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/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg World Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1031&ft=1&f=1031 yes 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 <em>Science News</em> offers details, including a strange story of palm trees, fruit bats and human infection. 358 no 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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]]> 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. 336 no 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. 267 no 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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]]> 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. 239 no 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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]]> 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. 536 no 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. 141 no 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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]]> 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. 470 no 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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]]> 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. 440 no 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. no 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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]]> Government Keeps Close Eye On Swine Flu Vaccine Public health officials are confident that the new H1N1 vaccine is safe. Still, as with any vaccine, they have systems in place to monitor vaccine recipients in order to spot any potential problems. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113794574&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113794574&ft=1&f=1031 Public health officials are confident that the new H1N1 vaccine is safe. Still, as with any vaccine, they have systems in place to monitor vaccine recipients in order to spot any potential problems. 252 no Public health officials are confident that the new H1N1 vaccine is safe. Still, as with any vaccine, they have systems in place to monitor vaccine recipients in order to spot any potential problems.

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]]> Report Shows Fewer Abortions Worldwide The number of women seeking abortions worldwide has declined dramatically in the past decade, even as laws against abortion were liberalized in many countries, according to a recent report from the Guttmacher Institute. At the same time, unintended pregnancy rates didn't go up. These statistics are attributed to greater access to contraceptives, but the picture isn't the same for women in every country. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113781799&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113781799&ft=1&f=1031 The number of women seeking abortions worldwide has declined dramatically in the past decade, even as laws against abortion were liberalized in many countries, according to a recent report from the Guttmacher Institute. At the same time, unintended pregnancy rates didn't go up. These statistics are attributed to greater access to contraceptives, but the picture isn't the same for women in every country. 212 no The number of women seeking abortions worldwide has declined dramatically in the past decade, even as laws against abortion were liberalized in many countries, according to a recent report from the Guttmacher Institute. At the same time, unintended pregnancy rates didn't go up. These statistics are attributed to greater access to contraceptives, but the picture isn't the same for women in every country.

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]]> Debate Over H1N1 Vaccine? There Shouldn't Be One The new vaccine against pandemic H1N1 influenza, commonly known as "swine flu," should soon become widely available across the country. Commentator Douglas Kamerow, a family physician and former assistant surgeon general, has a simple answer for the "immunize or not" question. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113746160&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113746160&ft=1&f=1031 The new vaccine against pandemic H1N1 influenza, commonly known as "swine flu," should soon become widely available across the country. Commentator Douglas Kamerow, a family physician and former assistant surgeon general, has a simple answer for the "immunize or not" question. 247 no The new vaccine against pandemic H1N1 influenza, commonly known as "swine flu," should soon become widely available across the country. Commentator Douglas Kamerow, a family physician and former assistant surgeon general, has a simple answer for the "immunize or not" question.

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]]> Ramping Up Swine Flu Preparations More than a million people have been affected by the H1N1 virus. NPR's Joanne Silberner talks to guest host Jacki Lyden about the status of the vaccine, who should get it and how available it will be nationwide. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113479784&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113479784&ft=1&f=1031 More than a million people have been affected by the H1N1 virus. NPR's Joanne Silberner talks to guest host Jacki Lyden about the status of the vaccine, who should get it and how available it will be nationwide. 230 no More than a million people have been affected by the H1N1 virus. NPR's Joanne Silberner talks to guest host Jacki Lyden about the status of the vaccine, who should get it and how available it will be nationwide.

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]]> Progress In Treating HIV; Still A Long Way To Go More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries are currently receiving life-preserving drug treatments for HIV, a 39 percent increase in one year. Still, in many countries in Africa, the number of people infected continues to rise, and funding for treatment is in danger. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113348943&ft=1&f=1031 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113348943&ft=1&f=1031 More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries are currently receiving life-preserving drug treatments for HIV, a 39 percent increase in one year. Still, in many countries in Africa, the number of people infected continues to rise, and funding for treatment is in danger. 180 no More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries are currently receiving life-preserving drug treatments for HIV, a 39 percent increase in one year. Still, in many countries in Africa, the number of people infected continues to rise, and funding for treatment is in danger.

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