Healthy Life Blog

Archive for July, 2009

The worldwide swine flu death toll now stands at 816, according to a bulletin released Monday by the World Health Organization.

Most of the victims (707) have been in the Americas, followed by the Asia-Pacific region (74) and Europe (34). There has been one death in the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the Middle East and parts of northern Africa, Agence France Presse reported.

The WHO bulletin also said that several countries and territories have reported their first cases of swine flu since the previous bulletin on July 6.

So far, 134,503 cases of infection with the H1N1 swine flu virus have been reported to the agency, AFPreported. However, countries are no longer required to test and report individual cases, which means that latest figure “understates” the actual number of infections, the WHO said.

read more: http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/prss/629410.html

You’re about to catch a train when a fellow passenger starts to complain of chest pain. You are worried he’s having a heart attack.

You call an ambulance, but next thing you know the man has collapsed – and he looks dead.

The only thing that will save him is an electric shock to his heart – and until help arrives, you need to keep the blood going to his brain and heart by doing the work of the heart for him using CPR.

Panic sets in – you did a first-aid course at school, but you can’t remember exactly what to do. And could you catch something when doing the ‘kiss of life’?

In fact, the advice on what you should do if you see an adult, not a child, suddenly collapse has changed. Yes, first call an ambulance.

But if you are not trained properly in CPR there’s no need to worry about the kiss of life or the bit about breathing into the patient’s mouth. All you need to do is the chest compressions.

Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1202646/How-Save-heart-attack-victim.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0MXZRFJRX

Maryland state health officials on Friday reported their fourth swine flu-related death. The latest victim is an adult from the Eastern Shore.

Unlike others who have died from the virus, officials said, this person does not appear to have an underlying medical condition or risk factors. But, the investigation is continuing.

The state does not provide the name, age or hometown of the patients who have died.

On Thursday, Virginia state health officials confirmed their fourth death from swine flu, also known as H1N1 virus. The victim was a Prince William County woman who had underlying health conditions.

There have been no reported deaths in the District.

About 263 people have died nationwide since the virus emerged earlier this year.

Read more : http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/24/AR2009072401568.html

GlaxoSmithKline could reap a £2.6billion windfall from the swine flu pandemic, it emerged yesterday.

Sales of the drugs giant’s Relenza inhaler, used to treat the symptoms of the virus, are expected to top £600million, bossAndrew Wittyconfirmed.

And this figure could be boosted by a further £1billion-£2billion once deliveries of vaccination for the H1N1 strain of the bug begin in September, according to analysts.

Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1201491/Swine-flu-pandemic-drugs-giant-GlaxoSmithKline-2-6bn-boost.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0MXbXPPTX