AIDS in Asia The UN Commission on AIDS in Asia has reported that 8 million people could be newly infected with HIV by 2020. Nearly 5 million people already live with HIV in the region. However, immediate implementation of prevention programmes could keep new infections to 3 million, and 80% coverage of these programmes could be achieved by spending US$0·30 for every person in Asia per year.

Medicare expenditure The annual report on US hospital and medical insurance has revealed that Medicare spending is rising so rapidly that the President might have to introduce a new funding plan with benefit cuts or higher taxes. The report predicts that Medicare hospital insurance costs will exceed tax revenues in 2008, and all the years following, and will run out of money in 2019 if no changes are made.

Violence in Darfur Attacks on aid workers have reached unprecedented levels in western Sudan, hampering crucial relief operations, according to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ameerah Haq. In recent weeks, a driver contracted by the World Food Programme has been shot dead and two others have been stabbed.

Ducks, rice, ‘flu The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has shown a link between duck grazing patterns, rice cropping intensity, human population, and the H5N1 virus. Outbreaks of H5N1 infection in Thailand and Vietnam were associated with seasonal peaks in ducks flocking and inhabiting paddy fields during the rice harvest. These findings should help to predict, and ultimately prevent, future outbreaks.

Oral microbiome Last week the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research launched the Human Oral Microbiome Database, an ongoing project to generate a comprehensive database of about 600 microorganisms that inhabit the mouth. The US National Institutes of Health project to sequence the collective genomes of human microbes will contribute genomic information to the database.

Polio-free 40 NGOs have issued a joint statement, supported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, warning of an impending catastrophe in Somalia. One million people have been internally displaced by intense conflict and according to UNICEF, Somalia is now the worst place in the world for children. Despite this situation, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has just announced that Somalia is again polio-free as a result of the immunisation efforts of 10 000 volunteers and health workers.

Paid prescriptions AstraZeneca will pay pharmacists to report on patients’ adherence to four of its medicines. Pharmacists are encouraged to consult with recruited patients up to three times over 3-4 months to investigate patient compliance and barriers to taking medicine. This information will benefit both AstraZeneca and community pharmacists, who will receive up to £45 per patient.

Medical prizes The Japanese Government has awarded the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prizes to Brian Greenwood from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Miriam K Were from the UZIMA Foundation, Kenya. Dr Greenwood is awarded the prize for his pioneering work on malaria and Dr Were for her efforts to bring basic medical services and health rights to women and children in east Africa.

Model organs British TV animators have created a computer-generated model of a beating human heart that could revolutionise anatomy lessons. The model, designed by special-effects company Glassworks, has been so well received by the cardiology community that the team are now working on a 3D mannequin to probe the heart as in surgery, and hope to design similar models of other organs.

Reducing emissions Petrol stations in Jordan can no longer sell leaded petrol after a government initiative to improve public health by switching to unleaded petrol. Emissions from unleaded petrol are less harmful. Other countries in the region, such as Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria, have already switched to unleaded fuel.

Dead man waking A 21-year-old man was declared brain dead in Wichita Falls, TX, USA after a quad bike accident, and consent was given for organ donation. Then, as his family were paying their last respects, he began to move his foot and hand. After 48 days in hospital, he has been discharged and now feels “pretty good”.

Bookmark on delicious | Digg

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 10:14 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can trackback from your own site.