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Trending patient news: Week of August 11, 2025

August 15, 2025

Keeping you a step ahead is our priority. That's why we've gathered some of the top stories your patients might be seeing. Here are this week's highlights:

Bee venom could help treat a type of cancer
(Newsweek)—A lab-engineered version of melittin, the venom’s active compound, killed cancer cells within hours in preclinical studies—with minimal harm to healthy tissue. Read more

Deaths from flesh-eating bacteria are on the rise. Who is at risk?
(NBC News)—Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm seawater and can enter through open wounds, with fatal cases now reported from Florida to North Carolina. Read more

On TikTok, warnings spread about the herbal tonic 'Feel Free'
(NBC News)—The tonic contains kratom, an unregulated opioid-like compound linked to withdrawal, hospitalization, and relapse in recovering addicts. Read more

Influencers criticize birth control and push 'natural' methods. Here's what to know
(NPR)—Online creators are fueling skepticism about hormonal contraception, sparking concern among physicians about misinformation and reproductive health risks. Read more

These states have the highest COVID cases right now as "stratus" variant erupts
(Axios)—Twelve states are seeing rising positivity rates as the XFG strain spreads, prompting CDC alerts and renewed calls for vaccination. Read more