Health & WellnessS


Health

Will a 9-Year-Old Change the Vaccine Debate?

Hannah was 19 months old and developing normally until 2000, when she received five shots against nine infectious diseases. She became sick and later was given a diagnosis of autism.

Syringe

Epidemiologist: No link between vaccine, autism

Yet another attempt at using an authoritative title to turn people away from asking questions.

Attention

Bird flu strikes Russia

Initial tests show the deadly bird flu virus has been found in a village in Russia's Far East, now under quarantine. Doctors fear villagers in Vozdvizhenka in the Primorsky region may have been exposed to the virus. Local authorities are sending more medical personnel and vets to the area. The alarm was raised after 10 chickens died unexpectedly.

X

India: Hmar body claims famine related death of 12 minor children

As many as 12 minor children across four villages in Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur district have died of different reasons directly or indirectly related with scarcity of foodgrains and malnutrition, said the Hmar Students' Association, Hmarram (Tipaimukh) joint headquarters in a statement today.

The students body said that the reports of deaths were confirmed from reliable sources while terming the contrasting reports on the deaths as due to malnutrition, epidemics, diseases, etc. in Tipaimukh as "very unfortunate."

Briefcase

Flashback The Aspartame/NutraSweet Fiasco

Many health-conscious people believe that avoiding aspartame, found in over 5000 products under brand names such as Equal and NutraSweet, can improve their quality of life. The history of this synthetic sweetener's approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including a long record of consumer complaints and the agency's demonstrated insensitivity to public concern, suggests they're right.

People

'Pregnant' man stuns medical profession

A man who used to be a woman is five months pregnant, according to an article he has written for a national magazine that features a picture of him at 22 weeks, with facial hair and a man's flat chest above a swollen belly.

The case of Thomas Beatie, who was born a woman and describes himself as a "transgender male", has triggered discussion among ethicists and family groups with one expert describing the development as "playing with fire".

Red Flag

Accidents at Disease Lab Acknowledged

WASHINGTON - The only U.S. facility allowed to research the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease experienced several accidents with the feared virus, the Bush administration acknowledged Friday.

A 1978 release of the virus into cattle holding pens on Plum Island, N.Y., triggered new safety procedures. While that incident was previously known, the Homeland Security Department told a House committee there were other accidents inside the government's laboratory.

Red Flag

Dangerous Animal Virus on US Mainland?

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is likely to move its research on one of the most contagious animal diseases from an isolated island laboratory to the U.S. mainland near herds of livestock, raising concerns about a catastrophic outbreak.

Battery

Are You Unhappy? Is It Because of Consumer Addiction?

The pattern of out-of-control consumption in the U.S. is not too different from the well-known behavioral patterns of substance abusers.

"An addict is someone who uses their body to tell society that something is wrong." --Stella Adler (1901-1992)

In last year's powerful independent documentary, What A Way To Go: Life at the End of Empire, producer Sally Erickson pulled from her 20 years working as a therapist in private practice to attempt to explain why so many people, perhaps even you, are so unhappy.

Ambulance

Vietnam faces expanding cholera outbreak

Vietnam is bracing to cope with an outbreak of cholera, which has expanded to eight provinces in the north and infected nearly 60 people since the beginning of this year, a health official said Wednesday. The Ministry of Health on Tuesday sent an urgent message to provinces nationwide, requiring them to take the necessary measures to contain the outbreak, according to the director of the Health Ministry's Preventive Medicine Department, Nguyen Huy Nga.