Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Exclusive-US ​strikes one-year deal to fund maternal ​and newborn health donations in poorest ‌countries

The US ​government has struck a deal to continue supplying some of the world's poorest nations with free life-saving medication and equipment for ‌mothers, infants and young children, after months of uncertainty and challenges with supply. The UN children's agency UNICEF will now procure these items, a State department spokesperson told Reuters by email, without giving details of ‌the arrangement. UNICEF said the agreement is worth $25 million and will last for one ‌year.

Novavax shareholder Shah Capital to step back from activist role

Shah Capital, one of Novavax's top shareholders, said on Friday it no longer seeks to influence control of the vaccine maker after restructuring into a family office. The ⁠investor has filed ​with the US ⁠Securities and Exchange Commission to voluntarily withdraw its registration as an investment adviser, it said in a regulatory filing

Roy ⁠Cooper's North Carolina playbook is working. Can other Democrats copy it?

North Carolina hasn’t elected a Democrat to ​the US Senate in nearly 20 years, but former Governor Roy Cooper has built ⁠a double-digit lead over Republican Michael Whatley by relentlessly focusing on affordability and a blunt promise to “make stuff cost less.” At ⁠campaign ​stops, Cooper, 69, points to his six-year fight to expand Medicaid through a Republican-controlled legislature as evidence he can work across party lines, while attacking Trump-backed healthcare cuts that he ⁠says are hitting North Carolinians hard.

Kenya confirms eighth Ebola case as regional outbreak spreads

Kenya has confirmed ⁠one more Ebola ⁠case, bringing the total number of infections in the country to eight, Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said on Sunday. "Today, 38 people were tested, and ‌one tested ‌positive for Ebola," Amoth said in an interview ​on Kenya's Citizen TV.