Health News Roundup: Larry Kramer, known for his AIDS activism, died at 84; Research finds concerning drop in U.S. colorectal cancer surgeries and more

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Larry Kramer, author known for his AIDS activism, dead at age 84

Larry Kramer, an author, playwright, and film producer who helped shape U.S. healthcare policy with his early advocacy of a national response to AIDS when it first emerged in the 1980s, died on Wednesday at 84. Kramer, who co-founded the ACT UP movement that made AIDS a national issue, died of pneumonia after enduring illness for much of his life, including his own battle with the immunodeficiency disease, his close friend, Will Schwalbe, said by phone.

Exclusive: Research finds concerning drop in U.S. colorectal cancer screenings and surgeries

New diagnoses of one of the deadliest cancers fell by one-third in March and April as U.S. physicians and patients halted appointments and screenings during the COVID-19 outbreak. Research by the health data firm Komodo Health and exclusively shared with Reuters found new colorectal cancer diagnoses declined more than 32%, while the number of performed colonoscopies and biopsies fell by nearly 90% from mid-March to mid-April, compared with the same period last year. Colorectal cancer surgeries were down by 53%.

Total number of coronavirus cases in Gulf Arab states surpasses 200,000: Reuters tally

The number of coronavirus cases in the six Gulf Arab states doubled in less than a month to surpass 200,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters' tally, at a time the region's two biggest economies move to resume activity. Coronavirus infections in the energy producing region, which crossed the 100,000 marks on May 11, had initially been linked to travel but then spread among low-income migrant workers in overcrowded quarters, prompting authorities to increase testing.

Anti-inflammatory drugs may help keep virus in check; mornings not ideal for fever screening

The following is a brief roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Anti-inflammatories may keep coronavirus from replicating.

Gilead study shows shorter five-day course of remdesivir works as well as 10-day one

Gilead Sciences Inc, which has suggested that a shorter treatment duration could extend limited supplies of its drug remdesivir, on Wednesday published results of a study showing no significant difference in outcomes between 5- and 10-day courses of the drug for patients with severe COVID-19. Gilead announced "top-line" findings from the trial on April 29. The full results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

U.S. CDC reports total of 1.68 million coronavirus cases, 99,031 deaths

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday reported 1,678,843 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 16,429 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 770 to 99,031. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus, as of 4 pm ET on May 26 versus its previous report on Tuesday.

WHO creates foundation to boost funding in coronavirus fight

The World Health Organization announced on Wednesday the creation of a foundation to tap new sources of funding that could help ease a potential cash shortage as it leads the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Announcing the creation of the WHO Foundation at a virtual briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus denied the move was related to "recent funding issues", saying it had been in the works for years.

EU governments ban malaria drug for COVID-19, trial paused as safety fears grow

European governments moved on Wednesday to halt the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients, and a second global trial was suspended, further blows to hopes for a treatment promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump. The moves by France, Italy, and Belgium followed a World Health Organization decision on Monday to pause a large trial of hydroxychloroquine due to safety concerns.

U.S. coronavirus deaths top 100,000 as country reopens

U.S. deaths from the novel coronavirus topped 100,000 on Wednesday even as the daily average death toll declines, businesses reopen and Americans emerge from lockdowns across the country. About 1,400 Americans have died on average each day in May, down from the peak of the outbreak in April when 2,000 people a day died on average.

AstraZeneca tests diabetes drug for COVID-19 despite risk seen by doctors

AstraZeneca Plc is testing one of its diabetes drugs as a treatment for COVID-19, even as doctors are advising diabetes patients infected by the coronavirus to stop taking the medicine and others like it because of a potentially dangerous side effect. Dapagliflozin, sold under the brand name Farxiga, belongs to a class of widely prescribed diabetes medicines known as SGLT2 inhibitors, which help control blood glucose levels by increasing the amount of sugar excreted through urine.

(With inputs from agencies.)