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New statement published on nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos exposure

In its first official statement since 1986 on the topic, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) has published a document entitled “Diagnosis and Initial Management of Nonmalignant Diseases Related to Asbestos.”

4 Oct 2004

UK measles cases at relatively low levels

So far this year, numbers of measles cases are still at relatively low levels; there were 150 confirmed cases in the first half of 2004 compared with 296 cases in the same period in 2003.

4 Oct 2004

Additional measures to prevent H5 avian influenza in view of the recent situation in Southeast Asia

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection has taken additional measures to prevent H5 avian influenza in view of the recent situation in Southeast Asia. It has been maintaining close contact with the World Health Organisation over a family cluster of H5 avian influenza in Thailand.

30 Sep 2004

Berkeley searches for AIDS cure in a Samoan indigenous tree

The University of California, Berkeley, has signed an agreement with the Samoan government to isolate from an indigenous tree the gene for a promising anti-AIDS drug and to share any royalties from sale of a gene-derived drug with the people of Samoa.

30 Sep 2004

Drug-resistant bacteria increasingly causing infections in healthy people

An emerging form of so-called "flesh-eating bacteria" is caused by a strain that is resistant to standard first-line antibiotics. The same type of bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is causing record numbers of less-serious skin infections in children and also is emerging as a cause of pneumonia, which can be deadly

30 Sep 2004

Each year, between 25 million and 50 million Americans will suffer with the flu

Each year, between 25 million and 50 million Americans will suffer with the fever, chills, body aches and upper respiratory problems brought on by viral influenza, better known as the flu.

30 Sep 2004

Scientists discover a record number of proteins for the highly infectious and stealthy human cytomegalovirus

Scientists have discovered a record number of proteins for one of the largest and most complex viruses, the highly infectious and stealthy human cytomegalovirus, a team from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Oregon Health & Science University reported today in the October Journal of Virology.

29 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

West Nile virus detected in blood donor

A Jackson County blood donor is the second person in Oregon to test positive for West Nile virus, according to public health and American Red Cross officials.

28 Sep 2004

Researchers have decoded the genome of Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires' disease

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have decoded the genome of Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires' disease, and have found a few surprises in the bug's 3,000 genes.

28 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

Two new cases of leptospirosis confirmed in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has confirmed two new cases of leptospirosis involving participants of the hiking activity "Team Challenge 36" held in August.

28 Sep 2004

Hong Kong influenza vaccination to start November

Six groups of people at higher risk of flu complications will make up the first category in the Hong Kong Government's Influenza Vaccination Programme, to be implemented in November and December.

27 Sep 2004

Contrary to popular belief, epidemics do not occur spontaneously after a natural disaster

The belief that dead bodies pose a serious health threat often leads authorities to take misguided action, such as mass burials, which can add to the burden of suffering already experienced by survivors. This theme arose Thursday following reports that the death count in Haiti due to flooding from Tropical Storm Jeanne has now climbed above 1,013.

26 Sep 2004

Five new human cases of West Nile virus confirmed in Mississippi

The Mississippi State Department of Health has confirmed five additional human cases of West Nile virus - one in Hinds County, one in Lee County, one in Pike County and two in Rankin County residents.

26 Sep 2004

Lassa Fever, not seen in US for 15 years re-emerges

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services reported today that a 38-year-old Mercer County man died on August 28 from an acute viral disease called Lassa fever, a condition that is rare in the U.S., but endemic to West Africa.

23 Sep 2004

Steps to minimise the risk of onward transmission of vCJD

Selected groups of patients are this week being notified about the results of a risk assessment exercise for blood plasma products.

22 Sep 2004

Imperative that strategies to control tuberculosis include measures to treat individuals with MDR disease

Challenging the notion that multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a low threat to populations, epidemiologists at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have constructed a mathematical model of the disease variant's potential course

20 Sep 2004

Global health is recurrently being threatened by new and re-emerging infectious diseases

Global health is recurrently being threatened by new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Examples of new and re-emerging infectious diseases include SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), new variant CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease), avian flu and Ebola.

20 Sep 2004