Public Health News
Updated: Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The following news items are provided solely as an informational resource. ASTHO is not responsible for the content or behavior of any external web site linked to in the items below.
WHO says new bird strain is "one of most lethal" flu viruses 
Reuters Health | A new bird flu strain that has killed 22 people in China is "one of the most lethal" of its kind and transmits more easily to humans than another strain that has killed hundreds since 2003, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert said on Wednesday.
Taiwan man contracts H7N9 bird flu, first outside mainland China Reuters Health | A 53-year-old Taiwan businessman has contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu while travelling in China, Taiwan's Health Department said on Wednesday, the first reported case outside of mainland China.
Many Americans breathing cleaner air HealthDay | Although many Americans are now breathing cleaner air, others are living in cities that are more polluted than they were a decade ago, a new report shows.
When cheeseburger = walking, will we eat less? NPR | Would you eat a double cheeseburger if you knew it took two hours of walking to burn it off? Participants in a new study said, hmm, maybe not. The researchers say that exercise-based labels could do a better job than calorie counts at steering people to healthful choices.
Aging U.S. in denial about long-term care need AP Health News | We're in denial: Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care as they get older--and are taking few steps to get ready.
Motorcycle Deaths Continue to Climb HealthDay | An estimated 5,000 motorcyclists were killed on U.S. roads in 2012, an increase of about 9 percent from the previous year, a new report shows.
CSPI Report Lists Chicken, Ground Beef as “Riskiest” Meats Food Safety News | Chicken and ground beef are the riskiest meats, according to a new ranking released by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, DC on Tuesday.
Air Pollution May Speed Hardening of Arteries HealthDay | Long-term exposure to air pollution may speed up the process of atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries, a new study suggests.
U.S. safety regulators seek voluntary limits on car touch screens to curb driver distraction Washington Post | The government is asking automakers to put stronger limits on drivers’ interaction with in-car touch screens in an effort to curb distracted driving.