Public health news: April 2006

New DH healthy lifestyle campaign launched

26 April 2006

The Department of Health yesterday launched the 'Small change, big difference' campaign, based around evidence collected as part of the EPIC-Norfolk study.  EPIC, the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer, is a multi-centre observational study looking into the effects of modifiable lifestyle factors on disease prevalence and mortality.  The DH campaign aims to translate these research findings into practical advice for the public, with messages on diet and exercise.

Small change, big difference (DH, April 2006)
EPIC study (Cambridge University, April 2006)
Small changes 'add years to life'  (BBC News, April 2006)
Health promotion  (Internal link)

Latest data confirm increase in childhood obesity

22 April 2006

Data from the Health Survey for England from 2004 has been published today, confirming that childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate.  The proportion of boys aged 2-15 who are obese has risen from 11 to 19 per cent in the last 10 years, and from 12 to 18 per cent amongst girls of the same age.  Such figures are likely to put pressure on the Government and food industry to curb the advertising and availability of high sugar content foods to young people.

Health Survey for England 2004 Update  (NHS Information Centre, April 2006)
Health Survey for England pages (DH, April 2006)
Child obesity has doubled in a decade  (Guardian, April 2006)
Health promotion  (Internal link)

Problems with TB screening highlighted

20 April 2006

A report by the Health Protection Agency has found that current port and airport screening programmes for tuberculosis have significant room for improvement, with only 27% of new immigrants screened for TB.

Call to improve airport TB checks  (BBC News, April 2006)
Health Protection Agency Review of Port Health 2006 (HPA, April 2006)
Health protection  (Internal link)

Government consults on alcohol labelling

13 April 2006

The Government is consulting representatives of the alcohol industry in the UK over voluntary, standardised warning labels on alcoholic drinks.  The idea was first mooted in the 'Choosing Health' White Paper in 2004.

Health warnings for drinks cans  (BBC News, April 2006)
Public Health policy & legislation  (Internal link)
Health promotion  (Internal link)

SHA reconfiguration confirmed

12 April 2006

The Department of Health has confirmed that the number of Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) in England is to reduce from 28 to 10, as mergers go ahead on 1 July 2006 across the country.  The mergers follow recommendations in the Government document 'Commissioning a patient-led NHS', published last year.  The final outcome of a consultation on Primary Care Trust (PCT) mergers is still awaited.

Health Secretary announces new architecture of the local NHS (DH, April 2006)
Glossary of Public Health terms - SHA  (Internal link)
Public Health policy & legislation  (Internal link)

Developing world brain drain highlighted

7 April 2006

A WHO report marking 'World Health Day' has highlighted the significant shortage of doctors and other health professionals in developing countries as a result of under-investment, as well as migration to richer nations.

World Health Day 2006 (WHO, April 2006)

Passive smoking link to glucose intolerance

7 April 2006

A paper by Houston et al published online today by the BMJ suggests passive smoking may cause glucose intolerance, a state which can develop into diabetes.  The 15-year cohort study followed 4,657 people and found non-smokers exposed to smoke had a 17.2% (95% CI 15-19) incidence of glucose intolerance during follow-up compared with 11.5% (95% CI 10-14) for non-smokers with no passive smoke exposure.

Houston et al, BMJ DOI: bmj.38779.584028.55v1 [?]] (BMJ, April 2006)
Health promotion (Internal link)

Avian influenza in the UK

5 April 2006

A swan in Scotland has tested positive for an H5 strain of bird flu, likely to be confirmed as H5N1. The spread of the infection to birds in the UK has not come as a surprise, and extensive plans were already in place through Defra. H5N1 has caused occasional severe illness in humans elsewhere who have had extensive contact with infected birds.  The distinction between this current threat of avian influenza - primarily a bird disease affecting a very small number of humans who have had extensive contact with infected birds, and which is not transmissible between humans - and pandemic influenza - a less pathogenic influenza A virus which spreads rapidly and easily between humans, is extremely important.  There is no known risk from ingesting cooked eggs or cooked poultry from H5N1-infected stock. For more information on pandemic flu and avian flu please see the flu pandemic planning page.

Bird flu confirmed in dead swan(BBC News, April 2006)
Flu pandemic planning  (Internal link, regularly updated)
Defra news release | Defra avian influenza pages (fra, April 2006)
Food Standards Agency (FSA, April 2006)
Guidelines for investigating/reporting suspected avian influenza in humans in the UK (HPA, January 2006)