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The case of a high school student in King County who died this week of meningococcal disease has created public concern

The case of a high school student in King County who was hospitalized and died this week of meningococcal disease – commonly called bacterial meningitis – has created some public concern about risks of exposure to the disease.

10 Jul 2004

Pfizer donates $3.7 million worth of Nicotrol patches to the New York City Department of Health

To help smokers quit, Pfizer is donating $3.7 million worth of eight-week courses of the Nicotrol patch, a leading nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

9 Jul 2004

Avian influenza virus in East Asia arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses

An avian influenza virus that has caused three major outbreaks among poultry and killed several people in East Asia over the past seven years arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses.

9 Jul 2004

MRSA contamination can be reduced by using copper alloys for surfaces in healthcare facilities

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism, essentially resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics (for example: penicillins, ampicillins, cephalosporins). It can cause skin, bone and life-threatening blood infections, as well as pneumonia.

7 Jul 2004

High levels of endotoxin, a bacterial compound that collects in house dust, may lower likelihood of eczema in children

Children whose homes contain high levels of endotoxin, a bacterial compound that collects in house dust, may be less likely to develop eczema during their first year of life

6 Jul 2004

Cambodia has become the first country to protect three out of four school-aged children against intestinal parasites

With the recent completion of its latest treatment campaign against intestinal parasites, Cambodia has become the first country to protect three out of four school-aged children against intestinal parasites and reach WHO's anti-parasite target – six years ahead of schedule.

5 Jul 2004

Third case of Japanese encephalitis reported this year in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection has confirmed a 50-year-old homeless man in Sham Shui Po has contracted Japanese encephalitis, the third case reported this year.

5 Jul 2004

Virginia Department of Health is urging people to thoroughly cook hamburgers to prevent illness from E.coli

“Eating undercooked ground beef is the most common cause of illness from this strain of E.coli. People need to be sure that hamburgers are cooked well done, especially those that are fed to young children, to prevent an E.coli illness,” said Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Jim Burns, M.D., M.B.A.

2 Jul 2004

How the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is being implemented in four African countries

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will today publish interim findings relating to how the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is being implemented in four African countries.

2 Jul 2004

Researching the history of reproductive medicine during the Nazi era is still taboo

Researching the history of reproductive medicine during the Nazi era is still taboo, a leading German professor will tell the 20th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Monday 28 June).

28 Jun 2004

Sixty-four percent of the public thought that a public restroom doorknob has more germs than an ATM

A new survey shows that most Americans don't realize that germs are hiding on many common objects outdoors, in their offices, and even in their homes.

23 Jun 2004

Research may explain why methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are so difficult to control in hospitals

Currently, attempts to prevent spread of these infections include isolating infected patients and increasing staff hygiene measures such as handwashing. However, these attempts have met with limited success.

23 Jun 2004

100,000 child deaths ever year caused by outdoor and indoor air pollution, unsafe water, lead and injuries

100 000 deaths and 6 million years of healthy life lost (or DALYs) ever year, in children and adolescents from birth to 19 years of age, are caused by outdoor and indoor air pollution, unsafe water, lead and injuries.

20 Jun 2004

Urgent action needed across Europe to tackle childhood disease related to environmental conditions

Authors of a study in this week's issue of THE LANCET are calling for urgent governmental action across Europe to tackle childhood disease and deaths associated with poor environmental conditions in Europe.

17 Jun 2004

Inhibiting the expression of acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) may be effective in controlling asthma

A new target for control of early-stage asthma has been identified by McGill University professor Qutayba Hamid working as part of a team whose landmark study appears in the latest issue of the journal Science

15 Jun 2004

New target for control of early-stage asthma

A new target for control of early-stage asthma has been identified by McGill University professor Qutayba Hamid, working as part of a team whose landmark study appears in the latest issue of the journal Science.

14 Jun 2004

Expert to help WHO in Dili, East Timor with tropical diseases

A JCU public health expert is off to Dili, Timor Leste (formerly East Timor) to help the World Health Organisation address three serious tropical diseases: lymphatic filariasis, intestinal worms and yaws.

10 Jun 2004

UK food agency to investigate failures in BSE testing programme

The Food Standards Agency is investigating an apparent failure by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to test some casualty cattle aged between 24 and 30 months for BSE before they entered the food chain.

6 Jun 2004

Drinking only bottled water associated with a two-fold risk of infection

Doing laundry using hot water and bleach may prevent infections in the home, while drinking only bottled water may promote infections, according to research.

2 Jun 2004

Malaria, Africa's biggest killer

It's Africa's biggest killer, but it's not HIV. It causes economic losses of US$12 billion per year, but it's not a war. And it has slowed African economic growth by around 1.3 per cent per annum, but it’s not a famine.