Cases of type 2 diabetes in people under 40 are rising sharply in the UK.
There has been a sharp rise in cases of type 2 diabetes in people under 40 over the past 20 years say researchers. The disease can now be considered “common” in this age group in the UK, according to a lead researcher.
Research by Cardiff University shows that in 1991 there were some 150 cases of the condition per 100,000 people aged under 40, which has risen by around 270% in 20 years to reach 500 cases per 100,000 people, the BBC reports.
Employers in the UAE are not doing enough to protect their workers when they travel to African malaria zones.
Companies in the UAE aren’t doing enough to protect employees they send to malaria prone regions, say experts.
Over the past three years there has been a 61 percent increase in travel to malaria prone African countries, according to analysis of more than 8.7 million travellers by International SOS. The organisation said the number of employers doing risk assessments for employees travelling to Africa was “quite low”.
Global health officials voice concerns over bird flu and coronavirus becoming pandemics.
Two new respiratory viruses originating in different regions of the globe have caught the attention of international health officials. The novel coronavirus (NCoV) in the Middle East and bird flu outbreaks in China are triggering fears of global pandemics.
Last week, reports stated the SARS-like novel coronavirus had spread to France where two patients are currently hospitalized with the illness. The first patient probably caught the disease in Dubai and then infected his hospital roommate say health officials. This lends support to the theory the disease can be passed through close human-to-human contact.
Top health news stories from around the web this week.
International health news
- Best countries to be a mother, or a baby - Mother’s Index rates countries on criteria including maternal health and infant mortality. The US and UK didn’t make the top 20.
- Modern life causing dementia earlier - Scientists say electronics, chemicals, mobile phones and PCs are to blame for a sharp rise in dementia related deaths of under-74s.
Seven retirement destinations offering healthcare from as little as $30 a month.
Retirees considering moving abroad don’t need to be concerned about health care costs. Some top retirement destinations offer high-quality healthcare from as little as $30 per person per month, a new report from InternationalLiving.com has found.
The report profiles seven destinations with high-quality, low-cost health care.
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, expats can take advantage of the universal healthcare system. Residents pay into the scheme depending on their income, but it normally ranges between $30-$90 a month. This includes prescriptions, doctor’s visits, testing, surgery, and most other health care needs.
The quality of healthcare in Costa Rica is high, evidenced by its popularity as a medical tourism destination.
New study shows blenders and fridge compartments are rife with bacteria.
A new study has highlighted several germ hot spots in our kitchens, and several are quite surprising. Blenders and fridge compartments ranked among the worst places for bacteria due to ineffective cleaning.
The research from NSF (originally the National Sanitation Foundation), a leading public health organisation, looked at 14 kitchen items. The items were swabbed and tested for E.coli, Salmonella, Listeria, mold and yeast.
British expats are increasingly returning home after finding healthcare expensive abroad.
It seems growing numbers of expats are returning home due to the high cost of healthcare in their adopted countries. Jelf Employee Benefits is hearing increasing anecdotal evidence of British expats being unable to afford the healthcare they need abroad, and so returning home.
The company is warning expats to educate themselves on the cost of healthcare in the country they are relocating to, before they move. This is particularly true for people retiring abroad who aren’t covered by a company insurance policy and may require greater healthcare support than younger expats.
Nuts are just as important as milk for building strong bones.
Health advice
- Nuts just as important as milk for bones - For healthy bones in children, nuts and other high-magnesium foods can be just as important as foods rich in calcium says a new study.
- Read before you buy health insurance - Questions to ask yourself before buying international health insurance. Make sure you get the right plan for you.
Nigeria has pledged to “Save 1 million lives” by 2015.
According to a recent announcement, Nigeria will implement its health system reforms by 2015. The plans aim to extend access to essential primary care services for women and children. Grandly named, “Saving One Million Lives”, the scheme is designed to work at a community level and provide everyone with coverage.
“Saving One Million Lives will be the new yardstick for measuring health sector performance in Nigeria,” promised Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
World Malaria Day is pushing drug development and prevention of this deadly disease.
Millions of people live in endemic malaria regions, these people still lack access to prevention, diagnostic testing and treatment. The fact many of these people and regions are the world’s poorest is no coincidence. Lacking resources and funding, governments may have the will to fight malaria, but lack the infrastructure.
The theme for this year’s World Malaria Day on 25th April, and continuing until 2015, is “Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria”. This disease kills 600,000 people a year, 90 percent of them in Africa and most of them children under the age of five, according to UNICEF. World Malaria Day is aiming to encourage investment in malaria prevention.
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authority of the UN. Monitors worldwide health trends.