Health Research: Public health leaders urge far-reaching reforms to curb prescription opioid epidemic ♦ New guideline for treating acne in children and adults

New guideline for treating acne in children and adults A new guideline aims to help Canadian physicians, nurses and pharmacists treat children and adults with acne, a disease that can severely affect quality of life. The guideline updates the previous guidance published 15 years ago.

Antibiotic prescriptions increased in study to promote better prescribing for UTIs An initiative to improve prescribing of antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs) resulted in better-quality prescribing of first-line antibiotics, although the number of prescriptions also increased, according to new research

Public health leaders urge far-reaching reforms to curb prescription opioid epidemic A group of experts has issued recommendations aimed at stemming the prescription opioid epidemic, a crisis that kills an average of 44 people a day in the U.S.

Former smokers who quit within the past year are four times more likely to be daily users of e-cigarettes Analysis of a national survey of adult tobacco use points to use of e-cigarettes as a quitting aid. The researchers also found that while any e-cigarette use was higher among young adults, daily e-cigarette use was more common among adults over age 25 than among young adults aged 18-24.

Health Research:Artificial membranes with programmable surfaces ♦ Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis ♦ Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid

Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics.

Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations

Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye’s aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient’s blood.

Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease.

The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world.

Traveler Alert ♦ Cholera Epidemic in Ghana

According to the World Health Organization , more than 20,900 cases and 166 deaths from cholera have been reported in Ghana as of October 5, 2014. Many cases have been in the Greater Accra region, including in the districts of Accra Metro and La-Dadekotopon.

CDC recommends that travelers to Ghana protect themselves from cholera by following food and water precautions.

What is cholera?

Cholera is a bacterial disease that is most often spread by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Water is contaminated by the feces (stool) of an infected person or by untreated sewage. Food is often contaminated by water containing cholera bacteria or handled by a person ill with cholera.

Often people have mild illness or no symptoms. However, about 1 in 20 (5%) of infected people will have severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these people, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.

What can travelers do to prevent cholera?

Travelers can protect themselves by following food and water precautions. The risk for cholera is very low for people visiting areas with epidemic cholera. When simple precautions are observed, contracting the disease is unlikely.

• Drink only bottled, boiled, or chemically treated water and bottled or canned carbonated beverages. When using bottled drinks, make sure that the seal has not been broken.
• To disinfect your own water: boil for 1 minute or filter the water and add 2 drops of household bleach or ½ an iodine tablet per liter of water.
• Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and clean water.
• If no water and soap are available, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner (with at least 60% alcohol).
• Clean your hands especially before you eat or prepare food and after using the bathroom.
• Use bottled, boiled, or chemically treated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, or make ice.
• Eat foods that are packaged or that are freshly cooked and served hot.
• Do not eat raw and undercooked meats and seafood or unpeeled fruits and vegetables.
• Dispose of feces in a sanitary manner to prevent contamination of water and food sources

Traveler Information

• Food and Water Safety
• CDC Cholera website
• Prevention
• 5 Basic Tips to prevent cholera

Clinician Information

• Cholera in CDC Health Information for International Travel -“Yellow Book”
• CDC Cholera website
• Information for Public Health and Medical Professionals
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Cholera in Africa

EU’s Hepatitis-A Epidemic Still Going on-- 800 People Sick

After six months has passed, people are still getting hepatitis A from frozen berries. There are 800 cases of hepatitis A so far. 15 batches of berries have been recalled. Many of the illnesses are caused  by restaurants and bakeries that use berries in their cakes and desserts. Many contaminated berries are probably are still in freezers and in markets.

The ministry of health has ask people to boil berries for two minutes. Berries are supposed to be marked with a red circle instructing consumers to boil them for two minutes but it is not getting done. So far no pictures of the packaging of the contaminated berries have been released by the ministry of health.

Being able to trace raw material (berries} is a legal obligation in the EU so that they can intervene quickly and effectively to stop an epidemic. Unfortunately does not work as it should, and this undermines the efforts of scientists to do there job.     

Finding out what is causing an epidemic is not easy. The causes of many food poisoning cases are never found. but all groups need to work together to protect the public's health. The wholesalers and packing houses need to keep track of their sources so the scientists can track contamination.Bakeries and restaurants need to pay attention to health alerts so they boil berries when they should. Government agencies need inform the public quickly about contaminated products and show pictures of the products so the consumer will realize if they have a contaminated product in their house. Grocery stores need to take contaminated products off their shelves promptly and inform their customers with noticeable signage. The Customer needs to be aware of recalls to protect their family. The solution is everyone working together.   

The Symptoms of Hepatitis A are  abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the area of your liver on your right side beneath your lower ribs,Loss of appetite, Low-grade fever Dark urine,Muscle pain and Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A usually last less than two months, but may last as long as six months. Not everyone with hepatitis A develops signs or symptoms.

If you've been exposed to hepatitis A, you may prevent infection by having a hepatitis A vaccine or immunoglobulin therapy within two weeks of exposure