WHO wants faster, more flu vaccine production

September 06 , 2010

The vaccine used to contain the recent swine flu pandemic was effective, but health authorities will need to ramp up the speed and volume of production during the next global outbreak, a World Health Organization official said Monday.

'Record births' after New Zealand quake

September 06 , 2010

A record number of babies were born in the aftermath of the powerful 7.0 earthquake that rocked New Zealand this weekend, hospital officials said on Monday.

College Students Reminded to Wash Their Hands

September 06 , 2010

SUNDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- As college students begin to settle into their new dorm rooms at campuses nationwide, one New York City-based public health advocate is offering some basic advice to help them stay healthy during the upcoming...

Bangladesh issues red alert over spread of anthrax

September 05 , 2010

Bangladesh issued a red alert on Sunday over an outbreak of anthrax which has infected nearly 300 people and killed about 150 cattle in the north of the country in the past two weeks.

Winter Sports Tourists at Higher Risk of Heart Attack

September 06 , 2010

SUNDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Skiers and other winter sports tourists who visit the Alps are at increased risk for heart attack due to low temperatures, high altitude and inadequate conditioning for intense physical exertion, finds a new ...

Sanofi ready to raise bid if Genzyme talks: report

September 05 , 2010

French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis would be prepared to moderately raise its $69 per share offer for Genzyme if the U.S. biotech agreed to negotiate, Dow Jones reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Bangladesh on alert as anthrax spreads

September 05 , 2010

Bangladesh has put livestock and health officials on high alert after an outbreak of anthrax spread to more districts, infecting 327 people since mid-August, officials said Sunday.

Expert warns of complacency after swine flu fizzle

September 05 , 2010

A leading virus expert urged health authorities around the world Sunday to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadly than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak.

UK wants GSK's Avandia pulled as EU reviews safety

September 05 , 2010

GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia should be pulled from sale because of concerns about heart risks, British drug regulators said on Monday ahead of a special European meeting on the drug's safety.

SKorean foreign minister in scandal offers to quit

September 04 , 2010

South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan offered to resign Saturday amid accusations of nepotism over the hiring of his daughter for a ministry job, officials said.

Cholera kills 41 in Central African nation of Chad

September 04 , 2010

Health officials in Chad say an outbreak of cholera in the Central African nation has killed at least 41 people.

UN chief warns economy must not derail millennium goals

September 04 , 2010

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Saturday the world must devote the same resources to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as it did to tackling the global economic crisis.

Parents Can Take Steps to Boost Kids' Health, Well-Being

September 05 , 2010

SATURDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- As children head back to school, parents can help make sure their little ones stay healthy and happy all year, an expert suggests.

Cholera outbreak 'covered up' in China

September 05 , 2010

Authorities in eastern China covered up an outbreak of cholera for 12 days out of fears that publicising the often fatal disease would shock the local population, state press said Sunday.

No Surprise: Walking, Cycling Linked to Healthier Weights

September 05 , 2010

SATURDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- A new study confirms what seems obvious: people who live in communities where walking and cycling are common are less likely to be overweight or obese.

Colonoscopy repeats greater with non-specialists

September 03 , 2010

Older adults who have a colonoscopy performed by a family doctor, internist or general surgeon are somewhat more likely to need another one within a year compared with those who have the procedure done by a gastroenterologist, a new report finds.

Odds of getting new kidney uneven

September 03 , 2010

People with kidney disease are more likely to be added to the waiting list for a kidney transplant if they've had a previous heart, lung or liver transplant, a new study suggests.

Israeli researchers develop promising new HIV treatment

September 03 , 2010

Israeli researchers have developed a new treatment for HIV that kills human cells infected with the virus and could lead to a breakthrough in treating AIDS, the Haaretz newspaper said on Friday.

Protein test ups diabetes diagnoses in some races

September 03 , 2010

Efforts to adopt a more accurate test for diagnosing diabetes may have hit a snag. Comparing the age-old oral glucose tolerance test to the newer hemoglobin A1c test confirms earlier evidence that race may influence test results, Danish researcher...

U.S. medical programs missing millions of kids: report

September 03 , 2010

An estimated five million uninsured children in the United States were eligible for Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) but were not enrolled in either plan, according to a new report.

UK booze consumption in biggest fall for 60 years

September 03 , 2010

Notorious abroad for their binge-drinking, Britons bucked the trend last year with alcohol consumption in the country showing its biggest fall since 1948, the industry said Friday.

Corrected: An outgunned FDA tries to get tough with drug ads

September 03 , 2010

It wasn't what you would call a casual get-together.

Abbott abandons plans to sell vaccines business

September 03 , 2010

Drug and medical device firm Abbott Laboratories said Friday it has abandoned plans to sell its vaccines unit, less than three months after exploring sales talks with rival companies.

Colonoscopy repeats greater with non-specialists

September 03 , 2010

Older adults who have a colonoscopy performed by a family doctor, internist or general surgeon are somewhat more likely to need another one within a year compared with those who have the procedure done by a gastroenterologist, a new report finds.

Biotech salmon safe for eating: FDA

September 03 , 2010

A biotechnology company's genetically engineered salmon are as safe to eat as other Atlantic salmon, U.S. regulators said as they weighed approval of the first DNA-altered animal for Americans' dinner plates.

Early day care may promote eczema development

September 03 , 2010

Kids who spend their earliest years in day care may be at higher risk of eczema than kids cared for at home, according to a new study from Germany.

Timer may help kids' bladder control problems

September 03 , 2010

Wearing a programmable wristwatch could help children manage their daytime bladder control problems, a new study suggests.

Antidepressant patch doesn't help smokers quit

September 03 , 2010

An antidepressant drug delivered through a patch on the skin is no better than placebo for helping smokers kick the habit, new research shows.

NASA advises Chile on trapped, isolated miners

September 04 , 2010

A team of NASA doctors and engineers recommended Friday that Chilean authorities regulate the day-and-night sleep patterns of 33 trapped miners, boost their Vitamin D intake and phase in an exercise program as their nutrition improves.

Disease May Be Only a Plane Ride Away

September 04 , 2010

FRIDAY, September 3 (HealthDay News) -- A 7-year-old San Diego boy brought back more than souvenirs and memories from a family trip to Switzerland a couple years ago.