Category: news-perspectives

The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally declared a pandemic in the growing outbreak of H1N1 influenza. This is the type widely known as “swine flu.” WHO told its member nations June 11 that it is raising its pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6. This is the highest alert level. The declaration means that a new flu virus is spreading quickly around the world. Drug makers will speed up production of a vaccine. Governments also will take more steps to try to limit the spread of infection. Calling H1N1 a pandemic does not mean that WHO thinks it is severe. Most cases have been mild. As of June 10, WHO said the disease was in at least 74 countries. They had reported 27,737 cases of swine flu. These included 141 deaths.

An estimated 3,900 Americans have died from H1N1 (swine) flu, U.S. health officials said November 12. This revised estimate was issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s nearly four times the previous count of 1,000, the Associated Press reported. About 540 of the deaths were children. About 22 million Americans have had swine flu, the CDC said. The new estimates include deaths related to complications of swine flu, such as pneumonia. Another new study found that elderly people with swine flu were more likely to die than younger people. The study looked at clinic patients in Mexico, where the pandemic began. Children and young adults were infected more often. About 1.6% of babies under age 1 died. But overall fewer than 1% of swine flu patients under age 30 died. Adult death rates gradually went up with age. About 10% of patients over 70 died.

Children’s doctors are getting advice on how to help prevent bullying and dating violence. The tips come from their national group, the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is the group’s most detailed policy ever on youth violence. It says doctors should urge parents to discuss bullying and to teach kids how to resolve conflicts peacefully. Doctors should promote respect in dating relationships. And they should volunteer to give talks on these topics. The policy says a supportive early home life can reduce children’s chances of being victims. Family meals and time together can help. The policy also endorses a European program to prevent bullying. It stresses the role of bystanders. The journal Pediatrics published the policy online. The Associated Press wrote about it June 15.

Many children in the preteen and early teen years watch very violent movies, a survey has found. Researchers surveyed 6,522 children, ages 10 through 14. The kids were asked if they had seen each of 534 recent movies. The study looks at 40 movies that were rated R for violence. On average, 12.5% of the adolescents had seen these movies. The most popular was Scary Movie. Nearly half of the kids had seen it, including many 10-year-olds. The study is in the August issue of the journal Pediatrics.

More cases of pneumonia are being caused by treatment-resistant bacteria. And this type of pneumonia most often follows a case of influenza, a new study finds. Researchers said this is an even larger concern because of the recent swine flu outbreak. The study focused on pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. These are often called MRSA infections. They resist common antibiotics and are hard to cure. MRSA pneumonia can kill more than half of those who are infected, researchers said. Most cases are linked to a stay in a hospital or nursing home. But more and more cases start in the community, the study found. The study appeared in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. Reuters Health news service wrote about it May 19.

A new study suggests that doctors may want to try different drugs first to treat high blood pressure. Current guidelines say most people should get a diuretic (water pill) first. Other drugs can be added. But the new study found better results without a diuretic. The study included more than 11,000 people. Each person took pills that contained two drugs. All pills contained benazepril, an ACE inhibitor. The first group also received amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker. The second group also received hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic. People in the first group had fewer heart attacks, other serious events and deaths than people in the second group. The rate was 9.6% for the first group and 11.8% for the second. HealthDay News wrote about the study December 3. It was in the New England Journal of Medicine.

More Americans have diabetes, health officials say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates the total was 24 million in 2007. That’s 8% of the population. It’s up by 3 million since 2005. The CDC said there’s good news too. People are more likely to get diagnosed. About 25% of people with diabetes don’t know they have it. This compares with 30% in 2005. About 57 million people have pre-diabetes. People with this condition are more likely to develop diabetes. The Associated Press wrote about the report June 25.

Working longer may help to keep your mind sharp, a study suggests. Researchers looked at data on more than 1,300 people. All had dementia. People who retired later also tended to develop dementia later. The delay was an average of six weeks for each year of work. The study appeared in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. The Associated Press wrote about it May 18.

So-called virtual colonoscopy finds most colon cancers, researchers say. This finding comes from a new study. Experts say it may increase cancer screening. Many people avoid the standard test, colonoscopy. In this test, a tube inserted in the colon lets the doctor see inside. Virtual colonoscopy is done outside the body, using X-rays. It is formally known as CT colonography. In the study, about 2,500 people were given both tests. Virtual colonoscopy detected 9 out of 10 cancers that the standard test found. The Associated Press wrote about the study September 18. It appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Three runners died October 18 during the annual Detroit Marathon/Half Marathon. They were all running the half marathon, which is 13.1 miles. Two men collapsed 11 to 12 miles into the race. Their ages were 36 and 65, reported ClickOnDetroit.com, a website of Detroit’s Channel 4. The youngest man was 26. He collapsed after crossing the finish line. All three received medical help right away. They were pronounced dead at hospitals. Autopsy results were not released. The coroner’s office said it would wait for toxicology (drug) test results, ClickOnDetroit said. Three deaths in one race are likely to be a statistical fluke. The death rate from running a full marathon is about 1 person out of every 50,000 to 75,000, LiveScience.com reported. Deaths in half marathons are even more unusual. About 19,000 people signed up for the Detroit race.