International Health News
Measles has killed 35 people in the past 12 months in Europe. The endemic is not under control in countries with vaccination rates of less than 95%. Since false reports linked the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine to autism, many parents have refused to vaccinate their children worldwide.
A food and drug administration (FDA) panel has recommended the approval of a gene-altering cancer treatment for under 25s. The modification of cells by this ‘living drug’ has caused long remissions in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who had relapsed from or been resistant to other treatments.
Country Updates
The UK’s National Health Service has been ranked first place in a Commonwealth Fund study of 11 countries. The service scored highly in efficiency, safety of care and affordability. It was rated poorly for health outcomes of patients.
34% of British workers in junior or senior positions suffer from anxiety, depression or stress. Developments in technology have made it more difficult to switch off from work demands outside the workplace. In the UK, 39% of people feel unable to discuss their mental health concerns with their employer.
More than 300,000 people are thought to have contracted Cholera in Yemen. The UN’s Children’s Agency suggests that half of those affected are minors. More than 1,600 people have died so far.
Health advice
20 million bacteria-infected mosquitoes will be released by Verily Life Sciences in Fresno, in an attempt to combat the spread of Zika virus. The sterile mosquitoes will attempt to breed with Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, stopping their eggs from hatching and leaving them unable to reproduce.
Stressful experiences and living in poorer areas could increase the likelihood of developing dementia. Stress causes inflammation of the brain, which impacts brain function. The study found that African Americans were more likely to experience stress than other ethnic groups.
Teenagers who are bullied are four times as likely to grind their teeth as their peers. Sleep bruxism (teeth grinding) is recognised as a sign of anxiety and stress-related problems.