Health News Roundup: U.S. records 25 new measles cases; Cannabis among top priorities for new Thai government

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Acadia's schizophrenia treatment misses late-stage main goal; shares fall 16%

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Monday its add-on treatment for schizophrenia failed to meet the main goal in a late-stage study. The company's shares were down 16% at $21.62 in extended trading.

Congo minister's resignation over Ebola snub could unblock new vaccine

Congo's health minister resigned on Monday after being stripped of responsibility for managing the country's Ebola outbreak, potentially paving the way for the introduction of a second vaccine to contain the spreading epidemic. Oly Ilunga has overseen Democratic Republic of Congo's near year-long response to what is the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history. It has killed more than 1,700 and been declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Cannabis among top priorities for new Thai government

Developing a medical cannabis industry is among top policy priorities for Thailand's new government, according to a document released before the formal announcement. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former junta leader who heads a civilian government following March elections, is due to set out the policies for debate in the national assembly on Thursday. The policy document was released on Sunday.

U.S. records 25 new measles cases as outbreak spreads to Ohio, Alaska

The United States recorded 25 new measles cases last week, raising the total number of cases this year to 1,148 in the country's worst outbreak in a quarter century, federal health officials said on Monday. The 2.2% increase in the number of cases between July 11 and July 18 included new cases in Ohio and Alaska, bringing the total number of states affected by the outbreak to 30, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

Trump administration pauses new rule limiting abortion referrals: report

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will pause its enforcement of a new rule barring federally funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions, the Washington Post reported late on Saturday. The rule had been announced last Monday, when officials said it would take immediate effect. The reversal was announced on Saturday evening by U.S. Health and Human Services Department officials, who informed clinics that they would now have two months to comply before facing penalties, the Post reported.