Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Bird flu jab for chickens could halt spread of the virus

U.S. researchers say they have produced a vaccine in less than a month which completely protects chickens from the deadly H5N1 virus.

29 Jan 2006

Saudi Arabia culls falcons with bird flu

According to the Agriculture Ministry in Saudi Arabia, 37 falcons have been culled after five of them tested positive to the H5 virus of the avian flu.

29 Jan 2006

Weight loss and exercise reduces urinary incontinence in women with prediabetes

Losing a modest amount of weight through dietary changes and increased physical activity reduces the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UI) in women with prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet diabetic.

27 Jan 2006

First large-scale bird flu genome study

Investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have completed the first large-scale study of bird flu virus genomes, thereby doubling the amount of genetic information available on the genes and proteins of these viruses.

26 Jan 2006

Study estimates 500,000 fatalities from bird flu pandemic outbreak in Japan

Risk Management Solutions, Inc. (RMS) released the findings of an in-depth study that provides life and personal accident insurers in Japan with key benchmarks for the potential risk of human casualties from catastrophic events.

26 Jan 2006

Follow the money trail to track the disease

It seems that a popular Web site in the United States that tracks the geographical circulation of money could cast new light on predicting where infectious diseases like bird flu might pop up.

26 Jan 2006

Markets in Asia great place to catch bird flu

The death of the 29-year-old woman takes the death toll in China from the deadly virus to seven since November.

26 Jan 2006

Inhaling salt mist helps cystic fibrosis patients

Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine have found that inhaling mists of salt water can help clear mucus and improve lung function for cycstic fibrosis sufferers.

25 Jan 2006

Injection no better than a placebo at preventing influenza in children

U.S. health authorities should have waited for more evidence before recommending routine flu shots for healthy toddlers, according to a new systematic review of studies involving half a million children worldwide.

25 Jan 2006

Heat wraps can reduce back pain

The evidence base for using hot and cold therapies to relieve back pain is poor. There is moderate evidence that heat provides a short-term reduction in pain, but there are no good data showing whether or not cold therapy has any effect.

25 Jan 2006

Avian influenza could have disastrous effects on countries' economies, infrastructures, populations, public health and stability

In the past, when government leaders, policymakers and scholars have turned their attention to peace and security issues, the talk invariably has focused on war, arms control or anti-terrorism strategies. But Julian Palmore believes it's time to expand the scope of the conversation.

25 Jan 2006

WHO says Asian states too slow in reporting bird flu

The regional director for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Western Pacific has complained that Asian countries take too long to report some human cases of bird flu and this could hamper any efforts to contain a possible pandemic.

24 Jan 2006

Boy with rare swallowing disorder has robotic surgery at UIC

Surgeons at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago performed robotic-assisted surgery on a 12-year-old Chicago boy with a rare swallowing disorder called achalasia.

24 Jan 2006

French defend drug after patients develop liver problems

Health authorities in the U.S. are recommending that doctors keep a close eye on patients taking Ketek for signs of liver problems and to stop treatment if symptoms develop.

24 Jan 2006

WHO accused of exaggerating bird flu pandemic threat

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disputed claims that it has exaggerated the risk of a human influenza pandemic.

23 Jan 2006

WHO update on avian influenza in Indonesia

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed an additional 2 cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Both cases were fatal.

23 Jan 2006

UNICEF seeks $805 million for humanitarian efforts

UNICEF appealed to donors today to provide $805 million to assist children and women in 29 humanitarian emergencies.

23 Jan 2006

Watchful waiting may be appropriate for some inguinal hernia patients

As long as they remain under the watchful eyes of their primary care physicians, men who have an inguinal hernia (a weakening of the abdominal wall that bulges into the groin area) may postpone surgical repair unless the condition causes symptoms that interfere with their usual activities.

23 Jan 2006

Wine drinkers healthier than beer drinkers

People who buy wine also buy healthier food and therefore have healthier diets than people who buy beer, finds a study published online by the British Medical Journal.

22 Jan 2006