Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
U.N. Warns of Possible Bird Flu Resurgence
A mutant strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus that's resistant to
existing vaccines is spreading in China and Vietnam, the United
Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said Monday.
The FAO also said wild bird migrations in recent years have
brought H5N1 to countries that had been free of the bird flu virus
for several years, including Bulgaria, Romania, Mongolia, Nepal,
Israel and the Palestinian territories, the
Associated Press reported.
These and other factors could lead to a possible resurgence of
the bird flu virus, warned the FAO, which urged nations to boost
their surveillance and preparedness levels.
Since the H5N1 virus was first detected in 2003, there have been
565 confirmed cases in humans and 331 deaths worldwide, according
to the World Health Organization, the
AP reported.
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Massage Device Could be Deadly: FDA
Consumers are being warned about a massage device that caused
one death and one near-strangulation.
Necklaces, pieces of clothing and hair can get caught in the
rotating part of the ShoulderFlex Massager, said the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, the
Associated Press reported.
People who own these products should "dispose of the device
components separately so that the massager cannot be reassembled
and used," the agency advised.
Since 2003, King International has distributed nearly 12,000 of
the massagers through retail stores and Web sites in the U.S.,
according to the FDA. The agency said the company plans to issue a
recall, the
AP reported.
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