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2,332 dengue fever cases reported in Philippines this year

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) today reported that a total of 2,332 dengue cases has been admitted to sentinel hospitals nationwide from January 1 to May 15 this year. There were sixteen deaths recorded.

16 Jun 2004

Obesity must be acknowledged as a disease

Long-term studies on prevention, behavior, and other priorities like integrated scientific research and education are needed to solve the global obesity epidemic according to scientists focused on remedying this pressing health problem.

16 Jun 2004

Cholera outbreak in Cameroon

WHO has received reports from the Ministry of Health of a total number of 2924 cases and 46 deaths in Cameroon from 1 January to 9 June 2004 in Littoral and West Regions. Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor has been laboratory confirmed.

15 Jun 2004

Beef tacos with a side order of Escherichia coli

Thirteen people from Arizona, California, and Nevada who ate beef tacos from a national fast-food restaurant chain in 1999 became infected with Escherichia coli, according to a study in the June 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.

15 Jun 2004

Findings could explain why island populations worldwide are particularly susceptible to disease

Researchers have shown that Darwin's finches on smaller islands in the Galapagos archipelago have weaker immune responses to disease and foreign pathogens---findings that could help explain why island populations worldwide are particularly susceptible to disease.

15 Jun 2004

Latin America and the Caribbean lead the developing world in providing HIV/AIDS treatment

Today Latin America and the Caribbean lead the developing world in providing HIV/AIDS treatment, accounting for more than half of all people on antiretrovirals in developing countries, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

15 Jun 2004

African Americans more at risk of kidney disease

The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) today began its first national effort to call attention to the seriousness of kidney disease and the importance of testing those at high risk, particularly African Americans, a group hit especially hard.

15 Jun 2004

Expansion of Medicare coverage of positron emission tomography to include some Medicare beneficiaries with suspected Alzheimer’s disease

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it intends to expand Medicare coverage of positron emission tomography (PET) to include some Medicare beneficiaries with suspected Alzheimer’s disease.

15 Jun 2004

Real-Time Immuno-PCR has the ability to detect HIV infection earlier than all current methods

Researchers at the Institute of Human Virology have developed an ultra-sensitive testing technique that has shown the ability to detect HIV infection earlier than all current methods.

15 Jun 2004

Fruit consumption may protect against age-related maculopathy (ARM)

Eating fruit may help protect against the development of age-related maculopathy (ARM), an eye disease that can cause blindness, according to an article in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

15 Jun 2004

$2.5 billion will be invested in the search for type 1 diabetes cure for over next 5 years

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world's leading charitable funder of research leading to a cure of type 1 diabetes and its complications, held the Global Diabetes Research Forum today as part of its annual meeting in Washington, DC.

14 Jun 2004

Indiana campaign "Get tested for HIV"

Indiana Health officials estimate that 25 percent of persons infected with HIV don't know it. The Indiana State Department of Health is promoting HIV awareness throughout June and July with the "Get Tested for HIV" campaign.

14 Jun 2004

John Kerry pushes for new cures and treatments for Alzheimer’s

Drawing on the inspiration of Nancy Reagan and millions of families who bravely comfort suffering loved ones, Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry Saturday said we must lift the barriers that stand in the way of science to find new cures and treatments for Alzheimer’s and other diseases through stem cell research.

14 Jun 2004

West Nile virus prevention

Whether you're hitting the hiking trail, barbecuing in the back yard, or camping out in the great outdoors, you'll want to protect against mosquito bites.

14 Jun 2004

Guinea and UNDP step up HIV/AIDS fight

UNDP is helping build partnerships in Guinea and supporting the Government’s national strategy against HIV/AIDS, but a recent study warns that reversing the epidemic requires full mobilization.

12 Jun 2004

Dead birds collected in five northern Illinois counties have tested positive for West Nile virus

Dead birds collected in five northern Illinois counties have tested positive for West Nile virus, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today announced.

11 Jun 2004

EU plan to reduce diseases caused by a polluted environment

The European Commission has launched an action plan to reduce diseases caused by a polluted environment. The plan would develop an EU system integrating information on the state of the environment, the ecosystem and human health.

11 Jun 2004

Arizona advisory on tick removal

As hotter temperatures draw Arizonans to the state’s high country, Department of Health Services Director Catherine Eden advised residents to take precautions against tick bites because some ticks carry germs that cause disease, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

11 Jun 2004

G8 commitment to eradicate polio welcomed

The spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative - the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF - welcome the determination, support and actions of the G8 leaders in their committed efforts to eradicate polio.

11 Jun 2004

WHO welcomes G8 endorsement of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today welcomed the G8's endorsement of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, a virtual consortium proposed by an international group of scientists that is being established to accelerate HIV vaccine development.

11 Jun 2004