Public health news: June 2006

TB air travel guidelines published

29 June 2006

The World Health Organization has updated its guidance on air travel for individuals with infectious tuberculosis. In particular, it recommends that patients who are infectious (usually considered as prior to and including the first two weeks of treatment) should not travel on flights of more than 8 hours; and that this should be communicated to newly diagnosed individuals. Public Health authorities should also notify the appropriate airline if a patient with a new diagnosis of TB has travelled on a flight over 8 hours in the previous three months.

Tuberculosis and air travel  (WHO, June 2006)

Open letter urging MMR vaccination

27 June 2006

Senior paediatricians have written an open letter to the media and health professionals to encourage an increase in MMR vaccination rates.  In particular is the worry that the current surge in measles cases will continue unless MMR penetration increases. Cases of measles to May this year are more than the whole of 2003.

Doctors issue plea over MMR jab  (BBC News, June 2006)
Draw line under MMR scare, plead top doctors  (Guardian, June 2006)
Measles cases so far in 2006 (HPA press release, June 2006)

Cadbury withdraws chocolate

24 June 2006

The confectionery manufacturer, Cadbury's, have withdrawn a number of their most popular types of chocolate due to possible contamination with Salmonella montevideo species.  Details of the recalls are given on the Food Standards Agency website (link below).

Cadbury Salmonella scare probed  (BBC News, June 2006)
Cadbury recalls seven chocolate products  (FSA, June 2006)

PHN to cease publication

19 June 2006

Public Health News magazine will publish its last ever issue on 3 July 2006.  The Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health cited a fall in advertising revenue as a contributing factor.  Rest assured, however, that Public Healthy will continue to bring you any new, interesting public health news!

Public Health News to cease publication (PHN, June 2006)

Draft NICE guidance in favour of Herceptin

9 June 2006

Draft guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have recommended the use of trastuzumab in women with early HER-2 positive breast cancer, with regular monitoring for drug-induced heart failure.  NICE support is one of the stepping-stones the drug needs to pass before it is widely available on prescription across the country.  In the last few months some Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have been taken to court by patients if they have been refused the new drug.

NICE issues draft guidance on trastuzumab  (NICE, June 2006)
NHS drug watchdog backs Herceptin  (BBC News, June 2006)
Health Secretary vs NICE (Internal link, February 2006)