Direct link here View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map Pink markers are suspectPurple markers are confirmedDeaths lack a dot in markerYellow markers are negative By the way, Wikipedia is, as always, one of the best places to go to track breaking information.
Sick As A Pig
I've been fighting (and losing) this battle with the flu the past few days, and naturally, it did cross my mind as to whether this is of the swine flu variety. It's not (I just have achy head and sneezing and coughing) But the World Health Organization has called the swine flu epidemic a "public health emergency of international concern." So it … Read More
FDA Approves Use Of Morning-After Birth Control Pills For 17 Year Olds
…without a prescription. Cue hysteria from the social conservatives. 3…2…1…
Conservative Talking Point: “We Have The Best Health Care System In The World”
Hmmm. Well, it looks like North Carolina didn't get the memo. What are the waiting times to get medical treatment here? Just six months ago, the [Greensboro] clinic delivered same-day care to most callers, the gold standard from a health perspective. But in October the delays crept to four days, then 19 in November and 25 in December. In January, … Read More
Burger King Admits That Fast Food Gives You A Fat Butt
They're not even trying to hide it now: Yes, that's an actual BK commercial. I don't know what Spongebob has to do with it. And the Burger King mascot still creeps me out.
Punditry At The Corner
Ramesh Ponnuru: The other day I commented on the poor quality of polling on stem-cell research. I'm afraid that the Rasmussen poll, cited in today's web briefing, is no exception. Here's the question they use: "President Obama has decided to lift the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Do you agree or disagree with President Obama’s decision?" … Read More
Memo To Boehner: Nation Not Divided on Stem Cell Issue
Out of touch much, John? The top Republican in the US House of Representatives urged President Barack Obama to "reevaluate" his decision to lift limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. "The president has rolled back important protections for innocent life, further dividing our nation at a time when we need greater unity to tackle the challenges before … Read More
Removing Three Bush-Era Policies In One Day
(1) Stem Cell Research — Executive Order of March 9, 2009: Sec. 1: . . . For the past 8 years, the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to fund and conduct human embryonic stem cell research has been limited by Presidential actions. The purpose of this order is to remove … Read More
A Word On Health Care
Obama is spending the day convening a health care summit with about 150 elected officials and representatives of groups that have much at stake in the outcome, so that's the political topic du jour. Republicans have weighed in, and the nuttiest (so far) is Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), who went on MSNBC to explain his opposition to Obama’s stated goal of … Read More
Overlooked
While there is much brouhaha and attention being paid to the stimulus bill (and Blago, who I am glad to see go), what many are missing is this: The Democratic-controlled Congress moved a step closer to handing President Barack Obama an early health care victory Thursday as the Senate passed a bill extending government-sponsored health insurance coverage to about 4 … Read More
Eight Is Enough
She — and the doctors — were expecting septuplets, but surprise, surprise. An eighth one appeared, making it the second known time that octuplets were born in the United States. Story here. And here.
As Someone About To Be Heading For The Doctor’s…
… and having to make several stops beforehand to get charts, etc….. I think this is sadly needed. Obama's big idea: Digital health records President-elect wants to computerize the nation's health care records in five years. But the plan comes with a hefty price tag, and specialized labor is scarce. Sadly needed, sadly overdue. And why should it be hard? … Read More
Obama To Appoint Gupta?
For what it's worth, I like the idea of Dr. Sunjay Gupta as Surgeon General, the current balloon being floated by the incoming Obama administration. I like his news reports on CNN and CBS. I like his rapport on talk shows. But this WaPo headline gets it wrong when it calls him a "journalist", as do right-wing blogs who focus … Read More