NPR Topics: World 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. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif World Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1031&ft=1&f=1031 Brushing Up On Tropical Diseases Dengue fever, malaria and other tropical diseases took center stage at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference. Nathan Seppa of <em>Science News</em> offers details, including a strange story of palm trees, fruit bats and human infection. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613361&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613361&ft=1&f=1031 Dengue fever, malaria and other tropical diseases took center stage at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference. Nathan Seppa of Science News offers details, including a strange story of palm trees, fruit bats and human infection.

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]]> Ancient Egyptians Suffered From Hardened Arteries X-ray scans of the arteries of Egyptian mummies show that hardening of the arteries wasn't uncommon among the upper classes in ancient times. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114403619&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114403619&ft=1&f=1031 X-ray scans of the arteries of Egyptian mummies show that hardening of the arteries wasn't uncommon among the upper classes in ancient times.

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]]> Swine Flu Spreading Faster Globally Than Expected The H1N1 flu virus is now the dominant influenza virus around the globe, according to the World Health Organization. The agency has declared the swine flu outbreak a pandemic, with nearly 500,000 confirmed cases and over 6,000 deaths reported worldwide. Host Liane Hansen speaks with the WHO flu specialist Dr. Anthony Mounts about the spread of the virus and the global response. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120431122&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120431122&ft=1&f=1031 The H1N1 flu virus is now the dominant influenza virus around the globe, according to the World Health Organization. The agency has declared the swine flu outbreak a pandemic, with nearly 500,000 confirmed cases and over 6,000 deaths reported worldwide. Host Liane Hansen speaks with the WHO flu specialist Dr. Anthony Mounts about the spread of the virus and the global response.

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]]> Prostitution Now Outlawed In R.I., But Is That Good? Until earlier this month, Rhode Island was the only place in the country where prostitution was legal across an entire state. A new law has closed the loophole that legalized prostitution if it took place indoors, but it's also fueling concerns that victims of the sex trade are being put at even more risk. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120359052&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120359052&ft=1&f=1031 Until earlier this month, Rhode Island was the only place in the country where prostitution was legal across an entire state. A new law has closed the loophole that legalized prostitution if it took place indoors, but it's also fueling concerns that victims of the sex trade are being put at even more risk.

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]]> HIV Is Top Killer Of Young Women Worldwide Of the 30.8 million HIV-positive adults in 2007, 15.5 million were women, says the WHO. Prevalence of the virus runs highest in Africa, where 6 percent of women of childbearing age have it. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:50:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114390667&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114390667&ft=1&f=1031 Of the 30.8 million HIV-positive adults in 2007, 15.5 million were women, says the WHO. Prevalence of the virus runs highest in Africa, where 6 percent of women of childbearing age have it.

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]]> Will Tamiflu Shortage Drive U.S. To India's Version? With demand for the swine flu vaccine outpacing supply, the CDC says it's open to considering importing a generic flu drug from India. There's just one problem: The brand-name drug is still under U.S. patent. The company's chairman says he just wants to help. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:13:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120254536&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120254536&ft=1&f=1031 With demand for the swine flu vaccine outpacing supply, the CDC says it's open to considering importing a generic flu drug from India. There's just one problem: The brand-name drug is still under U.S. patent. The company's chairman says he just wants to help.

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]]> Spanning The Globe In Search Of Disease If you're interested in bluetongue disease, chikungunya fever or swine flu, check out ProMED. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:55:23 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114381770&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114381770&ft=1&f=1031 If you're interested in bluetongue disease, chikungunya fever or swine flu, check out ProMED.

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]]> Pneumonia Leads Global Scourges In Kids A consortium of health groups aims to reduce the 2 million deaths of kids from pneumonia each year. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:20:57 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114379186&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114379186&ft=1&f=1031 A consortium of health groups aims to reduce the 2 million deaths of kids from pneumonia each year.

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]]> Boost Your Flu IQ: Your Questions Answered With the swine flu virus more widespread than ever and concerns about availability of the vaccine circulating, we solicited your questions about the pandemic. NPR's health editors teamed up with experts to tackle your questions. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114299697&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114299697&ft=1&f=1031 With the swine flu virus more widespread than ever and concerns about availability of the vaccine circulating, we solicited your questions about the pandemic. NPR's health editors teamed up with experts to tackle your questions.

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]]> Iraqis Fear New Enemy: H1N1 Virus Fewer than 500 cases of H1N1 have been reported in Iraq, but it's not uncommon to see schoolchildren walking home wearing surgical masks. Fear of the virus has caused a rash of school closures, and is even preventing some Iraqis from making this year's pilgrimage to Mecca. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114334999&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114334999&ft=1&f=1031 Fewer than 500 cases of H1N1 have been reported in Iraq, but it's not uncommon to see schoolchildren walking home wearing surgical masks. Fear of the virus has caused a rash of school closures, and is even preventing some Iraqis from making this year's pilgrimage to Mecca.

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]]> U.S. Lifts Ban On Entry For Those With HIV In 1987, at a time of widespread fear and ignorance about HIV, the Department of Health and Human Services added the disease to the list of communicable diseases that disqualified a person from entering the U.S. The law effectively has kept out thousands of students, tourists and refugees and has complicated international adoptions. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114337023&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114337023&ft=1&f=1031 In 1987, at a time of widespread fear and ignorance about HIV, the Department of Health and Human Services added the disease to the list of communicable diseases that disqualified a person from entering the U.S. The law effectively has kept out thousands of students, tourists and refugees and has complicated international adoptions.

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]]> Bill And Melinda Gates: Benefits Of Global Health Aid Through their foundation, the Gateses support a variety of risky yet innovative projects to curtail diseases like AIDS and malaria. In an interview, they discuss the rewards and challenges of solving health crises, and explain how health aid helps a country get on its feet. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114220856&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114220856&ft=1&f=1031 Through their foundation, the Gateses support a variety of risky yet innovative projects to curtail diseases like AIDS and malaria. In an interview, they discuss the rewards and challenges of solving health crises, and explain how health aid helps a country get on its feet.

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]]> Bill And Melinda Gates Have A New Message For Americans The main message the couple wants to get across to Americans? People in developing countries want the same things Americans do for their children, starting with good health. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114212385&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114212385&ft=1&f=1031 The main message the couple wants to get across to Americans? People in developing countries want the same things Americans do for their children, starting with good health.

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]]> H1N1 Flu Risks Spread To The Internet President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation declaring 2009 H1N1 swine flu a national emergency. As the flu spreads, federal officials have issued a warning: Don't turn to the Internet to buy products that supposedly diagnose or cure the virus. Host Liane Hansen speaks to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114144185&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114144185&ft=1&f=1031 President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation declaring 2009 H1N1 swine flu a national emergency. As the flu spreads, federal officials have issued a warning: Don't turn to the Internet to buy products that supposedly diagnose or cure the virus. Host Liane Hansen speaks to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

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]]> Flu Attack! How A Virus Invades Your Body When you get the flu, viruses turn your cells into tiny virus factories that help spread the disease. This animation takes you to the front lines of a viral assault that could be going on inside your body right now. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114075029&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114075029&ft=1&f=1031 When you get the flu, viruses turn your cells into tiny virus factories that help spread the disease. This animation takes you to the front lines of a viral assault that could be going on inside your body right now.

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