Global Health News

Scottish Government guidelines warning against sitting on patients’ beds or bringing flowers are being called “dehumanizing” by some physicians. The guidelines warn against doctors, friends, and relatives sitting on beds to halt the spread of infections, including MRSA and C-diff. Gifts of flowers are also prohibited as “stagnant water and dust…could pose a hygiene risk.” According to critics of these guidelines, they represent “an illusion of activity with no substance.”

According to a recent report, children treated for food-related “anaphylactic” reactions may require a second dose of epinephrine. Twelve percent of the 1,200 children aged six and up taking part in the study required two doses in order to alleviated the anaphylaxis reaction, which causes difficulty breathing. Food allergy affects up to 6 percent of children and seems to be rising.

Doctors warn that piles of rotting fish and other debris swept ashore by the tsunami that followed Chile’s recent earthquake could promote the spread of infection. As efforts to locate and rescue survivors continue, an extensive hepatitis and tetanus vaccination campaign has been initiated. An increase in the number of cases of diarrhea has also been seen due to unsafe drinking water and individuals with injuries wading through contaminated water.

As Chile’s new President, Sebastian Pinera, was sworn into office, the nation was struck by a 7.2-magnitude aftershock. There have not been reports of damages or injuries, but at least three other aftershocks occurred during the inauguration ceremony. According to geophysicist Don Blakeman, the largest aftershock occurred along the same fault zone as the 8.8-magnitude earthquake on February 27th.

Not only did Chile’s recent earthquake disrupt the infrastructure of the nation, it may have also shortened the length of each Earth day. Richard Gross, research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained that the quake shifted the Earth’s figure axis (the axis about which the Earth’s mass is balanced) by 2.7 milliarseconds, thus shortening each day by 1.26 microseconds.

Haitian authorities are facing the prospect of sustaining the healthcare system in the nation after foreign doctors and nurses have left. Following the 7.0 earthquake that caused massive destruction in Port-au-Prince, healthcare workers flooded the nation to provide support. Now, however, the immediate medical crisis is over, and individuals with ailments not related to the earthquake are seeking care.

Taiwan was hit recently by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake which injured 64 people, destroyed houses, and cut off electricity to more than half a million homes. The March 4th quake struck a sparsely inhabited mountainous area in Jiahsian township in Kaohsiung county, a region still recovering from floods and mudslides resulting from a massive typhoon in August. Nineteen aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, the strongest with a magnitude of 5.7.

Eastern Turkey was struck recently by a large earthquake that killed 51 people as it destroyed homes in at least six villages. Reports indicate that an additional 34 people were treated for injuries caused by the 5.9-magnitude quake (according to the U.S. Geological Survey). More than 50 aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, with magnitudes between 5.3 and 5.5.

The international response to Haiti’s earthquake was immediate, due in large part to the ease of donating by text message. Government agencies and international aid organizations have also setup similar programs to allow for donations via text message to support Chile’s relief efforts. According to Marnie Webb, co-CEO of TechSoup Global, texting campaigns could revolutionize donations following natural disasters.

Famed film critic Roger Ebert lost his ability to speak following cancer surgery, but has regained it through a unique text-to-speech (TTS) innovation. Irish company, CereProc, used audio recordings of Ebert speaking to create an entire digital voice. Unlike other voices that the company creates using scripts in professional recording studios, Ebert’s voice was created using only the audio from commentaries that he had made for films.

Researchers have initiated development of a more rapid system for manufacturing and distributing vaccines for newly identified strains of influenza. Project GreenVax uses a plant-based approach to vaccine development and modular manufacturing to allow for easy scalability. Through this initiative, led by the Texas Plant-Expressed Vaccine Consortium, it may be possible to address the spread of the seasonal flu as well as H1N1 influenza and other strains.

Popular Science has compiled a list of healthcare innovations that could help to lower costs. Included in the list is a sound-amplifying stethoscope, which works with heart murmur-detecting software that is able to identify abnormalities or leaky valves. Eight other devices are also featured, each offering the potential to reduce the number of unnecessary tests administered.

A recent report indicates that teenagers who spend large amounts of time watching television or online have poorer relationships with their parents and peers. The increased focus on “screen-based tools” for communication and entertainment has resulted in a decrease in children’s level of attachment to parents. The risk of having low attachment increased four percent for each hour spent watching TV and 5 percent for each hour online.

Off-grid power may soon be more portable and widely available. Bourne Energy has developed a human-portable hydroelectric generator that weighs roughly 30 pounds and is able to generate 500 watts of power. A more rugged Backpack Power Plant (BPP) has also been developed. Both units can create clean, quite power from any stream over a depth of four feet.

Migraine sufferers may be able to get relief from a hand-held device that delivers a magnetic pulse to the back of the head. This new device could provide an alternative to medications, and a trial found that 40 percent of patients were pain-free two hours after using it. Research has shown no serious side effects, and patients found the device easy to use.