Measles cases growing in US – 288 cases reported in 2014

288 cases of measles reported in 2014 in US and measles cases are growing – Measles is an acute, contagious viral disease, usually occurring in childhood and characterized by eruption of red spots on the skin, fever, and catarrhal symptoms. In US, since January, 288 cases of measles were reported and number is growing.

US parents concerned about side effects of HPV for cervical cancer

More Parents Say They Won’t Vaccinate Daughters Against HPV, Researchers Find — Parents increasingly concerned about potential side effects, research shows – A rising percentage of parents say they won’t have their teen daughters vaccinated to protect against the human papilloma virus, even though physicians are increasingly recommending adolescent vaccinations. More than 2 in 5 parents surveyed believe the HPV vaccine is unnecessary, and a growing number worry about potential side effects.

Mothers who breastfeed baby is rising – CDC

More mothers are breastfeeding — African American mothers need more support – Percentage of mothers who start and continue breastfeeding is rising, says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From 2000 to 2008, mothers who started breastfeeding increased more than 4 percentage points. During that same time, the number of mothers still breastfeeding at six months jumped nearly 10 percentage points, from 35 percent in 2000 to nearly 45 percent in 2008.

Flu season started in US in 2012

U.S. Flu Season Off To Early Start, CDC Urges Vaccination — Early Vaccine Coverage Data Shows Millions Unprotected Still – Significant increases in flu activity in the United States have occurred in the last two weeks, indicating that an early flu season is upon us. These increases in activity overlap with National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) being observed December 2-8, 2012.

Guillain Barre syndrome risk from H1N1 vaccine

H1N1 vaccine associated with small but significant risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome – Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is usually characterized by rapidly developing motor weakness and areflexia (the absence of reflexes). “The disease is thought to be autoimmune and triggered by a stimulus of external origin.

HPV vaccine reduces HPV infection even in unvaccinated

HPV vaccine reduces infection, even in unvaccinated — Study shows evidence of herd protection – The HPV vaccine not only has resulted in a decrease in human papillomavirus infection in immunized teens but also in teens who were not immunized. The study is believed to be the first to show a substantial decrease in HPV infection in a community setting as well as herd protection ? a decrease in infection rates among unimmunized individuals that occurs when a critical mass of people in a community is immunized against a contagious disease.

Cholesterol lowering drugs statins may help hospitalized influenza patients

Statins may reduce mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza – Taking Statins May Help Flu patients – The two main ways to prevent and control influenza today are annual immunization and antiviral drugs. A team of investigators has found that statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, may offer an additional treatment to complement these approaches and reduce mortality among patients hospitalized with influenza.

Health Newstrack