Subtle signs your hotel room is teeming with infectious germs
Public health experts are warning people to be on the lookout for animal droppings in hotels that could signal they are at risk of contracting a deadly disease after a California man was found dead in his room from hantavirus.
Rodrigo Becerra, 26, died of the mice-borne infection after allegedly being exposed to mice feces at his job as a bellman at a hotel in Mammoth Lakes, California.
According to his sister Mariela Becerra, the young skier, who lived in the hotel's employee housing, had been sick for two weeks before texting her on March 5 to say he had been feeling 'like death'.
He went to the local Mammoth Hospital but was sent home the same day with antibiotics. A day later, on March 6, paramedics found him on the floor of his apartment not breathing and without a pulse.
His death has now been confirmed to be caused by hantavirus - a rare but severe respiratory illness spread through exposure to rodent droppings - the same disease that led to Gene Hackman 's wife's death.
Dr Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer said in a statement on April 3: 'We don't have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus. The home had no evidence of mouse activity.
'We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes. We haven't identified any other activities in the weeks before illness that would have increased this person's exposure to mice or their droppings.'
Rodrigo's death makes him the third person to die from the rodent virus in Mono County.
Mariela later told SFGate: 'They didn't think that anything was bad enough to admit him or keep him overnight, but for him to pass away the very next morning is frustrating.'
The coroner's report noted a chest X-ray 'showed a little abnormality in his left lung, but the heart appeared normal.'
In the US, hantavirus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) while in Europe and Asia, it can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
Victims can develop hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings or saliva.
At times, it can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent.
The virus was first identified in South Korea in 1978 when researchers isolated the virus from a field mouse.
Hantavirus and its associated hantavirus pulmonary syndrome are exceedingly rare in the United States, with only 864 known cases as of 2022, according to the latest data available by the CDC and less than 50 cases reported annually.
Only one to two people die every year of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the US.
This is partly because the US has fewer rodent species than Asian countries. Hantaviruses in the US primarily circulate in fewer rodent species compared to Asia and Europe, where multiple rodent species act as hosts.
Due to its rarity, doctors do not fully understand how the syndrome progresses, but it starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches and dry cough, appearing within one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent.
These then can rapidly progress to lung tissue damage, lung fluid buildup and even heart failure.
It's not clear how Becerra contracted the deadly disease, but officials said they 'observed some mice in the workplace.' However, other officials said they weren't concerned with the amount of rodent droppings observed.
David Andrews, the director of health and safety for Mammoth Mountain Ski Area later confirmed to SFGate that they found some rodent droppings in the area where Becerra worked.
'A very small amount of rodent droppings were found in the bell area and behind the front desk, very near the front entrance... The trace amounts found weren't concerning to health officials.'
He added there is 'no concern about workplace exposure... for employees or guests.'
A GoFundMe has since been launched by Mariela to raise funds to cover 'immediate expenses related to his unexpected passing.'
The fundraiser read: 'Those of us who were blessed enough to know my little brother knew that he was an adventurer at heart, always seeking out new experiences and embracing life with a fearless spirit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
The Latest: RFK Jr. removes entire CDC vaccine advisory committee
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once a leading anti-vaccine activist, has removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks. The 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services abruptly postponed its February meeting. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, signaled he would support the arrest of California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his handling of immigration protests in Los Angeles that flared over the weekend. 'Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing. He's done a terrible job,' Trump told reporters after his border czar, Tom Homan, warned that public officials would be arrested if they obstructed federal immigration enforcement. Homan later clarified that there was 'no discussion' about actually arresting Newsom, but reiterated that 'no one's above the law.' Here's the latest: Skeptical Republican senator seeks reassurances from Kennedy Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is a doctor who had expressed reservations about Kennedy's nomination but nonetheless voted to install him as the nation's health secretary. He says he spoke with Kennedy moments after the announcement. 'Of course, now the fear is that the (advisory committee) will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,' Cassidy says in a social media post. 'I've just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I'll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.' The committee had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services abruptly postponed its February meeting. During Kennedy's confirmation, Cassidy During Kennedy's confirmation, Cassidy had expressed concerns about preserving the committee, saying he had sought assurances that Kennedy would keep the panel's current vaccine recommendations. Kennedy did not stick to that. He recently took the unusual step of changing COVID-19 recommendations without first consulting the advisers. Major physicians and public health groups criticize Kennedy's move Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says the health secretary's decision sets 'a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe' by potentially reducing vaccine access for millions of people. Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, says Kennedy is going against what he told lawmakers and the public and that the association plans to watch Kennedy 'like a hawk.' Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, says Kennedy's move, coupled with declining vaccination rates across the country, will help drive an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases. Canada's prime minister says Washington no longer plays a predominant role on the world stage Mark Carney made the remarks in announcing Canada will diversify defense spending away from the U.S. Carney also says Canada will achieve NATO's spending target of 2% of gross domestic product five years earlier than previously planned. 'We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a predominant role on the world stage. Today, that predominance is a thing of the past,' Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. Trump's calls to make Canada the 51st U.S. state infuriated Canadians. Carney became prime minister after promising to confront the aggression shown by Trump. ▶Read more about Carney's remarks The Pentagon has deployed about 700 Marines to the Los Angeles protests The U.S. Northern Command announced the deployment in a statement. The command says the Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division will work with roughly 2,100 National Guard troops on the ground to protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents. The Marines are moving from their base at Twentynine Palms in the California desert on Monday. The troops have been trained in de-escalation, crowd control, and standing rules for the use of force and they will be armed with the weapons they normally carry. Trump administration urges court not to dismiss case against Wisconsin judge The administration argues that charges should not be dropped against the judge, who was indicted for allegedly helping a man evade U.S. immigration agents seeking to arrest him in her courthouse. Justice Department attorneys urged a federal judge to reject a motion filed by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan seeking to dismiss the charges against her, saying doing so would allow judges to be above the law. Dugan faces a July 21 trial in the case that escalated a clash between Trump's administration and opponents over the Republican president's sweeping immigration crackdown. ▶Read more about the case against Dugan Officials say Marines will be deployed to LA to respond to immigration protests Three U.S. officials say the Pentagon is expected to formally deploy about 700 Marines to Los Angeles in the coming hours to help National Guard members respond to immigration protests. The Marines are coming from their base at Twentynine Palms in the Southern California desert. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military plans. The deployment was first reported by CNN. ▶Read more about the deployment to Los Angeles RFK Jr. ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks. The 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services abruptly postponed its February meeting. Kennedy, who was one of the nation's leading anti-vaccine activists before becoming the nation's top health official, recently took the unusual step of changing COVID-19 recommendations without first consulting the panel. Kennedy, in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, said the committee members had too many conflicts of interest. Committee members routinely disclose any possible conflicts at the start of public meetings. Trump says Newsom's 'primary crime' is running for governor Amid threats to arrest Newsom if he interferes with federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, a reporter asked Trump to explain what crime the Democratic California governor may have committed. 'I think his primary crime is running for governor, because he did such a bad job,' Trump said. Trump repeated how much he actually 'liked' Newsom but thinks he's 'incompetent.' Trump says it's more appropriate for Saturday's military parade to celebrate Flag Day than his birthday Three events coincide on Saturday: the Army's 250th birthday, Flag Day and the president's 79th birthday. Trump told reporters at the White House that he isn't celebrating his birthday but is 'taking a little heat' over it. Flag Day celebrates the Stars and Stripes. 'Flag Day is the appropriate date to celebrate, not my birthday,' said Trump, who has long wanted to have a military parade in the District of Columbia. JD Vance and Homeland Security Department show interest in deporting men's fashion expert Derek Guy The vice president and DHS posted memes on social media about deporting the menswear expert. That came after Guy said in a Sunday post on X that his Vietnamese parents brought him into the U.S. without legal documentation. On Monday, the fashion guru critiqued Vance's tight fit in suits, saying in another post he thought he could 'outrun' Vance given the vice president's clothing choices. Trump talks up $1,000 accounts for newborns, but program still limited in scope Trump wants to make a significant but limited investment in newborn babies, laying out the terms for his 'Trump Accounts' in his tax cuts package. Trump said that every U.S. citizen born between the start of 2025 and the end of 2028 would receive $1,000 from the government in a tax-deferred account. The money would be invested in a stock index and only be accessible upon reaching adult status at 18. 'We'll pick a good one,' Trump said of the index. While the investment would be symbolically meaningful, it's a relatively small financial commitment to addressing child poverty in the wider $7 trillion federal budget. Trump says activist Greta Thunberg should take anger management classes Thunberg arrived at a port in Israel on Monday after Israeli forces boarded the Gaza-bound boat she was traveling on with other activists and detained them. The group was protesting Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Asked about Thunberg at the White House, Trump said, 'I think she has to go to anger management class. That's my primary recommendation for her.' Trump described the climate activist as a 'young, angry person,' but added, 'I don't know if it's real anger.' Trump says conversation with Netanyahu of Israel 'went very well' The president said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'discussed a lot of things.' 'It went very well,' he told reporters during an extended question-and-answer session at the White House. Trump is guarded on how trade talks are faring with China Asked if he had any updates on the negotiations his administration is conducting in London with Chinese officials, Trump told reporters: 'We are doing well with China. China's not easy.' Trump said that he wants to 'open up China' to U.S. products. China is the world's dominant manufacturer and the Trump administration has applied 30% tariffs on Chinese goods. The Trump administration had applied tariffs of as much as 145% on China but cut the import tax rates back for talks to occur that have shown signs of stalling over critical mineral issues for the U.S. and access to advanced technologies for China. 'If we don't open up China, maybe we won't do anything,' Trump said at the White House. 'But we want to open up China.' Trump suggests he'll move Tesla vehicle off White House grounds and not get rid of it Trump said he could move the red Tesla he bought to support Musk to one of any number of locations he owns. Administration officials had said last week after the public breakup between Trump and Musk that the president was thinking of selling the car. He's taking questions from reporters after an economic event at the White House. Trump also said he hasn't 'really thought' about speaking with Musk by phone. 'I imagine he wants to speak to me. If I were him, I'd want to speak to me,' Trump said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stands with Trump's decision to send National Guard over California's objections The South Dakota Republican said 'the president did what the local officials' weren't doing. 'Sometimes one has to step in and protect American citizens,' Thune said. CBO estimates 'extraordinary measures' to exhausted by end of September In a new report issued Monday, the Congressional Budget Office says it now estimates that if the debt limit remains unchanged, the government's ability to borrow using 'extraordinary measures' would likely be exhausted between mid-August and the end of September 2025. That date range is two weeks later than the CBO's previous estimations released in March. 'Extraordinary measures' are special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting its statutory debt ceiling. U.S. Treasury has already stopped paying into certain accounts, including the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund, to make up for the shortfall in funds. Once the extraordinary measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government's ability to borrow. President Donald Trump has continually called for abolishing the debt ceiling. Trump talks protests at beginning of White House event The president is holding an event to talk about investment accounts for newborn children, but he started by talking about the protests in Los Angeles. 'Thank goodness we sent out some wonderful National Guard,' he said. Trump criticized California leaders by saying 'they were afraid of doing anything.' 'We sent out the troops, and they've done a fantastic job.' Trump says he's giving a 'special award' to UFC champion Kayla Harrison Trump was in the audience at UFC 316 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday night when Harrison forced her opponent to quit late in the second round to win a championship in just her third UFC fight. Trump shared 11 seconds of video on his social media site of him and Harrison meeting after the match. The championship belt was around her waist. Some visa holders in Venezuela changed travel plans to arrive in US ahead of deadline and minimize airport issues But others who lack visas on Monday said the new restrictions may not make much of a difference because obtaining the required permits to travel to the U.S. was already costly and time-consuming, even before Trump's latest immigration measure. 'An uncle's visa expired, and since there is no (U.S.) embassy in Venezuela now, he would have had to go to another country to get one,' tech worker José Luis Vegas, 24, said in the capital, Caracas. 'Paying for hotels and tickets was very expensive, and appointments took up to a year … What more restrictions than that?' Venezuela and the U.S. severed diplomatic relations in 2019, when the U.S. stopped recognizing President Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate leader of the South American country. As a result, Venezuelans applying for U.S. visas began traveling to Colombia, Brazil, Curaçao and other countries for required appointments. Trump supports slapping the cuffs on Newsom The California governor and the White House have been feuding over how to handle protests in Los Angeles. It started when Tom Homan, the border czar, warned that anyone, including public officials, would be arrested if they obstructed federal immigration enforcement. 'No one's above the law,' he said on Fox & Friends, although he added that 'there was no discussion' about arresting Newsom. The California governor responded in an interview with MSNBC. 'Come after me, arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy,' Newsom said. Trump grinned when asked about the exchange after landing at the White House. 'I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great,' Trump said. 'Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing. He's done a terrible job.' Trump targets Newsom (again) After inspecting the site for a future flagpole, Trump spoke to reporters about the protests in California. 'I like Gavin Newsom, he's a nice guy, but he's grossly incompetent,' the president said, complaining about 'the little railroad he's building' that is '100 times over budget.' It's a reference to the much-delayed high-speed rail project, which predates Newsom's tenure. Trump also criticized the protesters. 'The people that are causing these problems are professional agitators, they're insurrectionists, they're bad people. They should be in jail.' Trump says sending National Guard to LA protests was a 'great decision' In a post on his social media site, Trump said the city would have been 'completely obliterated' otherwise. Protests over the president's immigration crackdown spared much of Los Angeles from violence. Weekend clashes swept through several downtown blocks and a handful of other places. Trump wrote that Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass should thank him. He accused them of being untruthful for saying Guard troops weren't necessary. Trump checks out spot for new flagpole The president isn't just remaking the Rose Garden. He wants to install two large flagpoles, one on either side of the White House. When he stepped off Marine One, he walked to a bulldozer that was positioned on the South Lawn to dig a foundation for the pole. Trump posed for a photo with workers. Trump's project to pave over the Rose Garden lawn has begun The project is expected to be completed in about two months, or during the first half of August, a White House official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to comment publicly about intended changes to the property. Trump said months ago that he planned to pave over the lawn in the Rose Garden because it's always wet and inconveniences women in high heels. Leader Schumer statement on President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to California 'Donald Trump — in the midst of a war with Elon Musk and his ugly tax bill that would rip health care from 17 million people — is in desperate need of a diversion. His order to deploy the National Guard in California is unnecessary, inflammatory, and provocative. Trump should immediately revoke his command to use the National Guard, and leave the law enforcement to the governor and the mayor, who are more than capable of handling the situation. Americans do not need or deserve this unnecessary and provocative chaos.' 16 states suing Trump administration over plan to allow sale of forced-reset triggers The lawsuit, which is also over plans to return seized devices, was announced Monday. The states argue that returning the triggers, which make semiautomatic rifles fire more rapidly, would violate federal law, pose a threat to residents and law enforcement and worsen gun violence. The administration announced the deal last month. It resolves a series of cases over the aftermarket trigger the government had previously argued qualify as machine guns under federal law, saying they're essentially illegal machine gun conversion devices because constant finger pressure on the triggers will keep a rifle firing essentially like an automatic weapon. Latinas for Trump founder says she's now disappointed by recent escalation of immigrant arrests 'I have always supported Trump, @realDonaldTrump, through thick and thin. However, this is unacceptable and inhumane,' said Ileana Garcia, a Florida state senator who in 2016 founded the group Latinas for Trump and was hired to direct Latino outreach. She posted the message on X over the weekend. 'I understand the importance of deporting criminal aliens, but what we are witnessing are arbitrary measures to hunt down people who are complying with their immigration hearings — in many cases, with credible fear of persecution claims — all driven by a Miller-like desire to satisfy a self-fabricated deportation goal.' Garcia was referring to Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump's immigration crackdown. Garcia also said 'this is not what we voted for.' However, Trump promised voters he would conduct the largest domestic deportation operation in American history to expel millions of immigrants in the country illegally. Democrats are drawing closer to the crypto industry despite Trump divisions As President Trump builds a crypto empire — including hosting a private dinner with top investors at his golf club — Democrats have united in condemning what they call blatant corruption from the White House. But the Democratic Party's own relationship with the emerging crypto industry is far less cut and dried. Work in the Republican-led Senate to legitimize cryptocurrency by adding guardrails has drawn backing from some Democrats, underscoring growing support for the industry in the party. But divisions have opened over the bill, with many demanding it prevent the Republican president and his family from directly profiting from cryptocurrency. 'I'm all on board with the idea of regulating crypto,' said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. 'But at this moment, when cryptocurrency is being so clearly used by Donald Trump to facilitate his corruption, I don't think you can close your eyes to that when you're legislating.' ▶ Read more about Democrats and cryptocurrency Rare earth minerals expected to be the major issue in China-US trade talks A senior White House official says he expects a 'short meeting with a big, strong handshake' on the export of rare earth minerals from China. Appearing on CNBC this morning, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said it was a 'very significant, sticking point' because China, which controls the processing of critical minerals, has been 'slow rolling' in sending the materials to U.S. over licensing requirements. 'It could potentially disrupt production for, you know, some U.S. companies that rely on those things,' Hassett said. High-level U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting today in London for their latest round of trade talks. California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sue Trump over National Guard deployment Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC he plans to file suit Monday against the Trump administration to roll back the Guard deployment, which he called 'an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act.' Trump has cited a legal provision that allows him to mobilize federal troops when there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.' But Newsom said he believed the president was required to coordinate with the state's governor before ordering such a deployment. 'We're going to test that theory with a lawsuit tomorrow,' Newsom said Sunday night. ▶ Follow live updates on the immigration protests Preparations underway for military parade Security precautions are already being put in place ahead of this Saturday's military parade. Workers were assembling black metal barriers near the White House on Monday morning. More information on preparations will be announced in the afternoon during a briefing with local and federal officials. Trump expected to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The American and Israeli leaders plan to speak Monday morning, according to a White House official. The official requested anonymity before a public announcement. Trump has been pushing for a nuclear agreement with Iran, while Netanyahu is wary of the diplomatic effort. — Seung Min Kim ABC News suspends correspondent for calling Trump administration official a 'world class hater' ABC News has suspended correspondent Terry Moran for calling Trump administration deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller a 'world class hater' in a since-deleted social media post. Moran's post was swiftly condemned by administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance. ABC News, in a statement, said it 'stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others.' The network said Moran was suspended pending further evaluation. Moran, in his post on X at 12:06 a.m. on Sunday, said President Trump was a hater, too. But he wrote that for Trump, his hatred is a means to an end, 'and that end is his own glorification.' For Miller, 'his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.' Trump's Monday schedule, according to the White House This morning, Trump is traveling back to the White House from Camp David. Later today, at 2 p.m., he'll participate in an 'Invest America Roundtable' event at the White House. Trump was awake past midnight raging against the protests in LA and calling for a crackdown 'Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!' he wrote on Truth Social at 12:16 a.m. ET. Trump has already deployed 300 members of the National Guard over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The military said 500 Marines were on standby. 'ARREST THE PEOPLE IN FACE MASKS, NOW!' Trump wrote at 12:19 a.m. Trump cited Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell's recent comments to defend his response to the protests. 'Don't let these thugs get away with this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!' Trump wrote at 12:14 a.m. 'This thing has gotten out of control,' McDonell said Sunday. 'We have great cops in Southern California here that work together all the time,' he said. But he added that 'looking at the violence tonight, I think we gotta make a reassessment.' US and China are holding trade talks in London after Trump's phone call with Xi High-level delegations from the U.S. and China are meeting in London on Monday to try and shore up a fragile truce in a trade dispute that's roiled the global economy. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng was due to hold talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at a U.K. government building. The talks, which are expected to last at least a day, follow negotiations in Geneva last month that brought a temporary respite in the trade war. The two countries announced May 12 they had agreed to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. ▶ Read more about trade talks between the U.S. and China In the 'Bethesda Declaration,' NIH scientists step forward en masse to denounce their agency's direction Scores of National Institutes of Health scientists have gone public to assail deep program cuts and upheaval at their agency under the Trump administration. On Monday, more than 90 current employees sent their leader a letter entitled the Bethesda Declaration. It's a frontal challenge to policies it says 'undermine the NIH mission, waste our public resources, and harm the health of Americans and people across the globe.' By signing their names, the NIH employees gave up the veil of anonymity common in Washington — and put their jobs at risk. Their declaration was endorsed anonymously by 250 other NIH researchers and staff. Altogether, employees from all 27 NIH institutes and centers registered their dismay with the agency's direction. ▶ Read more about dissent at the National Institutes of Health Trump says Elon Musk could face 'serious consequences' if he backs Democratic candidates Trump is not backing off his battle with Elon Musk, saying Saturday that he has no desire to repair their relationship and warning that his former ally and campaign benefactor could face 'serious consequences' if he tries to help Democrats in upcoming elections. Trump told NBC's Kristen Welker in a phone interview that he has no plans to make up with Musk. Asked specifically if he thought his relationship with the mega-billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX is over, Trump responded, 'I would assume so, yeah.' 'I'm too busy doing other things,' Trump said. The president also issued a warning amid chatter that Musk could back Democratic lawmakers and candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. 'If he does, he'll have to pay the consequences for that,' Trump told NBC, though he declined to share what those consequences would be. Musk's businesses have many lucrative federal contracts. ▶ Read more about Trump's comments Mike Johnson downplays Musk's influence and says Republicans will pass Trump's tax and budget bill Johnson took clear sides Sunday in Trump's breakup with mega-billionaire Elon Musk, saying Musk's criticism of the GOP's massive tax and budget policy bill will not derail the measure, and he downplayed Musk's influence over the GOP-controlled Congress. 'I didn't go out to craft a piece of legislation to please the richest man in the world,' Johnson said on ABC's 'This Week.' Johnson said he has exchanged text messages with Musk since he came out against the GOP bill. Musk called it an 'abomination' that would add to U.S. debts and threaten economic stability. He urged voters to flood Capitol Hill with calls to vote against the measure, which is pending in the Senate after clearing the House. His criticism sparked an angry social media back-and-forth with Trump, who told reporters over the weekend that he has no desire to repair his relationship with Musk. The speaker was dismissive of Musk's threats to finance opponents — even Democrats — of Republican members who back Trump's bill. ▶ Read more about Johnson's comments Trump's new travel ban takes effect as tensions escalate over immigration enforcement Trump's new ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries took effect Monday amid rising tension over the president's escalating campaign of immigration enforcement. The new proclamation, which Trump signed last week, applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don't hold a valid visa. The new ban does not revoke visas previously issued to people from countries on the list, according to guidance issued Friday to all U.S. diplomatic missions. However, unless an applicant meets narrow criteria for an exemption to the ban, his or her application will be rejected starting Monday. Travelers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the U.S. even after the ban takes effect.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Pharmacy group withholds endorsing CDC's latest vaccine recommendations
June 9 (Reuters) - The American Pharmacists Association will withhold endorsing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest immunization schedule, which removed the recommendation for pregnant women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC said last month COVID-19 vaccines remain an option for healthy children when parents and doctors agree that it is needed. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic who oversees the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, had announced the change in recommendations before the CDC updated its website. "COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been proven safe and effective. Additionally, this vaccine is not associated with any fertility issues in either women or men," the association said on Monday. APhA's said pregnancy is a high-risk condition, and, people who are pregnant should be recommended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
RFK Jr orders MAJOR shakeup among top vaccine advisors as he unleashes blitzkrieg against CDC
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday booted every member of a committee that advises the CDC on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks in a massive shakeup. He said in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Monday that all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with be 'retired.' Kennedy, one of the nation´s leading anti-vaccine skeptics before becoming the nation´s top health official, has not said who he would appoint to the panel, but said it would convene in just two weeks in Atlanta. Although it´s typically not viewed as a partisan board, the Biden administration had installed the entire committee. 'Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028,' Kennedy wrote 'A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science. ' Kennedy said the committee members had too many conflicts of interest. Committee members routinely disclose any possible conflicts at the start of public meetings. Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, called Kennedy's mass ouster 'a coup.' 'It´s not how democracies work. It´s not good for the health of the nation,' Benjamin told The Associated Press. Benjamin said the move raises real concerns about whether future committee members will be viewed as impartial. He added that Kennedy is going against what he told lawmakers and the public, and the public health association plans to watch Kennedy 'like a hawk.' 'He is breaking a promise,' Benjamin said. 'He said he wasn´t going to do this.' Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, called the committee a trusted source of science- and data-driven advice and said Kennedy´s move, coupled with declining vaccination rates across the country, will help drive an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases. 'Today´s action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP undermines that trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives,' Scott said in a statement. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who had expressed reservations about Kennedy´s nomination but voted to install him as the nation´s health secretary nonetheless, said he had spoken with Kennedy moments after the announcement. 'Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,' Cassidy said in a social media post. 'I´ve just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I´ll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.' Cassidy, a physician, had major concerns with Kennedy's ever-changing position on vaccines, but in the end, he was convinced by Kennedy and MAGA allies to back the known vaccine skeptic. 'Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed that he and I would have an unprecedentedly close, collaborative working relationship if he is confirmed,' Cassidy said on the floor of the Senate after advancing his nomination. 'We will meet or speak multiple times a month. This collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective,' Cassidy claimed. Cassidy, who chairs the HELP Committee, grilled Kennedy over his stance on vaccines and pressed him to deny there were a link between vaccines and autism, but Kennedy would not unequivocally say it. At the end of the hearing, the senator said he was 'struggling' with Kennedy's over his past statements which undermined confidence in childhood vaccines. The committee had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services abruptly postponed its February meeting. During Kennedy´s confirmation, Cassidy had expressed concerns about preserving the committee, saying he had sought assurances that Kennedy would keep the panel's current vaccine recommendations. Kennedy did not stick to that. He recently took the unusual step of changing COVID-19 recommendations without first consulting the advisers. The webpage that featured the committee´s members was deleted Monday evening, shortly after Kennedy´s announcement. Longtime Trump foe Sen. Mitch McConnell, 82, was the only Republican to vote against RFK Jr. He also voted 'no' on Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and Pete Hegseth for Pentagon chief. Trump tapped the 70-year-old former Democrat to be the country's top health official with the mandate to 'Make America Healthy Again.' But Kennedy was put under the microscope ahead of the vote for his past controversial stances on vaccinations, abortion and for promoting conspiracy theories. The vote came after Kennedy cleared a procedural hurdle early Wednesday where senators voted directly along party lines to advance his nomination. But his entire confirmation path was rocky as the nominee faced pushback from Democrats who accused him of being anti-vaccine and anti-science. Some members of his famous Kennedy family also came out against his confirmation with scathing attacks on his character. But Kennedy and Trump struck up a relationship which paid off after the onetime Democratic and then Independent presidential candidate dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Trump last summer. Trump named his one-time critic his pick to be the country's top health official just days after the November election.
