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.

World Bank has approved a US$68 million credit to the Indian government for the Integrated Disease Surveillance project

India has made major gains in control of a number of communicable diseases and in improving overall health of its population. Nevertheless, with the increasing age profile of the population, India is in transition with the double burden of significant communicable diseases and increasing non-communicable diseases such as cardio-vascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and cataract blindness, maladies that usually affect higher income countries.

11 Jul 2004

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

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

The number of pediatricians in the United States rose by 140 percent between 1978 and 2000

America’s children have many more pediatricians available to treat them today than they did 25 years ago, a new study finds, but the doctors aren’t always where the children are.

4 Jul 2004

Fall in the number of confirmed cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease

A Health Protection Agency study has shown a sharp fall in the number of confirmed cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease following the introduction of a Department of Health booster campaign, the Agency’s Board heard today.

2 Jul 2004

Meningococcal disease: peak season warning

West Australians are being urged to watch out for the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease as the State heads into the peak season for the potentially deadly infection.

28 Jun 2004

West and central Africa is on the brink of the largest polio epidemic in recent years

Epidemiologists of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative today issued a stark warning that west and central Africa is on the brink of the largest polio epidemic in recent years.

23 Jun 2004

Washington and Oregon health officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis

In the past two months, more than ten people in Washington and Oregon have been infected with Salmonella after handling chicks in both states.

20 Jun 2004

Obesity threatens health of women in nations previously not known for a growing percentage of overweight citizens

Around the globe, obesity has become a problem for many poorer women in most countries with upper-middle income national economies and even some with lower-middle income economies, an important new international study concludes.

7 Jun 2004

Growing problem of obesity in women from developing countries

Increasing obesity threatens to undermine the health of women in nations previously not known for a growing percentage of overweight citizens, the researchers say. As the amount of available food grows in most countries, the condition is becoming a greater issue for poorer women than for richer ones.

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.

2 Jun 2004

Australian HIV cases have increased 22 per cent over two years

New data released by Australia's NSW Health has revealed that HIV notifications increased by six per cent from 2002 to 2003. This follows a 15 per cent increase from 2001 to 2002, and represents a 22 per cent increase over two years.

26 May 2004

Global food and soft drinks industries must demonstrate their commitment towards promoting the health and wellbeing of their consumers

A positive step has been made towards action being taken to curb the rising diabetes and obesity epidemics, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) said as it welcomed the endorsement of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health by Health Ministers last weekend in Geneva.

25 May 2004

World health officials adopt global health strategy

The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health was today endorsed by Member States at their annual Health Assembly in Geneva. The strategy addresses two of the major risk factors responsible for the heavy and growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for some 60% of global deaths and almost half (47%) of the global burden of disease. NCDs include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers and obesity-related conditions.

22 May 2004

FDA finalizes new rule on donor eligibility for human tissues and cells

FDA today published a final rule establishing donor eligibility criteria for donors of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) to help prevent the transmission of communicable disease when these products are transplanted.

20 May 2004

Canadian Statement to the World Health Assembly focuses on AIDS

The WHO's leadership is particularly important in the fight to combat HIV/AIDS. Last week, Canada bolstered its financial commitment to this effort with contributions of $100 million for WHO's '3 by 5 initiative', and $70 million to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Canada and Canadians are proud to take these actions against HIV/AIDS.

19 May 2004

Canada updates Quarantine Act

Health Minister Pierre Pettigrew today introduced in Parliament legislation entitled: "An Act to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases", which would help further protect Canadians from the importation of communicable diseases.

12 May 2004

Australian expansion of school-based Meningococcal C Vaccination program

Australian Minister for Health, Morris Iemma today announced the expansion of the NSW school-based Meningococcal C Vaccination program to include immunisation for high school students in the new school term

5 May 2004

Teens who suffered iron deficiency as infants are likely to score lower on cognitive and motor tests

Teens who suffered iron deficiency as infants are likely to score lower on cognitive and motor tests, even if that iron deficiency was identified and treated in infancy, a new University of Michigan study shows.

4 May 2004

Rates of hepatitis A higher in an El Niño year

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology have examined the possible association between the Southern Oscillation Index and the occurrence of hepatitis A in Australia. The results indicate that the SOI is statistically significantly associated with the transmission of hepatitis A.

2 May 2004