NEWS ABOUT: epidemiology
epidemiology stories: 10 news briefs
UPDATED
H1N1 has spread to 74 countries, but may be milder than first thought
Reuters Jun 11, 09 10:20 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
The World Health Organization has declared the first influenza pandemic since 1968, Reuters reports. Although the current outbreak has caused mostly mild cases of the illness, today's official declaration that the outbreak has hit phase 6, the highest level, means heightened prevention measures in 193 countries. The designation refers to the geographical spread of the disease, not the severity.
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In H1N1 patients, fat had same effects as diabetes, heart disease
Washington Post May 20, 09 8:42 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Scientists at the CDC have noticed a new trend in cases of swine flu: "We were surprised by the frequency of obesity among the severe cases that we've been tracking," says an epidemiologist, adding that it might be cause to make obese people a priority for a vaccine, if it becomes available. Other pre-existing conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, are known to raise the risk of flu complications, but this one has doctors a bit surprised.
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WHO investigates claim that H1N1 arose from human error
Bloomberg May 13, 09 4:22 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
The World Health Organization is investigating a claim by an Australian researcher that the swine flu virus may have been created in a laboratory as a result of human error. Adrian Gibbs, who helped develop Tamiflu, said in an interview with Bloomberg that the new strain may have evolved in eggs that drug makers use to make vaccines. "One of the simplest explanations is that it’s a laboratory escape," he said.
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OPINION
Newsweek Apr 30, 09 1:11 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
The H1N1 flu outbreak spotlights a public-health infrastructure ill suited to respond to a pandemic or its close cousin, a bioterror attack, D.A. Henderson writes for Newsweek . We must “sharpen our health-care response. Rapid diagnosis and response are critical,” he writes. The “interconnected world we live in” means a little-known disease “could rapidly become the hemorrhagic epidemic of Boston or Bordeaux.”
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In detecting outbreaks of tainted food, some states are far superior
New York Times Apr 20, 09 8:16 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
When it comes to salmonella and other food-borne illnesses, federal agencies are rightly putting money into preventing future outbreaks, but few agencies are focused on detecting them. That task falls mostly to state and local officials, which means the ability to connect several sick citizens and call it a salmonella outbreak varies widely by state, the New York Times reports.
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Interest in public health leads to skyrocketing course enrollment
Washington Post Sep 19, 08 3:22 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
In less than a generation, college students' international perspective has transformed many colleges' public health-related programs and courses. The AIDS epidemic served as a catalyst by opening young people’s eyes to the global character of disease, and the ease of worldwide travel and communication is spurring involvement abroad. The Washington Post looks at the transformation.
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New test indicates 40% more infected in US each year than reported
New York Times Aug 2, 08 1:13 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
A lot more people in the US have HIV than previously thought. A new CDC study suggests that the US has undercounted by about 15,000 cases a year for 15 years or so, the New York Times reports. That would add 225,000 cases to the current estimate of about 1 million. The new figures are likely to have a big impact on decisions about AIDS policy in the US and fuel criticism about prevention measures, the Times notes.
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Researchers back more cost-effective, targeted testing to catch superbug
Chicago Tribune Mar 12, 08 11:09 AM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
Widespread screening of hospital patients for the drug-resistant staph bacteria MRSA doesn’t appear to reduce the number of infections, a new study finds. Swiss researchers screened more than 10,000 patients for the superbug when they were admitted to the University of Geneva Hospitals. Another 10,000 weren’t tested. The rates of MRSA infections were similar for both groups, the Chicago Tribune reports.
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Antibiotic-resistant staph kills more Americans than AIDS
Washington Post Oct 16, 07 11:26 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
An antibiotic-resistant strain of staph kills more Americans each year than HIV, accounting for almost 19,000 deaths annually, the first national stats on the superbug reveal. The super-staph is treatable but can quickly lead to dangerous "flesh-eating" infections. "We really need to be on guard against these emerging organisms," one epidemiologist tells the Washington Post.
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Breakthrough may
help explain billions
of apian deaths
Associated Press Sep 6, 07 8:48 PM CDT
(Newser Summary) -
The mysterious deaths of billions of honeybees now has a new leading suspect, scientists say: a newcomer to the US called Israeli acute paralysis virus. And as most stricken colonies test positive for the disease, the lead seems promising, the AP reports. The deaths have hit between 50% and 90% of all commercial American hives, potentially affecting some 90 crops pollinated by bees.
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