In brief
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《英国医生杂志》
Blood transfusion recipients banned from donating blood: Blood donors in the United Kingdom are to be banned from giving blood if they have had a blood transfusion since 1980, because of fears of transmitting variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Health Secretary John Reid announced the ban three months after the announcement that a British man who died from vCJD may have contracted the disease from infected blood.
US army to investigate side effects of mefloquine: The US assistant secretary of defence for health affairs, Dr William Winkenwerder Jr, has announced the launch of a study into the side effects of the antimalarial drug mefloquine (Lariam) after allegations that the drug might be linked to suicides in troops stationed in Iraq. Four of the 21 soldiers who committed suicide in Iraq took the drug. A further five deaths are being investigated, as are six suicides on return to the United States.
Government announces plan to tackle cardiac deaths in young: Public health minister Melanie Johnson last week announced new moves to help tackle sudden cardiac death in young people, which kills an estimated 400 people a year in England. A new body is to be set up to raise awareness and advise the Department of Health on future policy.
Thailand rescinds its claim to be free of avian flu: The Thai government has been forced to rescind a declaration made on 8 March that the country was free of avian flu when three days later it found that a new outbreak had occurred. The disease has so far killed 22 people in Thailand and Vietnam.
Stop TB Partnership appoints an ambassador: The World Health Organization's Stop TB Partnership has appointed an Indian musician and composer, Allah Rakhan Rahman, as its first global ambassador. Mr Rahman's role will be to raise awareness and increase the political will to tackle the disease.
US army to investigate side effects of mefloquine: The US assistant secretary of defence for health affairs, Dr William Winkenwerder Jr, has announced the launch of a study into the side effects of the antimalarial drug mefloquine (Lariam) after allegations that the drug might be linked to suicides in troops stationed in Iraq. Four of the 21 soldiers who committed suicide in Iraq took the drug. A further five deaths are being investigated, as are six suicides on return to the United States.
Government announces plan to tackle cardiac deaths in young: Public health minister Melanie Johnson last week announced new moves to help tackle sudden cardiac death in young people, which kills an estimated 400 people a year in England. A new body is to be set up to raise awareness and advise the Department of Health on future policy.
Thailand rescinds its claim to be free of avian flu: The Thai government has been forced to rescind a declaration made on 8 March that the country was free of avian flu when three days later it found that a new outbreak had occurred. The disease has so far killed 22 people in Thailand and Vietnam.
Stop TB Partnership appoints an ambassador: The World Health Organization's Stop TB Partnership has appointed an Indian musician and composer, Allah Rakhan Rahman, as its first global ambassador. Mr Rahman's role will be to raise awareness and increase the political will to tackle the disease.