Health

Biodiversity May Have Natural Rise and Fall, Scientists Say

Fossil records show mysterious 62-million-year cycle
17 March 2005

A new analysis of marine animal fossil records over the past 542 million years shows that biodiversity seems to rise and fall in mysterious cycles of 62 million years. The analysis was performed by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley).    » read more »

FDA Issues Health Advisory About Certain Soft Cheese Made From Raw Milk

March 14, 2005

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising that some soft cheeses made with raw milk present a health risk, especially to high risk groups, such as pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Such raw milk soft cheeses can cause several serious infectious diseases including listeriosis, brucellosis, salmonellosis and tuberculosis. Recently, cases of tuberculosis in New York City have been linked to consumption of queso fresco style cheeses, either imported from Mexico or consumed in Mexico, contaminated with Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent.    » read more »

New Rule Change to Give States, Counties and Tribes Active Role in Land-use Planning Decisions

Cooperating Agency Status will give representatives a seat at the table
March 16, 2005

WASHINGTON-In remarks today before the opening session of the 70th Annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Washington, D.C., Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced that she is taking two important steps to ensure local, state, counties, and tribal governments and other agencies with a stronger, more active role in determining how public lands should be managed.    » read more »

UAE Establishes World-Class Medical Center with Harvard's Help

Dubai Healthcare City scheduled to open in April
16 March 2005
By Chris Thornton
Washington File Special Correspondent

Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates, in partnership with Harvard Medical International, is establishing a world-class medical center to offer training and care to people in a vast region extending from South Africa to Russia, and from Europe to India.    » read more »

U.S. Health Secretary Leavitt and New York Governor Pataki Announce Important Step Towards Medicaid Reform

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced support for New York Governor George Pataki's efforts to modernize the New York Medicaid program and ensure continued medical coverage to millions of New York residents.    » read more »

USDA Launches Informative One-Stop Soybean Rust Web Site

March 15, 2005

WASHINGTON — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today unveiled USDA's interactive soybean rust Web site as part of a national soybean rust plant disease surveillance and monitoring network, during remarks to the Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska Farm Bureau Federations meeting here.    » read more »

New Environmental Report Released at Biocomplexity in the Environment Annual Meeting

"Pathways to the Future" Report Highlights Research in Complex Environmental Systems
March 15, 2005

A multiplicity of accelerating environmental changes has presented humanity with some significant scientific and engineering challenges, according to the new National Science Foundation (NSF) report "Pathways to the Future: Complex Environmental Systems, Synthesis for Earth, Life and Society in the 21st Century."    » read more »

Fisheries Destroyed by Tsunami Need Sustainable Reconstruction

FAO declaration calls for responsible, people-centered practices
15 March 2005

A group of 121 fishing ministers and high-level fisheries officials issued a joint declaration March 12, stressing the need to rebuild fisheries and aquaculture in tsunami-affected countries in a responsible and people-centered manner. Participants at the special one-day Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome included representatives from countries affected by the tsunami, according to a March 14 FAO press release.    » read more »

New CDC Study Shows Limited Use of Electronic Medical Records

March 15, 2005

Less than a third of the nation’s hospital emergency and outpatient departments use electronic medical records, and even fewer doctors’ offices do, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 31 percent of hospital emergency departments, 29 percent of outpatient departments, and 17 percent of doctors’ offices have electronic medical records to support patient care, as reported in CDC’s ambulatory medical care surveys, conducted from 2001 to 2003.    » read more »

National Poison Prevention Week Warns: Most Child Poisonings Result from Common Household Products

Every 7 Minutes, a Child Arrives at an Emergency Room Due to a Suspected Poisoning

WASHINGTON, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- About 78,000 children under five years old visited U.S. hospital emergency rooms due to unintentional poisonings in 2003 -- about one every seven minutes, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported today. Most of these poisonings included products commonly found in the home.    » read more »

Keep Your Family and Home 'Clean & Safe'

- Publication Offers Strategies for Safe, Effective Use of Cleaning Products
- Learn How to Be a Savvy Label Reader, Stock and Store Products Safely, Choose the Right Product

** National Poison Prevention Week is March 20-26, 2005 **

WASHINGTON, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A clean home can be a safe home -- if cleaning and hygiene products are used, handled and stored properly, according to a free publication from The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA).    » read more »

SAMHSA Announces New 'Voice Awards'

WASHINGTON, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations are now being accepted for the Voice Awards, a new award that honors entertainment industry writers and producers who create positive portrayals of people with mental illnesses. The awards are sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).    » read more »

Safety and Environmental Commitment Drives Koppers to Work Responsibly

Annual report highlights progress in company's commitment to those it serves

PITTSBURGH, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Koppers Inc. has issued "Working Responsibly," its annual review of the company's progress in corporate responsibility, including its safety, health and environmental (SH&E) programs. The report covers achievements and awards for the company's carbon materials and chemicals, coke, and wood treating facilities around the world.    » read more »

Foundation for North American Wild Sheep Raises a Record $4.7 Million for Funding On-The-Ground Wildlife Projects

CODY, Wyo., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS) recently held its 28th Annual Wildlife Expo at the Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. This event was held in conjunction with the International Sheep Hunting Association and the Boone and Crockett Club.    » read more »

Seafood Remains Essential Part of Healthy Lifestyle

Debate Over Mercury Emissions Should Not Overshadow Health Benefits of Fish

WASHINGTON, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and its members reminded Americans today that seafood remains an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, in its 2005 Dietary Guidelines, the U.S. government prominently featured recommendations for Americans to maintain a healthy weekly serving of fish in their diets.    » read more »