By Umaru Fofana FREETOWN Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:45pm EDT (Reuters) – Sierra Leone has declared a state of emergency and called in troops to quarantine Ebola victims, joining neighbouring Liberia in imposing controls as the death toll from the outbreak of the virus hit 729 in West Africa. The World Health Organisation said it would launch a $100 million response plan on Friday during a meeting with the affected nations in Guinea. It is […]
Health
OFWs in Sierra Leone and Liberia, prepared for Ebola outbreak
Overseas Filipino workers in Sierra Leone and Liberia are exercising extreme caution as cases of Ebola outbreak continue to increase.
New malaria parasite enters Southeast Asia
A new strain of malaria, one that is drug-resistant, has been spotted in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines already preparing for said disease. The Department of Health is currently disseminating information about this new malaria strain, further adding the 50% of the provinces are already malaria free.
Bureau of Quarantine monitors entry points of Philippines for Ebola virus
Due to the Ebola virus threat, the Bureau of Quarantine is closely monitoring the various entry points to the Philippines, asking passengers to submit themselves for voluntary check-ups whenever they feel symptoms which is similar to that of the flu.
Guilt may spoil restorative effects of entertainment
(Reuters Health) – People who play video games or watch television to unwind after a hard day may end up feeling worse about themselves, not better, says a new study. Although enjoying something pleasurable can restore “vitality” after a draining bout of demanding work, researchers found that users of entertainment media will get less benefit if they see the activity as procrastination rather than rest. The spent state following a period of self-control to complete […]
DOH revives dengue express lane
The Department of Health revives dengue express lanes in hospitals in response to rising number of recorded dengue cases due to the rainy season.
Malaria is the leading killer in Central African Republic: aid group
By Mirjam Donath UNITED NATIONS Thu Jul 24, 2014 5:15pm EDT (Reuters) – As a recent ceasefire deal boosts prospects for peace in Central African Republic, a key medical aid group warned on Thursday that malaria was the leading killer in the impoverished landlocked country. Malaria, a life-threatening disease transmitted to people via mosquitoes, kills more than half million people a year, mainly infants in the poorest parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors […]
U.S. CDC says it ‘may never know’ how bird flu mishap occurred
By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO Mon Jul 21, 2014 5:11pm EDT (Reuters) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “may never know” how a fairly harmless form of bird flu was cross-contaminated with a dangerous bird flu strain before it was sent to a laboratory outside of the CDC, an agency spokesman said on Monday. That’s because most of the materials used in the experiment to culture the virus were discarded shortly after they […]
Gene therapy creates ‘biological pacemaker’ cells for the heart
By Will Dunham WASHINGTON Wed Jul 16, 2014 2:03pm EDT (Reuters) – Researchers have succeeded in turning ordinary cardiac muscle cells into specialized ones that deliver a steady heartbeat using a gene therapy procedure they predict could become an alternative to implanted electronic pacemakers. A study published on Wednesday involved pigs with a condition called heart block that makes their hearts beat too slowly. By injecting a human gene into a tiny region of the […]
Stress, depression may affect how the body processes fat
(Reuters Health) – Stress and depression have long been linked with a heightened risk of weight gain, but a new study sheds light on how those mental states may alter the way the body processes fatty foods. Compared to women without stress in the study, stressed-out women burned both calories and fat more slowly for seven hours after eating the equivalent of an average fast-food burger meal. “Stress can promote weight gain by slowing your […]
As Ebola stalks West Africa, medics fight mistrust, hostility
By Saliou Samb and Adam Bailes CONAKRY Guinea/KENEMA Sierra Leone Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:36am EDT (Reuters) – Governments and health agencies trying to contain the world’s deadliest ever Ebola epidemic in West Africa fear the contagion could be worse than reported because suspicious locals are chasing away health workers and shunning treatment. From Guinea, where the four-month-old outbreak claimed the first of more than 500 lives, to Sierra Leone, scores of patients are hiding […]
DOJ sees no problem regarding graphic warning on cigarettes
According to the Department of Justice, there is no legal impediment in the enactment of a proposed law that requires the placement of graphic warnings in cigarette packages.