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New Asian 'superbug' spreads to UK

Drug-resistant bacteria could end the use of antibiotics, scientists warnedInternational travel and medical tourism helped the spread of drug-resistant bacteria that could lead to the end of antibiotics, scientists have warned.

A new gene, NDM-1, emerged which allows bacteria to be highly resistant to almost all antibiotics, the scientists said.

NDM-1 spread in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. But it was also found in 37 patients from the UK, who travelled to India or Pakistan for medical procedures including cosmetic surgery, according to an article published in The Lancet.

Virologists warn of H1N1 during SWC

Last updated: Tuesday, May 11, 2010, Published on Health24.com - http://www.health24.com/news/Flu_Influenza/1-912,56129.asp

Virologists warned the public ahead of the Soccer World Cup on Tuesday that the H1N1 virus could survive up to 48 hours outside the human body -- more than enough time to infect people.

The Hygiene Hypothesis Explained - Backgrounder

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The Hygiene Hypothesis: Consensus Statement from the Hygiene Council

The Hygiene Council has reviewed the evidence and concludes that there is no scientific evidence to support the Hygiene Hypothesis. The practice of increased hygiene such as hand washing and surface disinfection has been scientifically shown to reduce infection and decrease levels of illness and mortality and does not correlate with any increase in atopic (allergic) diseases.

While it is recognised that some exposure to microbes is an important step in the process of ‘natural immunization’, exposure to harmful pathogens that can cause disease is unnecessary and preventable. Based on this reasoning, the Hygiene Council agrees that the term ‘Microbial Deprivation Hypothesis’ would be a better description of the theory currently known as the ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’.

The practice of good hygiene and targeted disinfection is critical with regards to disease prevention; it can truly be said that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’.