Axios

Bird flu has been spotted in dairy cows in at least eight states in recent weeks, but health officials said the trace amounts detected in grocery store milk this month are not infectious.

The big picture: More than 80 countries have reported bird flu outbreaks in in poultry and wild birds in the past two years, according to the World Health Organization. Ten countries across three continents have reported virus outbreaks in mammals.

Food recalls reached their highest level last year since before the pandemic, according to a new report released Thursday.

Why it matters: Outbreaks linked to recalled food products sickened 1,100 people and killed six in 2023, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund report found.

Even as Walgreens sheds major costs, the company is going big on its specialty drug business.

The big picture: The company said Thursday it will roll its specialty pharmacy assets under a new brand and will launch a new service helping manage the high costs and delivery of new cell and gene therapies.

Republicans are needling the Biden administration over a recent cut to Medicare plans, indicating a fight over the program's future could play a bigger role in this year's election.

Why it matters: While the Biden campaign views its Medicare record as a strength with a key voting bloc, recent attacks suggest Republicans see an opportunity to harness voter anger over potential cutbacks to Medicare Advantage — a program that's increasingly popular with seniors.

The U.S. will ramp up bird flu testing in dairy cows amid growing concern about spread of the virus among livestock.

Why it matters: While U.S. health officials say the risk to humans remains low, there are indications the outbreak may be more widespread among cows than known.

Xaira Therapeutics, an AI drug discovery startup, has launched with more than $1 billion in funding co-led by Arch Venture Partners and Foresite Capital.

Why it matters: Xaira is the landing spot for CEO Marc Tessier-Lavigne, the former Genentech chief scientific officer and Denali Therapeutics co-founder who last year resigned as Stanford University president after findings of research manipulation in his lab.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday will consider whether a federal law requiring hospitals to provide emergency care overrides Idaho's strict abortion ban.

Why it matters: The case justices will hear focuses on a key Biden administration effort to preserve abortion access and puts a spotlight on stories of pregnant patients who have been denied abortions in medical emergencies since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Federal regulators vastly under-enforced antitrust laws in the hospital sector in the last two decades, a new study finds.

Why it matters: Unchecked mergers during a period of rapid consolidation represent a significant factor in rising health costs, according to the study in the American Economic Review.

The Federal Trade Commission's vote on Tuesday to ban noncompete agreements could be a big deal for the health care workforce.

Why it matters: While the agreements are often thought of as a concern for senior executives and lower-income workers, sizable shares of doctors and nurses face employer restrictions on switching jobs.