The US Food and Drug Administration has approved TNKase or Tenecteplase, which is a thrombolytic or clot-dissolving agent, for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in adults.

Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in your brain. It can cause permanent brain damage and death. If enough brain cells die, you can also lose the abilities or body functions those cells control. They are also the most common types of stroke, with 80% of all strokes being ischemic strokes.

How is TNKase administered?

It is delivered as a single five-second intravenous bolus, which is faster than the standard of care Activase or alteplase, which is administered as an intravenous bolus followed by a 60-minute infusion. The manufacturer of TNKase, Genetech said a new 25-mg vial configuration will also be available in the coming months.

How Was TNKase approved?

The approval came at the backdrop of a study that compared TNKase to Activase in patients with acute ischemic stroke. These patients also presented with a disabling neurological deficit. Results show that TNKase was comparable to Activase in terms of efficacy and safety.

How Common Are These Strokes?

In the United States it self, it affects more than 795,000 people each year and is the leading cause of long-term disability. It is also the fifth leading cause of death. Since brain damage can happen if this progresses rapidly, one needs an immediate, fast-acting medical care.

TNKase thus provide a faster and simpler administration which can be critical for anyone. The chief medical officer and head of global product development at Genetech, Levi Garraway, MD., PhD., said, "Today's approval is a significant step forward and underscores our commitment to advancing stroke treatment options for patients."

What Are The Symptoms Of Ischemic Strokes?

Some of the most common symptoms include weakness or paralysis on one side of your face and body. You may also feel trouble speaking or have loss of speech, also known as aphasia. You may faced slurred or garbled speaking, also known as dysarthria. Other symptoms include loss of muscle control on one side of your face, or sudden worsening or loss of your senses, including vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

Other symptoms include:

• Loss of coordination or clumsiness
• Blurry vision or double vision
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neck stiffness
• Mood swings or sudden personality changes
• Confusion or agitation
• Seizures
• Memory loss (amnesia)
• Headaches which are sudden and severe
• Passing out or fainting
• Coma

Are There Any Warning Signs?

While these are symptoms one has who is prone to this condition. However, often, many may confuse it with other illnesses. It is best to keep an eye out for warning signs. These could be looking out for yourself or your loved one. Note if there is a sudden loss of balance. Look out for sudden vision loss or changes in one or both eyes. Look for a droop on one or both sides of your face, especially when you smile. Raise both arms and see if one arm sags or drops in a way it usually does not. Note for your speech. Are you as fluent? Are you have trouble speaking? If you see any of such signs, start tracking it and talk to your healthcare provider.

The White House has informed that US President Donald Trump is getting another medical and dental checkup at the end of May.

This will be his fourth publicized visit to medical experts in his second term as US President. The White House described it as "an annual physical and regular preventive care", AP reported.

Trump, who turns 80 next month, will see his doctors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26, the White House said in a brief statement.

The president’s health has been the subject of tremendous scrutiny — ranging from his mental state to visible bruising around his hands.

While past presidents have opted for the White House's on-site clinic, Trump went for a local dentist instead, a choice he made previously in January.

Trump — who has been frequently critical of former President Joe Biden for age-related health and fitness issues — has recently remarked how good he feels despite his years.

Earlier Monday, Trump said he feels the same as he did 50 years ago. “I feel literally the same,” he said at an Oval Office event. “I don’t know why. It’s not because I eat the best foods”, AP reported.

Last week, he joked about his exercise regimen, saying that he works out “like about one minute a day, max.”

Also read: Was Trump Sleeping During Oval Office Event? White House Reacts

Trump's Health Checkups

The first visit was reported last April, when Trump had a checkup after noticing what the White House described as “mild swelling” in his lower legs. Tests by the White House medical unit found that Trump had chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common in older adults that causes blood to pool in his veins.

During the medical exam in October, which the White House called a “semiannual physical,” he also got his yearly flu shot and a COVID-19 booster vaccine. He later told The Wall Street Journal that he underwent advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen in October as preventive screening.

The upcoming evaluation follows two other recent visits to a local dentist near his estate in Florida, where Trump often spends his weekends.

Also read: Donald Trump’s Swollen, Heavily Bruised Hands Raise Fresh Health Concerns

Experts Claim Trump's Mental Health Is Deteriorating

Read More: Fact Check: Can Ivermectin Help Treat Hantavirus?

A group of medical experts has sounded the alarm over what they’ve described as Trump’s deteriorating mental health, The Daily Beast Reported.

The three dozen medical professionals include neurologists, psychiatrists, and other physicians with extensive experience diagnosing cognitive disorders and evaluating patients.

The experts have not specifically examined Trump face-to-face. But, based on his statements and behaviors over the past year, they stated that he’s “mentally unfit” and must be removed from office “with the greatest urgency” amid the escalating tension around the world, the report said.

“It is our professional opinion that they (Trump's statements) reflect a rapidly worsening, reality-untethered, increasingly dangerous decline,” the experts said in a statement.

They also listed some of Trump’s observable serious medical issues, such as “Marked deterioration in cognitive functioning, evidenced by disorganized and tangential speech, rambling digressions, factual confusions, unexplained sudden changes of course in strategic matters, both national and international, episodes of apparent somnolence during critical public proceedings.”

In yet another video sparking concerns about US President Donald Trump’s health, he appeared to doze off during an Oval Office event on maternal healthcare.

This is not the first time Trump’s sleeping habits have sparked public discussion. His unusual late-night social media activity has frequently drawn attention online.

But the latest video shows the 79-year-old President, the oldest person elected US president, apparently falling asleep as the attendees stood behind the POTUS' chair spoke.

Also Read: Donald Trump Says Hantavirus Is 'Under Control'; Questions Grow Over CDC Research Cuts

The video immediately went viral on social media and sparked concerns around Trump's health, despite White House's assurances that he is “excellent” and fit to perform Presidential duties.

Some users on X called Trump "Sleepy Don", others said he is not physically fit to be the President.

“Today is Monday. That means Trump falls asleep at yet another high-profile event with cameras rolling," California Rep. Ted Lieu wrote. "Imagine what happens when there are no cameras. Trump is not mentally or physically fit to be President of the United States."

"Trump fell asleep with his face drooping in the Oval Office during a meeting today. This is a real video that should concern every American. He’s not fit to serve," wrote another user.

However, the White House responded angrily, stating that he was “blinking” and not asleep.

“He was blinking, you absolute moron,” the Rapid Response 47 account said.

White House Splits Shifts To Keep Up With Trump

Earlier, Susie Wiles, chief of staff to Trump, revealed how senior White House aides manage the President’s unusual sleep schedule and late-night work habits behind the scenes.

Trump’s habit of posting on Truth Social late at night and remaining active during overnight hours has long fueled curiosity about how much sleep he actually gets.

Speaking during the Independent Women’s Gala, Wiles discussed the challenges of operating in what she described as a White House that runs on “Trump time,” according to The Mirror US.

“I am not one of those people that doesn’t need sleep, I actually do very much,” Wiles, 68, said while explaining how staff members adapt to the president’s around-the-clock routine.

According to Wiles, the administration has developed an informal system to ensure staff can manage the demanding workload while still getting rest.

“I go to sleep early, and Dan Scavino, who I’m sure many of you know, is a night owl; we divide it,” she explained. “I get the early calls, and Dan gets the late calls.”

Previously, Trump himself has joked about his sleeping habits. After appearing to briefly close his eyes during a televised cabinet meeting earlier this year, he brushed off the speculation by saying the session had simply become “a little bit on the boring side.”

“I didn’t sleep, by the way,” Trump added. “I don’t sleep much.”

Experts Claim Trump's Mental Health Is Deteriorating

Also read: Fact Check: Can Ivermectin Help Treat Hantavirus?

A group of medical experts has sounded the alarm over what they’ve described as Trump’s deteriorating mental health, The Daily Beast Reported.

The three dozen medical professionals include neurologists, psychiatrists, and other physicians with extensive experience diagnosing cognitive disorders and evaluating patients.

The experts have not specifically examined Trump face-to-face. But, based on his statements and behaviors over the past year, they stated that he’s “mentally unfit” and must be removed from office “with the greatest urgency” amid the escalating tension around the world, the report said.

“It is our professional opinion that they (Trump's statements) reflect a rapidly worsening, reality-untethered, increasingly dangerous decline,” the experts said in a statement.

They also listed some of Trump’s observable serious medical issues, such as “Marked deterioration in cognitive functioning, evidenced by disorganized and tangential speech, rambling digressions, factual confusions, unexplained sudden changes of course in strategic matters, both national and international, episodes of apparent somnolence during critical public proceedings.”

While concern continues over the deadly hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, reports of more than 100 people falling ill on a Caribbean cruise with vomiting and diarrhea have also sparked alarm.

A cruise ship sailing from Florida with over 3,000 passengers reported a major outbreak around May 7. More than 100 passengers and crew were affected. Health officials confirmed the cause as norovirus.

According to Cruise operator Princess Cruises, enhanced cleaning protocols were introduced immediately after the outbreak was detected. Sick passengers and crew were isolated, and hygiene measures across dining and public areas were intensified.

What Is Norovirus?

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, leading to inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Speaking to HealthandMe, epidemiologist Dr. Amitav Banerjee, professor at DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, described norovirus as “notorious because it spreads very fast.”

“It can spread through fomites like handles and knobs, and even a very low infectious dose—around 18 viral particles—can cause infection. So it spreads very fast,” he said.

He added that while many common disinfectants are ineffective against it, norovirus can be inactivated using bleach and chlorine-based cleaning agents.

Is The Norovirus Outbreak Of Concern?

Although outbreaks can look alarming, Dr. Banerjee emphasized that norovirus infections are generally self-limiting.

“In the ship, it can be managed with oral rehydration, and in severe cases, IV fluids can help prevent complications and mortality,” he said.

A recent report from the US also showed that norovirus can spread very rapidly from person to person on a cruise ship.

Dr. Banerjee also clarified that, unlike diseases with pandemic potential, norovirus outbreaks—while explosive in nature—do not typically pose a long-term global threat.

“So, this particular outbreak is not a cause for worry. It does not have pandemic potential, though it can spread very fast,” he added.

Read More: Hantavirus Alert on MV Hondius: One US Passenger Tests Positive, Two Others Show Symptoms

Who Is Most at Risk? What Are The Key Symptoms

Dr. Banerjee noted that extreme age groups, especially very young infants and the elderly, are at higher risk due to dehydration from diarrheal illness. However, deaths remain rare when proper care is provided.

Norovirus illnesses usually last between two and three days. Symptoms usually begin suddenly within 12 to 48 hours of exposure and may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Watery diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Low-grade fever
• Headache and body aches
• Fatigue

What You Can Do To Stop Its Spread

Because of how fast viruses spread, experts highly recommend preventive actions such as:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, especially after using the toilet or before preparing food.
• Avoid visiting hospitals or care homes if experiencing symptoms.
• Stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside to prevent spreading the virus.