France24 - HEALTH

UNITED STATES

Senate on track to pass healthcare bill by Christmas

Senate Democrats moved closer on Monday to passing landmark healthcare legislation by Christmas after scoring a win in the first big test vote and gaining the support of a powerful lobbying group for doctors.

DISEASE

New cancer gene maps to 'transform' medical work

Scientists have succeeded in mapping the gene code of two very deadly cancers, skin and lung cancer, which could lead to breakthroughs in treatment and should make it possible to map over 100 other cancers.

AFP

Global swine flu pandemic deaths pass 10,000: WHO

The number of swine flu deaths worldwide passed the 10,000 mark about eight months after the pandemic strain was uncovered in April, reaching 10,582, World Health Organisation data showed Friday."As of 13 December 2009, worldwide more than 208 ...

AFP

Plastics component affects intestine: study

The chemical Bisphenol A used in plastic containers and drinks cans has been shown for the first time to affect the functioning of the intestines, according to a French study published Monday.National Institute of Agronomic Research researchers in ...

FRANCE

UK government warns its compatriots against drink-skiing

Known for their binge drinking antics abroad, young British holidaymakers heading to French ski slopes have been warned by their own government to go easy on the booze.

AFP

British drinkers get chance to check Xmas intake

British drinkers are being offered the chance to compare how much alcohol they're guzzling compared to fellow boozers, in an interactive scheme launched for the Christmas party season.Giant touch-screens have been erected in central London, Glasgow, ...

A FRANCE 24 - RFI WEBDOCUMENTARY

AFP

New giant virus discovered

Scientists in France have isolated a new giant virus that lurks inside amoeba and whose gene pool includes genetic material from other species.The virus "is a completely new viral form," said Didier Raoult, head of infectious and emerging tropical ...

CLIMATE

Global warming poses grave risks to human health

Climate change poses risks to human health with a rise in allergies, infectious diseases, malnourishment and other health problems, says Dr Sandrine Segovia-Kueny of the French Health And Environment Association.

AFP

Experts question use of Tamiflu: report

Experts question the effectiveness of antiviral drug Tamiflu commonly used against the swine flu virus spreading across the globe, according to a study reported in Britain Tuesday.An investigation by the British Medical Journal and Channel 4 News ...

AIDS

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy makes a plea on World AIDS Day

French first lady and singer-songwriter, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, lent her considerable star power to the global fight against HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day when she called for action on mother-child HIV transmission rates.

AFP

Researchers develop new hepatitis C treatment

An experimental treatment targeting hepatitis C was able to inhibit replication of the virus in the bloodstream of chimpanzees and could treat chronic infections in humans, a new study said Thursday.The treatment works by inhibiting a molecule that ...

AFP

Netherlands reports mutant swine flu death

Dutch authorities said on Thursday a patient infected by a mutant strain of the swine flu virus had died.Harald Wychgel, spokesman for the Dutch Institute for Health and the Environment, told AFP that there had been a "minor change in the virus to ...

AFP

Internet scam targets swine flu vaccine seekers

US health officials on Thursday warned of an Internet scam doing the rounds which says all adults are required to register a personal swine flu vaccination profile with the federal authorities.The bogus message says that although vaccination against ...

AFP

US researchers get new embryonic stem cell lines

US authorities Wednesday approved 13 new lines of human embryonic stem cells for scientific research in the first such move since the Obama administration lifted a ban on their use."I am happy to say that we now have human embryonic stem cell lines ...

AFP

S.Africa expands AIDS treament for babies, mothers

South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday unveiled an expanded treatment programme for pregnant women and babies with HIV, in a new drive to rein in the disease in the world's worst-affected country.Zuma said that all babies with HIV will ...

INFLUENZA A (H1N1)

Virus kills more than 1,000 in one week

The influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as swine flu, has killed more than 1,000 people in the last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports. A significant spike in fatalities has been reported in North America.

AFP

HIV kills 25 million, infects 60 million: UNAIDS

Almost 60 million people have been infected by HIV and 25 million people killed by causes related to the virus since the epidemic started, according to new data published by UNAIDS on Tuesday. While prevention programmes have helped to cut ...