Global Health Weekly News Round-up

World Breastfeeding Week is from 01 August 2012 to 08 August 2012. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy makers in August 1990 to protect promote and support breastfeeding.

Politics and Policies:

• The United Kingdom government is set to become the first country in the world to provide all children free of charge with a comprehensive flu vaccination program.
• Ugandan health ministry says it needs Sh2 Billion to fight Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
• Rwanda moves to close down children’s institutions and improves its childcare system.
• Massachusetts passes Health Cost Control Bill. It aims to save $200 billion over the next 15 years by linking health care cost increases to the growth of the state’s economy.
• Arizona delays Medicaid expansion decision.
• International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC Project) launched a new report on the effectiveness of tobacco control policies in Uruguay.

Programs:

• United States Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration partner on food safety booklets to help those with compromised immune systems to prevent food borne illness.
• The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved first generic versions of Singular to treat asthma and allergies.
• FDA approves Zaltrap for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in adults.
• The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners are scaling up efforts to reverse the ‘alarming’ rates of malnutrition, disease and death in two camps hosting Sudanese refugees in South Sudan.
• Tullow Oil gives Sh100 million to the Uganda’s Ministry of Health to help to fight against the deadly Ebola disease.
• The Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) which has been housed at PATH since its inception nearly 15 years ago will close operations in September.
• Group Health teams with hospital system in Pacific Northwest.
• United States announces $12 million more in the Syrian humanitarian aid. The U.S. is providing food, water, medicine, clothing and hygiene kits.
• The United Nations office has announced that North Korea needs immediate food aid due to flood.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its bulletin (online) for August.
• Gilead Sciences inks deals with 3 Indian companies including Ranbaxy laboratories for low-cost HIV drug in developing countries.

 Research:

• According to a research, diacetyl – artificial butter flavoring agent is linked to key Alzheimer’s disease process.
• A study reveals that clusters of congenital anomalies are likely to go unnoticed due to lack of nationwide surveillance.
• A study published in Health Care Management Review reports that mandatory individual insurance coverage in Massachusetts was followed by a significant near-term drop in hospital productivity.
• A study suggests that there is a link between allergies and reduced risk of a serious type of cancer that starts in brain.
• A study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology demonstrates that a new drug is effective in a common kidney disease.
• A study done by an undergraduate student, published in Analytical methods journal could lead to a simpler and more accurate way to test for prostate cancer.
• A report published in The EMBO Journal show that intellectual disability due to Fragile X and Down syndromes involve similar molecular pathway.
• A team of Spanish and Italian researchers in their experiment showed how the extracts from strawberry protect against ultraviolet radiation as well as increasing its viability and reducing damage to DNA.
• Findings of a study suggest that students with strong hearts and lungs may make better grades.
• A study published in Hepatology journal provides a new approach to treat acute liver failure.
• A study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics states that urban outdoor air pollution causes an estimated 1.3 million deaths per year worldwide.
• Researchers state that certain jobs dads do are linked to higher risk of birth defects. These jobs included artists, photographer and photo processors, drivers and landscapers and grounds men.
• A study done by the researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital state that social deprivation has a measurable effect on brain of children. They suggest that positive interventions can partially reverse these changes.
• According to a research published in BMJ Open, restricting the amount of time spent seated every day to less than 3 hours might boost the life expectancy of US adults by 2 years.
• According to a group of Korean researchers a significant portion of people who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation may end up with broken ribs or other bones.
• Researchers have found that the resins not only boost the athletic performance but also prevent DNA damage due to oxidative damage prior to strenuous activities which are linked with several types of cancer and heart disease.

Diseases & Disasters:

• FDA warns consumers not to eat cantaloupes from Burch Equipment LLC of North Carolina because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (L.mono).
• Death toll due to deadly Ebola virus is rising in Uganda. It has risen to 17. Rwanda health ministry has called upon general public not to panic.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about a new pig flu virus.
• Flood affects life in North Korea. It has killed 170 people and about 200000 people have fled from their homes.