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Fighting hunger in Africa

852 million people worldwide are suffering from hunger or malnutrition, 18 million more than in 1995-1997 (FAO, 2004).

6 Feb 2007

Rutgers Food Policy Institute looks at U.S. food recall system

Every year, the Food and Drug Administration issues dozens of food-related recalls, withdrawals and advisories. But few receive the attention that the advisory regarding E.coli-contaminated spinach received in September 2006.

6 Feb 2007

Soft drink giants head to court over claims about new drink

A nonprofit consumer watchdog group the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is taking soft drinks giants Coca-Cola and Nestle to court for making fraudulent claims about a new drink.

5 Feb 2007

Stressed out Brits hit the bottle

According to a new report millions of people in Britain are so stressed out that they are turning to alcohol to ease the pressure.

1 Feb 2007

Home safety education could improve public health

Home safety education, especially with free or low-cost equipment such as smoke detectors thrown in, can make a family's home significantly safer, according to a new review of recent studies.

30 Jan 2007

Money cannot buy you happiness

The most important sources of happiness are good health and freedom from financial worries, Professor Vani Borooah found.

29 Jan 2007

Over 1.5 million internally displaced persons in Iraq

Over 1.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, most with urgent needs in the most basic services, continue to present numerous challenges for the Iraqi national authorities and the international community.

28 Jan 2007

Community should promote preventive care among immigrants

Community groups, not medical providers, "are in the best position to spread health information and push for prevention among immigrants," according to experts, the AP/Washington Times reports.

23 Jan 2007

FDA issues guidance on license applications for placental/umbilical cord blood products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a draft guidance recommending a streamlined path to licensure for establishments that manufacture cord blood for certain medical conditions.

16 Jan 2007

New study examines the influence and impact of conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Princess Diana

In their forthcoming paper, "The hidden impact of conspiracy theories: Perceived and actual influence of theories surrounding the death of Princess Diana", Dr Karen Douglas and Dr Robbie Sutton from the University of Kent show that people are persuaded by conspiracy theories about Princess Diana’s death even though they do not necessarily know it.

14 Jan 2007

Euroscience calls for support for convicted health workers in Libya

Euroscience calls on other academic and scientific organisations to protest at the conviction of six foreign medical workers, by a Libyan court of conspiring to deliberately inject 426 Libyan children with HIV virus.

14 Jan 2007

The art of prolongevity

The dream of perpetual life and eternal youth is not new. Notions of how to achieve it are roughly the same today as they were 300 years ago. But technological change has stretched the boundaries somewhat.

14 Jan 2007

Emory University announces new health institute

Emory University announced today a new Global Health Institute that will help address the most pressing health challenges around the world, particularly in poorer nations.

10 Jan 2007

100% of banknotes in Dublin contaminated with cocaine

An ongoing research project into the detection of illicit drug use has shown that of a sample of bank notes in current circulation in the greater Dublin area - Euro 5, 10, 20 and 50 denominations - 100% of them showed contamination with cocaine.

10 Jan 2007

Global Fund Nomination Committee names nine candidates for Executive Director position

A nomination committee to name candidates for the executive director of the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has narrowed the selection pool to nine people, the Boston Globe reports.

9 Jan 2007

Bush's record on foreign aid to Africa not 'widely noticed' in U.S.

Although the "foreign affairs legacy of President Bush so far speaks most loudly of terrorism, Afghanistan and the quagmire in Iraq," statistics released recently by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development indicate the Bush -- "partly under pressure from his Christian supporters" and celebrities -- has "dramatically increased U.S. aid to Africa," columnist David Usborne writes.

9 Jan 2007

CDC locked in limbo with educational brochures

Millions of educational brochures and pamphlets that CDC distributes nationally to health departments and the public remain "locked away and in limbo" after a warehouse contractor ended operations over financial problems, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

9 Jan 2007

WHO tackles rabies, snake bites and scorpion stings

Although more than 12 million people each year are bitten by dogs or snakes, or stung by scorpions, the world's capacity to treat them is inadequate.

9 Jan 2007

BioMed Central launches BMC Systems Biology

BioMed Central has announced the launch of BMC Systems Biology, the first open access journal focussed solely on the entire emerging subject of systems biology.

8 Jan 2007

Democrats plan to introduce bills addressing stem cell research, Rx benefit

House Democrats plan to introduce bills that would reduce restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and allow HHS to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on prices for medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on Wednesday, CQ Today reports.

7 Jan 2007