Pharmaceutical giant Merck is buying Verona Pharma, a company that concentrates its efforts on respiratory diseases, in an approximately $10 billion deal.

A 54-year-old woman has been reported as missing after walking away from her residence in north Harris County, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Researchers at the University of Houston have received a $2.7 million grant to examine pro-inflammatory stem cell variants in cystic fibrosis (CF).

Here are things to know for Thursday, March 18:1. Now, Pamela Bunkley, Jones’ daughter, and her husband are suing CenterPoint Energy for wrongful death. AdBuzbee filled the second lawsuit early Wednesday but said the third one is the “most egregious” to date. We screen each one, and I personally talk with and screen any individual on whose behalf we file. Lauren Hammelman said a man followed her in a car and then exposed himself and yelled inappropriate things to her before taking off.

During Houston’s historic winter storm last month, the Katy home that James lived in with his daughter and son-in-law lost power and later Jones eventually died. “CenterPoint Energy did not plan properly for this power outage, and CenterPoint did not care,” said Benny Agosto Jr., attorney for Jones’ family. Now, Pamela Bunkley, Jones’ daughter, and her husband are suing CenterPoint Energy for wrongful death. AdDuring that time, there was no electricity to power James’ respirator and he became weaker and weaker from the lack of oxygen. Now, James’ daughter Pamela is suing CenterPoint Energy for more than a million dollars, claiming the company caused her father’s death.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – The Montgomery County Public Health District said Monday that its 400 pre-registration slots filled within nine minutes. All 400 pre-registration slots for vaccines filled within 9 minutes. — Montgomery County Public Health (@MontCo_PH) January 25, 2021The county had opened a COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration site for people who fall under phase 1B. People are being asked to go to https://www.mchd-tx.org/ where the county will provide the link to pre-register for vaccines. If you are on the pre-registration list and do NOT receive a vaccine in this allocation, you will be required to sign up again for the next allocation.

KPRC Channel 2′s health reporter Haley Hernandez has been answering some of your emailed questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 here in the Houston area. If someone has recently had pneumonia are they more susceptible to COVID19? Does your blood type make you more susceptible to COVID19? There is no recommended screening criteria based upon blood type, said the President of the Harris County Medical Society Dr. Ronald Walters. Despite previous warnings that harsh chemicals can damage the screen, Apple says now that disinfectants are OK to use on their products.