Health

Japanese reporter died after 159 hours of overtime

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s public broadcaster has vowed to reform its working practices as it revealed that a young reporter died of heart failure after logging 159 hours of overtime in a month. NHK reporter Miwa Sado, 31, who had been covering political news in Tokyo, was found dead in her bed in July 2013, reportedly clutching her mobile phone. A year later, Japanese authorities said her death was linked to excessive overtime. She […]

Bee-harming pesticides in 75 percent of honey worldwide: study

by Kerry Sheridan Agence France Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Traces of pesticides that act as nerve agents on bees have been found in 75 percent of honey worldwide, raising concern about the survival of these crucial crop pollinators, researchers said Thursday. Human health is not likely at risk from the concentrations detected in a global sampling of 198 types of honey, which were below what the European Union authorizes for human consumption, said […]

Skipping breakfast may double risk of hard arteries: study

by Kerry Sheridan Agence France Presse MIAMI, United States (AFP) — People who skip breakfast or eat poorly to start the day are twice as likely to develop hardened arteries, which can lead to deadly heart disease, researchers said Monday. The study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology uncovered signs of damage to the arteries long before symptoms or disease developed. Researchers said their findings could offer an important tool in the […]

Panic in Madagascar as plague spreads

by Tsiresena Manjakahery Agence France Presse ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AFP) — Crowds of fearful residents flock to their local pharmacies before dawn, desperate to buy masks and antibiotics to stave off a plague outbreak sweeping Madagascar. In just the past few days, the highly infectious disease has wreaked havoc in the poor Indian Ocean island nation, claiming six lives in the capital city Antananarivo and causing widespread panic. Like many of his neighbours, 50-year-old Johannes Herinjatovo […]

September is Blood Diseases Month

QUEZON City, Philippines – The combined impact of blood-related diseases like leukemia, anemia and bleeding disorders is extremely great, representing a significant factor in the total deaths due to cancer. In 2009, former President Gloria Arroyo declared the month of September as Blood Diseases Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 1833 to raise people’s awareness and understanding of blood-related diseases. There are different blood diseases, some are benign or non-cancerous while others can be considered as […]

UK blood contamination scandal victims can sue: court

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Victims of a contaminated blood scandal in Britain which left at least 2,400 people dead, and their families will be allowed to seek damages following a High Court ruling on Tuesday. A High Court official said it was “appropriate” to issue immediately a group litigation order allowing a potential 500 claimants together to seek compensation. Lawyers acting for the health ministry had argued that the application to the court was […]

‘World’s heaviest woman’ dies in Abu Dhabi hospital

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — An Egyptian believed to be the world’s heaviest woman died Monday of heart and kidney failure at an Abu Dhabi hospital, following months of treatment to help her lose weight and one day walk again. A team of more than 20 doctors had been caring for the bedridden Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty, 37, since her arrival at Burjeel Hospital in May. El Aty first sought treatment in […]

Alarm over flesh-eating ulcer cases in Australia

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — The spread of a flesh-eating bacterial condition in Australia sparked calls Thursday for more government-funded research into the disease, which is normally limited to developing countries. Buruli ulcer, a leprosy-like disease that rots flesh, is usually found in parts of Africa and was named after the Ugandan village where it was discovered. It was first diagnosed in Australia’s Victoria state in the 1930s and a growing number of cases have hit […]

Hospital allows kids to ‘drive’ themselves to operating room

SAN DIEGO, California (Reuters) — The staff at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego is working to make being sick a little better. The hospital unveiled a collection of remote-controlled cars on Tuesday (September 19) that allow young patients to ‘drive’ themselves to the operating room. Actually operated by a nurse or doctor, the cars are part of a new program designed to make kids more relaxed before their procedures. “The kids are having fun. […]

McDonalds to limit use of antibiotics in chicken supply

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — McDonalds says it will start globally rolling back use of antibiotics in its chicken products from 2018 as part of efforts to curb microbial resistance to drugs and the rise of superbugs. The decision follows a similar move undertaken in the US market in 2016. It applies to drugs that are also used in human medicine, called Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials (HPCIA) by the World Health Organization (WHO). […]

A fifth of global deaths linked to diet: study

by Marlowe Hood Agence France Presse PARIS, France — Fewer children are dying before their fifth birthday and although humans are living longer than ever before, one in five deaths last year were linked to poor diet, researchers said Friday. More than 1.6 million people in poor countries died in 2016 from diarrhea caused by contaminated water and food, while another 2.4 million succumbed to lung infections that mostly could have been prevented or treated. Another […]

World lags badly on targets to slash TB, HIV, obesity: study

by Mariëtte Le Roux Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Not a single country, out of nearly 200 reviewed, was on track to meet the United Nations target of eliminating new tuberculosis infections by 2030, according to a global health review published Wednesday. At the same time, less than five percent of countries were likely to reach the UN goal of reducing suicides, road deaths and child obesity by that date, and only seven […]