disease news stories on Newser

Baby Boomer? Feds Say Get Tested for Hepatitis C

Dustin Lushing — Sat, 05 May 2012 11:33:25 CDT

An epidemic of hepatitis C is afflicting the baby boomer generation, and federal authorities will roll out a campaign this year urging everyone born between 1945 and 1965 to get tested, reports the Los Angeles Times . Roughly 75% of the estimated 3.2 million people infected are boomers, many of...

Scientists Zero In on Red Wine's Health Secrets

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:51:44 CDT

Scientists have unlocked the mystery of a special ingredient in red wine that could increase lifespan and promote health in humans. The organic compound resveratrol aids the body by jump-starting the activity of mitochondria—the power suppliers of cells, reports the Daily Mail . Resveratrol, which occurs naturally in red wine,...

Taller Women at Higher Risk for Ovarian Cancer

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:21:48 CDT

Taller women face a higher risk of ovarian cancer, although the difference is small, according to a new study out of Oxford University. "If we compare a woman who is 5 feet tall with a woman who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, there is a relative difference in ovarian...

Dog Disease Complaints to FDA Single Out 3 Brands

Matt Cantor — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:37:00 CDT

FDA officials still aren't sure what has caused a wave of disease in 600 US dogs, but pet owners' complaints over Chinese-made chicken jerky dog treats may provide a clue. Some 13 of 22 key complaints point to Waggin' Train or Canyon Creek treats, both from Nestle Purina, while three...

Girls With Mystery 'Tic' Illness Getting Better

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:45:05 CST

Two teenaged girls have recovered and three others are getting better after a mystery illness broke out in small-town New York state, WHEC-TV reports. A Buffalo doctor revealed the good news this week, saying her mix of medication, psychological help, and behavior modification helped girls suffering from strange verbal and...

Night Shifts Boost Women's Diabetes Risk

Dustin Lushing — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:52:45 CST

Women who work a night shift at least a few nights a month are more prone to type 2 diabetes, according to new research. The longer they work such a rotating schedule, the greater the risk, reports USA Today . The women saw their type 2 diabetes rates spike 5% over...

Malaria Deaths Plummet 20% Over Decade

Matt Cantor — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:43:06 CDT

Countries across the globe are making giant strides against malaria, the World Health Organization says: The number of deaths from the disease has dropped more than 20% over the last 10 years, and a third of the 108 countries where the illness is endemic could be rid of it in...

Insects, Diseases Invaded After 9/11

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:13:00 CDT

America's obsession with terrorism after 9/11 has left our borders prone to the tiniest of invaders, an AP study finds. Focused on guns and bombs, inspectors have overlooked foreign insects and plant diseases that menace the country's food supply, send prices soaring, and leave pesticide residue on food. Among our...

Since 2001, New HIV Infections Plummeted 25%

Matt Cantor — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:15:05 CDT

Good news in the fight against AIDS: The annual rate of new HIV infections dropped by almost a quarter between 2001 and 2009, AIDS-related deaths have fallen, and the world has seen “unprecedented advances” in prevention and treatment accessibility, the UN AIDS agency says. Still, the unevenly-spread advancements are highly...