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12 April 2013

Army Public Health Weekly Update

The Army Public Health Update is a collection of articles taken verbatim

from public sources to offer awareness of current health issues and the

media coverage given to them. The articles do not necessarily represent

US Army Medical Department opinions, views, policy, or guidance, and

should not be construed or interpreted as being

endorsed by the US Army Medical Department.

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Contents

U.S. MILITARY

 DoD program works to help stressed military parents

 Heat injuries, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2012

 Pet dogs help Soldiers with PTSD

 Posttraumatic stress significantly reduced by transcendental meditation

GLOBAL

 Air pollution tied to birth defects

 Dengue fever cases have been seriously underestimated

 Does your birth month affect the risk of developing MS?

 Experts triple estimate of world dengue fever infections

 In Blacks, Alzheimer’s study finds same variant genes as in Whites

 Male sex hormones 'drive breast cancer'

 WHO: High blood pressure a silent killer

INFLUENZA

 Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center: DoD Influenza Surveillance Summary

 CDC: Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report

 DoD Global Laboratory-Based Influenza Surveillance Program

 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview

 Naval Health Research Center: Febrile Respiratory Illness Surveillance Update

 USAPHC: U.S. Army Influenza Activity Report

 PANDEMIC AND AVIAN INFLUENZA

 China: Human infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus – WHO update

 China’s actions in flu cases draw critics

VETERINARY/FOOD SAFETY

 Are food trucks safe?

 Britain's Asda says finds horse drug in corned beef

 Europe: Rise in human infections from Campylobacter and E. coli, whilst Salmonella cases 

continue to fall

 FDA requests budget increase to implement food safety law

 North America: White nose syndrome, bats
2

National Sexual 

Assault Awareness 

Month (SAAM)

National Sexual Assault 

Awareness Month, known 

as SAAM, is an annual 

campaign to raise 

awareness and educate 

communities on the 

prevention of sexual 

violence. 

The 2013 SAAM theme is: 

"We own it ... We'll solve it 

... Together."

The theme strengthens our 

collective moral and ethical 

commitment, in keeping 

with Army Values and our 

Warrior Ethos, to show 

respect and dignity for 

every Soldier, DA Civilian, 

their family members, and 

the nation we serve.

Army.mil

Stand-To! article

 U.S.: Hepatitis A scare at NYC eatery prompts Health Department to urge vaccines

 U.S.: Kid’s food lead content leads to warning label lawsuit – DOLE, KKR

 U.S.: Worrisome levels of lead found in imported rice

WELLNESS

 A new treatment option for alcohol dependence: Reduced consumption rather than abstinence

 April is STD Awareness Month - make a difference

 Couch potatoes may be genetically predisposed to being lazy, rat study suggests

 Fitness after 65 is no one-size-fits-all endeavor

 Increase potassium and cut salt to reduce stroke risk

 Month of birth impacts immune system development

 Red meat chemical 'damages heart', say US scientists

USAFRICOM

 Africa: Wild foods could improve nutrition and food security

 Africa: World Health Day 2013 - combating malnutrition and infection with forests

 Will Nigerian boom babies feed prosperity or entrench poverty?

USCENTCOM

 Egypt: Rural health services ill-equipped

 Iran: Quake hits near Iran's nuclear city Bushehr, 37 dead

USEUCOM

 Dengue fever in 42 German and United Kingdom Madeira tourists during autumn 2012

 Germany: Undiagnosed illness, respiratory

 Poland: Hepatitis C, nosocomial outbreak

 Sweden: Increased incidence of invasive group A streptococcal infections, January 2012–

February 2013

USNORTHCOM

 Study of babies did not disclose risks, U.S. finds

 U.S.: Boomers’ latest high

 U.S.: Human contacts with oral rabies vaccine baits distributed for wildlife rabies management 

— Ohio, 2012

 U.S.: Judge orders morning after pill be available without prescription, without restrictions

 U.S.: Varicella death of an unvaccinated, previously healthy adolescent, Ohio, 2009

USPACOM

 India: Japanese encephalitis and other

 Nepal turns to renewable energy

 Philippines’ natural disaster risks shift, along with experts

USSOUTHCOM

 Drugs in Brazil - Cracking up

 Peru: Leptospirosis
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U.S. MILITARY

DoD program works to help stressed military parents

10 April - With April designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Defense Department 

is highlighting its commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect among military 

families, especially through the Family Advocacy Program, and providing those who need it 

with counseling. The FAP focuses on strengthening family resilience though visits and 

counseling with new military parents, as well as on educating young families about the 

stresses of parenting and what it takes to maintain healthy relationships especially when 

some members are deployed. The department has created the New Parent Support 

Program, a voluntary home-visiting program aimed at helping parents-to-be or those with 

young children adapt to parenthood through classes, community support groups and other 

forms of instruction. MHS

Heat injuries, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 

2012

March 2013 - In 2012, there were more active component service members treated for heat 

stroke (n=365) than in 2011 but fewer than in 2008 or 2009. Compared to their respective 

counterparts, incidence rates of heat stroke were higher among males, those younger than 

20 years of age, Marine Corps and Army members, recruit trainees, and service members in 

combat-specific occupations. Fewer service members were treated for “other heat injuries” 

in 2012 (n=2,257) than in 2010 or 2011; also, there were fewer hospitalizations for “other 

heat injuries” in 2012 than in any of the prior four years. The incidence rate of “other heat 

injuries” was higher among females than males, more than 8 times higher among recruit 

trainees than other enlisted members, and 20 times higher among recruit trainees than 

officers. From 2008 to 2012, 1,060 heat injury events occurred in Iraq/Afghanistan; 6.5 

percent (n=69) were due to heat stroke. Medical Surveillance Monthly Report

Pet dogs help Soldiers with PTSD

10 April - FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — Former Army infantryman John Walis has a cabinet full 

of medicines to fight depression, sleeplessness and pain, resulting from PTSD and a 

disabling spinal-cord injury. Most of the time, he says, instead of taking the drugs, he takes 

Tommy for a walk. Tommy is a dog Walis got from Afghanistan at the end of his tour there 

in 2009. Walis says it’s hard to describe how much Tommy has helped him; when he is 

depressed and needs a supportive companion, the dog is there, offering unconditional love. 

When Walis would rather stay in his New York home, away from the rest of the world, 

Tommy begs to go to a park or for a walk in the woods...Tri-Valley Dispatch

Posttraumatic stress significantly reduced by 

transcendental meditation

10 April - A significant percentage of veterans returning from wars exhibit symptoms of 

posttraumatic stress (PTS). This is now recognized as a serious health problem, but what 
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about the victims of such violence? Refugees live with the constant reminder of what war 

has done to their lives and those of their families. A randomized/matched study published 

in the April 2013 issue of Journal of Traumatic Stress (Volume 26, Issue 2, pp. 295-298.) 

measured the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms in refugees in Africa before and 

after learning the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. The reductions were 

dramatic... Medical News Today

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GLOBAL

Air pollution tied to birth defects

8 April - Exposure in the first two months of pregnancy to air pollution from traffic sharply 

increases the risk for birth defects, a new study has found. Researchers used data from two 

large studies carried out in eight counties in the San Joaquin Valley in California. One has 

tracked birth defects since 1997, and the other has recorded concentrations of nitrogen 

dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter at 20 locations in the 

valley since the 1970s. The results are posted online in The American Journal of 

Epidemiology.

Dengue fever cases have been seriously underestimated

8 April - A new paper in the journal Nature says scientists have been seriously 

underestimating the amount of dengue around the globe. The study says there could be as 

many as 400 million dengue infections worldwide each year making it more prevalent than 

malaria. This is four times higher than the current dengue prevalence estimate of the World 

Health Organization. One reason for the huge increase in estimated infections is that 

dengue has been spreading far and wide. It's usually described as an infectious tropical 

disease but lately it's been popping up even outside the tropics. There've been major 

outbreaks in Portugal and Russia, and small ones in the U.S. NPR

Does your birth month affect the risk of developing MS?

9 April - A new study out of England shows that the risk of developing multiple sclerosis 

may be influenced by your birth month. The study, released Monday, showed the risk of MS 

was highest in individuals born in May and lowest in those born in November. To conduct 

the study, researchers from Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Oxford 

looked at the immune system development of newborn babies and their vitamin D levels. 

CTV News
5

Experts triple estimate of world dengue fever infections

7 April - Around 390 million people are infected each year with 

dengue fever - the world's fastest-spreading tropical disease -

more than triple the current estimate by the World Health 

Organization, experts said on Sunday. The new finding, based 

on several years of analysis, underscores the growing burden of 

the mosquito-borne viral disease, which is also called "breakbone fever" because of the 

severe pain it can cause. Reuters

In Blacks, Alzheimer’s study finds same variant genes as 

in Whites

9 April - African-Americans have a slightly higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease than people of 

largely European ancestry, but there is no major genetic difference that could account for 

the slight excess risk, new research shows. The results are from one of the only large studies 

ever done on Alzheimer’s in African-Americans. New York Times

Male sex hormones 'drive breast cancer'

10 April - US scientists say they have found a new target to beat breast cancer - male sex 

hormones, or androgens. The University of Colorado team discovered that many breast 

cancers possess androgen receptors on their surface, and that male hormones like 

testosterone fuel the tumour's growth. Drugs to block these receptors could offer another 

way to fight the disease, a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research heard. 

They plan clinical trials to test this... BBC

WHO: High blood pressure a silent killer

7 April - The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 

that more than one in three adults, or about one billion 

people, is affected by high blood pressure. To mark World 

Health Day (Sunday, April 7), WHO is promoting the many 

steps people can take to reduce the risk of dying 

prematurely from what it calls a silent killer. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan led a 

tribute today to celebrate the founding of the World Health Organization on April 7, 1948. 

Every year, World Health Day marks this event by highlighting a public health issue. This 

year’s theme is hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, one of the most important 

contributors to heart disease and stroke. Chan says the effects of the condition create a 

global health crisis. VOA

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INFLUENZA

Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center: DoD Influenza 

Surveillance Summary

4 April 2013:

 ILI incidence rates continued to trend downward for all regions. Pneumonia and 

Influenza (P&I) incidence rates continue to decrease in the US, but increased slightly 

this week for EUCOM and PACOM. This season, there have been 298 reportable 

medical event (RME) influenza cases among service members (82.2% were vaccinated); 

an additional 318 cases were reported among other beneficiaries. 

 Across the overseas DoD laboratory surveillance network, influenza activity was at low 

levels. 

 As of 26 March 2013, vaccine coverage in the active component of the U.S. Armed 

Forces is 97%. AFHSC DoD Influenza Surveillance Summary

CDC: Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report

During week 13 (March 24 – 30, 2013), influenza activity decreased in the United States. 

 Viral Surveillance: Of 4,909 specimens tested and reported by collaborating 

laboratories, 555 (11.3%) were positive for influenza. 

 Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality: The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia 

and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold. 

 Influenza-Associated Pediatric Deaths: One pediatric death was reported. 

 Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations: A cumulative rate for the season of 42.3 

laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was 

reported. Of reported hospitalizations, 50% were among adults 65 years and older. 

 Outpatient Illness Surveillance: The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like 

illness (ILI) was 1.8%. This is below the national baseline of 2.2%. Three of 10 regions 

reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. Seven states and New York City 

experienced low activity; 43 states experienced minimal activity, and the District of 

Columbia had insufficient data. 

 Geographic Spread of Influenza: Four states reported widespread influenza activity; 7 

states reported regional influenza activity; the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 26 

states reported local influenza activity; 12 states reported sporadic influenza activity; 

Guam and one state reported no influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not 

report. FluView

DoD Global Laboratory-Based Influenza Surveillance 

Program

 During Week 13, 53 specimens were tested from 27 locations. There was one influenza 

A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, nine influenza A(H3N2) and 12 influenza B viruses detected (see 
7

Table 1). 

 To date this influenza season, 3,425 specimens have been tested from 81 locations of 

which 1,059 were positive for influenza A (948 A(H3N2), 100 A(H1N1)pdm09, five coinfections, and six A/not subtyped). 

 To date this influenza season, 323 specimens were positive for influenza B. Of these, 

there were 14 B/Yamagata, two B/Victoria, and two B & enterovirus co-infections. The 

lineage is pending or unknown for 305 specimens. The onset of influenza B cases 

compared to influenza A has been somewhat later in the season. 

 There have been 218 other respiratory viruses isolated (49 adenovirus, 88 RSV, 72 

parainfluenza, and nine enterovirus) cumulatively this season. USAF School of 

Aerospace Medicine

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control:

Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview

In week 13/2013, 26 countries reported clinical information: 

 Nineteen of 26 reporting countries indicated low-intensity transmission.

 Decreasing or stable trends were reported by almost all reporting countries.

 The proportion of influenza-positive sentinel specimens remained high (40%) but has 

continued to decrease since the peak observed in week 5/2013 (61%) and with a 

considerably lower number of specimens tested.

 Since week 40/2012, 47% of sentinel surveillance specimens testing positive for 

influenza virus have been type A, and 53% type B. Of the influenza A viruses subtyped, 

the proportion of A(H1)pdm09 viruses has been 63%.

 Thirty-two hospitalised laboratory-confirmed influenza cases were reported by six 

countries, including one fatality.

In all reporting countries, influenza activity continued to decline or had already returned to 

baseline levels. After more than three months of active transmission, a long period 

compared to other years, the 2012–13 influenza season is waning and slowly moving 

towards its close. Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview

Naval Health Research Center: Febrile Respiratory 

Illness Surveillance Update 

For the week ending 30 March 2013: Influenza activity at basic training centers decreased in 

March 

Adenovirus: 

 Vaccination against types 4 and 7 adenovirus was instituted at all basic training centers 

by mid-November 2011 (week 45). 

 FRI rates and the proportion of FRI cases positive for adenovirus have decreased 

markedly since vaccine was reintroduced. 
8

 Sporadic adenovirus cases at basic training centers in early 2013. FRI rates remain low 

in general.

FRI surveillance at all eight U.S. military basic training centers indicated FRI rates were at or 

below expected values. NHRC Febrile Respiratory Illness Surveillance Update 

USAPHC: U.S. Army Influenza Activity Report

For the week ending 30 March 2013 (Week 13):

Army influenza-like illness (ILI) activity continues decreasing. Influenza B continues to 

exceed influenza A among typed specimens in both the Army and civilian populations. The 

World Health Organization continues to monitor novel influenza virus A(H7N9) in China; risk 

among DoD populations is very low.

 ILI Activity: Army incident ILI outpatient visits in week 13 were 8% lower than the 

same week last year.

 Influenza cases: One hospitalized influenza case was reported to USAPHC in week 13. 

92 hospitalized cases have been reported during this influenza season, 80 in 

dependents and 12 in Active Duty.

 Acute Respiratory Disease at BCT sites: ARD rates remain low; rates did not 

increase significantly at any sites during week 13.

 Viral specimens: During week 13, 147 of 656 (22%) laboratory specimens tested were 

positive for respiratory pathogens. Influenza B accounted for 57% of positive 

specimens. Most of the influenza positive specimens were from ERMC (38%); 17% were 

from PRMC and SRMC each. USAPHC U.S. Army Influenza Activity Report

PANDEMIC AND AVIAN INFLUENZA

China: Human infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus –

WHO update

11 April - As of 11 April 2013 (17:00 CET), the National Health and Family Planning 

Commission notified WHO of an additional 10 laboratory-confirmed cases of human 

infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus...To date, a total of 38 patients have been laboratory 

confirmed with influenza A(H7N9) virus in China; including 10 deaths, 19 severe cases and 

nine mild cases. More than 760 close contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely 

monitored. WHO

China’s actions in flu cases draw critics

10 April - HONG KONG — Of all the mysteries surrounding the emergence of a new and 

deadly strain of avian influenza around Shanghai, one of the biggest is why China’s

hundreds of medical and veterinary labs did not spot the problem sooner — or if they did, 

why it was not disclosed... New York Times

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VETERINARY/FOOD SAFETY

Are food trucks safe?

8 April - With cheap, chic fare, like arugula pizza, squash 

empanadas and fish tacos, the country's 15,000-plus food 

trucks are rolling into virtually every big city and many 

small towns across the United States. The burning 

question: Is it safe to grab a bite to eat from a truck that 

cooks for hundreds in a space that's a fraction of the size of your kitchen? For the most part, 

yes. "Many of the health inspectors in our office buy lunch from food trucks," says Christie 

Sweitz, interim supervisor for inspection in Portland, Oregon. "Trucks are required to follow 

strict guidelines and they are inspected as often as restaurants." Just as with the fare from 

their brick-and-mortar peers, though, some meals on wheels are better bets, food safetywise, than others. CNN

Britain's Asda says finds horse drug in corned beef

9 April - British supermarket chain Asda said on Tuesday very low levels of the horse painkilling drug phenylbutazone, also known as bute, had been found in horsemeat discovered 

in tins of corned beef in the first such case in Britain. Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) 

said the level of the drug, which is banned from entering the human food chain, posed a 

low risk to human health, as results showed it contained 4 parts per billion. Reuters

Europe: Rise in human infections from Campylobacter 

and E. coli, whilst Salmonella cases continue to fall

9 April - The European Centre for Disease Prevention and 

Control and the European Food Safety Authority launched their

annual report on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks. The 

report provides data on 10 zoonotic diseases and on foodborne outbreaks in the European Union for 2011... The report 

highlights a reduction of reported human cases of salmonellosis, which dropped by 5% 

from 2010 and by almost 40% from 2007. Human cases of yersiniosis and brucellosis have 

also decreased. On the other hand, the number of cases of campylobacteriosis has 

increased by 10% over the last four years. Increasing human cases of Shiga toxin/verotoxin -

producing Escherichia coli and of alvear echinococcosis have also been reported. European 

Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

FDA requests budget increase to implement food safety 

law

10 April - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday it is requesting a 

budget of $4.7 billion in fiscal 2014, including $295.8 million to implement new food safety 
10

regulations. The proposed budget represents an increase over the $4.03 billion included in 

the 2013 budget after automatic spending cuts mandated by Congress, known as the 

sequester. Reuters

North America: White nose syndrome, bats

8 April - The Nature Conservancy Today [2 Apr 2013] announced that white nose syndrome 

(WNS), which has decimated bat populations in eastern North America, has been confirmed 

in a bat found last month [March 2013] at the Conservancy's Bat Cave Preserve in 

Rutherford County. White nose syndrome was 1st identified in the winter of 2006-2007 in 

upstate New York. It has spread to 19 US states and 4 Canadian provinces. It is estimated 

that bat populations have declined by 80 percent in the affected areas. Infected bats have 

also been identified in Avery, McDowell, Haywood, Yancey, and Transylvania counties. 

Investigators from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and The Nature 

Conservancy found the infected bat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed the disease.

ProMED-mail

U.S.: Hepatitis A scare at NYC eatery prompts Health 

Department to urge vaccines

8 April - New York City health officials are urging some patrons of an upscale restaurant to 

get vaccinated for hepatitis A, because of potential contamination from an infected 

employee who prepared pastries. The New York City Department of Health said Friday that 

anyone who ate dessert at the Alta Restaurant in New York City's Greenwich Village 

between March 23 and April 2 may have been exposed to the infectious disease, and should 

get a vaccine as a "precautionary measure," CBS New York reported. "The best option for 

everybody is to see their primary care doctor," Dr. Jay Varma, Deputy Commissioner For 

Disease Control at the NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene, told the 1010 WINS radio 

station Friday night, according to CBS New York. CBS News

U.S.: Kid’s food lead content leads to warning label 

lawsuit – DOLE, KKR

9 April - Several food-makers have been violating a California State law that requires them 

to print lead level warnings on baby-food and fruit juice labels. Dole Food Company, Inc 

(NYSE:DOLE) (current: $10.59, Up by 0.57%) and the Gerber unit owned by Nestle are 

amongst those facing trail for the offence. In its 2011 lawsuit, the Environmental Law 

Foundation said that Gerber, Dole and Del Monte Foods co. manufacture kid’s food which 

contains lead. These companies have to either reduce the lead levels or put print warnings 

on the labels. California’s Proposition 65 is a toxins-warning law that states that companies 

have to follow these labeling norms. Indices News and Media

U.S.: Worrisome levels of lead found in imported rice

11 April - An analysis of imported brands found surprising levels of the metal. Reporting at 

the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, a group of researchers lead by 

Tsanangurayi Tongesayi, an associate professor of chemistry at Monmouth University in 
11

New Jersey announced the results of their analysis of rice from Asia, Europe and South 

America. The imports, which currently make up about 7% of rice consumed in America, 

contained higher than acceptable levels of lead. The levels ranged from six 

milligrams/kilogram to 12 milligrams/kilogram; factoring in average consumption, that 

added up to estimated lead exposure levels 30 to 60 times greater than the Food and Drug 

Administration’s (FDA) provisional total tolerable intake (PTTI) levels for children and 20-40 

times greater than the standard exposure levels for adults. TIME

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WELLNESS

A new treatment option for alcohol dependence: Reduced 

consumption rather than abstinence

11 April - Philadelphia, PA, A potential new treatment for alcoholism called nalmefene is 

effective and safe for reducing alcohol consumption in alcohol dependent individuals, says a 

new study published this week in Biological Psychiatry. Traditionally, abstinence has been 

regarded as the primary treatment goal for alcohol dependence, and current 

pharmacological treatments for alcoholism are approved only for relapse prevention. 

However, relapse rates remain high and a goal of abstinence is unacceptable to many 

patients. To address these concerns and provide opportunities for improved patient 

outcomes, new evidence-based treatments are necessary...EurekAlert!

April is STD Awareness Month - make a difference

April 2013 - April is STD Awareness Month, an opportunity for individuals, doctors, and 

community-based organizations to address ways to prevent some of the nearly 20 million 

new sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) that occur in the United States each year...CDC

Couch potatoes may be genetically predisposed to being 

lazy, rat study suggests

8 April - Studies show 97 percent of American adults get less 

than 30 minutes of exercise a day, which is the minimum 

recommended amount based on federal guidelines. New 

research from the University of Missouri suggests certain 

genetic traits may predispose people to being more or less 

motivated to exercise and remain active. Frank Booth, a professor in the MU College of 

Veterinary Medicine, along with his post-doctoral fellow Michael Roberts, were able to 

selectively breed rats that exhibited traits of either extreme activity or extreme laziness. They 

say these rats indicate that genetics could play a role in exercise motivation, even in 

humans. Science Daily
12

Fitness after 65 is no one-size-fits-all endeavor

8 April - America's ageing population is posing special challenges, fitness experts say, 

because it is difficult to design effective workout routines for people with such a wide range 

of abilities. For one 70-year-old, the goal may be to run a marathon, for another it's getting 

out of a chair. "If you are teaching 10-year-olds, it's perfectly reasonable to do an activity 

that everybody would participate in," said Dr. Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, an expert on aging 

with the American College of Sports Medicine. But 20 80-year-olds could be as different as 

chalk and cheese." Some baby boomer could be athletic, he explained, while others would 

be unable to get out of bed. Reuters

Increase potassium and cut salt to reduce stroke risk

4 April - Increasing potassium in our diets as well as cutting 

down on salt will reduce blood pressure levels and the risk 

of stroke, research in the British Medical Journal suggests. 

One study review found that eating an extra two to three 

servings of fruit or vegetables per day - which are high in 

potassium - was beneficial. A lower salt intake would increase the benefits further, 

researchers said. A stroke charity said a healthy diet was key to keeping stroke risk down. 

While the increase of potassium in diets was found to have a positive effect on blood 

pressure, it was also discovered to have no adverse effects on kidney function or hormone 

levels, the research concluded. BBC

Month of birth impacts immune system development

8 April - Newborn babies' immune system development and levels of vitamin D have been 

found to vary according to their month of birth, according to new research. The research, 

from scientists at Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Oxford, provides 

a potential biological basis as to why an individual's risk of developing the neurological 

condition multiple sclerosis (MS) is influenced by their month of birth. It also supports the 

need for further research into the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation during 

pregnancy. Science Daily

Red meat chemical 'damages heart', say US scientists

7 April - A chemical found in red meat helps explain why eating too much steak, mince and 

bacon is bad for the heart, say US scientists. A study in the journal Nature Medicine showed 

that carnitine in red meat was broken down by bacteria in the gut. This kicked off a chain of 

events that resulted in higher levels of cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease. 

Dieticians warned there may be a risk to people taking carnitine supplements. There has 

been a wealth of studies suggesting that regularly eating red meat may be damaging to 

health. BBC

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USAFRICOM

Africa: Wild foods could improve nutrition and food 

security

10 April - NAIROBI, (IRIN) - Malnutrition could be greatly 

reduced and food security improved by ensuring improved 

access to nutrient-rich forest-derived foods like berries, 

bushmeat, roots, insects and nuts for the world’s poorest 

populations, experts say. “I believe forest foods are particularly 

important for reducing malnutrition when it comes to micronutrients such as vitamin A and 

iron,” Bronwen Powell, a nutritionist and researcher at the Centre for International Research 

on Forests (CIFOR), told IRIN. Making these foods accessible would mean bringing them to 

markets to benefit the urban poor, many of whom find imported fruits and processed foods 

unaffordable, and giving people legal access to forests to obtain bio-resources like game 

meat and honey in areas where it is illegal to do so...IRIN

Africa: World Health Day 2013 - combating malnutrition 

and infection with forests

8 April - World Health Day is a time when - as a nutritionist - I think about the links between 

nutrition and infection. Current estimates suggest that 30 percent of global child mortality is 

directly or indirectly linked to malnutrition. This is because infection and malnutrition are 

linked in a cyclical manner: malnutrition decreases immune function and increases risk of 

infection (e.g. vitamin A deficiency increases risk of diarrhea and respiratory tract infections) 

- while infection increases nutritional requirements and the risk of becoming malnourished 

(e.g. the malaria parasite destroys red blood cells and can result in iron deficiencies). Forests 

contribute to both human nutrition and human health. They supply an estimated 75 percent 

of usable water globally by providing natural filtration and storage ecosystem services. All 

Africa

Will Nigerian boom babies feed prosperity or entrench 

poverty?

9 April - In the time it takes to read this article, Nigeria will have added 50 people to its 

population, or about 11,000 a day. While some see these new consumers feeding an engine 

of prosperity, others fear they will create a crisis of poverty and unrest. By 2050, the global 

Population Reference Bureau (PRB) projects it will be the world's fourth most populous 

country, with 400 million people - just less than the projected figure for the United States, 

but with only a tenth of its territory. While Africa's most populous nation has long had 

business leaders salivating over its potentially huge market, especially retailers of fastmoving consumer goods, it is not clear whether it can turn a growing population - already 

at 170 million - into a richer society with widespread higher living standards. Reuters

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USCENTCOM

Egypt: Rural health services ill-equipped

8 April - Rural Egyptians seeking medical treatment often 

face an ordeal just getting to the nearest clinic or hospital. 

But when they finally get there, they are unlikely to find the 

equipment, medicines or even doctors they need. The Arab 

Spring may have brought radical changes to Egyptian 

politics, but medical practitioners say little has changed in the undersupplied health system 

used by the poor. “Our government needs to revolutionize health services, particularly in 

the countryside,” Ahmed Lutfi, a senior member from Egypt's Medical Association, told IRIN.

IRIN

Iran: Quake hits near Iran's nuclear city Bushehr, 37

dead

9 April - A powerful earthquake struck close to Iran's only nuclear power station on Tuesday, 

killing 37 people and injuring 850 as it destroyed homes and devastated two small villages, 

Iranian media reported. The 6.3 magnitude quake totally destroyed one village, a Red 

Crescent official told the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), but the nearby Bushehr 

nuclear plant was undamaged, according to Iranian officials and the Russian company that 

built it. Reuters

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USEUCOM

Dengue fever in 42 German and United Kingdom 

Madeira tourists during autumn 2012

4 April - In October and November 2012 residents and tourists in the Autonomous Region 

of Madeira, Portugal, were affected by dengue fever. The outbreak waned during the 

unusually dry winter. Using a Monte Carlo test we investigated the hypothesis that rainy 

weather conveyed increased risk of dengue virus infection among tourists. Results 

confirmed the hypothesis. As it is unclear whether the outbreak is over, upkeep and 

emphasis on mosquito avoidance on rainy days may help residents and tourists reduce 

infection risk. Eurosurveillance

Germany: Undiagnosed illness, respiratory

10 April - A 49 year old policeman is dead, 5 other persons are ill and doctors are puzzled 

by this mysterious disease just outside of Hamburg. Andreas Breitner, Minister of the 
15

Interior, confirmed to the "Schleswig Holstein newspaper" the death of the 49-year-old 

policeman at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) on Tuesday [9 Apr 

2013], after multi-organ failure. Another policeman, aged 38 years is in critical condition. He 

is suffering from similar flu symptoms, including severe pneumonia...ProMED-mail

Poland: Hepatitis C, nosocomial outbreak

11 April – A local outbreak of hepatitis C virus infection has occurred in Gdansk, Poland. The 

outbreak has been linked to a private medical clinic performing radiological imaging. In the 

middle of January 2013, 3 patients were hospitalized in the Regional Hospital of Infectious 

Diseases with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C. It was revealed that all 3 had undergone CT 

scans with contrast administration on 5 Nov 2012, all in the same private medical imaging 

facility. The case was referred to the State Sanitary Inspection for epidemiological 

investigation. Altogether, out of 25 patients who had undergone contrast CT scan on 15 

Nov [2012] in the aforementioned center, 9 have been diagnosed with hepatitis C virus 

infection. The medical imaging center is suspected of re-using contrast injector syringes on 

multiple patients. The outbreak is currently being investigated by the local Prosecutor's 

Office. ProMED-mail

Sweden: Increased incidence of invasive group A 

streptococcal infections, January 2012–February 2013

4 April - The incidence of invasive group A streptococcal infections in Sweden was 6.1 per 

100,000 population in 2012, the highest since the disease became notifiable in 2004. 

Furthermore, January and February 2013 marked a dramatic increase of cases notified, 

partly explainable by an increase of emm1/T1 isolates, a type previously shown to cause 

severe invasive disease more often than other types. Healthcare providers in Sweden and 

health authorities in neighbouring countries have been informed about this increase. 

Eurosurveillance

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USNORTHCOM

Study of babies did not disclose risks, U.S. finds

10 April - A federal agency has found that a number of prestigious universities failed to tell 

more than a thousand families in a government-financed study of oxygen levels for 

extremely premature babies that the risks could include increased chances of blindness or

death. None of the families have yet been notified of the findings from the Office for 

Human Research Protections, which safeguards people who participate in governmentfinanced research. But the agency’s conclusions were listed in great detail in a letter last 

month to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the lead site in the study. In all, 23 

academic institutions took part, including Stanford, Duke and Yale. New York Times
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U.S.: Boomers’ latest high

9 April - Baby boomers have become addicted to drugs at an alarming rate. The most 

recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, released in 2012, found the rate of illicit 

drug use — cocaine, methamphetamines, marijuana, heroin — had tripled among those 55 

to 59 and nearly doubled among those 50 to 54, from 2002 to 2011. About 6 percent of 

these groups had used illicit drugs, the survey found. The bigger issue of boomers’ 

addictions, however, relates to alcohol and prescription drugs. Miami Herald

U.S.: Human contacts with oral rabies vaccine baits 

distributed for wildlife rabies management — Ohio, 2012

12 April - Baits laden with oral rabies vaccines are important for the management of wildlife 

rabies... During August 23–September 7, 2012, a total of 776,921 baits were distributed in 

Ohio over 4,379 square miles (11,341 square kilometers). During August 24–September 12, a 

total of 89 baits were reported found by the general public, with 55 human contacts with 

baits identified (some contacts involved more than one bait). In 27 of the 55 human 

contacts, the bait was not intact, and a barrier (e.g., gloves) had not been used to handle the 

bait, leaving persons at risk for vaccine exposure and vaccine virus infection. However, no 

adverse events were reported. Continued surveillance of human contacts with oral rabies 

vaccine baits and public warnings to avoid contact with baits are needed because of the 

potential for vaccine virus infection. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

U.S.: Judge orders morning after pill be available without 

prescription, without restrictions

5 April - In the latest volley over the contraceptive Plan B, a federal judge reversed the 

Department of Health and Human Services decision to restrict over-the-counter availability 

of the morning after pill to those 17 years or older. Judge Edward Korman of the District 

Court of Eastern New York overturned Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen 

Sebelius’ decision to add an age limit to obtaining Plan B without a prescription; citing 

concerns over the safety of the emergency contraceptive, which is effective about 50% of 

the time in preventing pregnancy before the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, being 

taken by girls as young as 11 years old, Sebelius required anyone under 17 to provide a 

prescription in order to purchase Plan B, while allowing those 17 and older to buy the 

contraceptive over-the-counter. TIME

U.S.: Varicella death of an unvaccinated, previously 

healthy adolescent, Ohio, 2009

12 April - Varicella usually is a self-limited disease but sometimes can result in severe 

complications and death. Although infants, adults, and immunocompromised persons are at 

increased risk for severe disease, before varicella vaccine was introduced in 1995, the 

majority of hospitalizations and deaths from varicella occurred among healthy persons aged 

<20 years (1). Introduction of varicella vaccine has substantially decreased varicella 

incidence, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States (2). This report describes a 
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varicella death in an unvaccinated, previously healthy adolescent aged 15 years. In April 

2012, as part of the routine review of vital statistics records, the Ohio Department of Health 

identified a 2009 death with the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code 

for varicella as the underlying cause. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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USPACOM

India: Japanese encephalitis and other

11 April - Encephalitis normally makes its presence felt during monsoons. However, this 

time, acute encephalitis has claimed 38 lives and affected 118 persons even before the 

onset of the disease season. This despite chief secretary Jawed Usmani issuing repeated 

directives to the state health department and officials posted in the districts to initiate 

preventive measures...Statistics gathered from the health department show that of the total 

cases, 103 patients belonged to UP of whom 34 died. Bihar accounted for the remaining 14 

cases and 4 deaths. A patient from Nepal is also undergoing treatment at the Baba Raghav 

Das Medical College of Gorakhpur [Uttar Pradesh]. Kushinagar turned out to be the worst 

affected district so far, but Gorakhpur has seen the maximum deaths. ProMED-mail

Nepal turns to renewable energy

5 April - Nepal’s recently adopted policy of subsidizing renewable 

energy is the latest of many attempts to electrify long-deprived areas, 

but much more is needed, say experts. More than half of the country’s

households - almost all in urban and semi-urban areas - are 

connected to the national electricity grid. But 80 percent of the 

population is rural, and in these areas, less than one-third have electricity. With grid 

extension to the country’s hilly and mountainous areas prohibitively expensive, officials are 

looking to off-grid renewable alternatives. “Renewable, off-grid energy solutions [are] the 

only realistic way to provide energy in parts of the country,” according to the government’s 

National Rural and Renewable Energy Programme (NRREP), a five-year framework launched 

in 2012. IRIN

Philippines’ natural disaster risks shift, along with 

experts

10 April - As the storm season approaches, officials in the Philippines are turning to 

seasoned storm emergency responders to help prepare communities that have historically 

been spared devastation but that now find themselves in harm’s way. When Typhoon Bopha 

struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao last December, it unleashed an 

unprecedented scale of devastation on the island’s northern and eastern coasts, particularly 

in farming regions once thought to be safe from such deadly weather events. Whipping up 
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winds of up to 250km an hour, the typhoon - known locally as Pablo - was the strongest to 

have hit the southern region in nearly a century, and it was the deadliest storm in the world 

that year. One of the first responders was a disaster relief team deployed from the eastern 

Albay Province, a region once among the country’s most disaster-prone. IRIN

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USSOUTHCOM

Drugs in Brazil - Cracking up

6 April - ...São Paulo’s Cracolândia [Crackland] was Brazil’s first and is still its biggest. It is 

home to 2,000 addicts. But most Brazilian cities now have similar districts. Recent studies 

put the country’s crack-using population at 1m-1.2m, the world’s largest. In the past 20 

years, as American consumers shifted to synthetic drugs, traffickers in the coca-growing 

countries—Bolivia, Colombia and Peru—sought new markets. Brazil shares long, porous 

borders with all three. Its growing prosperity ensured customers. The gangs born in its 

hellish prisons handled distribution. Economist

Peru: Leptospirosis

8 April - Health Minister Midori de Habich announced that MINSA [Ministry of Health of 

Peru] will declare a red alert for next week for the city of Juanjui, capital of the Mariscal 

Caceres Province, in the San Martin Region, where an outbreak of leptospirosis has been 

detected. She said that a team from MINSA was in [Juanjui] 2 weeks ago, monitoring the 

situation and coordinating with the regional and local authorities the measures to be taken 

in the face of this disease. She also indicated that at this moment it is not necessary to 

declare a state of emergency in the zone, as had been requested by the provincial mayor, 

Renan Saavedra Sandoval. "We are monitoring the situation and we have sufficient 

medication for the rapid treatment of patients affected by this bacterial disease", she 

declared to the press. ProMED-mail

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