Communicable Disease News and Research

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Communicable Disease is a disease capable of being transmitted from an infected person or species to a susceptible host.

$543,000 needed to support immediate health needs in Guyana

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an urgent appeal for $543,000 to support immediate health needs in Guyana, where heavy rainfall has flooded densely populated areas, leaving thousands without shelter, food or water.

26 Jan 2005

Novel treatment promises to be an effective cure for tuberculosis

Researchers in Belgium have uncovered a novel treatment that promises to be an effective cure for tuberculosis (TB). The respiratory disease has been experiencing a major global comeback due to the emergence of resistant strains of the bacteria that causes it and the spread of AIDS.

9 Jan 2005

PAHO urges donors to wait for assessment of Asian tragedy's needs

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging all citizens, organizations and governments wishing to help the tsunami victims in southern and Southeast Asia to wait for an assessment of what's needed before sending anything.

28 Dec 2004

Medicines used to treat parasitic infections have much wider benefits than was previously thought

Encouraging new data from the wider distribution of anti-parasite drugs in pregnant women and very young children demonstrates that medicines commonly used to treat parasitic infections have much wider benefits than was previously thought.

4 Dec 2004

Millions of people threatened by the diabetes time bomb

Millions of lives are threatened by the dual epidemics of diabetes and obesity that are bound to explode in this century, international diabetes and obesity organizations said today in the run up to World Diabetes Day.

11 Nov 2004

Chronic diseases linked to obesity could put the brakes on economic progress in many developing countries

Chronic diseases linked to obesity could put the brakes on economic progress in many developing countries unless urgent action is taken, experts warned at the opening of the first major international conference on obesity in Africa yesterday (Oct 28).

29 Oct 2004

Researchers help neonatal specialists administer a replacement substance that helps babies breathe easier

When babies are born prematurely, their lungs are not able to produce a protein that helps them breathe.

13 Oct 2004

Wisconsin has identified its first laboratory confirmed case of influenza this season

Public health officials in the department said the case, confirmed by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene to be influenza type A (H3 subtype), involves an adult female from Waupaca County.

13 Oct 2004

New Canadian Quarantine Act aims to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases

The Government of Canada has reintroduced in Parliament legislation titled: "An Act to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases", which would help further protect Canadians from the importation of communicable diseases.

12 Oct 2004

Health expert has hails Hong Kong's work to fight SARS both locally and overseas

"Hong Kong has made good progress in preparing itself against communicable diseases and its effort was commendable. I am particularly pleased to see that the Centre for Health Protection has got off to a very good start and is set to become a public icon for health protection," he said.

5 Oct 2004

First epidemiological study to assess the impact of the civil war in Darfur

The study quantifies the high death rates both before and after civilians became internally displaced and sought refuge in other communities and displacement camps.

30 Sep 2004

Women aged 16 to 19 are 43% more likely to test positive for Chlamydia than women in their early twenties

Women aged 16 to 19 are 43% more likely to test positive for Chlamydia than women in their early twenties, show data from the first year of the Chlamydia screening programme in England, reported in Sexually Transmitted Infections.

29 Sep 2004

Hong Kong health commitment pledged in Sweden

The SARS crisis was a reminder of the need for a strong commitment to enhancing public health infrastructure and global co-operation against communicable diseases.

28 Sep 2004

Outbreak of whooping cough in South Australia

South Australia's Department of Health is urging parents to make sure their children are immunised against whooping cough as an outbreak is beginning in SA.

28 Sep 2004

New recommendations which will help pre-empt drinking water contamination

Ensuring drinking water is safe is a challenge in every part of the world, from water piped into people's homes, to rural wells and water provided to refugee camps in an emergency.

22 Sep 2004

Broken bones often mean lifelong disability in the developing world

Broken bones often mean lifelong disability in the developing world, due to a lack of access to simple, inexpensive initial treatment, says the director of the University of Toronto's international surgery program.

21 Sep 2004

WHO calls enhanced preparedness for SARS and avian influenza

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to put in place preventive measures and enhance preparedness ready for the possible re-emergence of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and avian influenza A (H5N1) in humans.

14 Sep 2004

Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine has saved the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars since its introduction

A new University of Michigan study has found that the Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine has saved the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars since its introduction in 1995 by preventing the kinds of severe cases that used to send children, teens and adults to the hospital.

7 Sep 2004

Diabetes worldwide will continue to increase at record levels

The number of people with diabetes worldwide will continue to increase at record levels through 2030, with the greatest relative increase in prevalence expected in the Middle Eastern Crescent, sub-Saharan Africa and India, according to a study published in the May issue of Diabetes Care.

22 Aug 2004

Death from locally acquired West Nile Virus within Los Angeles County

Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of WNV antibodies in a 91-year-old San Fernando Valley resident who passed away late last week. This is the third reported death for WNV in California and the first for Los Angeles County.

11 Aug 2004