Swine flu to remain a threat for 'years to come'

Although the World Health Organization may have said that Swine Flu was now in "post-pandemic" phase, this isn't stopping New Zealand health authorities who continue to actively promote healthy measures to protect against the H1N1 virus, the New Zealand Press Association reports.

The WHO, as it is known, has reportedly recognized that New Zealand is still experiencing some effects from a second wave of the virus, which reached global newsstands last year in a flurry of media coverage.

According to the NZPA:

WHO director-general Margaret Chan said the virus had not gone away.

"We expect the H1N1 virus to take on the behaviour of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come," she said.

The step to downgrade followed advice given Tuesday by the WHO's advisory emergency committee of 15 external scientists, who heard presentations from health officials from countries reporting cases of H1N1, including New Zealand.

Ms Chan said globally, levels and patterns of H1N1 transmission differed significantly from what was seen during the pandemic with out-of-season outbreaks no longer being reported.

[Read full article]

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Stuff opens up a fat can of hate comments

An article appeard on the country's top news website (the same story was also featured on the popular current affairs program Close Up), today, outlining how two women who have struggled to lose weight and are on death's door should they continue at their current weight, have been denied previously promised surgery to reduce their stomach size.

Perhaps the best illustration of New Zealand's - and indeed the world's - misguided and misinformed attitude towards obesity and weight loss surgery is to read the comments submitted below the story.

Some are sympathetic, some are informed - some are somewhat offensive. Here are some highlights of the more direct comments:

mike chch   #152   12:50 pm Jun 14 2010

why make the tax payer pay for something that these individuals have done to themselves, what about private health insurance, or how about paying for elective surgery yourself. you ate the food, no one held a gun to your head and told you to eat it. you should pay your own costs, or but a stairmaster!

nice one johnny #61 and cecelia #65, i totally agree with you.

not much sympathy from me for any obese people, but obesity is self inflicted.

johnny   #93   10:34 am Jun 14 2010

i know how to fix this, put the pies down and do some physical activity. why should my tax payer dollars pay for an operation just beacause you cant control yourself. have you heard of a salad?

CN   #92   10:31 am Jun 14 2010

"I eat healthy and I exercise...."

How many times have I heard people say that and then you see then dilly dallying around in the gym thinking they are working hard yet they arent even breaking a sweat and their heart rate hasnt moved since they got out of bed in the morning, and then they down a bottle of electrolyte as they have 'worked so hard'.

You can not cheat on exercise and diet, as at the end of the day the only one who suffers is you.

Find out what it really means to exercise properly and eat healthily and people might be extremely surprised to discover that what they do is a LONG way from that. 

Read the article and the comments here. 

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Chain smoking baby down to just 15 cigarettes each day

The baby who tragically smokes several packs a day has reportedly had his smoking intake cut down to just 15 cigarettes each day.

A child welfare official said that the monumental cutback was due to play based rehabilitation for the two year old indonesian baby.

The Government has reportedly pledged to buy the family a car should their child, named Ardi, stop smoking. "He looks pretty healthy to me. I don't see the problem," says his dad. 

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MP calls for danger alerts on alcohol products

Sue Kedgley, an MP for the Green Party, is calling for distinctive warnings on alcohol products following the death of schoolboy James Webster.

The Kings College student died after consuming an entire bottle of straight spirits and falling into an alcohol induced coma.

According to the Sunday News:

James' uncle, Donald Webster, suspected his nephew didn't know the difference between the vodka and similar-sized pre-mixed vodka and fruit juice drinks popular with young drinkers.

The RTDs contains around 8 percent alcohol compared to straight vodka which ranges from 35 to 50 percent alcohol.

Current labelling on booze bottles show the alcohol content and approximate standard drinks in small print.

But Kedgley said the warnings should be as prominent as those on cigarette packets.

"The idea is to hook them young, get them at an early age", Kedgley said of alcohol companies, "which to me is predatory".

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