#HNNHealth Was a Politician fair to say #EricGarner's fat did not help his #Chokehold DEATH?

Though he acknowledged that Eric Garner's death was tragic, Rep. Peter King, a Republican from New York, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer last night that Garner would not have died during an arrest by NYPD officers had he been more physically fit. "You had a 350-pound person who was resisting arrest," King said. "If he had not had asthma and a heart condition and was so obese, he almost definitely would not have died from this."

King might be one of the first defenders of the grand jury decision to point out Garner's size, but something tells me he won't be the last. King's remarks echo the disturbing exaggeration of Michael Brown's size and strength throughout the recent (and similar) Ferguson case.

It's worth remembering that the coroner's report said Garner died of “compression of neck (chokehold), compression of chest, and prone positioning during physical restraint by police.” It also ruled his death a homicide.

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#HNNHealth Bird Flu Outbreak in two #Canadian farms! #HNNVet

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Four poultry farms where an outbreak of avian influenza was discovered in British Columbia are now under quarantine and thousands of their turkeys and chickens will be euthanized, officials said Wednesday.

There are no reports of the disease being transmitted to humans.The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said two more farms have been placed under quarantine, a day after announcing that measure for the first two farms.

Tests to determine the precise strain of the virus were conducted Sunday after bird deaths were reported at a turkey farm in Abbotsford and a chicken farm in Chilliwack.

All four farms are about 5 miles (8 kilometers) apart in the Fraser Valley east of Vancouver.

The Abbotsford farm housed 11,000 turkeys that were to be slaughtered for Christmas. Half died from the bird flu. The Chilliwack barn housed 7,000 chickens and about 1,000 of those died.

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#HNNHealth CDC says flu shots may not be good match for 2014-15 virus

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A sampling of flu cases so far this season suggests the current flu vaccine may not be a good match for the most common seasonal flu strain currently circulating in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday.

The U.S. health agency issued an advisory to doctors noting that flu virus samples the agency took from Oct. 1 through Nov. 22, showed that just under half were a good match for the current influenza A (H3N2) component contained in flu shots for the 2014-2015 season, suggesting the virus has drifted.

According to the CDC, flu activity has been low but is increasing and influenza A (H3N2) viruses appear to be the predominant strain, with cases having been detected in almost all U.S. states.

In past seasons when the influenza A (H3N2) strain had mutated from the vaccine strain, flu shots were less effective, the CDC said in the advisory.

Flu seasons dominated by influenza A (H3N2) strains tend to have higher overall hospitalization rates and more flu-related deaths, especially among older people and very young children compared with flu seasons dominated by the influenza A (H1N1) virus or influenza B viruses.

The CDC said flu shots may still offer some protection against drifted viruses, which could help reduce the risk of the most severe complications from the flu, such as hospitalization and death. The current seasonal flu shots will still protect against flu strains that have not mutated, such as the influenza A (H1N1) virus and the B viruses contained in the vaccine.

The CDC is stressing that doctors should be prepared to use antiviral medications when needed. These include Roche's Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza.

However, a recent study from the Cochrane Review, a respected research network, suggests that while these medicines can shorten flu symptoms by around half a day, there is no good evidence behind claims they cut hospital admissions or lessen complications of the disease.

The CDC in its advisory said the benefit of these drugs is greatest when treatment is started early in the course of the infection.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Andrew Hay)

#HNNHealth College Basketball star Lauren Hill is battling Brain Cancer #HNNSports

Lauren Hill (AP)

Lauren Hill has signed up for hospice care, the family announced on their Fight for the Cure facebook page on Wednesday morning.

“We are excited to have additional resources coming to our home,” the post said. “We have already been able to get supplies to help make things easier here at home.”

This move was planned to happen in October, but the timeline was pushed back as Lauren’s big game, the one played at the Cintas Center, was moved forward. It turns out she’s been strong enough to play in games since then as well.

Lauren is battling an inoperable and terminal form of brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontene Glioma, or DIPG. The reason that Lauren has made her battle so public is that she is trying to raise awareness — and raise money — to help find a cure.

You can donate here.

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#HNNHealth Powerful antibiotics for cows being misused by FARMERS! #HNNVet

NEW YORK/ATLANTA (Reuters) - It is one of the most potent antibiotics used by U.S. cattle and dairy farmers, the key component in the top-selling drug line of Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health company.

But the strength of the antibiotic ceftiofur – and the frequency with which it’s being misused on farms across America – has created a threat to human health that may overshadow the drug’s effectiveness, a Reuters examination shows.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautioned in 2012 that ceftiofur could pose a “high public health risk,” in part because the drug belongs to a class of antibiotics considered critically important in human medicine. The warning is the FDA’s strongest kind. The concern is that ceftiofur in animals could spawn antibiotic-resistant bacteria, superbugs that can infect people and defeat conventional medical treatment, even when the drug is used as directed.

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#HNNHealth NEW #Ebola Patient/Healthcare Worker Coming to #America and has arrived in #Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) — An American health-care worker who may have been infected with the Ebola virus in West Africa has arrived at a hospital near Atlanta.

Emory University Hospital spokeswoman Holly Korschun says the patient arrived around 5:45 a.m. Thursday.

Details about the patient were not released.

Emory houses a specialized isolation unit that handled four of the 10 Ebola patients previously treated in the U.S.

West Africa is suffering the worst Ebola outbreak in history, with more than 17,100 illnesses and at least 6,000 deaths this year. Six of those treated in the U.S. were Americans infected while providing medical aid there.

The hospital says that as in previous cases, the patient was transported from West Africa aboard a specially equipped jet operated by Cartersville, Georgia-based Phoenix Air Group Inc.

#HNNfiji @BSPPNG Bank of South Pacific HOSTS 3 blood drives at branches to keep nations supply up #HNNMoney #HNNHealth

In an effort to meet the demand for blood at all hospitals during the festive season, the Bank of South Pacific will host blood drive appeals at three of its Suva branches on Friday.

BSP country manager Kevin McCarthy said the initiative was part of their pro-life position and continued efforts to improve lives.

"These blood drives are one part of this campaign. We hope this initiative will help address the high demand and save lives during the festive season," he said.

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#HNNFiji #Fiji celebrates #OrangeMonth this December by painting the walls #HNNCommunity

Credits Kimberley Sachs

DECEMBER is orange month and the Fiji National University is making that known by painting a 37 metre wall orange in recognition of 16 Days of Activism and the elimination of gender-based violence.

FNU's College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences has taken the call by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon seriously and dedicated much of the month of December to standing up for women's rights and indeed human rights — and encouraging the community to do so also.

"We want to orange up our hood and support the UN Women's call for people to write a message by making an orange wall and inviting the whole community to come and write a message," college Dean Professor Ian Rouse explained yesterday.

"We are trying to get the community involved and encourage everyone, especially boys and men, to write some positive and empowering messages."

The wall, which was painted a bright orange yesterday, is something of a public canvas that people are being invited to write on or draw on with messages pertaining to the elimination of gender violence.

"This year, the UN is calling for more action and to be honest, I think it's time we all got involved. It's time for all to say enough. And it's really time for men to start saying so."

The wall will be painted until December 10, when the 16 Days of Activism officially ends.

#HNNFiji #Fiji Health Ministry hosts gender equality #HNNHealth

Participants from around the country are part of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services gender mainstreaming and social inclusion workshop in Suva this week.

Health Ministry deputy secretary Dr Eric Rafai says gender equality is important for the achievement of sustainable management and development of the health sector because it considers that both men and women are in a position to contribute effectively to health delivery.

He said the ministry through the Fiji Health Sector Support in 2012 conducted a comprehensive review and complied a report on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategy.

Participants are expected to have a good understanding of various concepts, related to gender, disability, social inclusion and development at the end of the workshop.

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#HNNFiji #Fiji Hit and Run Driver in death of Salote Marama Vateitei appears in court #HNNCrime

Salote Marama Vateitei via FBC |News

Fiji people drive on the left like the British and some of us may think that is dangerous as it is. However accidents still happen. All drivers should drive safe and not flee after an accident. Thoughts and prayers go to the family of this young lady.

A MINIVAN driver, alleged to have caused a fatal accident in Vuda last weekend, appeared before the Lautoka Magistrates Court this morning.

Jone Kikau, 35, has been charged with one count of dangerous driving occasioning death, one count of failing to comply with requirements following an accident, one count of driving with an expired drivers licence and one count of driving a motor vehicle without being covered under the third party policy risk.

He is due to appear in court again December 17.

The accident allegedly claimed the life of 24-year-old Salote Marama Vateitei.

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