AM NEWSCALL
The long-anticipated disaster relief funding receives passage in DC. Kevin Gallagher has more
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A wedding attended by about 150 people in Abbeville is drawing more attention to such gatherings being potential super-spreader events for the coronavirus. More from Dave Brannen.
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AstraZeneca is hoping their monoclonal antibody treatment will receive emergency use authorization in the effort to help end the pandemic. Brooke Thorington has more.
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The long-awaited disaster relief funding has been approved by Congress and Senator Bill Cassidy says there’s about $600-million allotted for southwest Louisiana.
As for Hurricane Ida disaster-related funding, Cassidy estimates there’s around a billion for the state.
Cassidy says while there are funds in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that could be used to assist southwest Louisiana, he admits it’s going to be an uphill battle on Capitol Hill to get additional funding for housing-related to Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Republican congressmen Steve Scalise and Mike Johnson were the only members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation to vote against the funding resolution, which passed the Senate, 65-35, and the House, 254-175.
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State health officials are confirming a Covid-19 outbreak at a wedding in Abbeville late last month. It happened on September 25 at the L’Eglise with about 150 people in attendance. Several people developed Covid symptoms and tested positive for the virus. Dr. Tina Stefanski, medical director for Region 4 of the Office Public Health says efforts were undertaken to contact all of the attendees.
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Dr. Stefanski says there is concern that wedding attendees could further spread what has been an all too often deadly virus.
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According to Dr. Stefanski, the best way to protect yourself against Covid-19 in group gatherings like the Abbeville wedding is to get vaccinated, especially if you are elderly or have underlying health conditions.
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Another offering in the fight against COVID is seeking Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA. Astra Zeneca’s first-of-its-kind antibody treatment is used as a preventative from the virus. Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Lucio Miele says data in the AZD7442
Miele says the monoclonal medication will not be marketed as a substitute for the vaccines but more of an ancillary for those who are unable to be vaccinated because they have cancer or a compromised immune system…
The drug is a laboratory-made version of the virus-blocking antibodies that help fight off infections and Miele says so far it’s been shown to be long lasting thus will reduce the number of injections one would need.
The FDA has already authorized three other antibody drugs, including two that can be given after a COVID exposure. The AstraZeneca injection is meant to be given as a preventative for COVID.
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A medical center in Louisiana is leading the nation in using innovative robotic technology to diagnose lung cancer. Baton Rouge General pulmonologist Dr. Michael Sanchez says the new Monarch Platform can mean earlier, more accurate detection of lung cancers or pre-cancerous nodules. He says manual bronchoscopes can only be guided so far into the body…:
Use of Monarch was recently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Baton Rouge General wasted no time in getting the platform online. Dr. Sanchez says the robot will lead to safer & quicker diagnoses…:
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(He says a quicker diagnosis leads to greater potential for curing the lung cancer)
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Currently, low-dose CT scans are the primary method of diagnosis. Dr. Sanchez says the robotic Monarch Platform can move in ways a human guiding a scope simply cannot…:
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(Monarch was installed Tuesday at B.R. General and should be in service on patients by early November.)
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LSU let one get away last Saturday when they lost to Auburn at home for the first time since 1999. Tigers center Liam Shanahan says they can’t dwell on that defeat with a trip to 16th ranked Kentucky on Saturday
The offensive line has been a weakness for this team, but Shanahan believes they are close to executing at a much higher level…
LSU is a three-point underdog heading into Saturday’s game against Kentucky. The Wildcats are 5-0 on the season, but Shanahan says the Tigers are not lacking confidence…
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ULM is getting ready to host Georgia State this Saturday at 7 PM. The Warhawks enter the contest with a 2-and-2 record after getting crushed by 15th ranked Coastal Carolina 59 to 6 last week. ULM coach Terry Bowden says Coastal was the more talented team…
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Bowden says quarterback Rhett Rodriguez will not play again this week after suffering a collapsed lung on September 26th. He says Chandler Rogers will start again at quarterback this Saturday after throwing for just 100 yards against Coastal…