Reuters - Health Report

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Tuesday, January 23, 2018

CDC director urges flu vaccinations as pediatric deaths mount

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Of the 30 U.S. children who have died from the flu so far this season, some 85 percent had not been vaccinated, said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, who urged Americans to get flu shots amid one of the most severe flu seasons in years.

Body broker who sold diseased remains is convicted of fraud

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Detroit businessman who sold and leased donated body parts for two decades was convicted Monday of defrauding medical customers by selling them diseased human remains.

Brazil's death toll from yellow fever triples: WHO

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The number of confirmed cases of yellow fever outbreak in Brazil has tripled in recent weeks, with 20 deaths since July, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

Vermont becomes ninth U.S. state to legalize marijuana

(Reuters) - Vermont became the ninth U.S. state and third in the Northeast to legalize recreational marijuana use on Monday when Republican Governor Phil Scott signed a bill passed by the legislature earlier this month.

FDA's tobacco stance faces test with Philip Morris iQOS device

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a decision expected to test the Trump administration's approach to tobacco regulation, U.S. health advisers will vote this week on whether to allow Philip Morris International Inc to claim its novel iQOS tobacco device is less harmful than cigarettes.

Hospital patients less likely to survive 'off-hours' cardiac arrest

(Reuters Health) - Hospital patients who have a cardiac arrest may be more likely to die if it happens in the middle of the night or on a weekend than if it occurs on a weekday, a U.S. study suggests.

'Inflammatory' diet linked to higher risk of colon cancer

(Reuters Health) - People who consume lots of foods linked to chronic inflammation, such as red meat and refined grains, may be more likely to develop colorectal cancer than individuals who tend to avoid these foods, a U.S. study suggests.

Biotech M&A takes off as Sanofi and Celgene spend $20 billion

(Reuters) - Biotech deal activity exploded on Monday with French drugmaker Sanofi and U.S.-based Celgene spending a combined total of more than $20 billion to add new products for hemophilia and cancer to their medicine cabinets.

Kentucky accuses McKesson of helping fuel opioid epidemic

(Reuters) - Kentucky's attorney general on Monday accused drug distributor McKesson Corp of helping fuel the opioid epidemic by failing to halt shipments of suspiciously large or frequent orders by pharmacies of prescription painkillers.

Little change in proportion of U.S. kids with autism

(Reuters Health) - After steadily climbing for two decades, the proportion of U.S. children with autism may be leveling off, a recent study suggests.