May 20th 2009
This week in medicine
The following will appear in the May 23 issue of The Lancet:
New CDC Director New York City health commissioner and infectious disease expert Thomas Frieden is US President Barack Obama’s choice for the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of Frieden’s first jobs will be to determine the US response to influenza A (H1N1) and possible vaccine development.
Diarrhoeal disease PATH and Water-Aid America have criticised the aid community and developing-country governments for failing to target child mortality in areas where disease burden is greatest. The two reports released last week call attention to a lack of funding for diarrhoeal disease, which causes 17% of deaths in children younger than 5 years.
NHS failings A report published last week by the UK’s Quality Care Commission reveals “systemic failings” in National Health Service care as it pertained to the short life of toddler Baby Peter. Poor communication, lack of child protection training, and staff shortages were among the basic inadequacies that contributed to the 17-month-old’s death from repeated parental abuse.
Land grabbing The International Food Policy Research Institute has called for an international code of conduct around what has become known as “land grabbing”. This practice involves the purchase of vast areas of land in developing countries by foreign investors for the production of exportable food and biofuel. The huge sums of money involved and lack of an oversight mechanism are a threat to food security, the Institute warns.
Violence against women A new task-force on violence against women is to be set up in the UK. Led by George Alberti, the taskforce includes a range of health professionals, and promises to involve victims themselves. The main objective will be to ensure that front-line health workers are able to spot domestic violence and feel confident enough to address it.
NGOs in Laos For the first time, the Government of Laos is to allow the independent registration of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). 80 international NGOs are currently operating in Laos, where 2·3 million people live below the poverty line. But local organisations have a greater cultural connection and can more effectively reach remote communities.
Stroke management The Stroke Council of the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) has issued a new statement on the management of transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Because patients who have TIAs are at an increased risk of stroke, specific diagnostic procedures are recommended to estimate the immediacy of the risk.
Chemical concern WHO has warned that health professionals will face new challenges as developing countries begin to produce more hazardous chemicals. In a paper submitted to the International Conference on Chemicals Management (May 11-15), the agency says that chemical production, processing, and use is closely tied to economic development and that the health sector should prepare for an increase in chemical incidents.
Ghent goes veggie The city of Ghent in Belgium is to become vegetarian for 1 day every week. Civil servants and elected councillors will be the first to participate in the scheme, to be joined by schoolchildren later this year. Officials hope that the regular meat-free day will reduce the city’s environmental footprint and help to fight obesity.
Toxic toads Many people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are mistaking the symptoms of diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria for poisoning by karuho—a venom derived from chameleon and toad skin. Patients are dying as a result, say health officials in the country, because they delay conventional treatment by seeking the help of traditional healers.
Flu update As of May 18, WHO had received reports of 8829 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection and 74 deaths across 40 countries worldwide. Africa remains the only continent unaffected. For a compendium of biological, clinical, epidemiological, and public heath information about influenza, visit The Lancet’s new H1N1 flu resource centre.
Britain’s got surgeons In what some might consider a step too far for reality TV, viewers in the UK next week will have a chance to quiz surgeons in real-time as they go about heart, brain, and stomach surgery. The operations will be broadcast live on Channel 4 and to a studio audience. Questions can be fielded via telephone, email, or Twitter. Who will make the final cut?
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