news stories and features | commentary | papers and reports
NEWS & FEATURES
Anxiety, depression, headaches — is political polarization bad for your health?
(Nature Medicine, 26.07.24)
Ending lead poisoning by tainted spices
(The Lancet, 14.11.23)
Nature’s 10—ANTÓNIO GUTERRES: Crisis diplomat
(Nature, 14.12.22)
After smallpox, can other diseases be eradicated?
(Nature Medicine, 19.08.22)
How Belo Horizonte’s bid to tackle hunger inspired other cities
(Nature Index, 24.09.21)
New York bids to level the playing field in a metropolis of inequality
(Nature Index, 24.09.21)
“I had to be with bodyguards with guns”—attacks on scientists during the pandemic
(Nature Medicine, 15.04.21)
What do journalists say about covering science during the COVID-19 pandemic?
(Nature Medicine, 13.01.21)
The surprising link between our consumer habits and deadly diseases
(Ensia, 1.05.20)
We’re turning to offbeat foods to survive a harsher climate
(National Geographic, 04.12.19)
Progress lags on vaccines to beat antimicrobial resistance
(The Lancet, 16.11.19)
Q&A: Countries need nuanced climate science to plan for the future
(SciDev.Net, 10.10.19)
UN seeks to plug data gap in developing countries
(SciDev.Net, 30.09.19)
Bridging the digital divide in health care
(The Lancet Digital Health, 01.09.19)
Humanitarians turn sights on climate risk
(SciDev.Net, 24.06.19)
Pakistan and Egypt had highest rises in research output in 2018
(Nature, 21.12.18)
Climate science gets precise enough for legal action
(SciDev.Net, 23.10.18)
Poverty reduction may stall – report
(SciDev.Net, 01.10.18)
Q&A: ‘Let’s first ask what women scientists want’
(SciDev.Net, 02.08.18)
Q&A: Funding for climate adaptation is ‘the lie we keep living’ — Adil Najam
(Devex, 09.07.18)
Cyprus asserts itself as regional hub for climate-change research
(Nature, 27.06.18)
Sex differences give wrong message, gender experts say
(SciDev.Net, 25.06.18)
Q&A: Adapt to climate by packaging local results into policy
(SciDev.Net, 18.06.18)
DRC first to approve widespread use of Ebola drugs
(SciDev.Net, 14.06.18)
Aid worker invents vest with built-in chemicals protection
(SciDev.Net, 01.06.18)
A fight to put artisanal fishers on the map
(SciDev.Net, 30.04.18)
Ireland to vote on a referendum to repeal the Eighth
(The Lancet, 14.04.18)
Test spots malaria in two minutes, without blood
(SciDev.Net, 05.03.18, Quartz Africa, 13.03.18)
Q&A: Development is about complex systems, not beneficiaries
(SciDev.Net, 28.02.18)
Q&A: We need to produce ‘different food’, not more
(SciDev.Net, 11.12.17)
UNICEF tackling ‘disconnect’ with evidence tool
(SciDev.Net, 28.11.17)
Q&A: IFAD president on bringing evidence to policymaking
(Devex, 20.11.17)
Q&A: ‘It doesn’t matter of you improve your productivity ten-fold’
(SciDev.Net, 07.11.17)
Is cancer control in poor countries too high-tech?
(SciDev.Net, 12.10.17)
5,000 years of Indian science history on display
(SciDev.Net, 04.10.17)
UN science report to guide countries on the SDGs
(SciDev.Net, 06.09.17)
Robert Koch Institut: towards digital epidemiology
(The Lancet, 26.08.17)
Frontline: the vital need for information
(The Lancet, 15.06.17)
Fears of SDG clashes overblown, study finds
(SciDev.Net, 13.06.17)
Ocean plastics from Haiti’s beaches turned into laptop packaging
(New Scientist, 12.06.17)
Emergency mapping app finds vulnerable faster
People marooned in remote areas during an emergency are being found more easily thanks to a mapping initiative. (SciDev.Net, 26.05.17)
From extra-long carrots to a self-driven wheelchair: frugal tech from India
Award-winning inventions are getting support to scale up from India’s National Innovation Foundation (The Guardian, 12.04.17)
Climate change is already battering hundreds of animal species
(New Scientist, 13.02.17)
Cyprus reunification may harm unique wildlife thriving on border
(New Scientist, 11.01.17)
Bench talk boosts mental health in Zimbabwe
Clinical trial shows weekly ‘friendship bench’ meetings with trained health staff relieve depression and anxiety. (SciDev.Net, 30.12.16)
British aid to fund tech hub
UK aid agency identifies key technologies and calls companies to register for chance to get pilots funded. (SciDev.Net, 02.11.2016)
Q&A: Why we need a standard for fair partnerships
Evidence needs to replace experience to correct imbalances in North-South research, says Carel IJsselmuiden. (SciDev.Net, 12.10.2016)
Global study pins down engineering and development links
More engineering capacity promises to boost economies but focus on poverty, education and gender parity remain poor. (SciDev.Net, 14.09.2016)
Poor countries have the edge on climate innovation
Policy is sluggish after the Paris accord but developing nations could be pioneers, says former White House advisor. (SciDev.Net, 08.09.2016)
Development engineering journal launched
The open-access online publication covers technological solutions to extreme poverty. (SciDev.Net, 05.05.2016)
Q&A: Revamping PhD training in Africa
Peggy Oti-Boateng, who coordinates Africa’s main network of scientific institutions, says the continent needs more postgraduates. (SciDev.Net, 28.01.2015)
Q&A: Opening up the ‘black boxes’ of science for development
Read and listen to Francisco Sagasti discuss policy priorities in Latin America and other developing regions. (SciDev.Net, 29.10.2014)
Science and NGO practice: Facts and figures
What does science have to do with NGO practice? Anita Makri explores where they overlap and what stands in the way of fruitful collaboration. (SciDev.Net, 22.05.2013)
NOTE: The following news stories were written for the Emerging Health Threats Forum, which has since ceased operations. Some of the stories are available via a link to a PDF version (others to be added).
December 2010
UK data show recession suicide risk
An analysis of suicide incidence over the past 150 years in England and Wales shows that although rates have fallen dramatically, the risk tends to rise in periods of economic recession…full story (PDF) – published 03.12.10
Biodiversity loss link with disease ‘consistent’
A high diversity of plant and animal life could either enhance or limit the spread of infectious diseases, but scientists writing in Nature today weighed up the evidence to find that on…full story (PDF) – published 01.12.10
November 2010
Alkhurma virus spotted in Egypt
The first cases of Alkhurma haemorrhagic fever to be seen outside Saudi Arabia are reported online in the December edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Fabrizio Carletti and…full story (PDF) – published 26.11.10
Lassa fever prophylaxis proposed
Antiviral drugs against the Lassa fever virus should be prescribed as a preventative measure when people have certain high-risk exposures, such as getting pierced by a contaminated…full story (PDF) – published 25.11.10
Focus on ‘New Delhi’ superbug misplaced
A group of superbugs that resist treatment with drugs given to patients as a last resort was thrust into the spotlight in August this year, when researchers reported cases of infection in… full story (PDF) – published 19.11.10
Monkeypox risk mapped
Researchers probing risk factors for human cases of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a ‘hotspot’ of the disease, found that people living near dense forests…full story (PDF) – published 17.11.10
Healthy diet benefits uneven
Policies promoting a healthy diet to stave off chronic disease will bring a different balance of health benefits and economic consequences in developed and developing parts of the world… full story (PDF) – published 12.11.10
UN takes no action on BPA
Regulations to limit exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) are premature in light of current evidence of potential health risks, concluded a panel of international experts convened by the World…full story (PDF) – published 10.11.10
Pneumococcal vaccines cut flu deaths
Pneumococcal vaccines that offer protection against several serotypes of bacteria that cause pneumonia could be a cheap weapon in the fight against flu pandemics, suggest public health…full story (PDF) – published 05.11.10
Health cost of traffic jams counted
Traffic jams cost the US economy billions of dollars each year in wasted time and fuel. But premature deaths from pollutants emitted in congested areas can cost at least as much in… full story (PDF) – published 03.11.10
October 2010
Legionella lurking in wastewater
Three outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease, which hit a Norwegian region in 2005 and 2008, were traced to a local wood-based chemicals factory where scientists detected Legionella…full story (PDF) – published 29.10.10
Flame retardants benefit challenged
A declaration signed by nearly 150 scientists from 22 countries, published today in Environmental Health Perspectives, draws attention to growing concerns over the safety and… full story (PDF) – published 28.10.10
BPA linked with premature birth
A handful of human studies have linked exposure to the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) with miscarriage and other risks to reproductive health. Now, research in Mexico City…full story (PDF) – published 22.10.10
Climate-health uncertainties untangled
By the turn of the century, climate change could raise the risk of diarrhoea by about a third in countries where the condition is already common, according to research published online this…full story (PDF) – published 21.10.10
Congenital anomaly linked to paracetamol
Expectant mothers who take the painkiller paracetamol (acetaminophen) frequently during certain periods of pregnancy may face a small rise in the risk of giving birth to a boy with a…full story (PDF) – published 15.10.10
Disasters not one-time events
Efforts to protect people from natural hazards should begin to focus on disasters not as isolated incidents but events for which the threat is constant, heard delegates at a conference…full story (PDF) – published 15.10.10
Detecting new flu viruses faster
When two children caught the flu in California in March of 2009, standard diagnostic tests failed to match the virus with strains of human influenza known to circulate regularly in the…full story (PDF) – published 05.10.10
Dengue lands in Europe
This month health authorities in the city of Nice detected the first cases of locally acquired dengue fever to be reported anywhere in Europe. The emergence is linked to a surge of the…full story (PDF) – published 01.10.10
September 2010
Exposure to fluorochemicals higher by air
Most people are exposed to perfluoroalkyl chemicals through water and food, but air may be a more significant route for communities near facilities that produce the hazardous chemicals…full story (PDF) – published 29.09.10
Disparate laws hinder pandemic plans in Europe
Public health laws differ significantly between European countries, and this jeopardises how coherently the region can respond to disease pandemics, according to the results of a…full story (PDF) – published 23.09.10
Evidence mounts for IQ link to manganese
Evidence of a link between chronic exposure to low levels of manganese and cognitive deficits in children was strengthened this week with the results of a study published in…full story (PDF) – published 21.09.10
US security risk analysis flawed
Serious flaws in the way terrorism risks are analysed and presented by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were pointed out this week in a review penned by an expert… full story (PDF) – published 17.09.10
Call to boost ‘dual use’ science education
Governments and science organisations should play a more active role in supporting efforts to educate students about the risks of science misuse, said the National Research Council…full story (PDF) – published 15.09.10
Needle reuse ‘jump-started’ HIV pandemic
Changes in sexual behaviour at a time when cities were growing in sub-Saharan Africa are often cited as reasons behind the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after it… full story (PDF) – published 10.09.10
Chemicals linked with liver-disease markers
People exposed to ubiquitous pollutants at levels typically found in the environment could be at higher risk for developing liver disease, according to research published this month in…full story (PDF) – published 08.09.10
Plague in Asia linked to climate change
Climatic variations had a “significant” influence on the prevalence of plague in Kazakhstan and other regions of Central Asia in the early 20th century, and probably over the past 1500 years…full story (PDF) – published 03.09.10
August 2010
US study spots chronic fatigue virus
The first study to back a controversial claim that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may be linked to a retrovirus in patients’ blood was published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA…full story (PDF) – published 24.08.10
Wash hands to cut zoonosis risk
Research into the spread of zoonoses has reached a “pivotal point”, with human attitudes and behaviours emerging as a key piece of knowledge missing from efforts to prevent the…full story (PDF) – published 20.08.10
People power emergency response
Relief organisations struggling to reach victims quickly and prevent disease outbreaks after a disaster are beginning to turn to online media networks for help, according to experts working…full story (PDF) – published 19.08.10
Culture sways views of disaster risk
People from different parts of the world rate differently their risk of dying or getting injured in a disaster, and this has more to do with cultural factors than actual exposure to an event…full story (PDF) – published 13.08.10
Pregnant women to get anthrax jab
Pregnant women and mothers who breast feed will be advised to get vaccinated against anthrax if they become exposed to the aerosolised form of the bacteria in a bioterrorist attack…full story (PDF) – published 04.08.10
July 2010
Asian tiger mosquitoes breed indoors
Asian tiger mosquitoes that spread chikungunya and dengue fever normally breed in outdoor containers kept around the home. But they can also adapt to indoor environments, a change…full story (PDF) – published 30.07.10
USA on alert for legionellosis
Exposure to Legionella bacteria is one of the leading causes of water-borne illness outbreaks that occurred in the USA from 1971 to 2006, Gunther Craun and colleagues report this month… full story (PDF) – published 09.07.10
Standards set for food contaminants
A standard for maximum levels of the industrial chemical melamine allowed in foods and animal feed was adopted this week by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. In a meeting… full story (PDF) – published 07.07.10
Rickettsia felis detected in African countries
Doctors should consider infection with Rickettsia felis bacteria as a diagnosis for patients with fever who live or have a history of travel to rural Kenya and Senegal, suggest two research…full story (PDF) – published 02.07.10
June 2010
UK flags zoonotic Salmonella
A type of Salmonella enterica bacteria that emerged in the UK in 2008 has caused more than 230 cases of illness so far, a group of microbiologists led by Tansy Peters of the Health… more
Assessing the response to swine flu
Sylvie Briand, who heads the World Health Organization’s Global Influenza Programme, was the keynote speaker this week at a conference organised by UK Health Protection Agency…more
Experts still wary of swine flu
Influenza experts are looking back over the 2009 pandemic to draw lessons and bolster preparedness for future events. Although the next flu pandemic cannot be predicted, they said… more
Fluorochemicals may raise risk of ADHD
The chances of a teenager having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may rise significantly with an increase in the level of three fluorochemicals in their blood, report health… more
Malaria rises with forest loss in the Amazon
Clearing just 4% of forested land in parts of the Amazon can significantly raise the risk of contracting malaria in local communities, according to a study published today in Emerging…more
‘Emergency mode’ proposed for ethics review
Normal procedures followed by ethics review boards can slow down research that could help officials respond to a public health emergency. In a bid to fast-track the process in Canada, a…more
IQ lower in children exposed to manganese
Two separate investigations in rural and urban Mexico show that children exposed to manganese in their environment may be at risk for poor neurological development — and…more
South Africa travel health in sharper focus
Football fans gathering in South Africa this month for the World Cup have been advised to take precautions against a host of diseases ranging from traveller’s diarrhoea to rabies and…more
May 2010
Signs of serious illness for rare MRSA
A rare strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was thrust into the spotlight last year, when researchers at a US hospital suggested it could be more lethal than… more
Europe looking out for Q fever
In light of the ongoing Dutch epidemic of Q fever European authorities have issued expert advice to help officials weigh up the threat. On request by the European Commission, a risk…more
Dengue breaks out in the USA
A recent outbreak of dengue fever in the state of Florida marks the first time in decades that US residents contracted the disease without picking up the virus abroad, said the Centers for…more
Emergency planning short-sighted
Humanitarian organisations are first on the scene when a natural disaster hits anywhere in the world, helping people to deal with the immediate aftermath and re-build their lives. But policy…more
US laws raise costs for ‘sensitive’ research
Laboratory studies of live anthrax bacteria and Ebola viruses have become more expensive after legal requirements were imposed on US facilities handling dangerous pathogens nine…more
Research held back in health emergencies
Officials called on to respond to emerging disease outbreaks may find themselves in unfamiliar territory, with little evidence-based information on which to base public health…more
April 2010
Climate not enough to explain disease emergence
Global climate change and the spread of viruses like dengue and chikungunya have fuelled warnings over the emergence of infectious diseases in new areas. With questions lingering…more
Where local policy matters
A statistical technique that teases apart local trends from regional trends in obesity prevalence over time could help public health scientists to identify areas where local interventions are…more
March 2010
Dengue resurfaces in Mauritius
For at least three decades dengue fever only troubled the tropical island of Mauritius on occasion, when a traveller would arrive while infected with the mosquito-borne virus. But in… more
E-waste export policy questioned
Within a decade developing countries could surpass the developed world in the volume of electronic waste (e-waste) produced domestically, according to modelling results published…more
Europe signs up to health policy revamp
European countries agreed last week to step up their commitment to tackle “key environment and health challenges of our time”, according to a declaration adopted at the Fifth…more
Vaccine tackles rise in pneumococcal disease
A pneumococcal vaccine licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration late last month promises to cut nearly two-thirds of the country’s incidence of septicaemia, pneumonia and…more
Questions loom over dengue control
Countries battling dengue fever epidemics have few weapons at their disposal to rein in the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, and stop the disease from spreading. But vector control…more
February 2010
E-waste boom forecast
Some developing countries are facing growing “hazardous waste mountains” as the volume of discarded electronics generated globally continues to soar over the next decade, cautions a…more
European experts back shift in pandemic planning
Most European countries have a preparedness plan for pandemic flu which is separate from any plans to deal with a potential outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)…more
Flu pandemic: what lies ahead
The 2009 pandemic is waning in most parts of the world, but recently Senegal has reported the first 14 cases of ‘swine flu’ to be associated with community transmission of the virus in…more
Exposure limit reworked for dry-cleaning chemical
A review of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft risk assessment of perchloroethylene, published this week by the National Research Council (NRC), backs a…more
US hospitals not ready for emergencies
The US healthcare system is poorly set up to deal with the scores of casualties expected to flood hospitals after a major disaster, according to a two-year assessment of the country’s… more
Chronic effects of ultrasound unclear
There is no evidence of harm from low levels of exposure to ultrasound waves emitted during medical tests, according to a report released today by the UK Health Protection Agency… more
January 2010
Q-fever control debated, could take years
The Dutch government’s battle against an ongoing epidemic of Q or ‘Query’ fever hit a roadblock yesterday as plans to cull thousands of potentially infected animals were reportedly…more
Cadmium link to heart disease strengthens
Exposure to low levels of cadmium, a metal prevalent in the environment, has been a suspected risk factor for a greater risk of heart disease. Evidence from a large sample…more
‘W-Beijing’ TB raises disease control fears
A hardy strain of tuberculosis (TB) bacteria spreading in many parts of the world, called W-Beijing, is known for causing disease that is difficult to treat. Although some studies point to…more
Pet frogs pose risk for salmonellosis
Contact with turtles and other pet reptiles is a known risk factor for salmonellosis. But a recent outbreak of the disease across the USA has now been linked to contact with aquatic pet frogs…more
December 2009
Breast cancer linked to skin-care phthalate
Women exposed to a phthalate compound used widely in cosmetics may run a higher risk of having breast cancer, suggest environmental health scientists this month…more
Lead may harm mental health
Levels of blood lead typical of most adults in the USA raise few fears of toxicity. But a study published today in Archives of General Psychiatry suggests that even at these low…more
Lasting change eludes water and health campaign
A few months after a three-year water treatment and handwashing campaign ended in rural parts of eastern Guatemala, a team of public health scientists saw no health gains and few…more
WHO cautious over pandemic future
Eight months into the 2009 flu pandemic, the picture is different depending on where you look in the Northern Hemisphere, with health authorities reporting rising or falling levels of mostly…more
Insect repellents linked with birth defect
Signs of a link between exposure to insect repellents and a common congenital anomaly were reported today by a team of epidemiologists in Occupational and Environmental Medicine…more
November 2009
Seafood safety: best to test the waters
Shellfish tainted with hepatitis A virus make it past food safety checks at times, causing outbreaks of serious illness. These can be better prevented by monitoring levels of the virus…more
Fake drugs industry growing
The age-old problem of fake drugs has now developed into a multi-billion dollar “global criminal industry”, say experts in a report published this month by the Wellcome Trust and the…more
‘Common cold’ virus gets in the way of flu
Between late summer and early autumn this year, epidemiologists tracking influenza in Sweden noticed a drop in the number of samples that tested positive for the pandemic flu…more
Health crises, big cities: call to revamp response
For the first time in human history cities are home to more than half the world’s population. Crowded living conditions make urban areas more vulnerable to health emergencies including…more
Early warning maps proposed for chikungunya
In 2007 Italy faced the first outbreak of chikungunya fever to ever occur in Europe. Amid warnings that the virus could become established and spread further on the continent…more
Vaccines to protect, not ease pandemic
The ‘swine flu’ pandemic can be expected to peak between October and early November in the USA and many European countries, according to modelling studies published in recent… more
October 2009
Melting glaciers free up pollutants
Persistent pollutants stored up in glaciers over decades are making their way back into the environment, according to Christian Bogdal and colleagues. The authors found that chemicals…more
Blood mercury no different for autistic kids
Blood mercury levels in autistic children are similar to levels found in children without the developmental disorder in the US state of California, according to a study published online in…more
Europe eyes vaccine reactions
In recent years Europe has seen a “dramatic” rise in the number of diseases for which a vaccine is available, according to a report released this week by the European Centre for…more
Emerging retrovirus turns up in new patients
A retrovirus first seen in prostate cancer patients three years ago has now been discovered in the blood of people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Vincent Lombardi and…more
September 2009
Mobile phone risk clearer, EU agency says
European Environment Agency (EEA) officials believe scientific evidence is now more strongly in favour of a link between long-term use of mobile phones and brain cancer risk. The Agency…more
Blood lead limit too high, study suggests
Children’s exposure to lead carries known risks for neurological development later in life. A study published today in the Archives of Disease in Childhood adds to a growing body of…more
Pandemic vaccine licence weeks away for Europe
The latest data from laboratory evaluations of pandemic vaccine made by three manufacturers in Europe are being reviewed today in a meeting of European Medicines Agency (EMEA)…more
Poisoning accidents rising
The vast majority of accidental poisonings occur among young children in the UK, and reports of these incidents look to be on the rise, said the Health Protection Agency (HPA) today…more
August 2009
South Africa shoulders quadruple burden
South Africa will need to set up an “extraordinary” response to deal with four different kinds of health threats, say Bongani Mayosi and colleagues this week in The Lancet. Running in…more
Adult video gamers risk ill health
Adults who play video games reported poorer physical and mental health than non-players in a survey among a sample of Washington, USA residents, report James Weaver and…more
Pandemic wave theory in doubt
The 2009 pandemic could recede without resurging with a sweeping wave of severe influenza, write David Morens and Jeffery Taubenberger this week in JAMA. Health authorities in Europe…more
Eye infection virus uncovered
A new type of human adenovirus first identified in 2000 is one of Japan’s leading causes of a highly contagious eye infection, say Hiroaki Ishiko and Koki Aoki this month in the Journal of… more
Flu drug benefit “debatable”
Treatment with Tamiflu and Relenza can give relief from seasonal flu symptoms up to a day earlier than would be expected without use of the antiviral drugs, according to a systematic…more
US plans to go public on hospital infections
Public reporting of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) could become mandatory in the USA if a proposed major health care legislation gets approved by the House of…more
July 2009
UK figures show pitfalls of Tamiflu handout
Several side effects and the possibility of low adherence to the full course of antiviral drugs need to be considered when countries weigh up the option of offering mass treatment against…more
Drug safety monitoring system set to hit snags
A new system for monitoring the safety of marketed drugs and other medical products is being developed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to medical scientists…more
Europe warns of major pandemic wave
Autumn will bring a strong pandemic wave which is likely to arrive earlier than the normal flu season in Europe, warn Angus Nichol and Denis Coulombier today. Writing in…more
Unfolding pandemic prompts mixed messages
The UK government has been accused of giving pregnant women conflicting advice over measures they should be taking to protect themselves from pandemic flu. But the debate…more
Future hazy for flu deaths
The release of a pandemic guidance document by the Department of Health in the UK this week suggests the country’s death toll could be as high as 65,000 by September, when the…more
Disease forecast made for China
In the next 10–25 years, Chinese people could face rising numbers of certain infections including those caused by drug-resistant bugs or picked up from contact with wildlife, write…more
Asbestos ‘emergency’ brewing
People exposed to asbestos may be at risk for more types of cancer than currently thought, according to a recent review of evidence by a group of 27 scientists convened at the…more
Puumala virus risk rising in Germany
A mild form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome has been rising steadily from 2001 to 2007 in southern Germany, according to a study published in this month’s issue of Emerging… more
June 2009
Stem cell tourism: regulating a risky business
Seriously ill patients are resorting to clinics that offer scientifically unproven stem cell-based therapies, Ollie Lindvall and Insoo Hyun write today in Science. The appeal of stem cell…more
WHO calls for greater efforts on road safety
Most parts of the world are in the midst of a road-traffic injury ‘epidemic’ expected to lead to 2.4 million deaths per year by 2030 if current trends continue, according to the first global…more
Swine flu monitoring to give ‘mutual benefit’
Cases of ‘swine flu’ continue to rise in countries of the southern hemisphere. Sub-Saharan Africa’s first case has been reported this week in South Africa, while Australia and Chile…more
Tracing in-flight infections
The decision to trace people that could be exposed to infectious bugs on board an airplane should be made on a case-by-case basis, according to a report commissioned by the…more
China’s mental health re-assessed
People in China may be carrying a higher burden of disease from mental disorders than currently estimated by the World Health Organization’s global burden of disease (GBD)…more
Mobile phones: operating under uncertainty
Debates over the safety of mobile phone technologies continue as evidence on health impacts remains inconclusive and experts have different opinions on the need for regulatory action to… more
Rotavirus vaccine goes global
Vaccination against rotavirus, a major cause of severe diarrhoea, should now become part of immunisation programmes around the world, said the World Health Organization (WHO)… more
Unique virus identified in Africa
The new virus that killed four people in South Africa last year is a unique species and a distant relative of known arenaviruses, reports a team of infectious-disease scientists. The genetic…more
May 2009
Flu pandemic: capturing severity
The factors that should be considered when assessing the severity of a pandemic were described in a report published online today by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the…more
When does a pandemic start?
Emergency planners may find that the measure used by the World Health Organization (WHO) to decide when a pandemic has begun is not helpful in practice, suggest Sandra…more
Flu viruses mingling in markets
Visiting live-animal (‘wet’) food markets or living in a contaminated environment can raise a person’s risk of becoming infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, regardless of other risk… more
Swine flu: promoting readiness before vaccines
The number of confirmed cases of infection with the new swine flu virus has now surpassed 10,000 across 41 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Although 80…more
BPA levels rise after plastic bottle use
The amount of bisphenol A (BPA) excreted from the bodies of 77 university students increased by two thirds after a week’s use of polycarbonate plastic bottles, report health scientists this…more
Experts urge climate health preparedness
Governments around the world have reacted urgently to the global financial crisis, and more recently to a new pandemic flu threat. Response systems should also be developed to…more
Avoiding ‘warning fatigue’ over swine flu
More than a week after warning a swine flu pandemic was “imminent” by raising the alert level to Phase 5, an action taken days after the first signs of the epidemic appeared in North… more
Keeping tabs on swine flu
New cases of illness caused by the influenza virus A/H1N1 continue to be reported from around the world. A woman from the US state of Texas has become the second fatality as a…more
April 2009
Updated: WHO raises alert level
Evidence gathered by health scientists convened today by the World Health Organization (WHO) now more strongly suggests that the new pig flu virus is spreading from person to…more
Considering swine flu vaccination
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert as the number of people suspected of carrying the new pig virus continues to rise in Mexico and… more
Swine flu: questions remain as epidemic unfolds
Swine influenza has now been confirmed in 40 cases of influenza-like illness seen in the USA, double the number confirmed previously in the country, said the WHO today in a press…more (co-author: Holly Else)
Disease connectivity data on tap
The largest publicly available ‘network database’ of observable traits for more than 10,000 diseases was published online this month in PLoS Computational Biology. Looking at links…more
Health and the MDGs: add a measure of politics
Epidemiological research should examine the “political elements” getting in the way of social changes that hold back progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)… more
Post-Soviet states top MDR-TB rankings
The latest global assessment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) finds the highest rates of the disease in countries of the former Soviet Union, according to an article…more
Healthcare tools spread hepatitis B
Recent hospital outbreaks of hepatitis B erupted when the virus spread with use of non-disposable medical equipment currently considered safe, suggests a systematic review… more
Edging closer to monkey malaria
Forested parts of South-East Asia harbour a rare malaria parasite that circulates among monkeys but could become a more prominent cause of human disease, suggest researchers…more
China gets funds to fight TB
Novel TB-control tools will be pilot-tested and evaluated in six Chinese provinces over the next five years in a programme led by China’s health ministry and funded by the Bill and…more
March 2009
Crisis plan helps cities hand out drugs
A programme designed to help major US cities get medicines to millions in the event of a major disease outbreak or bioterrorist attack is showing early signs of success, according to…more
Hantavirus strain singled out in Brazil
A highly infectious strain of hantavirus, found in areas of Brazil that have been subject to environmental changes, may account for most of the country’s reported cases of hantavirus… more
Exotic pets pass around pathogens
Exotic animals imported into Japan bring with them species of Bartonella bacteria that could cause disease in people who keep them as pets, report Kai Inoue and colleagues in… more
US biosecurity plans at odds
Efforts to prevent the use of biological weapons in a terrorist attack should have a broader scope to include developing countries outside the former Soviet Union, according to a…more
Dengue 3 reaches West Africa
A dengue virus never seen before in West Africa may have found a home in Côte d’Ivoire, said the World Health Organization (WHO) today. Evidence gathered after a 2008 yellow… more
CDC plans for terrorist threats
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tailoring terrorism preparedness activities towards specific health threats, according to a recent report. These…more
January 2009
Reason to reassess BPA risk
Exposure sources other than food could be adding significantly to the body burden of bisphenol A (BPA), report Richard Stahlhut and colleagues this week. Their study also found…more
Catch the flu, get schizophrenia?
An historical account of mental illness after the Spanish Flu pandemic and more recent data suggest that schizophrenia could be a long-term outcome linked to the next major epidemic…more
Hepatitis A resurfaces in Europe
Europe’s successful fight against infections with the hepatitis A virus (HAV) has lowered levels of immunity, opening a new front that leaves people more vulnerable to the virus, Lara…more
Climate health warning: mind the vulnerable
Plans to protect people from the impact of global climate change should take into account population groups whose defences against health effects are weak for reasons that could be… more
MRSA concerns grow for US kids
US hospitals have seen an “alarming” increase in head-and-neck infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among children, Iman Naseri and…more
Signs of virus picked up at birth
A woman who became infected with La Crosse encephalitis virus (LACV) while pregnant probably passed on the virus to her newborn child, the US Centers of Disease Control and…more
Global bodies size up health strategies
Major health organisations can no longer handle global problems and are falling under added strain from the financial crisis, according to a report published today in The Lancet…more
Scale of healthcare hepatitis revealed
More than 30 outbreaks of hepatitis B and C linked with out-of-hospital health care have occurred in the USA in the past decade, report Nicola Thompson and colleagues this week… more
Streptococcus serotype 1 gains ground
Five primary-school children from north-east England became ill with pneumococcal pneumonia in 2006 in an outbreak not seen before in the UK, medics report this month in… more
December 2008
Tick-borne disease: a question of aggression
A dog tick that carries human pathogens could become more aggressive in a warmer world, Philippe Parola and colleagues suggest after probing two unusual tick-borne infections in…more
Syphilis profile changing
Syphilis has become increasingly common in Sweden in recent years, report epidemiologists today in Eurosurveillance. The disease is spreading mainly among men…more
Synthetic SARS sheds light on species ‘jump’
A man-made version of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus believed to have triggered the 2003 epidemic in Asia has been unveiled by molecular biologists online… more
Blood transfusions fuel rise in Babesiosis
Fatal cases of Babesiosis associated with blood transfusions have been on the rise over the past three years in the USA, report scientists online in Clinical Infectious Diseases… more
November 2008
Birth defect linked to phthalates
Women exposed regularly to hair spray that contains phthalates may be more likely to have a baby boy with hypospadias, Gillian Ormond and colleagues suggest this month in… more
Children’s poor health legacy from Katrina
Children who remain displaced three years after hurricane Katrina are plagued by alarmingly high rates of medical problems, according to a report by the Children’s Health…more
Anaplasmosis turns up in Chinese hospital
The bacteria that cause anaplasmosis usually spread from animals to people by ticks, but China’s first infections were probably picked up in hospital through contact with infected… more
Gulf War illness given cause
The symptoms reported by veterans of the Gulf War make up a distinct condition that differs from stress-related syndromes, according to a report published this week by an advisory…more
Senility risk seen near power lines
People living less than 50 metres away from a power line in Switzerland were more likely to have died of Alzheimer’s disease or senile dementia than people living further away, report…more
Web activity foretells disease
Tracking how often people search the internet for information on particular diseases could become an early-warning tool, according to research published online in Clinical Infectious…more
BPA safety verdict comes under fire
Public health agencies in the USA and Europe rely on a flawed ‘gold standard’ to weigh up the evidence on bisphenol A (BPA) safety, according to an international group of 36… more
October 2008
Tick bites spell hazard for donated blood
The case of a patient who contracted anaplasmosis after receiving donated blood highlights the potential role of transfusion in transmitting some tick-borne diseases, said the US… more
Global disease trends changing
The next two decades will see non-infectious diseases take the lead among global causes of death as the world makes progress in fighting infectious killers including HIV/AIDS and TB…more
Talking emerging threats: simple and clear
People faced with unusual health threats need the same kind of information regardless of the agent involved, according to research by Ricardo Wray and colleagues. Simple, practical… more
Vaccine refusal meets outbreak risk
Keeping vaccination rates high state-wide may not be enough to ensure a low risk of contracting pertussis, suggest Saad Omer and colleagues this month. Their geographic…more
Novel virus may cause respiratory illness
Two newly identified polyomaviruses appear linked with respiratory disease in otherwise healthy children, according to a study published ahead of print in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The viruses, named WU and KI, were… more
Melamine toxicity: a double act
Melamine may not have acted alone in causing the thousands of illnesses reported recently in China, according to research published this month in Toxicological Sciences. Tests done…more
Re-thinking how flu spreads best
Flu viruses could be travelling from person to person with the help of aerosols or through contact, suggest Thomas Weber and Nikolaos Stilianakis this month. Their review and…more
Phthalate exposure traced to pills
People taking some oral medicines could be increasing their exposure to phthalates, a potentially unsafe group of chemicals, epidemiologists report online this month in… more
Hazards for ‘green’ bulbs come to light
People who use certain compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) very close to their skin could develop health problems similar to those caused by exposure to direct sunlight, reports the… more
C. difficile: drugs sharing the blame
A recent history of antibiotic use may not always precede Clostridium difficile infections acquired out of hospital, Sandra Dial and colleagues suggest this week with data from…more
Wildlife tourism: a hint of risk
Many tourists travelling to wildlife sanctuaries are poorly immunised against infectious diseases shared by humans and animals, suggest Michael Muehlenbein and colleagues…more
Mobile phone risks hanging in the balance
Conflicting evidence has fuelled debates over the safety of using mobile phones and a review published recently in Environmental Health Perspectives finds the scale tipping… more
September 2008
Viruses cast net wider with new vector
Chikungunya and dengue viruses spread efficiently with the Aedes aegypti mosquito, yet this species may soon have a serious contender for the role. The Asian tiger mosquito… more
Spatial data on hand to control disease
Data from satellites can be captured and used cheaply to help to control vector-borne and other types of infectious diseases in poor parts of the world, write a group of scientists this…more
Antimicrobials: use wisely for the common good
Resistance to antimicrobial drugs jeopardises modern medical advances worldwide and should be tackled with action by individuals as well as institutions, according to experts… more
Bisphenol A linked to chronic disease
The first evidence to emerge from a large-scale human study of bisphenol A (BPA) health effects, published in JAMA this week, shows that exposure to relatively high levels of the…more
August 2008
Flu-fighting cells work decades on
People who lived through the 1918 flu pandemic as children built up immune cells that still exist in their bodies today, microbiologists report this week in Nature. The 90-year-old cells… more
Sharper focus on lead risk in days
It takes little effort to add a level of detail to geographical models to improve how accurately areas with high lead exposure are spotted, environmental scientists report this week. This… more
Call to stand against organ trade
The commercial exchange of human organs should be banned with the support of transplant professionals, national laws, and international guidelines, according to a declaration…more
Infectious bugs spread in forest ‘islands’
People who live and look after livestock near fragmented forest share bacteria with primates on the same land, Tony Goldberg and colleagues report online in Emerging… more
Europe on alert for C. difficile
A highly infectious strain of Clostridium difficile has surfaced in some European countries, adding to worries that a strain already known to cause outbreaks of severe disease is… more
Cataract risk at low radiation levels
The amount of ionising radiation needed to raise the risk of developing cataracts could be much lower than that currently considered safe, environmental health scientists report this…more
July 2008
Keeping a closer watch on dengue in three steps
The task of detecting dengue outbreaks in regions where the disease is endemic can be made easier if national health authorities take three steps to enhance their surveillance… more
Earlier measles jab protects kids at high risk
A second dose of measles vaccine given earlier than currently recommended could prevent outbreaks of the disease among children in developing countries, public health scientists… more
Pandemic plans: a place claimed for bacteria
A pandemic strain of bird flu virus may not be the main cause of fatal illness during a major outbreak of influenza, according to research by John Brundage and Dennis Shanks…more
Warming forecast sees more kidney disease
Higher temperatures resulting from global warming could add an extra 2.2 million cases of kidney stone disease in some parts of the USA by 2050, predict Tom Brikowski and…more
Enterovirus uncovered in Austria
Routine surveillance has revealed a group of patients infected with enterovirus 71 (EV71) in Austria, Hartwig Huemer and colleagues report today. The pathogen rivals poliovirus in its…more
Chemical cues for mosquito control
The mosquito vector for diseases like dengue and yellow fever chooses to lay eggs in water containers that have the right amount of certain ‘messenger’ compounds (kairomones)…more
Rare epidemic could have enteroviral origins
Initial results of an investigation into the cause of a nail-shedding epidemic among Spanish children point to hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), epidemiologists report in…more
Signs of fertility risk for molybdenum
Men with high levels of molybdenum in their blood could be at higher risk of having poor semen quality, John Meeker and colleagues report this week in Environmental Health… more
June 2008
Olympics visitors to face familiar risks
Sport fans travelling to Beijing for the forthcoming Olympic Games should watch out for breathing problems and dog bites, not tropical or parasitic disease, the US Centers for… more
Early data to gauge chemical disaster risk
Response teams should prepare a tool bag to begin measuring exposure as soon as a chemical disaster has occurred, environmental scientists suggest in the Journal of Exposure… more
Climate risk planners urged to guard city kids
Climate change response planning should take into account early on special concerns for city kids living in developing countries, according to a report due to be published in… more
Bird flu vaccine trial results promising
A vaccine designed to fight infection with the H5N1 virus has shown early signs of success in a clinical trial, Hartmut Ehrlich and colleagues report in the New England Journal of…more
Bird flu: more strains show pandemic potential
Viruses of the bird flu subtype H7 have increased their capacity to spread among people, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week. The statement…more
Travel-related TB control revisited
The WHO revised this month international guidelines for preventing infection with TB during air travel, spelling out what passengers, airlines, and national health authorities must do to… more
C. difficile: drugs driving disease
The effective use of antibiotics to treat infections with Clostridium difficile is coming under threat from increasingly drug-resistant strains found in hospitals across Europe, according to…more
Tap-water chemicals linked to birth defects
Disinfection of public water supplies is essential for preventing illness from waterborne pathogens. But chlorine leaves behind chemical by-products that could raise the risk of…more
May 2008
Fending off insect bites for longer
A search to discover alternatives to DEET, the standard active ingredient in insect repellants, has revealed a class of chemicals with properties that could give longer-lasting protection… more
Infectious link to cot death strengthens
Infections with microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are emerging as a likely cause of some unexplained infant deaths, a study suggests today in The Lancet… more
Criminal record found for childhood lead
Childhood lead toxicity may be a risk factor for criminal behaviour among young adults, John Paul Wright and colleagues suggest today. Their study shows that for children growing up… more
Diabetes kept at bay for years
People at risk for type 2 diabetes could stay disease-free for up to two decades after joining lifestyle-change groups, medical scientists report today in a special issue of The Lancet…more
Pandemic plans: school closure meets with support
Most households with school-age children backed the closing of schools when flu broke out in a small rural US community in 2006, according to survey results published in Emerging… more
Bovine TB strain gains ground
A rare strain of tuberculosis-causing bacteria is becoming more prominent as a cause of TB in San Diego and other parts of the USA with a large Hispanic population, according to a… more
Air pollution linked to blood clots in veins
The risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) could be higher for people who experience long-lasting exposure to increased levels of air pollution, Andrea Baccarelli and… more
Child vaccinations fall short of US guidelines
About a fifth of young children missed one or more of the vaccine doses required under US immunisation guidelines in 2005, Elizabeth Luman and colleagues report this week. Their…more
Global trail found for novel virus
A group of human rhinoviruses (HRVs) linked with respiratory infections was discovered about four years ago in the state of New York, USA. Microbiologists now suggest that these… more
UK sees rise in drug-resistant TB
Cases of drug-resistant TB have increased in the UK since the late 1990s, Michelle Kruijshaar and colleagues report today. Poor disease-management measures and a… more
April 2008
Medical tool could go global with mobile phones
A novel medical-imaging system based on mobile (cellular) phones could boost access to cheap and effective health technologies in developing countries, Yair Granot and colleagues… more
Ground-level ozone can shorten lives
Respiratory problems are known health effects of inhaling ozone in smog, but now an expert committee finds that exposure to the gas could also shorten lives. Writing in a US National… more
Poor bear the brunt of heart disease in India
The profile of India’s heart-disease patients was revealed today with data from the most comprehensive registry to date. Writing in The Lancet, Denis Xavier and colleagues report… more
Pandemic plans lose sight of health gaps
Existing health disparities could worsen unless preparedness policies aim to reduce how vulnerable some social groups might be to a major flu outbreak, caution Philip Blumenshine…more
Deadly virus found in Bolivia
A small group of villagers in rural Bolivia developed haemorrhagic fever (HF) more than four years ago and today scientists report that tests on a patient who died from the disease have… more
Crisis response needs tailored health research
Two decades of experience from research conducted by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) show that it takes innovation and concerted efforts to help field staff deal with public health…more
Chemical industry told to plan for EU rules
The six-month window for pre-registration of industrial chemicals is just around the corner, said the European Commission (EC) and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in a…more
Staphylococcal disease escalating in England
Hospital admissions and drug prescriptions for staphylococcal disease imported from the community have been rising in England for more than 15 years, Andrew Hayward and…more
Vaccine policy queried after mumps comeback
A recent multi-state outbreak of mumps in the USA affected people who probably received two doses of vaccine in childhood, public health scientists report today in the New England… more
WHO: climate health risk a reality
Changes to the global climate are already giving the world a taste of greater health risks to come, the WHO said this week in a statement marking World Health Day. Announcing…more
Global vaccine supply needs local power
Capacity for widespread vaccination must be developed at the local scale to enable available or new vaccines to have a global reach, Dave Chokshi and Aaron Kesselheim…more
Indoor phthalates may boost allergy hazard
Breathing in phthalate chemicals indoors could raise the risk of developing asthma and allergies, Jouni Jaakkola and Trudy Knight suggest in Environmental Health Perspectives… more
Pot belly signals mental decay
Middle-aged people with a build-up of fat around the belly could be facing higher chances of developing dementia later in life, according to a study by Rachel Whitmer and colleagues…more
March 2008
Flame retardants inhaled in cars
Regular car users could be exposed to PBDE chemicals released into the air from materials used in armrests, fabrics, and other items in car interiors, environmental health scientists… more
Social contacts probed for disease control
Models built to test the effectiveness of outbreak control strategies for diseases like SARS and influenza need to consider one essential factor behind the spread of these infections…more
Travel raising UK’s enteric fever risk
Improved surveillance of enteric fever in the UK has revealed a higher risk of infection among people with ethnic origin in the Indian subcontinent who travel there for family…more
Flame retardant exposure higher by hand
Every-day activities like handling household furniture and nail biting could be transferring higher amounts of flame retardants into the body than diet, Heather Stapleton and colleagues report today. They reached their conclusion by…more
Chikungunya transmitted with childbirth
The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) needs a mosquito carrier to get to a human host, but Patrick Gérardin and colleagues now show that a mother with virus in her blood (viraemia) can…more
Tobacco and lead linked to behaviour disorder
The chances of having a diagnosis or symptoms of a persistent behavioural disorder were higher in US children exposed to tobacco smoke and environmental lead, Joseph Braun and… more
Mix of measures could curb pandemic flu
Closing schools and moving quickly to implement a mix of intervention strategies will be crucial to an effective response should a flu pandemic occur, three research teams report… more
Vaccine slashes meningitis burden in Uganda
A five-year routine immunisation programme has eradicated nearly all cases of meningitis and pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) bacteria among young… more
Severe leptospirosis lurking in slums
A serious form of leptospirosis surfaced in the Brazilian city of Salvador in 2003, and a follow-up investigation found this previously unrecognised condition was causing… more
Radiation risk could hit the heart
Exposure to ionising radiation is a known cause of cancer, but epidemiologists now report that men working with radiation at UK nuclear plants may also be at higher risk of dying from… more
Human vCJD protein stands apart
Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) causes similar brain damage to kuru, a fatal disease that was transmitted by ritual cannibalism in parts of Papua New Guinea during the late 1950s. But the abnormal prion proteins that…more
February 2008
Looking back to control future pandemics
Scientists probing flu epidemics since 1918 are finding clues to what might create stronger strains of the virus. Writing in PLoS Pathogens today, Martha Nelson and colleagues report… more
Schistosomiasis predicted to expand in China
Warmer temperatures in coming decades could take schistosomiasis to new parts of China, suggest Xiao-Nong Zhou and colleagues with a map that forecasts where transmission might occur in the future. Their study underlines… more
USA detects drug-resistant meningitis
A single dose of ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class, has typically protected people at high risk of contracting meningococcal disease. But the US Centers for… more
US spots radioactivity threat
Radioactive caesium chloride is ubiquitous in health and research facilities but can disperse easily to pose a health threat, and should be replaced with less hazardous alternatives, the US National Research Council… more
USA and Europe tackle nanotechnology risks
A code of conduct adopted this month by the European Commission puts forth seven general principles and guidelines that those involved in nanosciences and… more
E. coli strains taking after MRSA
Certain strains of E. coli that cause urinary tract infections are extending their range by invading patients’ bloodstreams, Johann Pitout and Kevin Laupland report today in Lancet Infectious Diseases. This trend rings… more
Tobacco deaths soar in India
Tobacco smoking could cost India a million lives each year during the 2010s, Prabhat Jha and colleagues report this week. Their study is the first to put a number on… more
Deprivation may drive disease emergence
Social deprivation is the most important among several factors that could raise the risk of contracting American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in Costa Rica, a team… more
Tracking vulnerability to avert disasters
A one-size-fits-all approach to preparedness and response will probably fall short of protecting people from the effects of natural hazards, Susan Cutter and Christina Finch… more
Signs of phthalate risk from baby toiletries
Infants could be soaking up phthalate chemicals through baby skincare products, health scientists report this week. They showed that using lotion and other care items… more
Cancer challenging Europe
Europeans will develop cancer and die from the disease at increasing rates in the next 15 years, and European Union (EU) Member States must work in step to counter the trend, experts report on the eve of a… more
Available interventions thwart malaria
Extensive use of two interventions could swiftly cut the number of people hospitalised with malaria by more than half in some African countries, the WHO reports this month… more
January 2008
Hot plastic bottles release bisphenol A
Heating up plastic containers helps bisphenol A (BPA) to ‘migrate’ into the food or drink they contain, scientists report today. The finding fuels concern over the toxic effects on children fed with milk formula… more
Europe urged to target cleaner air
Setting lower limits for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Europe could add years to the lives of adult city-dwellers across the continent, Ferran Ballester and colleagues report in a study that compares the… more
Dietary perchlorate is highest in kids
Many common foods and drinks contain the toxic chemical perchlorate, food-safety researchers report this month after analysing data collected for more than 35 years by the US FDA’s Total Diet Study (DTS)… more
Global changes pose new health threat
Global environmental changes are set to create a new class of health risks, adding to those already produced by local hazards, Anthony McMichael and colleagues caution today. Health professionals can do a… more
Infections might raise schizophrenia risk
In US military recruits, the likelihood of having schizophrenia rose with increasing T. gondii antibodies in their blood, epidemiologists report in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The parasite is one of a few infectious… more
WHO to track bird flu online
A database launched by the WHO this week will keep tabs on bird flu viruses isolated from samples provided by member countries… more
Ebola tamed for the lab
Deleting just one gene from Ebolavirus (EBOV) stops the virus from making a protein it needs to reproduce inside normal cells, Peter Halfmann and colleagues report today… more
Skin cancer virus discovered
Suspecting that an infection could set off Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), molecular virologists uncovered a new polyomavirus, named MCV, in cells affected by the… more
Decades-old wood flooring leaks PCBs
People living in homes with wood floors ‘finished’ decades ago using products that contained PCBs could still be inhaling air and dust with large amounts of the… more
No sign of risk from dental amalgams
The limited amount that scientists know about the hazards of dental amalgams suggests that the mercury they contain does little to raise the chances of developing neurological or psychological conditions… more
Gay men at risk from MRSA strain
Infections with a highly drug-resistant variant of MRSA strain ‘USA300? are more common among sexually active gay men than the wider community in San Francisco, Binh An Diep and colleagues report this week… more
Cancer linked to acrylamide levels in blood
The risk of breast cancer developing in postmenopausal women rises with higher blood levels of acrylamide, Pelle Thonning Olesen and colleagues report this week in the… more
Thimerosal cuts fail to curb autism
Autism among young children has become more frequent in recent years, despite the phase-out of the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from vaccines, an analysis of Californian data concludes this week… more
Detecting viruses made easier
A single swab taken from patients suspected of having respiratory tract infections can now reveal quickly whether any one of 12 different viruses is the culprit using a test approved for marketing by the FDA this… more
MRSA detection speeds up
A test that reduces the time it takes to single out MRSA from other S. aureus bacteria can be marketed, the FDA announced this week. The assay promises to help make treatment of the potentially fatal infection more… more
December 2007
Getting back to hygiene basics
Knowing how to wash hands effectively could do a lot of the work to stop the spread of influenza viruses and other pathogens that threaten to become more prominent in the future… more
Strongest evidence yet links chromium to cancer
Drinking water tainted with hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) raises the chances of dying from stomach cancer, James Beaumont and colleagues report this week in Epidemiology after re-examining data from heavily… more
Rewards to spur TB control
Countries with a high burden of TB should expect the financial gains of launching and sustaining the ‘DOTS’ control strategy, or upgrading to the new WHO-recommended Stop TB Strategy, to far exceed the costs of… more
Desert storms send pathogens abroad
During an intense dust storm in Africa, a coastal city in the eastern Mediterranean saw a spike in particles of dust, on which scientists looked for signs of life that could have… more
Fine-tuning the safety of drinking water
When it comes to deciding whether drinking water is clean enough, risk managers use safety standards as a guide. But microbial risk assessment, a recently developed scientific tool, can help them to tailor decisions… more
FDA’s failings jeopardise public health
Severe shortcomings within the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are putting people at risk from unsafe food and medical supplies, one of its subcommittees said in a report that highlights the Agency’s… more
Stronger defences needed against future floods
The number of people exposed to floods in coastal cities is already in the millions and could triple to reach 150 million by the 2070s, at a cost of billions of dollars, according to a study prepared ahead of the United… more
Flu pandemic: tangible protection is years away
Europe is just halfway to being fully prepared for an influenza pandemic despite progress that puts the region ahead of the rest of the world, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports this… more
Health suffers as reform continues in China
Beyond urban areas like Beijing, where the Green Olympics boosted efforts to clean up the environment, China’s drive to improve living conditions has created health risks that often go unnoticed and can have a… more
November 2007
Lead toxicity more likely for immigrant kids
New York City children born outside the USA, or with a recent history of living abroad, had a higher chance of testing positive for lead poisoning, public health scientists report today… more
Climate health risk sounds ethical alarm
Climate change is a global hazard, but it forces most health risks on the people and places that contribute least to greenhouse gas emissions, which fuels inequalities and amounts to an ethical crisis, caution… more
Traffic pollutants reach for the brain
City-dwelling young children who grew up inhaling traffic fumes around their home scored more poorly in brain function tests as the level of pollution increased, Shakira Franco Suglia and colleagues report this month… more
Securing a fair share of preparedness
No country will be left untouched should a bird flu pandemic break out, but as preparedness progresses the international community must divide benefits even-handedly, the WHO said this week as the… more
Potent adenovirus surfaces in USA
A deadly strain of adenovirus appears to be on the rise in the USA, the CDC reports this month. After decades of rare sightings in which infections have caused mild illness, adenovirus serotype 14 (Ad14) has… more
Mental health declines after Katrina
New Orleans residents are struggling to maintain their mental health in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as recovery efforts continue more than two years later… more
Europe faces rising drug resistance
Years of keeping a close watch on a handful of disease-causing bacteria have revealed growing resilience to drugs across the continent, the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS) reports… more
MRSA traced to animal farms
The trail of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections that emerged recently in communities across The Netherlands leads back to pig and probably cattle farms, Inge van Loo and… more
Computing the human cost of shipping
Large ocean-going ships release fine particulate matter (PM2.5) into the air, raise pollution levels, and account for thousands of deaths worldwide, according to… more
USA tracks chemicals that pose security risk
Any one chemical from a list of about 300 released this month by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could be used in a terrorist act and is now subject to reporting by facilities that hold them at certain… more
Plastic carries pollutant into the food chain
Tiny pieces of floating plastic can pick up phenanthrene from the sea’s surface and offload it easily onto sediment, raising concentrations in a marine lugworm… more
Public sanitation service shows health benefit
Diarrhoeal illness among children under the age of three dropped substantially after a sewage system was installed across the city of Salvador in north-east Brazil, Mauricio Barreto and colleagues report today in a… more
Severe chickenpox prompts call for ‘blanket’ vaccination
Chickenpox usually causes mild symptoms but many children in the UK and Ireland suffer severe complications from the illness, Claire Cameron and colleagues report today. Lacking… more
Disease control made to fit the community
Sound disease control principles are just one ingredient of a successful response to outbreaks of highly infectious diseases, a team from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports this month. Some interventions… more
Chikungunya could take hold in Europe
The recent outbreak of chikungunya fever in north-eastern Italy, which marked the first time the disease spread within Europe, persisted for weeks and could happen again in Italy or elsewhere on the continent, the ECDC and… more
Breastfeeding benefit for asthma in doubt
Young children fed with breast milk for several months after birth developed healthier lungs later in childhood, Theresa Guilbert and colleagues report this month. But there was no advantage when the mother had asthma… more
Immigrants keep TB to themselves
A 12-year influx of TB-infected immigrants into Norway did little to spread the disease to native people or overwhelm the country’s control programme, Ulf Dahle and… more
October 2007
Dioxin singles out young men’s health
A 1976 chemical plant explosion in the Italian town of Seveso released the dioxin TCDD into the environment. Twenty-two years later, the reproductive system of local men exposed as children appears… more
Kids need protection against global warming
Governments and paediatricians should do more to protect children’s health from environmental risks that are expected to increase as the global climate changes, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said… more
Air pollution eludes Beijing’s greening
Projects designed to ‘green’ Beijing for the Olympic Games are generally on track for success, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports this week, but the city’s… more
Children neglected in bird flu plans
Nearly half the deaths from bird flu recorded so far are among children and adolescents, yet special provisions for this group are missing from US preparations for an influenza pandemic, the American… more
Wildfires pass around the mercury
Plants and soil lock in mercury released by natural processes or industrial burning of fossil fuels, but forest and agricultural fires across the USA free tonnes of the… more
Multidrug-resistant bug discovered
A newly identified pneumococcal strain caused ear infections among a small group of children and proved resistant to treatment with all approved antibiotics, paediatricians in New York report in JAMA this week… more
Climate change in a risky synergy for asthma
Millions of people across the USA are exposed both to ozone and ragweed pollen, each thought to worsen respiratory problems and expected to reach higher levels as a result of climate change, the Natural… more
Heavy metal risk in Kenya’s urban waste
A large waste site in Nairobi, the Dandora Municipal Dumping site, holds hazardous chemicals at levels high enough to pose a health threat to children living in the area… more
Childhood cancer link to pesticides strengthens
Pesticides applied around the house while a child develops could raise their chances of developing cancers that affect the blood, Jérémie Rudant and colleagues say in Environmental Health Perspectives… more
Tamiflu endures in treated water
The antiviral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is released from conventional sewage treatment plants to enter water bodies mostly intact, a study reports this week. Contact with low levels of this drug in areas where doctors… more
Air fresheners release potential toxins
Most air fresheners on the US market contain one or more potentially toxic chemicals called phthalates, the advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports. The compounds tend to not be listed… more
September 2007
Bird flu not restricted to infecting the lungs
Avian influenza H5N1 causes severe respiratory symptoms and kills many people who become infected. But the virus can travel further than the respiratory tract to the brain and other organs, even crossing the placenta to reach… more
Conflicting trends for vaccine mercury risks
Since the 1930s some vaccines have been preserved with thimerosal, a substance that contains mercury. Exposure to the potentially toxic chemical through vaccines administered to children early in life had both… more
UK allergy epidemic fuelled by environmental factors
Environmental conditions at home, work, and in schools are prime suspects behind the threefold increase of allergic reactions over the past 20 years in the United Kingdom, a House of Lords committee said today. The… more
DDT may pose enduring risk
Once popular and used extensively to control insects, DDT was phased out in most countries when it proved to be harmful to wildlife. But women exposed to high levels of the chemical’s active ingredient, p,p’-DDT, in… more
Integrated approach urged to address pollution
Water and air pollution, chronic problems that hit parts of Asia and Africa the hardest, pose fresh challenges as more people move to urban areas. Their close links with other health threats and deficient infrastructure… more
Major role for meat industry in emerging disease
Current food production practices are set to keep fuelling the threat of diseases making the jump to humans from animals, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned this week. Citing the emergence of bird flu as a clear… more
US cities face rise in heatwave deaths
Rising temperatures resulting from climate change will probably put more people at risk of dying prematurely as heatwaves intensify and become more frequent. At least twice as many… more
Energy at the root of many global risks
The growing global demand for energy depends on burning fossil or biomass fuels, threatening health by polluting the air and driving climate change. Energy use factors… more
Concrete plans missing from US pandemic response
The US federal government has yet to spell out how different agencies should co-operate to lead an effective response in the event of a pandemic, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report released… more
SARS immunity ebbs after three years
The 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by the newly identified SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), spread from Asia to countries around the world within a few… more
Global network tackles antimalarial resistance
Resistance to anti-malarial drugs began to develop in the 20th century and continues to jeopardise the success of new treatments. A global network designed to serve as a public data resource to guide treatment… more
Tsunami risk may stretch to northern Bay of Bengal
The 2004 tsunamis that devastated coastal communities bordering the Indian Ocean were triggered by the undersea Sumatra–Andaman earthquake. By all accounts… more
Poultry workers at higher risk of drug-resistant E. coli
Antibiotics are used frequently in animal farming in many countries, potentially playing a role in the growing resistance to these drugs in human treatment. Drug-resistant… more
Record high for global burden of COPD
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have difficulty breathing and their lungs react with inflammation when exposed to hazardous particles or chemicals. Expected to reach third place among… more
Housing quality linked to depression
Living in a mouldy house can trigger respiratory and other health problems. But these could also be a stepping stone to poor mental health, Edmont Shenassa and… more
August 2007
Role of vegetation in climate risk reassessed
Climate change predictions typically consider how carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases might influence the energy balance on the surface of the Earth. But in addition to this ‘radiative forcing’, rising CO2… more
Unknown noroviruses fuel illness surge
Formerly known as ’Norwalk-like viruses’, noroviruses circulate easily among people and can launch sudden outbreaks of severe diarrhoea and gastric illness. After looking… more
Perfluorinated chemicals may lower birth weight
Some perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), manufactured for use in non-stick pans and many other household products, have a lasting presence in the environment. Two of these chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, have… more
Escalating global threats need collective action
New diseases are surfacing faster than ever, and older health threats persist, jeopardising global security, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its… more
Air pollution in Chinese cities among highest worldwide
Partial burning of fossil fuels releases polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the air. Levels of these potentially harmful chemicals in urban China top those of most countries, Xiang Liu and colleagues reported… more
Signs of immune trouble from PCBs
Hints from animal studies that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) could damage an essential immune organ are now beginning to be borne out in humans. Hye-Youn Park and colleagues show that the presence of… more
Fresh trail between housing quality and diabetes
People with certain features or behaviours, including genetic make-up and poor nutrition, have a greater chance of developing diabetes mellitus. Living environment… more
Sharpening the focus for nanotoxicology
Nano-scale materials are increasingly being used in numerous consumer products, raising concerns that their novel properties might be accompanied by unforeseen health hazards. A report published this week in… more
Test traces diesel exhaust in people
Diesel exhaust fumes contain fine particles and cancer-causing chemicals formed by partial burning of fossil fuels. But making a link between actual health effects and… more
June–July 2007
WHO makes special case for kids in risk assessment
Chemical pollutants can harm a growing child in ways that may not be obvious until later in life, or cause health effects that differ from those in adults. Risks to children… more
New Yorkers’ blood high in mercury
Mercury often finds its way into people’s blood through intake of fish contaminated in the environment. A large fraction of New York City (NYC) residents, about 1.4 million… more
No short-term health risk detected from mobile phone fields
Some people suffer symptoms of ill health that they associate with exposure to low-intensity, radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (rf-emf) coming from mobile… more
Majority would avoid public transport in flu pandemic
The precautions people might take to reduce their risk during an influenza pandemic could have negative effects on health and the economy. Avoiding public transport and staying… more
Rainfall trends traced to human impact
Trends in average rainfall observed during part of the 20th century now show a clear link with human activity, or ‘anthropogenic forcing’, when compared with models… more
Traffic fumes linked to build-up of heart disease
Air pollution from traffic contributes to heart trouble. Over time, exposure raises the risk of dying or occurrence of heart disease, but it is unclear whether this results from… more
Crucial gaps in US bird flu preparations
The US government National Plan of May 2006 mobilised resources to prepare for a bird flu pandemic at home and abroad. An evaluation of achievements a year later highlights the steps taken to expand vaccine manufacture… more
Countries advised to guard food safety
Food contamination is harmful to public health and international trade. In a joint statement released today, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) alert national authorities to a need for… more
New class of persistent pollutant uncovered
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), a group of potentially toxic chemicals, work their way up the food chain by dissolving into the fatty layers of living organisms. Lipophilic chemicals, substances attracted to fat or… more
Nano-materials to get no special treatment
Sticking with traditional practice, the US Environmental Protection Agency will determine whether nano-scale substances qualify as ‘new’ chemicals on a case-by-case basis, considering only their molecular make-up, according… more
E-waste recyclers tainted by flame retardants
Electronics-recycling labourers in Guiyu village, south China, absorb flame retardants at levels many times higher than seen elsewhere, report Xinhui Bi and colleagues this… more
Safety concerns about food additive
The food colour Red 2G (also called E128) is added to some sausages and burgers. A recent safety evaluation indicated that this additive may cause cancer, prompting the… more
Persistent pollutants linked to developmental disability
Children with some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in their blood were more likely to have learning disability or attention deficit disorder compared with children with no known exposure, according to a study published this week… more
Depleted uranium exposure limited in UK military
UK military forces who took part in the Iraq invasion of 2003 can be reassured that they had no substantial exposure to the depleted uranium used in armour-piercing and other weapons, according to results published… more
UN call to tackle desertification
The effects of desertification will not only take their toll on the millions of people living in dryland areas, warns a UN policy report published this week, they will also spread to other nations unless coordinated policies are put in place… more
UK changes e-waste disposal
The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, or WEEE comes into effect across the UK starting this month. It sets out to break old habits of dumping used computers, kitchen appliances, and other electrical or… full story (PDF) – published 02.07.07
Extreme weather to raise death rates
The risk of dying is greater during a heat wave than during a cold snap, according to a study of US urban populations published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. As climate change is expected to create greater extremes of… full story (PDF) – published 28.06.07