
Influenza season has begun
Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland are the first European countries affected by an increase of the influenza virus. Other countries will follow over the coming weeks and should prepare.

Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland are the first European countries affected by an increase of the influenza virus. Other countries will follow over the coming weeks and should prepare.

Fortunately, the influenza virus has not swapped over to Germany yet because the country has enough to do with the norovirus which is expected to attack up to one million people during the next weeks. People affected by the virus suffer from strong nausea and diarrhoea that last at least two days.

During the course of the EU Council Presidency, Germany is setting a special focus on the health policy with the priorities prevention, innovation and access to health services. The latter was the first topic discussed by European experts from politics, research and health insurances during the conference “The social dimension in the Internal Market — Outlook for the future of healthcare in…

Regarding the results of the Eurobarometer survey on health and mental well-being, most Europeans feel healthy and happy. However, there seems to be a gap between the EU member states.

The debate between carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) - the surgical approach - for treating a narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck to prevent stroke has tipped in favour of the more proven procedure of operation.
A pain-free Hospital pilot project launched in Germany three years ago has ended with the first five of 25 hospitals being awarded a Qualified Pain Therapy certification.

A “political agreement” on the EU Health Programme 2007-2013 recently has reached the Health Ministers Council in Brussels. The programme is a framework for the Commission´s funding of projects relating to health and will be part of a broader EU health strategy to be put forward by the Commission next year.

According to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute the widespread concerns of cell phone users about an increased cancer risk are causeless. Cell phone antennas emit electromagnetic fields that can penetrate into the human brain, and scientists have wondered if this might cause tumors in the head or neck.
Apparently, 20 children are diagnosed each day in the UK with alcohol poisoning.

Health Manager, a new diagnostic system for personal health monitoring, will be launched by Biocomfort at Medica in November.

20% of all cancers diagnosed annually among Lithuanian women is cancer of the breast. Screening programms should reduce this number.

Simple clinical measurements raise hope of targeted treatments for those at highest risk. The future risk of osteoporotic fracture can be predicted with 75% accuracy using a new mathematical formula, according to research published in the October issue of Radiology (RSNA.org).

Human genetic testing centre gains international quality accreditation.

Earlier disease detection will save healthcare services

Like obesity it is harder to treat than high BP or cholesterol. Now Spanish cardiologists are urging a new approach to patients who smoke.

The First European Institute of Molecular Imaging (EIMI) was foundet at the Westphalian Wilhelms-University in Muenster, Germany.
Previous studies have shown that tobacco smoking increases the risk ...

Researchers have made a significant new discovery about how cells copy their genetic information accurately and efficiently to avoid cancers and other diseases.

`Respiratory diseases are still a huge burden for our countries,´ Giovanni Viegi, President of the European Respiratory Society pointed out at the congress.
In the line of the symposium `Preventive Medicine - Costs, Uses, Technology´ in Nuremberg, healthcare experts dicussed how to cut costs.

Increase in COPD and chronic respiratory disease patients will challenge the European Healthcare Systems in the future.

Experts call for screening of surgical and medical patients, and thromboprophylaxis for those at risk.

AIDS, SARS and now H5NI; just a brief beginning or the end? As the virus moves towards Europe, and millions of birds are slaughtered, interest has risen in a Chinese herb, a patent-sharing controversy and drug stockpiling

Interview with Prof. Klaus Vetter MD, director of the Obestetrics Clinic at the Perinatal Centre, Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.