Global Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1031&ft=1&f=1031 NPR news on world health issues, disease control, public health and sanitation, and health education. Subscribe to the RSS feed. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 18 May 2013 08:38:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Global Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1031&ft=1&f=1031 The Unsafe Sex: Should The World Invest More In Men's Health? The world's top health problems are more common in men than women. But recent global funding has been skewed toward women's issues. Some health economists say more effort should go toward stopping men's risky behaviors, like smoking and drinking. Sat, 18 May 2013 08:38:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184771915/the-unsafe-sex-should-the-world-invest-more-in-mens-health?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184771915/the-unsafe-sex-should-the-world-invest-more-in-mens-health?ft=1&f=1031 The world's top health problems are more common in men than women. But recent global funding has been skewed toward women's issues. Some health economists say more effort should go toward stopping men's risky behaviors, like smoking and drinking.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Human Scent Is Even Sweeter For Malaria Mosquitoes Scientists used a Dutch woman's dirty stocking to learn that mosquitoes infected with malaria find humans hard to resist. Like a fungus that turns ants into zombies, the parasite seems to change the behavior of the mosquitoes for its own benefit. Thu, 16 May 2013 11:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184251627/humans-scent-is-even-sweeter-for-malaria-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184251627/humans-scent-is-even-sweeter-for-malaria-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=1031 Scientists used a Dutch woman's dirty stocking to learn that mosquitoes infected with malaria find humans hard to resist. Like a fungus that turns ants into zombies, the parasite seems to change the behavior of the mosquitoes for its own benefit.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Middle East Virus Spreads Between Hospitalized Patients SARS burst on the scene in 2003 after one man infected travelers staying on the same floor of a Hong Kong hotel. Now that a new virus with similarities to SARS has spread from person to person, public health officials are urging hospitals to be on guard. Mon, 13 May 2013 13:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/13/183619842/middle-east-virus-spreads-between-hospitalized-patients?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/13/183619842/middle-east-virus-spreads-between-hospitalized-patients?ft=1&f=1031 SARS burst on the scene in 2003 after one man infected travelers staying on the same floor of a Hong Kong hotel. Now that a new virus with similarities to SARS has spread from person to person, public health officials are urging hospitals to be on guard.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> C-Sections Deliver Cachet For Wealthy Brazilian Women Brazil's economic boom has driven the demand for births by caesarean section. Some 80 to 90 percent of women in private hospitals deliver this way. Proponents say it allows mothers and doctors to better organize their time. Critics say the procedure drives up costs and may cause complications. Sun, 12 May 2013 05:34:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/12/182915406/c-sections-deliver-cachet-for-wealthy-brazilian-women?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/12/182915406/c-sections-deliver-cachet-for-wealthy-brazilian-women?ft=1&f=1031 Brazil's economic boom has driven the demand for births by caesarean section. Some 80 to 90 percent of women in private hospitals deliver this way. Proponents say it allows mothers and doctors to better organize their time. Critics say the procedure drives up costs and may cause complications.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Using Bacteria To Swat Malaria Inside Mosquitoes Infecting mosquitoes with a specific type of bacteria makes the insects resistant to malaria. Now scientists have figured out how to get the mosquitoes to pass the infections on to their offspring. If it can done reliably, it might help interrupt transmission of malaria to humans. Thu, 09 May 2013 14:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182339563/using-bacteria-to-swat-malaria-inside-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182339563/using-bacteria-to-swat-malaria-inside-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=1031 Infecting mosquitoes with a specific type of bacteria makes the insects resistant to malaria. Now scientists have figured out how to get the mosquitoes to pass the infections on to their offspring. If it can done reliably, it might help interrupt transmission of malaria to humans.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Price Break For Cervical Cancer Shots In Developing World The two makers of HPV vaccines have agreed to lower the prices for their vaccines to less than $5 a shot for low-income countries. The cheaper vaccine may make it easier to vaccinate girls in places where the risk of death from cervical cancer is greatest. Thu, 09 May 2013 11:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/09/182567228/price-break-for-cervical-cancer-shots-in-developing-world?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/09/182567228/price-break-for-cervical-cancer-shots-in-developing-world?ft=1&f=1031 The two makers of HPV vaccines have agreed to lower the prices for their vaccines to less than $5 a shot for low-income countries. The cheaper vaccine may make it easier to vaccinate girls in places where the risk of death from cervical cancer is greatest.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Why Bill Gates Thinks Ending Polio Is Worth It The Microsoft founder and philanthropist is putting his money and time where his passion is: eradicating polio. Gates talks with NPR's Robert Siegel about why it makes sense to spend an estimated $5.5 billion to wipe out the disease once and for all. Wed, 08 May 2013 15:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182223233/why-bill-gates-thinks-ending-polio-is-worth-it?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182223233/why-bill-gates-thinks-ending-polio-is-worth-it?ft=1&f=1031 The Microsoft founder and philanthropist is putting his money and time where his passion is: eradicating polio. Gates talks with NPR's Robert Siegel about why it makes sense to spend an estimated $5.5 billion to wipe out the disease once and for all.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Rat 'Mutton' And Bird Flu: Strange Days For Meat Eaters In Shanghai A month after dead pigs washed ashore in a Shanghai river, the city got an even more serious meat problem: A new bird flu appeared at poultry markets. But even a recent rat meat scandal hasn't kept Shanghai's omnivores from enjoying KFC and Kung Pao Chicken. Wed, 08 May 2013 02:50:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/09/181900858/rat-mutton-and-bird-flu-strange-days-for-meat-eaters-in-shanghai?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/09/181900858/rat-mutton-and-bird-flu-strange-days-for-meat-eaters-in-shanghai?ft=1&f=1031 A month after dead pigs washed ashore in a Shanghai river, the city got an even more serious meat problem: A new bird flu appeared at poultry markets. But even a recent rat meat scandal hasn't kept Shanghai's omnivores from enjoying KFC and Kung Pao Chicken.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Officials Prepare For Another Flu Pandemic — Just In Case Those people who have contracted the H7N9 virus have become very sick. And unlike the older bird flu virus, this one shows some adaptation to mammals, making it a matter of concern. But it doesn't make chickens sick, posing unique difficulties in fighting this kind of flu. Wed, 08 May 2013 02:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/09/177344108/officials-prepare-for-another-flu-pandemic-just-in-case?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/09/177344108/officials-prepare-for-another-flu-pandemic-just-in-case?ft=1&f=1031 Those people who have contracted the H7N9 virus have become very sick. And unlike the older bird flu virus, this one shows some adaptation to mammals, making it a matter of concern. But it doesn't make chickens sick, posing unique difficulties in fighting this kind of flu.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> What's In A Flu Name? H's And N's Tell A Tale With the new H7N9 virus spreading through China and H5N1 popping up every now and then in Southeast Asia, it's tough to keep track of all the flu viruses. Here's a quick guide to what those H's and N's mean, and why viruses with these letters cause the most concern. Tue, 07 May 2013 15:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/07/180808276/whats-in-a-flu-name-hs-and-ns-tell-a-tale?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/07/180808276/whats-in-a-flu-name-hs-and-ns-tell-a-tale?ft=1&f=1031 With the new H7N9 virus spreading through China and H5N1 popping up every now and then in Southeast Asia, it's tough to keep track of all the flu viruses. Here's a quick guide to what those H's and N's mean, and why viruses with these letters cause the most concern.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Saving Newborns: 'Kangaroo Care' Could Go A Long Way Each year more than a million babies die within the first 24 hours after birth, a study finds. But there are some simple, inexpensive things that could save these infants, like early breast-feeding and teaching moms to hold their newborns close. Tue, 07 May 2013 09:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/06/181578562/saving-newborns-kangaroo-care-could-go-a-long-way?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/06/181578562/saving-newborns-kangaroo-care-could-go-a-long-way?ft=1&f=1031 Each year more than a million babies die within the first 24 hours after birth, a study finds. But there are some simple, inexpensive things that could save these infants, like early breast-feeding and teaching moms to hold their newborns close.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Outbreak Of New SARS-Like Virus Kills 5 In Saudi Arabia A new virus that causes severe pneumonia and sometimes kidney failure has infected more people. Since the virus first appeared in March 2012, it has infected 24 people, including 17 deaths. Thu, 02 May 2013 16:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180552820/outbreak-of-new-sars-like-virus-kills-5-in-saudi-arabia?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180552820/outbreak-of-new-sars-like-virus-kills-5-in-saudi-arabia?ft=1&f=1031 A new virus that causes severe pneumonia and sometimes kidney failure has infected more people. Since the virus first appeared in March 2012, it has infected 24 people, including 17 deaths.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Ratting Out TB: Scientists Train Rodents To Diagnose Disease For more than a decade, a nonprofit in Tanzania has been using the rat's keen sense of smell to detect buried land mines around the world. Now the group is training the critters to help diagnose tuberculosis at rural clinics. Wed, 01 May 2013 11:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/23/178604711/ratting-out-tb-scientists-train-rodents-to-diagnose-disease?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/23/178604711/ratting-out-tb-scientists-train-rodents-to-diagnose-disease?ft=1&f=1031 For more than a decade, a nonprofit in Tanzania has been using the rat's keen sense of smell to detect buried land mines around the world. Now the group is training the critters to help diagnose tuberculosis at rural clinics.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> How Doctors Would Know If Syrians Were Hit With Nerve Gas An international team of doctors is helping Syrian health workers recognize the signs of a chemical attack. They're also teaching them how to collect and preserve tissues as potential evidence if war crimes charges are brought. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:20:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/30/180074012/how-doctors-would-know-if-syrians-were-hit-with-nerve-gas?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/30/180074012/how-doctors-would-know-if-syrians-were-hit-with-nerve-gas?ft=1&f=1031 An international team of doctors is helping Syrian health workers recognize the signs of a chemical attack. They're also teaching them how to collect and preserve tissues as potential evidence if war crimes charges are brought.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Failure Of Latest HIV Vaccine Test: A 'Huge Disappointment' An oversight committee halted a big clinical study of an experimental HIV vaccine after a peek at preliminary results showed there was no way the study would be able show the vaccine works. More vaccinated people became infected with HIV than those who got placebo shots. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/26/179231916/failure-of-latest-hiv-vaccine-test-a-huge-disappointment?ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/26/179231916/failure-of-latest-hiv-vaccine-test-a-huge-disappointment?ft=1&f=1031 An oversight committee halted a big clinical study of an experimental HIV vaccine after a peek at preliminary results showed there was no way the study would be able show the vaccine works. More vaccinated people became infected with HIV than those who got placebo shots.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>