the wreckage of a cargo plane that disappeared near Karachi as the search continued for five missing crew members. (More)

Mexico is investigating whether the United States violated its sovereignty in the 2024 capture of alleged Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday (S&P -0.28%, Nasdaq +0.20%, Dow -1.09%). Rising oil prices pushed the Dow down after Trump said the US ceasefire with Iran is over. (More)

Delta Air Lines introduced lower-cost business and first-class fares that remove perks such as seat selection and lounge access to further segment premium cabins. (More)

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is raising about $10 billion in its first outside funding round, valuing the rocket company at roughly $130 billion. (More)

Mark Cuban accused Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont of freezing him out of business opportunities tied to the team's proposed new arena development. (More)

European lawmakers and a rights group are pushing separate investigations into FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the Folarin Balogun suspension controversy. (More)

"The Pitt" led Emmy nominees with 25, while "Hacks" set a comedy record with 24 nominations in its final season. (More)

Archaeologists in Thailand discovered two 2,000-year-old gold rings, including one engraved with ancient Indian script, alongside human remains at a newly identified site. (More)

A study found that former NFL players were nearly four times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases despite having lower overall mortality than the general population. (More)

Iron powder could complement hydrogen as a long-term renewable energy storage method, helping store and transport clean energy with existing infrastructure. (More)

First American woman rows boat from California to Hawaii.

World’s oldest waterskier is 95.

Man lived in Arizona for 8 years, amassing 1,000 lbs of trash.

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