First case of MERS virus in American

First case of MERS virus in American

NEW YORK

Health officials on Friday confirmed the first case of an American infected with a mysterious virus that has sickened hundreds in the Middle East.

The man fell ill after flying to the U.S. late last week from Saudi Arabia where he was a health care worker.

He is hospitalized in good condition in northwest Indiana with Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Indiana health officials, who are investigating the case.

The virus is not highly contagious, and this case “represents a very low risk to the broader, general public,” Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters during a CDC briefing.

Report reveals alleged sex abuse of LA students

LOS ANGELES

A law-enforcement report has revealed allegations of sexual abuse of elementary-school students by a former Los Angeles teacher who previously pleaded no contest to committing lewd acts on children.

A two-year sheriff’s inquiry involving Mark Berndt found more than 100 possible victims, including some children who said he molested them, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Berndt, who taught at Miramonte Elementary School, was given a 25-year sentence after entering his no-contest plea to 23 counts in November. Prosecutors said Berndt fed students his semen on cookies and by spoon in what he called “tasting games,” sometimes blindfolding and photographing them.

Landslide kills at least 350 in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan

A landslide triggered by heavy rain buried large sections of a remote northeastern Afghan village on Friday, killing at least 350 people and leaving more than 2,000 missing. Villagers looked on helplessly and the governor appealed for shovels to help dig through the mass of mud that flattened every home in its path.

The mountainous area in Badakhshan province has experienced days of heavy rain and flooding, and the side of a cliff collapsed onto the village of Hobo Barik around midday. Landslides and avalanches are frequent in Afghanistan, but Friday’s was one of the deadliest.

Police get extra 48 hours to question Gerry Adams

BELFAST, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland police were granted an extra 48 hours Friday to interrogate Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams about the 1972 IRA killing of a Belfast widow, infuriating his Irish nationalist party and raising questions about the stability of the province’s Catholic-Protestant government.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed in a statement its detectives received permission at a closed-door hearing with a judge to detain Adams for up to two more days.

Had the request been refused, authorities would have been required to charge Adams or release him Friday night, two days after his arrest in the abduction, slaying and secret burial of Jean McConville, a mother of 10. The new deadline is Sunday night, although this, too, could be extended with judicial permission.

Associated Press