Brazil sends meat safety report to EU, vows reinforced inspections

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said in a report to the European Union's food safety body on Friday that salmonella with a potential to harm public health had not been detected in lots of poultry due to be exported to the bloc.

Illinois judge halts sugary drink tax hours before implementation

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Illinois judge on Friday halted implementation of a measure that would have made Chicago the latest U.S. city to tax sweetened drinks, saying a lawsuit filed by retailers to block it must run its course.

Cancer patients should check drug list with pharmacist

(Reuters Health) - Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy should have all their medications and herbal supplements reviewed by a pharmacist who specializes in cancer therapy, researchers say.

African-Americans who buy Medicare Advantage fare worse

(Reuters Health) - Medicare Advantage insurance plans may be creating a disadvantage for black patients who need major surgery, a new study suggests.

France confirms case of H5N8 bird flu in the north

PARIS (Reuters) - The French agriculture ministry said on Friday that a case of the highly contagious H5N8 strain of bird flu had been confirmed on a farm in northern France and that it has put in place measures to contain the outbreak.

Canada's top court hands patent win to pharmaceutical companies

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's Supreme Court on Friday struck down rules making it easy for generic drug firms to overturn patents granted to pharmaceutical companies, a decision that removes an irritant in the run-up to talks on NAFTA.

Being active may reduce risk of chronic low back pain

(Reuters Health) - Regularly engaging in physical activity, from walking to intense exercise, may help to reduce the risk of chronic low back pain by as much as 16 percent, according to a new review of previous studies.

Oklahoma becomes 4th U.S. state to sue opioid drugmakers

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Oklahoma on Friday became the fourth U.S. state to accuse drugmakers of misrepresenting the risks of opioid pain medications, saying they engaged in deceptive marketing that helped fuel an addiction epidemic.

Prolonged breastfeeding ups risk of severe dental caries

(Reuters Health) - Breastfeeding at age 2 or older increases a child’s risk of severe dental caries by the time they’re 5, independently of how much sugar they get from foods, researchers say.

Centene to fill individual insurance gaps in Missouri

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Centene Corp, one of the largest providers of individual insurance created by Obamacare, said on Friday it would sell plans in 2018 in its home state of Missouri, a market where some individual customers were facing no insurance option next year.

Trump to Senate Republicans: kill Obamacare now, replace later

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump urged Republican U.S. senators on Friday to repeal Obamacare immediately if they cannot agree on a new health care plan to take its place.

Tobacco group Philip Morris sees iQOS as key to smokeless future in UK

LONDON (Reuters) - Cigarette maker Philip Morris International thinks its iQOS smokeless tobacco product can make Britain a country of non-smokers in coming years, an executive said on Friday.

Roche buys diabetes app-maker mySugr in digital health push

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche said on Friday it is buying Vienna-based diabetes management platform mySugr for an undisclosed price as it presses into app-based digital health services for people suffering from the metabolic disorder.