Heart risks to be reviewed as Cdn. firm's diabetes drug faces scrutiny in US

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. government health advisers are being asked Monday to consider whether heart risks associated with the widely used diabetes drug Avandia outweigh its benefits....More

Drug for mild to moderate Alzheimer's also helps severe disease: study

TORONTO (CP) - A drug used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's can also ease some symptoms in people with a more advanced stage of the condition, helping patients and their caregivers to better cope with the effects of the debilitating neurological disease, a Canadian-led international...More

Diabetes drug should be pulled over heart risks, FDA scientist says

WASHINGTON (AP) - The widely used diabetes drug Avandia should be pulled off the market, U.S. federal health officials said Monday, urging action in response to studies linking the drug to an increased risk of heart attacks....More

Diabetes drug Avandia should remain on market, U.S. government advisers recommend

WASHINGTON (CP) - The widely used diabetes drug Avandia should remain on the market, U.S. government health advisers recommended Monday, saying evidence of an increased risk of heart attack doesn't merit removal....More

Canadian Medical Association calls for private sector 'safety valve'

CHARLOTTETOWN (CP) - The Canadian Medical Association, in a new policy document released Monday, says provincial governments should hire private-sector firms to deliver publicly funded health-care services to prevent delays for medically necessary treatment....More

Alzheimer's: Some facts and figures

(CP) - Some facts about Alzheimer's disease: WHAT IT IS: A progressive, degenerative disease that destroys brain cells, believed to be caused by a combination of risk factors, including age, genetics, lifestyle and environment....More

Aids to quit smoking will be exempt from Ont. sales tax, minister says

TORONTO (CP) - The Ontario government is making it easier for smokers to butt out by removing provincial sales taxes on all over-the-counter smoking cessation products. As of Aug....More

Class-action suits launched in two provinces against makers of diabetes drug

REGINA (CP) - A lawyer is attempting to launch class action lawsuits in two provinces against the makers of Avandia, a popular Type 2 diabetes drug....More

Dangerous product could be sitting on your shelves, health officials warn

TORONTO (CP) - Health officials are asking Canadians to scour their fridges, pantries and cupboards for cans of chili that could be contaminated with botulism....More

Canadians urged to check homes for chili contaminated with botulism

TORONTO (CP) - Cans of chili contaminated with botulism could be in the homes of unwitting Canadian consumers despite a countrywide recall from Wal-Mart stores, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency warned Friday....More

Alcan's Quebec factories blamed for lung cancer cases in ex-workers

MONTREAL (CP) - The families of 10 former Alcan employees who contracted lung cancer while working in the company's aluminum smelters are eligible for compensation, a Quebec workplace accident commission has ruled....More

Agriculture Canada turns off wind turbine in P.E.I. after health complaints

HARRINGTON, P.E.I. (CP) - Agriculture Canada says it has yet to decide what to do with a noisy wind turbine in P.E.I. that was shut down less than three days after its blades started spinning because a nearby resident claimed it was making her sick....More

Health Canada warns of sale of unauthorized smoking cessation product

OTTAWA (CP) - Health Canada is advising consumers to avoid use of an unauthorized quit-smoking product, citing a potential health risk....More

Research teams identify first new genes in 30 years related to MS

TORONTO (CP) - Researchers have pinpointed two more genes that appear to increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis - the first discoveries about the genetic underpinnings of the disease in 30 years. The findings by two groups of U.S....More

Innocent children struggle with the after-effects of mothers who drink

REGINA (CP) - Midori Harth knows she can be impulsive and easily taken advantage of by people with ill intentions. "Yeah, if I want to do something, I go and do it," she says with a teenaged smile, sitting in a coffee shop in a trendy Regina neighbourhood....More

Heart risks to be reviewed as Cdn. firm's diabetes drug faces scrutiny in US

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. government health advisers are being asked Monday to consider whether heart risks associated with the widely used diabetes drug Avandia outweigh its benefits....More

Alberta fires health board after report finds poor equipment sterilization

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta Health Minister Dave Hancock fired the board of one of the province's health regions Wednesday after a scathing report found bureaucratic turf wars and confusion led to a nightmarish compromise in patient safety....More

U.S. scientists say they've found a way to deactivate peanut allergens

GREENSBORO, N.C. (CP) - Science may soon come to the rescue of the fast growing number of people who suffer from dangerous peanut allergies. Scientists at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University say they've found a way to deactivate peanut allergens in the lab....More

TB patient who created health scare released from hospital, returns to Georgia

DENVER (AP) - The tuberculosis patient who created an international health scare when he flew to Europe for his wedding was released from a hospital Thursday after successfully completing inpatient treatment, officials said....More

Premier hints at more firings over hospital sterilization scandal

EDMONTON (CP) - More firings appear to be in the works as the fallout continues from a hospital sterilization scandal that has rocked Alberta's health-care system and forced 3,000 former patients to be tested for HIV and hepatitis....More

Green party leader sticks by Agent Orange study comments despite possible lawsuit

FREDERICTON (CP) - Green party Leader Elizabeth May says despite the threat of a possible lawsuit, she won't retract comments she made about a report on the health effects of Agent Orange and other defoliants at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick....More

Canada orders recall of Indian-made toothpaste containing antifreeze chemical

OTTAWA (CP) - Health Canada is recalling an obscure brand of Indian-made toothpaste found to contain unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol (DEG). Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium, made by the Calcutta Chemical Co. Ltd., is not approved for sale in Canada....More

B.C. college says 880 people received invalid first-aid certificates

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. (CP) - Over 800 people have received invalid occupational first aid certificates from Northern Lights College after instructors failed to hand out a written exam. The mistake occurred between Aug....More

Potentially contaminated products still being sold across U.S.

WASHINGTON (CP) - Stores across the United States are continuing to sell recalled canned chili, stew, hash and other foods potentially contaminated with poisonous bacteria even after repeated warnings that the products could kill....More

Unclear roles between hospital, health authority led to troubles at Alta facility

CALGARY (CP) - A report says uncertainty over who had ultimate control over procedures led to infection problems at an Alberta hospital. A review released by the Health Quality Council of Alberta says there was lack of agreement between St....More

Rate of underweight babies rises after years in decline, report finds

TORONTO (CP) - The number of underweight babies born in Canada has been steadily rising in recent years, accounting for about one of 16 newborns delivered in hospitals, according to new figures released Wednesday....More

New York City gives away condoms to seniors to prevent AIDS

NEW YORK (AP) - While volunteers passed out cups of Jell-O to the white-haired lunch crowd at a senior centre, another group was distributing something that didn't quite fit amid the card games and daily gossip: condoms....More

N.S. offering some students mumps vaccine to combat outbreak

HALIFAX (CP) - Officials in Nova Scotia are hoping to vaccinate tens of thousands of students against the mumps following an outbreak that has infected close to 500 people in the province and has been linked to cases across the country....More

Health board fired over sterilization problems at Alberta hospital

EDMONTON (CP) - The Alberta government has fired the board of one of its regional health authorities after a scathing report found turf wars and confusion had compromised patient safety....More

C-sections, epidural rates, births of underweight babies on the rise: report

TORONTO (CP) - New figures released today reveal a steadily rising number of Canadian women are bringing their new bundles of joy into the world by Caesarean section....More

Alberta fires health board after report finds poor equipment sterilization

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta Health Minister Dave Hancock fired the board of one of the province's health regions Wednesday after a scathing report found bureaucratic turf wars and confusion led to a nightmarish compromise in patient safety....More

U.S. scientists say they've found a way to deactivate peanut allergens

GREENSBORO, N.C. (CP) - Science may soon come to the rescue of the fast growing number of people who suffer from dangerous peanut allergies. Scientists at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University say they've found a way to deactivate peanut allergens in the lab....More

Need prostate surgery? More evidence that doctor's experience counts

WASHINGTON (AP) - Practice matters for doctors, too. A 15-year study found men whose cancerous prostates were removed by a more experienced surgeon were less likely to relapse....More

Minister declares public emergency to prevent paramedics strike

EDMONTON (CP) - The Alberta government is preparing to declare a public emergency to head off a strike by paramedics in Calgary, who served strike notice Monday....More

Male circumcision key to slowing AIDS epidemic, researcher says

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - A U.S. health expert urged governments worldwide Tuesday to endorse circumcision to slow the spread of HIV, saying men without the procedure have a greater risk of contracting the virus from infected female partners....More

Iraq war veteran shows off cutting-edge bionic hand that flexes

NEW YORK (AP) - Iraq war veteran Sgt. Juan Arredondo can grasp tennis balls and door knobs with his left "hand" again now that he's been outfitted with a bionic device that has flexible fingers....More

Fracture study in medical journal renews debate over researchers' financial ties

CHICAGO (AP) - A new study showing that padded hip protectors didn't prevent fractures in the elderly has renewed questions about hidden drug industry ties to medical research....More

Forces personnel face possibility of gap in employment and medical benefits

OTTAWA (CP) - Soldiers returning to civilian life after being wounded in Afghanistan face the possibility of being unemployed and without medical benefits for months following their discharge because of a gap in the bureaucracy between the military and Veterans Affairs Canada....More

Connors Bros. management vague on impact of Castleberry's botulism recall

TORONTO (CP) - The top management at Connors Bros. Income Fund (TSX:CBF.UN) added no certainty Tuesday to the turmoil over a botulism scare at the trust's Castleberry's canned-meat unit in the United States....More

Alberta government declares public emergency to prevent paramedics strike

EDMONTON (CP) - The Alberta government declared a public emergency Tuesday to head off a strike over wages by about 400 Calgary paramedics....More

Woman who urged Texas Legislature to support HPV vaccine dies of cancer at 31

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Heather Burcham, whose battle with cervical cancer led her to urge legislators to try to keep girls from sharing in her fate, has died of the disease. She was 31. Burcham, of Houston, died Saturday. "Her pain and suffering have forever ceased," Gov....More

New HIV infections still outpace efforts to bring treatment to patients

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Access to life-extending HIV/AIDS drugs in developing countries has improved during the past three years, but new infections still dramatically outpace efforts to bring treatment to patients, health officials said Monday....More

Male circumcision key to slowing AIDS epidemic, researcher says

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - An American health official urged international agencies Tuesday to step up their promotion of circumcision to slow the spread of HIV, saying that men without the procedure face greater risk of contracting the virus from infected female partners....More

Israeli police arrest 9 people suspected of running organ trafficking ring

JERUSALEM (AP) - Police have broken up an organ transplanting ring that persuaded dozens of Israelis to have their kidneys removed in Ukraine for about C$31,000 each, a spokesman said Monday....More

Is chemo before surgery, not after, a good choice for early breast cancer?

WASHINGTON (AP) - More breast cancer patients are being offered chemotherapy before surgery instead of afterward - amid much debate about how to do it right and when it's a good option....More

Daily soft drinks - even diet - linked to higher heart disease risk: study

TORONTO (CP) - For those who drink diet pops in the belief that sugar-free beverages are healthier than regular soft drinks, new research suggests they should think again. A huge U.S....More

Connors Castleberry's unit expands botulism recall, includes chili sold in Canada

TORONTO (CP) - A botulism-scare recall in the United States by Castleberry's Food Co., a unit of Connors Bros. Income Fund (TSX:CBF.UN), has been dramatically expanded and now includes a canned chili product sold in Canada. Connors Bros....More

AirTran seeks passengers near teenager who fell critically ill with meningitis

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A teenager who fell seriously ill on an AirTran Airways flight was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, and the airline was contacting passengers who sat near her, a spokesman said....More

Former male model opens up about battle of the binge in book 'The Good Eater'

TORONTO (CP) - Ron Saxen had run himself ragged on a relentless regime of dieting and exercise to maintain the lean, muscular physique that catapulted him in the modelling world....More

Bill Clinton urges better health care while visiting AIDS projects in Zambia

LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) - Former U.S. president Bill Clinton said Saturday cheap anti-AIDS drugs are no magic bullet for ending the epidemic ravaging Africa, and that the continent needs better overall health care....More

Great Value brand chili recalled in Canada over botulism concerns

OTTAWA - A new health warning is out regarding Great Value brand chili over concerns of possible botulism contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume Great Value brand Original Chili with Beans and Hot Chili with Beans....More

Canada's greying population facing future with too few geriatric doctors

TORONTO (CP) - When Dr. Jo-Anne Clarke tells fellow med school grads what field she has chosen as her speciality, she typically gets one of two responses: "Oh good for you. I couldn't do that" or "What a waste, you're too smart for that....More

Afghanistan's stress toll leaves military seeking better treatment options

(CP) - About once a week, David would quietly leave his office, drive a half-hour away and change out of his uniform before sitting down with a doctor for a regular appointment....More

25-year-old Egyptian woman is infected by deadly bird-flu strain

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Bird flu has infected an Egyptian woman, bringing to 38 the number of those afflicted with the deadly strain of the disease in Egypt....More

New HIV infections still outpace efforts to bring treatment to patients

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Access to life-extending HIV/AIDS drugs in developing countries has improved during the past three years, but new infections still dramatically outpace efforts to bring treatment to patients, health officials said Monday....More

Connors Bros. unit expands botulism-scare recall; includes Canadian product

TORONTO (CP) - A botulism-scare recall at Connors Bros. Income Fund (TSX:CBF.UN) unit Castleberry's Food Co. in the United States has been expanded and includes a canned-chili product sold in Canada. The weekend expansion of last week's recall follows a joint U.S....More

Teen pregnancy and abortion rates down, but STIs steady and rising

TORONTO (CP) - The teen pregnancy and abortion rates in Canada are the lowest in more than a decade, but that doesn't mean the country's youth is practising safe sex....More

TB patient confined in Arizona transferred to Colorado hospital for treatment

DENVER (AP) - A man who had been quarantined with a drug-resistant form of tuberculosis for nearly a year was transferred to a hospital in Colorado on Thursday for treatment. Robert Daniels, 27, has an multiple drug-resistant form of TB....More

Doctors missing chances to urge patients to quit smoking, study suggests

TORONTO (CP) - Doctors and other health-care professionals seem to be missing chances to help patients quit smoking, a new report suggests....More

Crack pipe kits could go up in smoke as other cities follow Ottawa's lead

TORONTO (CP) - Jesse knows a thing or two about the perils of cheap crack pipes. They break apart when they get hot, he says, leaving jagged edges that slice open the lips and skin of the drug addicts who survive on the mean streets of Canada's most impoverished neighbourhoods....More

Connors Bros. subsidiary Castleberry's issues recall over botulism

TORONTO (CP) - Connors Bros. Income Fund (TSX:CBF.UN) subsidiary Castleberry's Food Co. has been hit with a botulism food-poisoning scare. Connors Bros. said Thursday that the U.S....More

China says cardboard bun report was fake, candy maker denies formaldehyde use

BEIJING (AP) - Chinese police have arrested a journalist accused of faking an investigative report on buns stuffed with shredded cardboard that made headlines around the world and Beijing Television apologized for airing the footage....More

CFIA warns people to check bottom of baby formula for proper expiration date

OTTAWA (CP) - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Abbott Nutrition are advising consumers to check 900-gram Similac Advance Step 2 powdered infant formula cans for the presence of a false expiration date....More

B.C. hospital cancels surgeries, creating standoff with surgeons

VANCOUVER (CP) - Patients who break a bone from a fall or accident next week may end up having to wait longer to see a surgeon in Vancouver-area hospitals. Orthopedic surgeons at St....More

Having very young babies in seated position could increase SIDS risk: study

TORONTO (CP) - Very young babies may be at a slightly higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome when sitting in a car seat or other seating device, a new study suggests....More

Disability support program plagued by crippling workload, absenteeism: report

TORONTO (CP) - Ontario's disability support program is plagued by crippling workloads and rising absenteeism among staff, which both employees and clients say is hurting the province's disabled, an internal government report suggests....More

Canada, U.S., other rich countries encourage international brain drain: Castro

HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro blamed the United States, Canada and other rich countries Wednesday for policies that encourage an international brain drain of doctors and scientists from Africa and Latin America....More

Canada's greying population facing future with too few geriatric doctors

TORONTO (CP) - When Dr. Jo-Anne Clarke tells fellow med school grads what field she has chosen as her speciality, she typically gets one of two responses: "Oh good for you. I couldn't do that" or "What a waste, you're too smart for that....More

Blood thinners plus Aspirin unsafe therapy for peripheral arterial disease: study

TORONTO (CP) - If one drug is good to cut the risk of life-threatening blood clots in people with advanced arterial disease, might not two drugs be better? A new study shows that when the condition is peripheral coronary disease and the drugs in question are anti-clotting and...More

Beyond food: mealtimes provide familiarity, comfort to people with dementia

TORONTO (CP) Preparing fancy feasts had once been a staple of Brenda Hounam's life -one now etched in the fabric of her past. The mother of two can still whip up the odd meat-and-potatoes dish or pot of chili....More

Advocates say high school dropouts 4 times more likely to be injured at work

TORONTO (CP) - High school dropouts are four times more likely to be injured at work, and more must be done to prevent young people from dying needlessly while working low-wage jobs, suggests a new report submitted to Ontario's Labour Ministry....More

2 studies suggest restless legs syndrome real condition with genetic roots

ATLANTA (AP) - Scientists have linked certain genes to restless legs syndrome, suggesting the twitching condition is biologically based and not an imaginary disorder....More

TB patient who sparked international scare has surgery to remove part of lung

DENVER (AP) - Andrew Speaker, the tuberculosis patient who caused an international public health scare in May, underwent successful surgery Tuesday to remove a diseased portion of his right lung, hospital officials said in a statement....More

Pharmacists welcome more time with patients but say they need more support

TORONTO (CP) - Pharmacists would love to meet with their patients every year to discuss drug interactions and negative side effects, but some fear they lack the time and money to follow through with the Ontario government's new service, their association warned Tuesday....More

Payless recalls 3,000 toddler clog-style shoes sold in Canada

TORONTO (CP) - Payless ShoeSource is recalling about 3,000 toddler-size clog shoes sold in Canada because of a risk that the plastic rivets that attach the back strap can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children....More

Mental, physical fitness helps Canadians reach beyond 80 and past 100: experts

TORONTO (CP) - Less than a year ago, Viola Ikin walked wherever she had to go, lifted small weights and threw a mean game at her weekly carpet bowling league....More

Extra servings of fruits, vegetables fail to prevent breast cancer's return

CHICAGO (AP) - Hopes that a diet low in fat and chock-full of fruits and vegetables could prevent the return of breast cancer were dashed Tuesday by a large, seven-year experiment in more than 3,000 women....More

Edmonton program to provide training for head and neck cancer

EDMONTON (CP) - Aging baby boomers have caused the number of patients needing surgeries for cancers in the neck and head to double over the last five years....More

Alberta law allowing forced drug treatment for kids should be beefed up: report

EDMONTON (CP) - An Alberta judge says legislation allowing young people with drug problems to be locked up and forced into treatment should be beefed up....More

2-year-old boy dies after fall from 11th storey of Toronto apartment building

TORONTO (CP) - A two-year-old Toronto boy died Tuesday morning after falling from the 11th-storey balcony of a downtown apartment building. The boy was rushed to hospital with severe head injuries after he fell around 8 a.m. and was later pronounced dead....More

U.S. Congress looks to legislate a safer - but still not safe - cigarette

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. federal agency charged with keeping food and drugs from harming people may soon be asked to take a consumer product that kills more than 400,000 people a year and make it safer. The product is the cigarette - generally acknowledged as anything but safe....More

Renovations in Vancouver hospital's ER bring high-tech scanner, more security

VANCOUVER (CP) - Extensive renovations in Vancouver General Hospital's emergency department mean there are now more beds, improved infection control and a state-of-the art CT scanner - the first of its kind in Canada....More

Public art honouring HIV caregivers goes up in Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) - A public art project celebrating individuals who have worked to ease the suffering of people living with HIV and AIDS is taking shape in the heart of Washington's gay community....More

Poor Inuit housing causes world's highest rate of infant lung infection: study

(CP) - Mary Simonie's dinner table in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, is too small for everyone, so some eat supper on the couch. That's where her two kids sleep, too, because there aren't enough bedrooms either....More

Older diabetes drugs as good as Avandia and other newer pills, study says

(AP) - Older, cheaper diabetes drugs are as safe and effective as newer ones, concludes an analysis that is good news for diabetics and may further hurt sales of Avandia, a blockbuster pill recently tied to heart problems....More

Dialling down immune response to bird flu won't protect against death: study

TORONTO (CP) - New research suggests successful treatment of the H5N1 avian flu virus requires targeting the virus, not the overwhelming immune response it triggers....More

Are allergy warnings on food labels confusing the people they should protect?

WASHINGTON (AP) - More and more foods bear a mishmash of warnings that they might accidentally contain ingredients that could seriously sicken people with food allergies....More

TB patient Andrew Speaker says surgery to remove part of lung is Tuesday

ATLANTA (AP) - Andrew Speaker, the tuberculosis patient who sparked an international public health scare in May, said he is preparing for surgery Tuesday to remove the diseased portion of his right lung....More

Too much of a bad thing a hazard of indulging at the Calgary Stampede

CALGARY (CP) - If you're one of those people involved in an ongoing battle of the bulge, this is one battleground you should stay away from....More

Libyan debt would be forgiven under proposed plan to deal with AIDS cases

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - Libyan debt dating back to the Cold War would be forgiven under a proposal to compensate families whose children were allegedly infected with AIDS by six foreign medics, a victims' advocate said Saturday....More

India wants to register all pregnant women to curb abortions of female fetuses

NEW DELHI (AP) - Indian women would be required to register their pregnancies and seek government permission for abortions under a proposal intended to curb abortions of female fetuses in the country, where boys are traditionally preferred....More

Chronically unhealthy, truck drivers urged to shape up, become healthy

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Truck drivers - the people who deliver our food, cars and clothing - have one of the most dangerous jobs in America - accounting for nearly 15 per cent of U.S. work-related deaths. And that's only counting the accidents....More

Legacy of flawed work linking autism to childhood vaccine lingers a decade later

(CP) - At least once a week, Dr. Joanne Langley or one of her colleagues in a Halifax pediatrics clinic carves 90 minutes or so out of a crammed schedule to try to persuade yet another set of anxious parents to vaccinate their baby against diseases that regularly used to sicken, maim and...More

Dave Matthews Band petition drive urges better mental health care for troops

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Dave Matthews Band is urging fans to push Congress to do more to ensure that U.S. troops coming home traumatized by combat get the help they need....More

CIA brainwashing to medical breakthroughs: study to look at Cold War research

MONTREAL (CP) - It was the Cold War. U.S. soldiers were dying in Korea, U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy saw Commies in every nook and cranny, and American authorities were convinced the Russians had developed techniques for brainwashing....More

Business leery as Calgary aims to lead country in banning trans fats

CALGARY (CP) - Calgary may be known as Fat Cat City for its booming economy, but it could soon be the first Canadian municipality to trim artery-clogging artificial trans fats off menus and eventually out of grocery stores....More

Overweight children face widespread stigma, unhappy lives: analysis

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Overweight children are stigmatized by their peers as early as age three and even face bias from their parents and teachers, giving them a quality of life comparable to people with cancer, a new analysis concludes....More

Government failing to provide health care in language of choice: watchdog

OTTAWA (CP) - Languages commissioner Graham Fraser is calling on the federal government to provide patients in its care with health services in the official language of their choice....More

Eight airline passengers and one relative sue TB-infected American lawyer

MONTREAL (CP) - Eight airline passengers launched a lawsuit Thursday against the American lawyer who ignored warnings and triggered a health scare when he flew with a potent form of tuberculosis....More

Alberta nurses get major wage boost, but nursing shortage looming

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta's registered nurses will be among the highest paid nurses in Canada as a result of a new three-year contract that includes wages increases of 15 per cent and hefty cash bonuses....More

4 people in Toronto hospital with E. coli infection after Canada Day barbecue

TORONTO (CP) - Toronto's health agency is investigating an outbreak of E. coli after six cases were confirmed after a Canada Day picnic. Dr....More

13,000 residents are without water after algae outbreak east of Montreal

COWANSVILLE, Que. (CP) - Close to 13,000 residents in a town southeast of Montreal have been without potable water for more than 24 hours following an algae outbreak....More

Report finds fewer U.S. teens having sex, more using condoms

WASHINGTON (AP) - Fewer high school students in the United States are having sex these days, and more are using condoms. The teen birth rate has hit a record low....More

126 sick after eating at Chicago food festival, 9 confirmed salmonella cases

CHICAGO (AP) - More than 120 people who ate from the same booth at the Taste of Chicago food festival last week became ill, at least nine of them with salmonella poisoning, the city health department said....More

Embryonic stem cells find their own niche, researchers say

TORONTO (CP) - A team of Canadian scientists has made a discovery about how human embryonic stem cells develop that could change the direction of research into what has been dubbed the Holy Grail of regenerative medicine....More

Doctor who blew whistle on SARS outbreak reportedly banned from leaving China

BEIJING (AP) - A Chinese military surgeon who broke government secrecy to reveal the true scale of Beijing's SARS outbreak in 2003 has been banned from leaving China to accept a human rights award, a rights watchdog said Wednesday....More

Decriminalize marijuana and "tax the hell out of it," B.C. senator says

VANCOUVER (CP) - A B.C. Liberal senator says the federal government should decriminalize marijuana and "tax the hell out of it," with the revenue going to public services such as health care....More

CP Exclusive: Canadian Cancer Society calls for ban on use and export of asbestos

MONTREAL (CP) - The lingering dangers caused by exposure to asbestos has prompted the Canadian Cancer Society to join a growing call for the federal government to ban the use and exportation of the fire-retarding mineral, The Canadian Press has learned....More

China to crack down on small food producers, announces new drug regulation

BEIJING (AP) - China said Wednesday it will cut the number of small, loosely regulated food producers by half as it struggles to salvage its reputation as a safe exporter....More

China bans toxic chemical in toothpaste, orders food producers to clean up

BEIJING (AP) - China banned diethylene glycol - a thickening agent in antifreeze - from use in toothpaste Wednesday, one of its most significant concessions yet as it struggles to regain international confidence in the country's beleaguered exports....More

China bans chemical substance in toothpaste production

BEIJING (AP) - China has banned companies from using diethylene glycol in the production of toothpaste. It's the latest move to raise confidence in the country's food and drug safety procedures....More

Overweight children face widespread stigma, unhappy lives: analysis

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Overweight children are stigmatized by their peers as early as age three and even face bias from their parents and teachers, giving them a quality of life comparable to people with cancer, a new analysis concludes....More

Popular Argentine TV show challenges the obese to lose weight

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - An Argentine reality TV show is helping obese contestants lose weight and take better care of themselves....More

Libyan court to rule on appeal of foreign medics blamed for AIDS infections

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - A financial settlement has been reached in the case of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who have been sentenced to death in Libya for infecting 400 children with the AIDS virus....More

Extra cash causes wait times to drop for some Saskatchewan diagnostic tests

REGINA (CP) - Saskatchewan is reporting a drop in wait times for some diagnostic imaging tests, thanks to more money both from the federal government and the province's booming economy....More

China says food, drug safety procedures inadequate, vows to improve

BEIJING (AP) - China said Tuesday its food and drug safety procedures are not satisfactory and promised to improve them....More

China executes former chief of food and drug safety for approving fake drugs

BEIJING (AP) - China executed a former director of its food and drug agency Tuesday for approving fake medicine in exchange for cash, illustrating how serious Beijing is about tackling product safety, while officials announced steps to safeguard food at next summer's Olympic Games....More

Canadians optimistic about curing disease, but down about life on Earth: poll

OTTAWA (CP) - Most Canadians surveyed in a new poll said they believe there will soon be cures for two of the biggest diseases of our time, AIDS and cancer, and that they'll live longer....More

Canadian rates of marijuana use make case for decriminalization: experts

TORONTO (CP) - A new study shows Canadians surpass Americans and even the Dutch when it comes to trying marijuana, but drug policy experts say it's not a cause for concern. The UN's 2007 World Drug Report found 16....More

China to crack down on small food producers, announces new drug regulation

BEIJING (AP) - China said Wednesday it will cut the number of small, loosely regulated food producers by half as it struggles to salvage its reputation as a safe exporter....More

Government should cut pollution, not just measure it: environmental group

TORONTO (CP) - Canadians will be better able to hold politicians and businesses accountable on air pollution with the help of a new tool to measure the impact of bad air on public health, federal Environment Minister John Baird said Monday....More

Girls lead the way as teenage smoking rates decline in 2006

OTTAWA (CP) - A new study says teenagers - especially girls - are smoking less. The Statistics Canada survey, conducted last February to December, found smoking rates among 15-to-19 year olds had declined to 15 per cent from 18 in 2005....More

First skin patch for Alzheimer's gains federal approval in United States

WASHINGTON (AP) - The first skin patch to treat the dementia that can plague Alzheimer's patients has gained federal approval in the United States, a drug company said Monday....More

Canadians urged to guard against heat stroke in hot summer weather

FREDERICTON (CP) - When Shaun Morrissey stepped off the beach volleyball court one sizzling hot day in Ontario, the New Brunswick athlete figured he had simply over-exerted himself during an important, national competition....More

Anti-smoking pill shows promise in curbing drinking: study

WASHINGTON (AP) - A single pill appears to hold promise in curbing the urges to both smoke and drink, according to researchers trying to help people overcome addiction by targeting a pleasure centre in the brain....More

Anti-smokers issue warnings as teenage smoking rates decline in 2006

OTTAWA (CP) - Revived tobacco advertising campaigns and contraband cigarettes could soon reverse a trend toward lower smoking rates among teenagers, warns the Canadian Cancer Society. Statistics Canada says teenagers - especially girls - are smoking less....More

China says food, drug safety procedures inadequate, vows to improve

BEIJING (AP) - China said Tuesday its food and drug safety procedures are not satisfactory and promised to improve them....More

China executes ex-food and drug safety chief, state television reports

BEIJING (AP) - China executed the former head of its food and drug watchdog on Tuesday for approving untested medicine in exchange for cash, the strongest signal yet from Beijing that it is serious about tackling its product safety crisis....More

Health Canada: Counterfeit toothpaste potentially more harmful than suspected

OTTAWA (CP) - Health Canada warns consumers that ongoing tests on counterfeit toothpaste have resulted in preliminary evidence of a more harmful bacterial contamination than first suspected....More

Health Canada approves contraceptive with 91-day regimen; 4 periods per year

TORONTO (CP) - An oral contraceptive that will eliminate all but four menstrual periods a year has received approval from Health Canada, a pharmaceutical company announced Thursday....More

Globe-trotting TB patient questions CDC policy but says he won't sue

ATLANTA (AP) - The globe-trotting tuberculosis patient who sparked an international public health incident in May said Friday he was tricked into a federal quarantine....More

Burger King to use trans-fat-free oil across U.S. by end of 2008

MIAMI (AP) - Burger King said Friday it will use trans-fat-free cooking oil at all its U.S. restaurants by the end of next year, following in the footsteps of other leading fast-food restaurants....More

Blue-green algae outbreak puts Quebecers on notice not to drink water

MONTREAL (CP) - Hundreds of Quebecers are being warned not to drink their water because of an outbreak of blue-green algae. Thirty-seven Quebec lakes are now contaminated with the algae, including Lake Memphremagog in southeastern Quebec, about 100 kilometres from Montreal....More

Italian health authorities testing possible tainted toothpaste

ROME (AP) - Italian authorities have seized a few batches of possibly tainted toothpaste in Florence and other cities in the country's north. The ministry says checks are being carried out across the country on Colgate toothpaste that was without Italian-language labelling....More

XDR-TB? MDR-TB? Testing confusion latest twist in implausible TB tale

TORONTO (CP) - The complicated saga of American Andrew Speaker's diagnosis with a dangerous drug-resistant form of tuberculosis makes most movie plots seem plodding, but the twist about his test results spins his story to a whole new level....More

Canadian, other research teams find genetic risk factor for colon cancer

TORONTO (CP) - Research teams from Canada, Britain and the United States have identified a genetic variation on chromosome 8 that is linked to colon cancer, a finding that could lead to a way to better identify who needs more regular screening for the disease....More

Health unit investigating cases of E. coli at Hanover hospital

HANOVER, Ont. (CP) - The Grey-Bruce Health Unit is investigating several cases of E. coli at a Hanover hospital. The bacteria is the same strain that caused the Walkerton tainted-water disaster in 2000....More

Downgrading of TB traveller's status good news for fellow passengers

TORONTO (CP) - Word that tuberculosis-infected traveller Andrew Speaker's strain of the disease can be treated with more antibiotics than was previously thought is good news for people exposed to him on intercontinental flights the American man took in May, experts said Tuesday....More

China to strengthen controls on dental products amid world toothpaste scare

BEIJING (AP) - China is stepping up controls on dental care products, state media reported Wednesday amid international alarm over Chinese toothpaste producers' use of a potentially toxic chemical found in antifreeze....More

U.S. federal spending on nutrition education programs does little, AP review says

PANORAMA CITY, Calif. (AP) - The U.S. government will spend more than US$1 billion this year on nutrition education - fresh carrot and celery snacks, videos of dancing fruit, hundreds of hours of lively lessons about how great you will feel if you eat well....More

TB-infected U.S. lawyer faces lawsuit in Quebec court over decision to fly

MONTREAL (CP) - The American personal-injury lawyer who caused a health scare after flying despite being infected with a potent form of tuberculosis is facing a lawsuit by three of his fellow passengers....More

TB-infected traveller facing lawsuit in Quebec launched by fellow passengers

MONTREAL (CP) - An American lawyer who flew into Montreal while infected with tuberculosis might be sued by some of his fellow passengers. A Montreal lawyer says he plans to file a lawsuit on behalf of three passengers who were sitting near Andrew Speaker on a flight from Prague....More

TB patient questions CDC policy on isolation, accuses centre of distortion

ATLANTA (AP) - A globe-trotting tuberculosis patient said Thursday he would have cancelled his wedding trip to Europe and gone into isolation if U.S. government health officials had told him after he was diagnosed with a dangerous form of the disease....More

Stringent security is the cost of life-saving radioactive research at U of T

TORONTO (CP) - The ever-tightening grip of post-9-11 security has extended beyond the airport and passport office to the university laboratory and construction site....More

Wax and whine: Tale of Brazilian that went south shows risk of extreme bikini wax

TORONTO (CP) - It's the story of a Brazilian wax that went south, a drive to get rid of the hair down under that nearly cost a young Australian woman her life....More

Screening embryos may reduce older women's chances of getting pregnant

LYON, France (AP) - An older woman's slim chances of getting pregnant could be made worse if embryos are screened for defects before being implanted into the womb, doctors said Wednesday....More

Ont. increases payments for northerners who must travel for medical treatment

THUNDER BAY, Ont. (CP) - Northern Ontario residents who must travel more than 100 kilometres for medical treatment will get some additional financial help, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Wednesday. Starting immediately, the province is increasing the mileage rate from 34....More

One-fifth of Chinese goods not fit for consumption: government

BEIJING (AP) - One-fifth of products made in China for domestic consumption failed quality and safety standards, the Chinese government said, while a state newspaper stressed Wednesday the need to raise quality guidelines to meet international levels....More

N.L. sets reference terms for public inquiry into breast cancer test errors

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. (CP) - The judge overseeing a public inquiry into how errors were made in hundreds of breast cancer tests in Newfoundland and Labrador will examine why the mistakes weren't found for eight years and whether health authorities could have responded sooner....More

Health unit investigating cases of E. coli at Hanover hospital

HANOVER, Ont. (CP) - The Grey-Bruce Health Unit is investigating several cases of E. coli at a Hanover hospital. The bacteria is the same strain that caused the Walkerton tainted-water disaster in 2000....More

Downgrading of TB traveller's status good news for fellow passengers

TORONTO (CP) - Word that tuberculosis-infected traveller Andrew Speaker's strain of the disease can be treated with more antibiotics than was previously thought is good news for people exposed to him on intercontinental flights the American man took in May, experts said Tuesday....More

China to strengthen controls on dental products amid world toothpaste scare

BEIJING (AP) - China is stepping up controls on dental care products, state media reported Wednesday amid international alarm over Chinese toothpaste producers' use of a potentially toxic chemical found in antifreeze....More

More than two dozen Sask health workers start strike in six health regions

REGINA (CP) - More than two dozen respiratory therapists, hospital pharmacists and other health professionals in Saskatchewan were the first to strike Tuesday to back contract demands for higher pay....More

London Shriners' bid to have Montreal hospital moved snubbed again

MONTREAL (CP) - Shriners in London, Ont., have again been snubbed in their bid to have the Montreal Shriners Hospital for Children moved to their city. Shriners meeting in Anaheim, Calif., overwhelmingly rejected on Tuesday a motion put forward by the London chapter....More

Downgrading of TB traveller's status good news for fellow passengers

TORONTO (CP) - Word that tuberculosis-infected traveller Andrew Speaker's strain of the disease can be treated with more antibiotics than was previously thought is good news for people exposed to him on intercontinental flights the American man took in May, experts said Tuesday....More

Deal reached to keep Sask health worker strike from escalating

REGINA (CP) - More than two dozen health professionals across Saskatchewan went on strike Tuesday, but an agreement has been reached to keep job action from escalating....More

Chinese authorities find problems with kids' snacks, more fake blood protein

BEIJING (AP) - Chinese inspectors found dozens of children's snacks that failed food standards and seized hundreds of bottles of fake human blood protein from hospitals, officials said Tuesday....More

China says media hyping food safety issues, warns coverage will lead to panic

BEIJING (AP) - China warned international news media against exaggerating its food safety problems and stirring consumer panic, even as its inspectors found substandard children's snacks and more fake blood protein in hospitals....More

Canadian doctors announce birth of baby from previously frozen egg

LYON, France (AP) - Canadian doctors have announced the first birth of a baby from eggs matured in a laboratory, frozen, thawed and then fertilized - a key development that holds promise for infertile women....More

All it takes is a bite of dark chocolate to lower blood pressure: German study

CHICAGO (AP) - Here's some good and bad news for chocoholics: Dark chocolate seems to lower blood pressure, but it requires an amount less than two Hershey's Kisses to do it, a small study suggests....More

Sask health workers union meets to decide on job action after talks break down

SASKATOON (CP) - Union officials meet this morning to decide what action to take after contract talks involving 2,700 Saskatchewan health-care workers broke off. A conciliator failed to get both sides together, saying they were too far apart to reach a deal....More

London's Arab quarter prepares for the worst as new English smoking ban dawns

LONDON (AP) - Shrouded in a sweet-smelling haze, clusters of men and women unwind as they inhale fragrant tobacco from water pipes in the myriad hookah cafes that line London's Arab quarter....More

Counterfeit toothpaste labelled as Colgate found to contain harmful bacteria

OTTAWA (CP) - Health Canada is warning Canadians that counterfeit toothpaste products, falsely labelled as Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Herbal and Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection, have been found to contain high levels of harmful bacteria....More

Angry Victoria residents contemplate legal action to oust needle exchange

VICTORIA (CP) - The Vancouver Island Health Authority is actively trying to save the lives of drug addicts, but residents of one Victoria neighbourhood say they shouldn't be stuck with harm reduction strategies....More

Parents stock up on gadgets and sprays to protect children at camp

NEW YORK (AP) - For kids heading off to summer camp, scribbling initials on a pair of underwear just doesn't cut it anymore....More

No research supports calling excessive video gaming an addiction: U.S. doctors

CHICAGO (AP) - The American Medical Association on Wednesday backed off calling excessive video-game playing a formal psychiatric addiction, saying instead that more research is needed....More

Canadians switch to push-reel lawn mowers for health and environment

MONTREAL (CP) - Al Hogg's mother likes to hear the clickety-click of a good old-fashioned manual lawn mover and she is not the only Canadian who has gone from polluting to pushing....More

Quebec man with multiple sclerosis misdiagnosed as insane 14 years ago

LONGUEUIL, Que. (CP) - A Quebec man, once diagnosed as insane by a neurologist, has actually been suffering from the effects of multiple sclerosis. In 2004, 14 years after his initial diagnosis, a second neurologist discovered the truth, according to a report by a media outlet....More

Sask health workers warn job action inevitable Tuesday unless deal is reached

SASKATOON (CP) - Health professionals in Saskatchewan are staying on the job for now, but their union warns that a walkout will be inevitable Tuesday unless a deal is reached. Union officials met today in Saskatoon to decide what action to take after contract talks broke down....More

Sask health workers union meets to decide on job action after talks break down

SASKATOON (CP) - Union officials meet this morning to decide what action to take after contract talks involving 2,700 Saskatchewan health-care workers broke off. A conciliator failed to get both sides together, saying they were too far apart to reach a deal....More

London's Arab quarter prepares for the worst as new English smoking ban dawns

LONDON (AP) - Shrouded in a sweet-smelling haze, clusters of men and women unwind as they inhale fragrant tobacco from water pipes in the myriad hookah cafes that line London's Arab quarter....More

Counterfeit toothpaste labelled as Colgate found to contain harmful bacteria

OTTAWA (CP) - Health Canada is warning Canadians that counterfeit toothpaste products, falsely labelled as Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Herbal and Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste Maximum Cavity Protection, have been found to contain high levels of harmful bacteria....More

Angry Victoria residents contemplate legal action to oust needle exchange

VICTORIA (CP) - The Vancouver Island Health Authority is actively trying to save the lives of drug addicts, but residents of one Victoria neighbourhood say they shouldn't be stuck with harm reduction strategies....More

Parents stock up on gadgets and sprays to protect children at camp

NEW YORK (AP) - For kids heading off to summer camp, scribbling initials on a pair of underwear just doesn't cut it anymore....More

No research supports calling excessive video gaming an addiction: U.S. doctors

CHICAGO (AP) - The American Medical Association on Wednesday backed off calling excessive video-game playing a formal psychiatric addiction, saying instead that more research is needed....More

Canadians switch to push-reel lawn mowers for health and environment

MONTREAL (CP) - Al Hogg's mother likes to hear the clickety-click of a good old-fashioned manual lawn mover and she is not the only Canadian who has gone from polluting to pushing....More