WHO Says H7N9 is One of the Most Lethal Flu Strains
There continues to be new cases of the H7N9 bird flu strain in China. An image of the H7N9 virus from the CDC is pictured above. So far there have been 108 lab-confirmed cases and 22 deaths. Taiwan has also confirmed a case, but the person did not catch it in Taiwan. He was hospitalized after returning from Shanghai. He is in critical condition.
Reuters reports that a World Health Organization (WHO) expert called H7N9 a very dangerous virus at a briefing. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general for health security, said, "When we look at influenza viruses, this is an unusually dangerous virus for humans. This i...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - April 24, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: flu h7n9 avian-influenza Source Type: blogs
Bird Flu Death Toll Reaches 20 in China, Source of Infection Unknown
The death toll from the avian influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China has reached 20. The total number of cases has grown to 102. 70 of these patients remain at the hospital, while 12 have been discharged. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been providing updates based on data supplied by health authorities in China.
An NPR report says the source of the virus is still a mystery. The NPR story says one source for transmission could be dust at the market. It is possible there is human-to-human transmission going on, but this has not been confirmed and the WHO says there is no evidence for it.
The WHO says more cases are ...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - April 21, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: influenza avian-influenza h7n9 Source Type: blogs
Influenza A(H7N9) Cases Increase to 60 in China
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that cases of influenza A(H7N9) have increased to 60. This is nearly double the number from five days ago.
13 of the 60 patients have died. The WHO says over a thousand close contacts of the patients are being monitored for symptoms. So far there has thankfully been no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus.
WHO's case data is coming from the Chinese National International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Point. The WHO says there have been some relatively mild cases reported, which could mean there are more cases than the 60 cases officially confirmed.
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Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - April 16, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: influenza bird-flu a-h7n9 Source Type: blogs
Influenza A(H7N9) Cases in China Increase to 38
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced ten new cases of influenza A(H7N9) virus in China today. This brings the total number of cases to 38. WHO says 10 of the 38 infected people have died.
WHO says in a FAQ that the exact source of A(H7N9) is unknown. The virus was found in a pigeon in a Shanghai market. There is still no evidence of ongoing human-to-human transmission. 760 close contacts with the confirmed cases are being monitored.
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Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - April 12, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: flu bird-flu influenza Source Type: blogs
CDC to Prepare Vaccine for A(H7N9) Bird Flu Strain Just in Case
The World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been monitoring an outbreak of avian influenza A (H7N9) in China. The cases are the first time the virus has been detected in humans. There have been 11 lab-confirmed cases and four deaths according to the last WHO update. The first cases were announced on April 1st.
So far, there have been no cases involving human-to-human spread of the bird flu. WHO says people in close contact with the infected are being closely monitored, but none have developed any symptoms to date.
NBC reports that the CDC has announced plans to star...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - April 4, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: flu bird-flu a-h7n9 Source Type: blogs
Giant Inflatable Colon Raises Awareness About Colorectal Cancer
The Giant Inflatable Colon is a massive inflatable colon that is used to educate people and raise awareness about colorectal cancer. The huge colon is big enough for people to walk through and learn about polyps and what it looks like when signs of cancer first begin. The colon is currently on display in Miami. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The large visual aid was designed to help people better understand the colon and increase the likelihood they will get screened. Less than 50% of Americans get screened for colon cancer. Take a look:
The CDC has ...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - March 24, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: cancer colon-cancer inflatable-colon Source Type: blogs
Experimental Immune Therapy Kills Leukemia Tumors in Five Patients
Memorial Sloan-Kettering researchers were able to treat people with recurrent B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using an experimental immune therapy
technique. T cells were extracted from five patients, genetically modified to target the cancer cells, and returned to the patient's body. Scientific American reports that the researchers found the patients were rapidly cleared of the tumor after the modified T cells were reintroduced.
The study was published here in Science Translational Medicine. A
U.S. News story says the experimental treatment is called adoptive T-cell therapy. It is still in its early experimenta...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - March 22, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: cancer leukemia t-cell-therapy Source Type: blogs
CDC Warns of Powerful New Norovirus Strain GII.4 Sydney
The CDC is warning about the emergence of a powerful new norovirus strain, GII.4 Sydney. The strain was first identified in Austrlia in March 2012. It is currently spreading around the U.S. The norovirus causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. One of the biggest dangers from the norovirus is dehydration. People infected with norovirus who are unable to drink enough liquids may require an emergency room visit so they can get fluid through an IV.
ABC's Dr. Richard Besser explains how you can avoid the norovirus, which is not easy as the annoying virus cannot be killed with hand sanitizers and can survive for weeks on hard sur...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - January 26, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: norovirus Source Type: blogs
First Case of New Deer Tick Disease Reported in U.S.
CBS New York reports that Hazel Sanchez, a New Jersey woman, is the first known case of borrelia miyamotoi, a new disease spread by ticks. The disease is spread by the same ticks that spread Lyme disease. The woman's symptoms included confusion, weakness and weight loss. Fortunately, lab technicians at Hunterdon Medical Center found the bacteria in her spinal fluid and cured her with an antibiotic. Take a look:
The bacteria was first discovered by Yale researchers in 2011. It is likely that other Americans have been made ill by the virus. The New Jersey case is the first known U.S. case.
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Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - January 25, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: tick tick-disease ticks Source Type: blogs
Swedish Study of 13,000 People Finds High-Risk Occupations for Asthma
A study of 13,000 people carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden has identified occupations that carry a higher risk of asthma. The study found that total incidence was 1.3 asthma cases per 1,000 men, and 2.4 cases per 1,000 women.
The high-risk occupations for asthma include:
Spray painters, who are exposed to diisocyanates in paint
Plumbers, who handle adhesives and foam insulation
Cleaners, who handle detergents
Health care and social services personnel, who are exposed to detergents and latex in latex gloves, especially if the gloves contain powder
Food and tobacco industry workers, w...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - January 15, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: asthma spray-painters plumbers Source Type: blogs
FDA Lowers Recommended Dose of Insomnia Drugs, Including Ambien
ABC News is reporting that the FDA is warning that Ambien's effects can linger in the body. People may still be too impaired to drive even 8 hours after taking a 10 mg dose of Ambien. The sleepiness effects are stronger on women. The FDA is now recommending half the current does for women. In a release, the FDA also says "labeling should recommend that health care professionals consider a lower dose for men." The FDA says to check with your doctor before changing dosage. The recommended dose changes apply to all sleep drugs that contain zolpidem. This includes Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar and Zolpimist.
Take a look:
Perma...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - January 10, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: insomnia sleep-aids ambien Source Type: blogs
Some Chicago Hospitals Turning Away Patients After Influx of Flu Patients
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that some Chicago hospitals had to turn patients away after emergency rooms were flooded with flu patients. CBS Chicago reports that 147 people have been admitted to hospital ICUs and Chicago and six have died. CBS News reports that the CDC is reporting a high level of flu activity in 29 states and a moderate level of flu in 9 states. Take a look:
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Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - January 8, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: influenza chicago Source Type: blogs
Gingivitis Bacteria Manipulate Your Immune System
New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests gingivitis bacteria manipulate your immune system so they can thrive longer in your gums. The researchers say Porphyromonas gingivalis causes excess IL-10 production, which inhibits the immune cells interferon gamma. The scientists say the findings imply that for treatment to be successful, it must be started as early as possible.
Jannet Katz, D.D.S., Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, said in a release, "Since greater than 50 percent of the U.S. population over ...
Source: HealthNewsBlog.com - January 3, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Tags: oral gingivitis teeth Source Type: blogs
