Some oncologists suggest that, for certain early cancers not at risk of spreading, the term “cancer” should be avoided.

A pandemic is not inevitable, scientists say. But the outbreak has passed worrisome milestones in recent weeks, including cattle that may have been reinfected.

The cases have spurred new pet food safety rules and poultry surveillance efforts.

For 14 years, scientists have been growing a tree akin to the Judean balsam — the source of the balm of Gilead — but with no modern counterpart.

New federal rules call for testing unpasteurized milk from dairy processors and for farm owners to provide details that would help officials identify and track cases more easily.

© Tim Gruber for The New York Times

On America’s large dairy farms, milking is a vast operation, and the potential for disease transmission is worrying, health experts say.

© Tim Gruber for The New York Times