Dispensary Corner 02 Aug 12
August 2, 2012
YOU’VE heard of bird flu and
swine flu - but the latest potential
for pandemic panic comes from
harbour seals.
Scientists in the USA have
identified a new influenza strain
which they say could potentially
impact human health.
Seal flu is manifested by the socalled
H3N8 flu virus, which the
researchers say possibly evolved
from migratory birds.
Professor Ian Lipkin from
Columbia University was part of
the team which made the
discovery when investigating the
mysterious pneumonia-related
death of 162 seals off the coast of
New England last year.
JAPANESE women are dying
younger, with Hong Kong females
now outstripping their Japanese
counterparts in terms of longevity
for the first time in 25 years.
In an annual report issued by
the Japanese health minstry, the
expected lifespan for Japanese
women has dropped from 86.3
years in 2010 to 85.9 years in
2011 - slipping behind the official
life expectancy in Hong Kong
where women live 86.7 years.
The major factor in the change
is last year’s devastating
earthquake and tsunami which
left more than 20,000 dead.
However a rising suicide rate in
Japan also contributed to the life
expectancy decline.
THESE Snickers wouldn’t really
satisfy - at least in the traditional
chocolatey, nutty sense.
A US man is facing drug charges
after being caught allegedly trying
to smuggle about 2kg of
methamphetamine - disguised as
several dozen Snickers bars.
The 34-year-old was intercepted
at Los Angeles Airport trying to
board a flight to Tokyo, after
federal agents conducting routine
baggage inspections found 45
Snickers in his bag - coated in
chocolate but with a tasty centre
of illicit narcotics.
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