Reuters - Health Report

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Monday, November 20, 2017

Injured defector's parasites and diet hint at hard life in North Korea

SEOUL (Reuters) - Parasitic worms found in a North Korean soldier, critically injured during a desperate defection, highlight nutrition and hygiene problems that experts say have plagued the isolated country for decades.

New ARV drugs, early diagnosis key to beating AIDS epidemic: UNAIDS

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Developing new front-line antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and using technology for early diagnosis are among key steps needed to sustain momentum in fighting HIV/Aids and ending the disease as a public health threat by 2030, UNAIDS said in a report on Monday.

South Korea confirms H5N6 bird flu at duck farm, raises bird flu alert level

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea on Sunday said it had confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N6 bird flu at a duck farm in the south west of the country and raised its bird flu alert level to the highest ranking.

Roche shares climb after trial wins in cancer, hemophilia

ZURICH (Reuters) - Roche announced two trial wins for its cancer and hemophilia drugs on Monday, boosting its shares and weighing on the stocks of its main rivals.

U.N. calls on El Salvador to stop jailing women for abortion

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - El Salvador should apply a moratorium on laws that punish women with harsh jail terms for having an abortion while it reviews cases of those already incarcerated in the socially conservative Central American country, a top U.N. official said Friday.

Europe's drug industry waits for white smoke in Brussels

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - It may be a cross between the Eurovision Song Contest, a papal conclave and a social club raffle but a ballot among EU ministers on Monday could hurt Europe's pharmaceutical industry and the health of millions.

Brain pathway makes head and face pain very draining

(Reuters Health) - If head and facial pain seem stronger and scarier than pain elsewhere, it’s because a special pathway in the brain is heightening our emotions from pain at those sites, according to studies in mice.

Pope denounces healthcare inequality in rich countries

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis condemned on Thursday inequality in healthcare, particularly in rich countries, saying governments had a duty to ensure the common good for all its citizens.

Three Yemen cities run out of clean water due to lack of fuel for pumps: ICRC

GENEVA (Reuters) - Three cities in Yemen have run out of clean water because a blockade by a Saudi-led coalition has cut imports of fuel needed for pumping and sanitation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Friday.

Risk of breast cancer recurrence lasts for decades

(Reuters Health) - Many women who follow initial breast cancer treatment with five years of hormone therapy to keep tumors at bay may still experience new malignancies up to two decades after their diagnosis, a study suggests.