Death rates A report from the UK Office for National Statistics shows that death rates in England and Wales fell by 3·5% overall between 2008 and 2009, with a decline of 2% for men and nearly 5% for women. There were 509 090 registered deaths in 2008 and 491 348 in 2009. Age-standardised rates are now the lowest ever recorded in England and Wales.

Dengue epidemic Dengue fever is reaching epidemic proportions across the Caribbean. Health officials in Puerto Rico are calling the outbreak the worst in more than a decade, and hospitals across the region are struggling with floods of new patients and overflowing emergency rooms. Officials are blaming the warm weather and early rainy season for the striking increase in numbers of mosquitoes.

Food standards Despite concerns for the future of the UK Food Standards Agency, the government has said it will retain the food safety watchdog, albeit under different divisions of labour. According to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, by handing over some responsibilities to the government, the agency will be able to focus completely on food safety.

Rape in Borneo A report by Malaysian human rights groups has exposed cases of repeated rape and sexual assault of Penan tribeswomen in Borneo by loggers. The Penan women made previous allegations in 2008, which were dismissed by the Chief Minister of Sarawak as “lies”. A government investigation has now confirmed that the claims are true.

Regulation of cosmetics The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 was submitted to the US Congress on July 20. The legislation would give the US Food and Drug Administration the authority to ensure that cosmetics are free from potentially harmful ingredients and that there is transparency in product labelling. It would thus bring cosmetics into regulatory alignment with drugs and medical devices.

Yarl’s Wood closure The UK Government is to close the “family wing” of the Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre in Bedfordshire. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called the imprisonment of children while they await deportation a “moral outrage”. Asylum seekers’ support groups have welcomed the decision, but lamented the government’s failure to close the facility altogether.

Bushmen’s rights Kalahari bushmen have lost a court case to lift the Government of Botswana’s ban on reopening a vital waterhole in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the bushmen’s traditional home. The tribe was evicted to make way for diamond mines in 2002 and the waterhole sealed. Although the evictions were later declared unconstitutional, the waterhole remains inaccessible.

Australian hospitals As part of the Australian Government’s health reform agenda, a website known as MyHospitals is to be launched next month. The site will enable the public to compare accessibility, performance, quality, and safety of hospitals throughout most of Australia, as well as listing medical services, bed numbers, and whether allied health and dental services are provided.

Iraqi aid A report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that insufficient donor funding has “seriously constrained” implementation of the country’s long-term recovery programme. The report suggests that political uncertainty in Iraq has hindered financial support for the Humanitarian Action Plan launched at the beginning of the year.

Biomarkers for brain injury The US Defense Department is expected to provide US$17 million to fund a first-of-its-kind study to explore whether biomarkers can reliably assess the extent of brain injury and help doctors to decide on treatment. It is hoped that the study, expected to start next year and to involve 1000 patients across 20 hospitals, will revolutionise brain-injury care.

Deadly mushroom A rare mushroom belonging to the genus Trogia has been linked with the deaths of 400 villagers in the past 30 years in Yunnan province, China. Scientists are studying the mushroom’s toxins, which could be the cause of the Yunnan sudden death syndrome, and whether the local water supply, which contains high concentrations of barium, could increase the effect of these toxins.

World Breastfeeding Week Aug 1–7 is World Breastfeeding Week. Organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, the event aims to support breastfeeding mothers and encourage adoption of WHO’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding.

New US HIV strategy The Obama administration has announced a new national strategy to reduce the annual number of HIV infections in the USA by 25% within 5 years. The plan also aims to increase the proportion of newly diagnosed patients who receive care within 3 months of their diagnosis, and to redirect resources to populations that are at the highest risk of HIV infection.

Namibia lifts travel ban Namibia has drawn international praise for its decision earlier this month to remove all travel restrictions on people with HIV or other infectious diseases. Namibia joins the likes of the USA and China, who also removed their restrictions this year; however, 51 countries still refuse entry to travellers if they are HIV-positive.

Diet success Results of two studies from the UK’s Medical Research Council suggest that the com­mercial weight-loss programme WeightWatchers works better than the strategy recom­mended by the National Health Service. The support, education, and motivation offered by WeightWatchers was seen to promote the behavioural and lifestyle changes needed for consistent and long-term weight loss.

HIV levels fall The prevalence of HIV has decreased by at least 25% in people aged 15–24 years in 12 of the world’s most affected countries, according to the UNAIDS Outlook report. The agency believes the dramatic de­crease is due to prevention campaigns warning of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and the need for people to change their sexual behaviour.

Waterborne worry Three preventable water­borne diseases–legionellosis, crypto­sporidi­osis, and giardiasis–cost the US health-care system up to US$539 million every year, according to research presented at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Low-cost inter­ventions such as increased public education campaigns could reduce health-care costs, say the authors.

Teen smoking A survey by lobby group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in New Zealand has shown that smoking in the country’s 14–15-year-olds dropped by two-thirds between 1999 and 2009. The number who had never smoked doubled during this time. ASH say that the decline was largely due to youth-focused anti-tobacco campaigns.

Child mortality Timor-Leste has achieved substantial reductions in fer­tility rates and in infant and child mortality, according to a national Demographic and Health Survey. The infant mortality rate has fallen from 60 deaths per 1000 births in 2003 to 44 now, and the rate in those younger than 5 years decreased from 83 to 64. The fertility rate now stands at 5·7, two children less than in 2003.

Overseas student health A study by researchers at the University of British Columbia suggests that Asian high-school students who lodge with Canadian families are more likely to smoke, use drugs, and binge drink than are similarly aged immigrants and Canadian-born Asians. The region’s “homestay” in­dustry generates CAN$60 million per year, but there are no formal checks on host families.

Sickle-cell anniversary 100 years after the publication of the first description of the characteristically shaped red blood cells symptomatic of sickle-cell anaemia, the First Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease took place this week in Accra, Ghana. In addition to discussion of key topics such as treatment, workshops provided a chance for international collaboration.

Rosiglitazone reprieve Two advisory committees to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have voted to keep rosiglitazone on the market, but under greater restriction. Panel members at a 2-day hearing last week discussed the drug’s cardiovascular risk profile and the reliability of the studies on which this information is based. The FDA must now decide whether to heed the committees’ advice.

Village health teams The Government of Uganda has launched an Integrated Community Case Management pro­gramme aimed at using village health teams to provide households with basic health services. The teams will comprise four or five people who will promote health education, distribute health kits, advise mothers during pregnancy, and mobilise communities to use health services.

Cold snap hits tropics At least nine people have died in Argentina after a period of extremely cold weather saw temperatures dip to –14°C in some parts of the country. Paraguay, Uruguay, and even Bolivia, which is within the Tropic of Capricorn, have also recorded deaths from the antarctic weather front that has hit the continent.

Drug development The TB Alliance has granted the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) royalty-free rights to develop antituberculosis compounds that have the potential to treat Chagas disease, sleeping sickness, and leishmaniasis. These infectious diseases together kill more than 100 000 people every year. The Gates Foundation is providing a US$1·5 million grant to the DNDi.

Implantable telescope The US Food and Drug Administration has ap­proved an implantable miniature telescope for the treatment of some patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration. The small telescope is implanted into one eye, replacing the natural lens, and magnifying and projecting images onto a healthy part of the retina.

Zero drinks if driving Russia’s lower house of parliament has approved the reinstatement of a complete ban on driving after consumption of alcohol. The ban was previously in force until July, 2008, when it was relaxed. News agency Itar-Tass claims that thousands of Russians are injured in drink-driving-related accidents. How­ever, others contend that most traffic accidents are caused by poor roads.

New at Medicare Donald Berwick was appointed last week to run Medicare and Medicaid, which provide free medical care to 100 million elderly, poor, and disabled Americans. US President Barack Obama bypassed the normal Senate confirmation process to make the appointment, avoiding a potential reopening of last year’s divisive health-care debate.

Abuse in slums Women and girls in Kenyan slums are living in constant fear of rape and sexual abuse, according to Amnesty International. A report found that women are afraid of leaving their homes to wash or go to the toilet, and that the Kenyan Government has been failing to provide adequate sanitation and law enforcement in the slums.

Biobank bounty The UK Biobank, set up 3 years ago, has reached its goal of enrolling half a million adults. The databank collected health data as well as blood, urine, and saliva samples from British adults aged 40–69 years, which will be analysed in the next three decades in the hope of improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

Haiti remembered July 12 marked the 6-month anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed nearly a quarter of a million people, injured more, and destroyed much of the infrastructure in the capital Port-au-Prince. The situation for Haitians remains grim: billions promised in aid have been slow to arrive, the visas of those displaced to the USA are running out, and land ownership issues have hampered clearing efforts.

Vaccines burned 40 million doses of influenza A H1N1 vaccine produced for the US public last year have expired and will be incinerated. The doses, worth US$260 million, represent a quarter of the H1N1 vaccine produced, with 30 million additional doses set to expire later. Federal officials defend the oversupply as a necessary risk when confronted with the new virus.

Border crossing Thousands of Gazans have crossed the border with Egypt to seek treatment in Cairo hospitals after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak opened the Rafah border in response to Israel’s military action against an aid-carrying flotilla. Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt were blockaded when Islamist movement Hamas came to power in 2007.

Emergency admissions up A 12% rise in emergency hospital admissions in England over the past 5 years has been declared “unsustainable” by the Nuffield Trust. The trends varied greatly between hospital trusts, with some reporting lower admissions and others reporting double. A lowering of the threshold for clinical intervention is thought to be one cause of the rise.

PTSD payouts The US Department of Veterans Affairs is to relax the conditions under which war veterans can claim disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new rules mean that veterans will no longer have to prove that they have been involved in a traumatic event such as a bomb blast or witnessing a friend being killed, merely that they have served in a war zone.

Beijing smoking ban Beijing is plan­ning a revision to the 1995 Regulation on Banning Smoking in all Public Spaces. The updated ban, starting Jan 1, 2011, will be expanded to all indoor public spaces, including elevators and corridors; there will also no longer be smoking sections in indoor public spaces. Punishments for violation of the ban will be severe.

Meningitis hope A new meningitis A conjugate vaccine approved last week by WHO could be the first to prevent outbreaks in Africa. The existing poly­saccharide vaccine confers only short-term immunity and is not suitable for children younger than 2 years. The vaccine costs US$0·40 per dose and will be delivered first to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali by WHO and the GAVI Alliance.

HIV drug aid lacking Nearly 1800 US patients with HIV or AIDS have been placed on federal waiting lists for antiretroviral drugs that less than 3 years ago were freely available to anyone who could not afford to buy them. Reduced govern­ment resources and increased demand caused by unemployment have limited access to the US$12 000-per-year drugs.

Organ transplantation In a further attempt to curb the country’s black market in organ transplants, China’s Ministry of Health has mandated that from now on medical centres must report details of every transplantation within 72 h of the operation. Timely reporting will make falsification of patients’ details more difficult, ministers argue. Violators could have their medical licences revoked.

Assisted dying Germany’s Federal Court of Justice has upheld an appeal by a lawyer convicted of attempted manslaughter after he helped a woman to withdraw her terminally ill mother’s feeding tube. The mother had earlier expressed a verbal wish not to be kept alive artificially. The court ruling brings clarity to cases involving such patients who express a clear wish to die, said Germany’s Justice Minister.

Age-friendly cities Last week WHO launched the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities to encourage cities to promote active lifestyles for their ageing populations. Research in 33 cities identified factors that encourage healthy ageing, including access to public transport, appropriate housing, health services, and con­nections to allow elderly people to take an active part in society.

Condom shortage Uganda is in the throes of another shortage of free condoms owing to reduced stockpiling and irregular deliveries. Condoms are still commercially available, but many Ugandans cannot afford them. The Ministry of Health advises abstinence or faithfulness to one sexual partner for the duration of the shortage or use of a female condom.

Mental abuse outlawed The French Parliament has approved a law that makes psychological violence a criminal offence, punishable by up to 3 years in jail and a €75 000 fine. The law aims to improve protection of victims of domestic abuse and outlaws repeated acts or words that “degrade one’s quality of life and cause a change to one’s mental or physical state.”

Football and HIV On July 2, Brazil’s Ministry of Health launched a 2-week campaign in South Africa named Score a Goal—Brazil and South Africa in the Field Against AIDS. The Brazilian Government wants to share its experience in AIDS prevention with the South Africans by distributing condoms around towns and educating the local population about AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

Banned trailers return Trailer homes that were banned from use as long-term housing owing to high levels of formaldehyde after US Hurricane Katrina in 2005 are being used as living quarters for some workers involved in the cleanup of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Formaldehyde aggravates respiratory problems, can cause nasal cancer, and can be linked to leukaemia.

Switching to saliva Salivary sampling is being adopted as a convenient and non-invasive method of tissue-type assessment for bone-marrow donation. The Anthony Nolan Trust, which finds stem-cell matches for leukaemia patients, hopes to double the number of donors registered by replacing conventional blood testing with the new kits.

Eyeglasses app Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, have developed a smart phone application that allows users to align a cheap lens with patterns on the screen to produce accurate eyeglasses prescriptions. Although not a substitute for optometrists, the scientists say that the app could provide cheaper prescriptions to millions worldwide.

Sleeping sickness success For the first time in 50 years, the annual number of new cases of human African trypanosomiasis has fallen below 10 000. According to Pere Simarro, of WHO’s Human African Trypano­somiasis Programme, the drop is due to improved screening and partner­ships with drug companies. Scientists say rapid testing and safe drugs are needed to eliminate the disease.

Disastrous disaster response Haitian rebuilding efforts after the January earthquake are being hampered by disorganisation and lax leadership, a US Senate report declared last week. The report came as the US Congress was set to debate investment of US$2 billion in Haitian relief. It also criticised the Haitian Government for not effectively convincing citizens that it was in control of the situation.

Allergic reaction Allergy sufferers in the UK are not receiving the specialist care that they require, according to a report by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Pathologists. This follow-up report suggests that services have not improved in the past 3 years and are under increasing pressure. One suggestion to alleviate the shortage of specialist allergy doctors has been to retrain surplus anaesthetists.

Lab network The World Bank has approved nearly US$64 million to create a network of 25 public health laboratories across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. According to Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for Africa, this regional integration is essential for economic growth and attainment of the Millen­nium Development Goals.

FDA criticism A US Department of Health and Human Services report released last week found that, in 2008, the Food and Drug Administration inspected only 0·7% of non-US clinical trial sites, despite the fact that 80% of drugs approved were tested via such trials. Industry watchdogs worry that this lack of regulatory oversight could result in cost efficiency being valued above patients’ safety.

Syphilis control In China, the Ministry of Health has issued a 10-year working plan to curb the spread of syphilis over the next 5 years and eliminate congenital syphilis within 10 years. Anti-syphilis drugs are to be covered by medical insurance, and community-based methadone maintenance centres and HIV clinics will provide free counselling and testing for syphilis.

Stem-cell report The European Science Foundation issued a report last week on the ethical and legal implications of stem-cell research in the specialty of regenerative medicine. The report argues for equal research into both embryonic and pluripotent stem cells, and calls for public funding for stem-cell research at both the national and European levels.

African genetics The US National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust have announced a 5-year effort to identify genetic variants linked to a wide range of diseases in Africa. The series of population-based studies, to be done by African researchers, will use genetic, clinical, and epidemiological screening techniques to search for hereditary and non-hereditary risks of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Bioethics commission July 8–9 will see the first convention of US President Obama’s new Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. Amy Gutmann, a political scientist and ethical policy academic, will chair the 13-member committee. Made up of members of the public, government officials, and medical and legal experts, the panel will provide the President with guidance on controversial scientific topics.

Discriminatory treatment A survey by intellectual disability charity Mencap suggests that the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is ill-equipped to care for patients with learning difficulties. The poll of more than 1000 health-care professionals, part of Mencap’s Getting it right campaign, revealed that 39% of doctors believed that people with a learning disability are discriminated against in the NHS.

Shifting drug use The UN Office on Drugs and Crime released its World Drug Report 2010 last week, highlighting a shift towards new drugs and new markets. The world’s supply of opiates and cocaine is decreasing, but there is growing misuse of amphetamine-type stimulants and prescription drugs. Also, drug use in developed countries has stabilised but is increasing in developing countries.

Pharma funds out The University of Michigan has become the first US medical school to stop receiving money from drug and medical device makers to pay for continuing medical education coursework. The practice of accepting commercial financing for postgraduate medical education has come under scrutiny owing to the potential bias of promoting products over patients’ interests.

Anti-rape condom South African doctor Sonnet Ehlers has developed a female condom with sharp “teeth” on the inside in an effort to deter rapists. The device’s barbs attach to the man’s penis and can only be removed by a doctor. Ehlers plans to distribute up to 30 000 of the condoms in various South African cities during the World Cup football tournament.

Resistance alert The Center for Global Development has released a report on the threat of global drug resistance. According to the report, careless practices in drug supply are raising costs and making future generations vulnerable to dis­eases such as malaria. The report offers recommendations including strengthening national drug regulatory authorities.

Collaboration for health The US In­stitute of Medicine (IOM) has issued a report on the need for collaboration in the US health-care system. The report is the result of a workshop with multiple stakeholders to discuss strategies to improve efficiency by encouraging the frag­mented network of individuals and organisations to work cooperatively towards a com­mon goal: improving patients’ health.

Aid suspended The Global Fund has suspended payments to Zam­bia’s Ministry of Health after an investigation into suspected fraud and corruption. The money that supports the country’s AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes will be redirected via the UN Development Programme to allow the continued treatment of patients, irrespective of this action.

Gun warnings Doctors in Britain have agreed to breach confidentiality and flag the medical files of mentally ill patients who own firearms to give police warning that they could be a threat to themselves or others. The discussions already taking place be­tween the British Medical Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers gained more notice after a man shot dead 12 people earlier this month.

Immunisation success The GAVI Alli­ance, formed to make life-saving vaccines available to the world’s poorest children, marked its first decade by releasing a report high­lighting the 5·4 million deaths prevented and the 250 million children vaccinated by its efforts. It also notes that the financial commitment of developing countries to immunisation is at the highest level ever.

Refugee return In its 2009 Global Trends Report, the UN Refugee Agency has deemed 2009 the worst year for voluntary repatriation since the mid-1990s. Last year, 43·3 million people were forced to leave their homes by conflict, many of whom may not be able to return for years. Only 251 000 refugees were repatriated in 2009, compared with an average of about 1 million in previous years.

Child soldiers Six central African nations including Chad, Sudan, and Nigeria signed the binding N’Djamena Declaration earlier this month, which obliges nations to end the use of child soldiers and help reintegrate exploited children back into their communities. UNICEF Executive Director Andrew Lake praised the move, noting that it built on progress already made in central Africa.

Vitamin D danger The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the dangers of giving infants more than 400 IU of liquid vitamin D. Many droppers in supplement bottles are not clearly marked with the correct amount and can hold more than necessary. Overdoses can cause vomiting, constipation, muscle weak­ness, and kidney damage.

Polio eradication Last week saw the formal launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s new strat­egic plan for 2010–12. The plan introduces district-specific strategies to target remaining areas of poliovirus, uses the bivalent oral polio vaccine, and addresses health-system weaknesses. But efforts are threatened by a serious budget shortfall of US$1·3 billion.

Female genital mutilation Human Rights Watch demanded last week that authorities in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan ban the practice of female genital mutilation. The group released a report noting that the practice was common in the region and extremely damaging to the emotional and physical health of young girls and women. It also urged the Kurdistan Regional Government to establish awareness campaigns.

Women’s health Chinese women might be increasing their risk of car­diovascular disease because they are unaware of the risk factors. A survey by Opinion Health on behalf of the World Heart Federation showed that 90% of such women do not know that heart disease and stroke are the top causes of death among their peers, and about a third do not believe that smoking or lack of exercise increase their risk.

Vuvuzela volumes The UK’s Royal National Institute for Deaf People has warned fans attending the 2010 South Africa World Cup about the potential hearing loss caused by the popular vuvuzela horns. The horns can emit a noise of 127 dB, equivalent to a jet airliner taking off. Such volumes can cause hearing damage in less than 15 min.

Bhopal sentences 26 years after the Bhopal disaster in India, seven men have been sentenced to 2 years in prison for criminal negligence. Up to 25 000 people are thought to have died and around 500 000 are estimated to have been harmed by the clouds of lethal gas that escaped from the chemical plant run by Union Carbide in 1984.

Pfizer warning The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to Pfizer for repeatedly failing to report promptly adverse effects of post-marketed drugs. Such drugs include Pfizer’s top-selling Viagra (sildenafil) and Lipitor (atorvastatin). According to FDA director Ronald Pace, Pfizer inspectors found system-wide lapses during their inspections.

Water hunting Geologists are using magnetic resonance sounding to locate ground­water in Chad. Serious water shortages caused by insufficient rainfall and rapid population growth, including the arrival of refugees from neighbouring Sudan and Central African Republic, have forced the use of this method, which is expensive but more accurate than standard geophysical techniques.

Torture tests Physicians for Human Rights released a report last week alleging that US doctors working for the Central Intelligence Agency during the Bush Administration participated in illegal experiments on detainees with the aim to improve torture techniques, such as waterboarding. US Government officials rejected the study, asserting that no such research occurred.

Polio protection WHO has vaccinated more than 1·2 million children against poliomyelitis in Afghanistan after an outbreak of the disease near the Afghan border in neighbouring Tajikistan. To ensure that all Afghan children were vaccinated, WHO set up immunisation posts at the border, as well as doing house visits, setting up mobile clinics, and having hospital immunisation teams.

Media and health The Brunei Ministry of Health has held a seminar with the country’s most influential radio and television broadcasters to encourage listeners to lead healthier lifestyles and educate participants on health-related issues, such as diet. According to Deputy Minister of Health Pehin Abdullah, the media is crucial to the positive promotion and spread of health information to the public.

Telemedical abortions Doctors in Iowa, USA, are providing medical abortions to women in remote areas via video link. A clinic nurse examines the woman and provides counselling and follow-up care. A doctor “arrives” via video conference and issues the necessary drugs by clicking a button that releases a drawer in the clinic. Opponents charge that the scheme makes abortion easier.

Mental disorders At least 30 million young people in China have mental disorders or behavioural problems, according to estimates reported at the 19th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions. China’s rapid urbanisation and industrialisation and greater societal competition are thought to be part of the problem.

Contaminated water Lead poisoning of water reserves in northwestern Nigeria, probably caused by illegal gold mining, has left more than 160 people dead, many of them children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called the contamination “unprecedented”, and the Nigerian Government has set up emergency clinics in conjunction with several aid agencies to help treat those affected.

Stem-cell tourism Costa Rica’s health ministry has shut down the largest stem-cell clinic in the country. The clinic had treated thousands of foreigners because it was cheaper or more accessible than those in other coun­tries. The Ministry’s chief said that the treatments were unproven, and the centre’s owner admitted that they were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

HIV disclosure Uganda has drafted a new policy to allow HIV-positive children to be informed of their status by the age of 10 years to try to im­prove their adherence to antiretroviral therapy. The previous policy required parental consent to inform children by age 12 years, but the new policy allows health workers to do so earlier (with parental support) after assessment of the child’s ability to understand.

Loud and clear Telecommunications company Geemarc has developed a mobile phone with a 100 dB ringtone. Although the Clearsound CL8200 was developed for people with hearing loss, its simplicity and enlarged button and screen size were also designed to appeal to older people frustrated with the tendency of modern phones to be both overly complex and tiny.

AIDS summit The first White House summit on HIV/AIDS in African-American men on June 2 heard that the prevalence of the virus is increasing in this group. According to Shannon Hader, Director of the District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Administration, part of the problem is stigma in black communities. The summit was part of an ongoing plan to create a national HIV/AIDS strategy.

Marriage laws As a means to curb underage marriages, Saudi Arabia has mandated that marriage contracts must declare the age of the bride. Human rights advocates such as the National Society for Human Rights praised the move by the kingdom, which currently has no laws preventing child marriage, stating that it was necessary to protect young girls from harm.

Cardiovascular disease A report by the Australia Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) summarises the high health burden and economic cost of cardiovascular disease in the nation’s women. An AIHW spokesperson emphasised the fact that, although it is seen as a “man’s disease”, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australian women.

Tetanus milestone Maternal and neonatal tetanus has been eliminated from Burma, an international expert team made up of WHO and UNICEF has confirmed. This development is the result of years of government-led systematic efforts, including the vaccination of pregnant women. Burma is the second country in east Asia after Vietnam to achieve elimination status.

World Cup criticism Football govern­ing body FIFA came under scrutiny last week from the World Cancer Research Fund for accepting sponsorship from companies such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser for the South Africa 2010 World Cup. The charity stated that the event should be used to encourage healthy lifestyles and that such advertisements could negatively affect children.

Infection rates released Weekly rates of nosocomial infections with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile are to be made publicly available for all English hospitals. The aim of publishing the data is to allow the public to compare hospitals and health-care organisations. Rates of MRSA and C difficile infection are currently the lowest ever recorded.

Forced sterilisation The Namibian state is being sued for the sterilisation, allegedly without consent, of three HIV-positive women. The women are represented by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), which has recorded 15 similar cases in Namibian hospitals since 2008. An LAC spokesman said that HIV-positive women are some­times advised to undergo sterilisation without being properly informed.

Drug withdrawals Two Danish phar­maceutical companies, Leo Pharma and Novo Nordisk, pulled several drugs off the market in Greece last week in objection to the government’s 25% reduction in medicine prices instituted in response to the debt crisis. The move prompted fears that additional companies could follow suit, resulting in a shortage of medical supplies.

Prison health The Howard League, a UK penal reform charity, has reported that less than 10% of allegations of serious assault and only a quarter of allegations of sexual assault in UK prisons were investigated in 2008. An inspectorate report into Brinsford prison also concluded that the prison system is failing to protect teenagers from assault.

Aflatoxin scare The Kenyan Govern­ment has announced that 2·3 million bags of maize have been contaminated with a fungus that produces lethal aflatoxins. One child was killed by the toxins, and several cases of maize-related poisoning have been reported. The fungal contamination is the result of inappropriate storage facilities. The government has pledged to buy and destroy the affected maize.

Guilty of defamation? The National Academy of Science of Peru has issued a declaration in support of Ernesto Bustamante, a molecular biologist facing prison for criticising a study published in a newspaper. A Peruvian court found the defendant guilty of character defamation. Scientists and institutions worldwide are also lending their support via a petition asking for the right of scientific critique.

Casual sex A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released last Wednesday on sexual attitudes in US teenagers found that, although condom use had increased, young people were becoming less afraid of pregnancy, particularly outside marriage. The study also noted an increase in teenage girls who were using the rhythm method, up to 17% from 11% in 2002.

Health Bill The health plans of the UK’s new coalition Government were announced by Queen Elizabeth II on May 25. The Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition will set up an independent National Health Service (NHS) board, focus on public health and reducing health inequalities, cut health-service quangos, and aim to give health professionals and patients more say over NHS decision making.

iPhone poisonings As excitement mounted about the release of Apple’s iPhone 4G, it was revealed that at least 62 people in Jiangsu Province, China, had been admitted to hospital after working on the product. The factory concerned was reportedly making employees use the toxic chemical n-hexane to clean the screens. It has now stopped using it, and paid the medical expenses of the workers.

Spanish smoking ban The Spanish Government had hoped to tighten smoking restrictions in 2010, but according to Spanish health minister, Trinidad Jimenez, such rules on smoking in public places are unlikely to be approved until 2011. Despite clear public health benefits, opposition comes from Spain’s Hotel and Catering Federation, who worry what effect a full ban could have on their industry.

Immunisation campaign The Zim­babwean Government, with financial support from WHO and UNICEF, has started an immunisation campaign against measles and six other major killer diseases, targeting 5 million children younger than 15 years. Since late last year, nearly 400 deaths from measles have been reported in Zimbabwe.

Fracture warning The US Food and Drug Administration has announced plans to add a warning to the labels of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) indicating an increased risk of bone fractures after chronic use or high doses. The agency recommends that both doctors and patients consider whether the benefits of PPIs outweigh the risks.

Rabies vaccine withdrawn A batch of human rabies vaccine produced by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products has been recalled in China over concerns for consumer safety. The substandard vaccine contained an excessive amount of bacterial endotoxin, which can cause fever. A statement released by the State Food and Drug Administration confirmed that there have been no reports of adverse side-effects.

Taking the strain The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has issued a guidance docu­ment on management of idiopathic constipation in children. Up to 30% of children are affected by constipation, which can commonly require referral to secondary care. The guideline advises treatment with laxatives and behavioural interventions rather than dietary modification alone.

Last rites 2000 test tubes of blood are to be returned to the Yanomami tribe of South America, 43 years after they were taken by anthropologists. The samples are currently stored in five US research institutions. The return of the blood will allow the descendants of  people who donated the samples to complete the traditional funeral rites for their relatives.

Physical activity The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a report aimed at increasing Americans’ physical activity. Key strategies are creating or enhancing access to places for physical activity, enhancing physical education and activity in schools and in child-care settings, supporting urban design and land use, and transportation policies.

Rape victim victory Mexico’s Supreme Court has upheld a federal directive that all rape victims should be provided with emergency contraception or abortion by public hospitals. The ruling came in response to a challenge by the state of Jalisco that health workers should not have to offer these services. Human Rights Watch claimed the decision a victory for women’s rights to health and life.

New TB/HIV centre Tuberculosis researcher William Bishai has been named as the head of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuber­culosis and HIV (K-RITH) in Durban, South Africa. K-RITH is a partnership between the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, MD, USA, which aims to boost research into tuberculosis and HIV co-infection.

Taliban first aid The Red Cross in Afghanistan is giving basic first-aid training and first-aid kits to members of the Taliban. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which aims to remain neutral in the conflict, has said that people in the affected areas need training since their access to hospitals is often hindered by fighting, landmines, and roadblocks.

Born HIV Free The Global Fund has launched a campaign to enlist public support for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The goal of Born HIV Free is to ensure that, by 2015, no more mother-to-child transmission occurs anywhere in the world. In high-income countries, this route has already been wiped out, but in developing countries, 430 000 chil­dren are born with HIV every year.

Electronic records Tororo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, has computerised its medical records in a bid to improve mortality rates and the efficiency of medical services. The electronic Health Management System is part of a Ministry of Health initiative to compile a uniform patient database, allowing histories, birth details, and medical data to be easily accessible within any Ugandan health facility.

Patent blow A key patent on Glaxo­SmithKline’s (GSK’s) inhaled lung drug Advair (fluticasone plus salmeterol) has been deemed invalid by a court in Germany. The ruling opens the way for sales of generic versions of the drug, which netted GSK £5 billion (US$7 billion) and accounted for 18% of sales last year. The company is considering an appeal.

Smallpox statue On May 17, a statue was unveiled at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to com­mem­orate the 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox on May 8, 1980. The strategy for eradication was mass vaccination combined with disease prevention by surveillance and containment. The success has been described as one of the greatest achievements in public health.

Virtual exercise The American Heart Association (AHA) and Nintendo are joining forces to promote healthier living. AHA President Clyde Yancy praised the company for demon­strating “clear leadership in active-play video games”. The partnership aims to inform and educate consumers as well as provide physical experiences. Nearly 70% of Americans are not doing the recommended amount of exercise.

Suicides in Japan According to Japan’s National Police Agency, nearly 33 000 people committed suicide in the country in 2009. Men accounted for nearly 72% of deaths, with depres­sion and economic struggles cited as contributing factors. Japan will allocate 12·4 billion yen (US$133 million) in the current fiscal year to March, 2011, in a bid to curb suicide rates.

Metronidazole recall Sagent Pharma­ceuticals, in conjunction with the US Food and Drug Administration, has voluntarily recalled all lots of 5 g/L metronidazole injections in the USA, owing to the discovery of non-sterility in two batches of the drug. The company stated that non-sterility can result in infections and could be fatal, especially in patients who are immunocompromised.

End-of-life care The UK’s General Medical Council has released a guidance document on good practice in treatment and care towards the end of life. The guidance offers advice and instruction on how to respond to patients’ advance care requests, how to involve family and carers, end-of-life treatment and care for neonates and infants, and how to respond to patients’ wishes for care after death.

Work for food The UN World Food Programme has launched an initiative in Iraq to help internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups earn enough money to buy food. Many such people still rely on food assistance and government aid. Under the new scheme, people will be paid in cash to take part in efforts to improve water and sanitation systems and revive damaged farmlands.

Health incentives The UK’s Nation­al Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) held a public consultation last week on the use of financial incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles—eg, for losing weight, taking medicines properly, or abstaining from illegal drug use. The findings will be made available for further public comment before they are put to the NICE Board.

Food security The European Union has donated €4 million (US$5 million) to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to support Lesotho in its effort to ease undernutrition. In a country where 500 000 of the 2 million inhabitants are short of food, and where most of the population relies on farming for its livelihood, the money will go towards seeds and instruments to improve food security.

New at NCI Harold Varmus has been unveiled as the new Director of the US National Cancer Institute (NCI). Nobel laureate and latterly President of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Varmus also had an effective spell as Director of the National Institutes of Health under the Clinton regime, which could bode well for the NCI in straitened financial times.