Miscellaneous News

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Reminder to avoid handling bats for risk of rabies

In the wake of an increase in calls reporting human and pet contacts with bats, the Washington Department of Health has reminded people that avoiding bats can protect them from rabies. Bats are not aggressive animals and they generally do not intentionally attack humans.

9 Aug 2004

Fears for DNA privacy

Two Monash University law academics are calling for urgent state government action following the disclosure that a private Melbourne company holds the DNA records of millions of Victorians.

9 Aug 2004

Why the skeleton starts to fail us as we age

Why the skeleton starts to fail us as we age and what drugs of the future will do to build and maintain our bones, will be discussed at a free public lecture at the University of Melbourne tomorrow (August 10).

9 Aug 2004

New health threat, federally-funded health policy based on junk science

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog group, today released its latest Through the Looking Glass Report: A New Health Threat: Federally-Funded Health Policy Based on Junk Science.

9 Aug 2004

Novartis to launch U.S.2.4 billion share buy-back

Novartis have announced that its Board of Directors has decided to launch a new share repurchase program for up to CHF 3 billion following the completion of a program initiated in 2002. The new program was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in February 2004.

9 Aug 2004

McGuinty government investment in telemedicine

The McGuinty government is improving health care in northern Ontario by investing $5.7 million in telemedicine technology to deliver health services to more northern communities, Minister of Health and Long Term Care.

9 Aug 2004

Three comprehensive reports on cigarette smoking

Two analyze indoor smoking policies in the state’s work places, and in bars and restaurants, and one examines tobacco dependence treatment and referral practices among New Jersey health care providers.

7 Aug 2004

Majority of gay and lesbian people in New Zealand want government recognition of same sex relationships

An overwhelming majority of gay and lesbian people in New Zealand want government recognition of same sex relationships. Most of them would prefer that recognition to be marriage rather than a civil union. That is one of the many findings from the Lavender Islands survey – the most extensive survey of this community ever undertaken in New Zealand.

7 Aug 2004

World's third largest tobacco producer has found another way to promote smoking

Tobacco sponsorship of motor sports is an efficient way to reach boys and young men, but now the world's third largest tobacco producer has found another way to promote smoking.

6 Aug 2004

Illinoisans get legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants

In an effort to ensure that the bottled water that Illinoisans are drinking is safe, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation giving the state more regulatory authority over water bottling plants and private water source operators.

6 Aug 2004

50,000 people enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry

More than 50,000 people from New York City and all 50 states have enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry, according to the City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), which urged those who are eligible to sign up before the August 31st deadline.

6 Aug 2004

New twist to the 2001 anthrax attacks in the U.S.

In a new twist to the 2001 anthrax attacks in the U.S., the Federal Bureau of Investigation is searching 2 homes in new York and New Jersey which may be related to the attacks.

5 Aug 2004

Fathers Support Breastfeeding campaign

On August 5, the Office of Minority Health at the Indiana State Department of Health will launch its "Fathers Support Breastfeeding" campaign by hosting the first of six meetings of a support group for fathers in Indianapolis.

5 Aug 2004

Pilot program made first-year medical students more sensitive to older people

Creating art with older "teammates" made first-year medical students more sensitive to older people, according to results of the Vital Visionaries Collaboration (VV), a pilot program developed by the National Institute on Aging in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, MD.

5 Aug 2004

Emergency nursing shortage is worsening because of changing patient demographics and the aging of the emergency nurses population

As emergency departments across the country face increasing pressure from a nursing shortage and overcrowding, the nation’s emergency nurses will gather in San Diego Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, to seek opportunities to improve patient care, discuss ways to alleviate the difficult issues facing the profession, and learn about latest practices and innovations.

5 Aug 2004

New guidelines for water, salt and potassium intake of Americans

Nutrition experts from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies have released new guidelines for water, salt and potassium intake of Americans.

5 Aug 2004

Australia will provide emergency relief assistance to Bangladesh

In response to a request from the Bangladesh Government, Australia will bring forward its annual shipment of 45,000 tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh. The $18 million wheat shipment will help alleviate food shortages resulting from crop losses. The World Food Programme will distribute the Australian wheat.

5 Aug 2004

2,000 alcohol-fuelled troublemakers were handed fixed penalty notices

Nearly 2,000 alcohol-fuelled troublemakers were handed fixed penalty notices in the first four weeks of this summer's police enforcement campaign.

5 Aug 2004

Approval of an injectable filler to correct facial fat loss in people with HIV/AIDS

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an injectable filler to correct facial fat loss in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

5 Aug 2004

E-Text equipment assists visually-impaired students

With numerous book bindings scattered on the floor, the room looked as if there had been a rebellion against literature. But in fact, students were celebrating the new equipment added to Eastern Michigan University’s Center for Adaptive Technology and Education (CATE), that currently serves enrolled students, faculty and staff with a disability.

5 Aug 2004