Public health news: March 2006

Scottish smoking ban comes into force

27 March 2006

A ban on smoking in public places started on Sunday in Scotland, the first country of the United Kingdom to bring in such a ban, although similar arrangements are due to come into force elsewhere in the UK over the next year.

Scotland begins pub smoking ban  (BBC News, March 2006)

VAT reduced on condoms

23 March 2006

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, reduced the rate of purchase tax on condoms in the UK from standard rate of 17.5% to 5% in his Budget speech yesterday.  The move will be welcomed as an acknowledgement of the worsening problem of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the UK, especially amongst teenagers.  The reduction also applies to the 'morning-after' pill.

Brown cuts VAT on contraceptives  (BBC News, March 2006)
Health promotion (internal link)
Budget 2006  (HM Treasury, March 2006)

Lack of safe drinking water highlighted on World Water Day

22 March 2006

Today is UN World Water Day.  A UK-based charity, Water Aid, has used the day to highlight the gross inequities in access to safe drinking water across the world, with approximately one sixth of the world's population (one billion people) still unable to access safe water.  UN figures suggest around 6,000 people die every day from drinking non-potable water.

World Water Day 2006  (Water Aid, March 2006)
With grim statistics and a message of hope, UN marks World Water Day  (UN, March 2006)
Donate to Water Aid  (Water Aid, March 2006)

H5N1 evolves into two forms

21 March 2006

The virus causing avian influenza in poultry in many countries of the world has evolved into two distinct types, research by CDC in the US has found.  The results have been presented at the current International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID).  Fortunately neither type yet appears to spread easily between humans, and it is also hoped that any putative vaccine against H5N1 would have a degree of cross-reactivity between the two types.

Bird flu virus 'now in two forms'  (BBC News, March 2006)
International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID, March 2006)
Flu pandemic planning  (Internal, regularly updated)

WHO tuberculosis campaign updated

18 March 2006

The WHO yesterday launched an updated 'Stop TB' campaign with a focus on continuing and expanding DOTS therapy, increasing emphasis on MDR-TB and the burden of HIV/TB, and improving involvement by communities and health service providers in the programme.

WHO launches new stop TB strategy (WHO press release, March 2006)
WHO TB pages (WHO, March 2006) | Stop TB strategy (WHO, March 2006)

Measles deaths halved

10 March 2006

Worldwide deaths from measles have fallen by nearly a half over a 5 year period between 1999 to 2004.  The fall, from 871,000 to 454,000, is attributed to a concerted effort - the Measles Initiative - to improve vaccination uptake in countries most affected by the disease.

Global measles deaths fall by 48%  (BBC News, March 2006)
Global measles deaths plunge  (WHO, March 2006)
Measles Initiative (MI, March 2006)
Health protection  (Internal link)

Standardized 'traffic light' food labels encouraged

10 March 2006

The UK Food Standards Agency has agreed upon a standard framework for providing information to shoppers on the fat, sugar and salt content of purchased food.  Although many have welcomed the uniform approach, already a number of big names in food retailing and manufacturing have failed to back the project, including Tesco and PepsiCo.

Food Standards Agency press release  (FSA, March 2006)
Colour-coded food labelling urged  (BBC News, March 2006)
Tesco rejects traffic light food labelling  (Guardian, March 2006)
Health promotion  (Internal link)

Public smoking ban may help a fifth give up

8 March 2006

As part of publicity for No Smoking Day, results from a survey have been released indicating up to a fifth of smokers in the UK will be prompted to stop smoking altogether with the implementation of a ban in public spaces in 2007.

No Smoking Day press release  (NSD charity, March 2006)
Health promotion  (Internal link)
DH Health Events Calendar 2006  (DH, updated annually)
Full UK smoking ban likely  (January 2006, Internal link)

New information leaflet on H5N1

3 March 2006

The Department of Health has issued new advice for the public in the form of a leaflet and poster for people travelling to or from countries which have recorded H5N1 in poultry.

Bird flu (avian influenza): public health advice  (DH, March 2006)
Flu pandemic planning  (Internal link, regularly updated)

Junk food ban in schools proposed

2 March 2006

An independent group set up last year by MPs, the School Food Trust, has advised an outright ban on 'junk' food in schools, to try to limit increasing levels of obesity in UK children.

School snack ban plans proposed  (BBC News, March 2006)
Food in Schools  (DH/DfES, March 2006)
Health promotion  (Internal link)