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New 'emerging diseases' to watch for in 2017
Emerging infectious diseases are appearing at an accelerating rate and a Lancaster University academic identifies the ones to watch out for in 2017.
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Negligence killing new-borns; PSC grilled on 'sanitised' report
More than 80,000 newborn babies died within just two years as a result of negligence and the poor quality of healthcare in public hospitals, according the Saving Babies report of the SA Medical Research Council. Meanwhile MPs challenged the Public Service Commission (PSC) on its ’sanitised' findings about the state of public health services, suggesting that patients faced a far bleaker picture than that painted.
New HPV vaccine shows promise
The new 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine, can potentially prevent 80% of cervical cancers in the US, if given to all 11- or 12-year-old children before they are exposed to the virus.
SA guidelines for primary care
SA's Health ministry has released guidelines outlining care for adults living with conditions like HIV, diabetes and mental health within primary health care.
Malaria vaccine clinical trials disappoint
Final clinical trials of a malaria vaccine – the first to reach this stage – tested on 16,000 children from seven African countries found that booster doses were of limited use and vaccines in young babies were not effective. They also found that meningitis occurred more frequently in children given the vaccine.
Professor Brian Greenwood, study author and professor of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he was 'a little disappointed'. 'I hoped the vaccine would be more effective, but we were never going to end up with the success seen in measles vaccines with 97% efficacy.'
However, Greenwood said the data was very robust and the vaccine could still reduce attacks of malaria by around 30%.No MMR-autism link, even in high-risk kids
A US study of approximately 95,000 children with older siblings found that receipt of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine was not associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), even among children already at higher risk for ASD. Although a substantial body of research over the last 15 years has found no link between the MMR vaccine and ASD, parents and others continue to associate the vaccine with ASD.
Kids’ self-control impacts health outcomes
Conscientious children are less likely to smoke in later life and the personality trait could help explain health inequalities, data from the US National Child Development Study suggests.
Best malaria drug is losing its efficacy
Artemisinin, the best drug for treating malaria and a medicine that key to saving millions of lives, is losing its efficacy in a much larger swath of territory than was previously known.
Efficacy of bilharzia tests reviewed
An independent review to assess how well point of care tests detect bilharzia infections has examined the efficacy of urine strips and the parasite antigen test.
Millions worldwide not getting dialysis
At best only half of people worldwide needing kidney dialysis or transplantation in 2010 received it. In SA that statistic is about a third.
US looks at upping minimum smoking age
A report from the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests that increasing the minimum age of legal access to tobacco products will improve the health of Americans across their lifespan and save lives.
Adults get flu only twice a decade – study
Imperial College London research found that while children get flu on average every other year, flu infections become less frequent through childhood and early adulthood. From the age of 30 onwards, flu infections tend to occur at a steady rate of about two per decade.
Infants at greater risk of schistosomiasis
Infants experience significantly greater exposure to the parasitic worms that cause the chronic disease schistosomiasis, a University of Edinburgh study shows.
Malawi research on child gut bacteria
A cross-national team of researchers has identified types of gut bacteria in young children in Malawi that are linked to nutritional health and that have diagnostic and therapeutic implications for childhood under-nutrition.
Loud music puts teens at risk of hearing loss
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports around 1.1bn teenagers and young adults risk hearing loss due to exposure to unsafe levels of recreational noise from personal audio devices and loud entertainment venues.
WISH-list of how to do health innovations
Research looking at eight case studies of how different countries successfully implemented health innovations was released at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). The studies were from Argentina, England, Nepal, Singapore, Sweden, the United States and Zambia.
Improved airport screening needed
Airport screening for disease will often miss half or more of infected travellers – one of the biggest barriers to success is the lack of honest reporting by passengers about their risk of exposure – if being honest could put them at risk of delay.
Use electric fans in severe heat, study advises
Although some public health organisations advise against the use of electric fans in severe heat, an Australian study has demonstrated that they prevent heat-related elevations in heart rate and core body temperature.
HPV vaccinations lead to less risky behaviour
Contradicting concerns that vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV) will lead young people to have riskier sex, a University of Manchester study finds the opposite among young women.
Vaccine works against most cancer-causing HPVs
A large multinational clinical trial has found that the vaccine Cervarix not only has the potential to prevent cervical cancer, but is effective against other common cancer-causing human papillomaviruses (HPV).
E-cigarettes pose 'significant' health risks
Emissions from e-cigarette aerosols and flavourings damage lung cells by creating harmful free radicals and inflammation in lung tissue, according to a University of Rochester study.
New index measures pharma's efforts
A new metric, theGlobal Health Impact Index, has been created to gauge whether the efforts of the pharmaceutical industry to develop treatments for infectious diseases in poor nations are making a difference with three specific infectious diseases: tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and malaria.
Treated nets with vaccines may increase morbidity
Mathematical modelling in a University of Michigan study suggests that the combined use of some malaria vaccines with bed nets can lead to increased morbidity and mortality in older age classes.
Lassa fever 'super-spreaders' identified
One in five cases of Lassa fever – a disease that kills around 5,000 people a year in West Africa – could be due to human-to-human transmission, with a large proportion of these caused by 'super-spreaders', according to University of Cambridge research.
Review of IPT effect on anaemic children
Tanzanian and SA researchers, who are part of the Cochrane Infectious Disease Group, conducted an independent review to assess intermittent preventive anti-malarial treatment (IPT) for children with anaemia living in malaria endemic regions. They found no difference in deaths or hospitalisation IPT and placebo recipients.
No link between HPV vax and MS risk
Although some reports have linked human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and development of multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating diseases, a large follow-up of females in Denmark and Sweden who received this vaccination found no increased risk.
Measles vaccines: Adverse outcomes unlikely
A large-sample 12-year US study of two measles-containing vaccines found that seven main adverse outcomes were unlikely after either MMRV or MMR+V vaccine.
Evidence is ‘strong’ that children should be vaccinated – study
Children should get vaccinated against preventable and potentially deadly diseases. Period. CNN reports that this is what a project that screened more than 20,000...
Plan to serve as model for reducing TB infections
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched an ambitious plan for rich countries to sharply reduce tuberculosis (TB) infections and serve as a model...
Call for border screenings to fight cross-border malaria threat
Despite an overall reduction in Southern African malarial infections over the past 10 years, migration experts worry it’s making a comeback in new ways,...
SA children should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B at birth
SA’s Department of Health has been called upon by global organisations to vaccinate children against Hepatitis B at birth, and to set an example...
New malaria vaccine could save many lives
Many lives may soon be saved thanks to the world’s first malaria vaccine, which could be approved for use in the near future. The...
HPV vaccination coverage in the US still ‘unacceptably low’
Although there has been a slight increase in human papillonavirus vaccination coverage among US adolescents since 2012, a new report from the Centres for...
UK nutrition advisory: Cut sugar intake in half
UK government scientific advice says people need to more than halve their intake of added sugar to tackle the obesity crisis. BBC News reports...
Alcohol abuse decimating US workers
Excessive alcohol use accounts for one in 10 deaths among US working-age adults, ages 20-64 years. Science Daily reports that Centres for Disease Control...
Lessening the global burden of acute gastroenteritis
Noroviruses are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis across all age groups, responsible for almost a fifth (18%) of all cases worldwide. And, reports...
BMA backs radical plan to ban cigarette sales to millennial generation
Doctors have said the UK could soon see its first ‘tobacco-free generation’ after backing a radical plan to ban cigarette sales to anyone born...
SA to miss UN goals on reducing child and maternal deaths
SA is one of the countries that will miss next year’s United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on reducing child and maternal deaths, a...
Internet now making counterfeit medicines an African problem
Widely available counterfeit medicines – which may be ineffective or even toxic – has become a global problem, largely because of the Internet, and...
Middle East and North African drug users fuelling HIV epidemics
HIV epidemics are emerging among people who inject drugs (PWID) in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, reports News-Medical. Research has...