Public Health http://www.npr.org When the neighborhood, town or nation is the patient, we're on the case. Find out about health in the community and around the globe. We round up the latest on prevention, disease outbreaks and the world's response to health crises. 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 Public Health http://www.npr.org 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184771915/the-unsafe-sex-should-the-world-invest-more-in-mens-health?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> Doctors Confirm Black Lung In Victims Of Mine Blast A study of mine blast victims finds further evidence that there's a resurgence of black lung among coal miners. The relatively young ages of some of the miners and their limited tenure underground suggests significant exposure to coal dust. Fri, 17 May 2013 12:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184758863/doctors-confirm-black-lung-in-victims-of-mine-blast?ft=1&f=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184758863/doctors-confirm-black-lung-in-victims-of-mine-blast?ft=1&f=133188449 A study of mine blast victims finds further evidence that there's a resurgence of black lung among coal miners. The relatively young ages of some of the miners and their limited tenure underground suggests significant exposure to coal dust.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184251627/humans-scent-is-even-sweeter-for-malaria-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/13/183619842/middle-east-virus-spreads-between-hospitalized-patients?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182339563/using-bacteria-to-swat-malaria-inside-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/09/182567228/price-break-for-cervical-cancer-shots-in-developing-world?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/08/182223233/why-bill-gates-thinks-ending-polio-is-worth-it?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/09/177344108/officials-prepare-for-another-flu-pandemic-just-in-case?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/07/180808276/whats-in-a-flu-name-hs-and-ns-tell-a-tale?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/06/181578562/saving-newborns-kangaroo-care-could-go-a-long-way?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> Guns At Home Pose A Risk For Suicidal Teens Almost 20 percent of teenagers and young adults in the emergency room are suicidal, researchers say. Many of these young people live in houses with guns, which increases the likelihood a completed suicide. Mon, 06 May 2013 15:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180603515/guns-at-home-pose-a-risk-for-suicidal-teens?ft=1&f=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180603515/guns-at-home-pose-a-risk-for-suicidal-teens?ft=1&f=133188449 Almost 20 percent of teenagers and young adults in the emergency room are suicidal, researchers say. Many of these young people live in houses with guns, which increases the likelihood a completed suicide.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180552820/outbreak-of-new-sars-like-virus-kills-5-in-saudi-arabia?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> Suicide Rate Climbs For Middle-Aged Americans For quite a while, the annual number of fatalities from auto accidents has been a kind of shorthand for health issues that are big and important. Suicides now exceed deaths from crashes. And the middle-aged have seen the biggest increase in suicide rates. Thu, 02 May 2013 13:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180545035/suicide-rate-climbs-for-middle-aged-americans?ft=1&f=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/02/180545035/suicide-rate-climbs-for-middle-aged-americans?ft=1&f=133188449 For quite a while, the annual number of fatalities from auto accidents has been a kind of shorthand for health issues that are big and important. Suicides now exceed deaths from crashes. And the middle-aged have seen the biggest increase in suicide rates.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/23/178604711/ratting-out-tb-scientists-train-rodents-to-diagnose-disease?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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]]> 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=133188449 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/30/180074012/how-doctors-would-know-if-syrians-were-hit-with-nerve-gas?ft=1&f=133188449 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.

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