Public health news: August 2005

Mobile phones and cancer

30 August 2005

There has long been a concern that mobile phones may increase the risk of cancers including acoustic neuroma.  This study compared mobile phone use amongst individuals with acoustic neuroma and matched controls and showed no association with less than 10 years' phone use; however it showed a possible association for periods greater than 10 years.

Schoemaker et al. (Brit J Cancer advanced online publication, August 2005)
Mobile phone cancer link rejected (BBC News, August 2005)

Homeopathic medication

26 August 2005

Do homeopathic medicines work?  A recent article in The Lancet suggests they are no better than placebo.  The study matched 110 trials looking at modern pharmaceuticals with a similar number concerned with homeopathic treatments.  

Shang et al. Lancet (2005) 366(9487):726-32 (PubMed, August 2005)
Homeopathy's benefit questioned (BBC News, August 2005)

Bird flu (H5N1 infection) spreading

18 August 2005

H5N1 infection has now been detected in Russia and Kazakhstan; this is currently confined to birds.  For additional information on planning for a flu pandemic see flu pandemic page.

Geographical spread of H5N1 avian influenza in birds - update 28 (WHO, August 2005) 
Modelling studies on managing a potential flu pandemic (CIDRAP, August 2005)