Bhinneka News Online: Reuters Health Report: February 12, 2018

Monday, 12 February 2018

Reuters Health Report: February 12, 2018

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Monday, February 12, 2018

Organizers confirm 177 total norovirus cases at Pyeongchang

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organizers (POCOG) said on Monday a total of 177 norovirus cases had been confirmed so far at the Games but that the athletic delegations remained unaffected.

Norway to buy Biogen's Spinraza medicine: broadcaster NRK

OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian authorities will buy the rare-disease treatment Spinraza for patients from U.S. drugmaker Biogen Inc at a cost of 7 million Norwegian crowns ($880,381.33) per year per patient, public broadcaster NRK reported on Monday.

OxyContin maker stops promoting opioids, cuts sales staff

(Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP said on Saturday that it has cut its sales force in half and will stop promoting opioids to physicians, following widespread criticism of the ways that drugmakers market addictive painkillers.

U.S. flu outbreak worsens, likely to linger for weeks: CDC

(Reuters) - One of the worst flu outbreaks in the United States in nearly a decade worsened last week and will likely linger for several weeks, causing more deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

Olympics: Norovirus outbreak tapers off as Games get underway

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organizers said on Saturday that 11 new cases of a virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea had been confirmed at the Games, bringing the total to 139.

Even without nicotine, e-cigarettes can still damage lungs

(Reuters Health) - E-cigarette liquids sweetened with flavorings like vanilla and cinnamon may harm the lungs even when they don't contain nicotine, a U.S. study suggests.

Hand-me-down plastic toys may not be good for kids

(Reuters Health) - Children who play with second-hand plastic toys may be exposed to unsafe levels of chemicals like lead and cadmium that have been linked to developmental problems and organ damage, a UK study suggests.

U.S. budget deal grants $1.5 billion for drug-affected babies, families

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. budget deal adopted by Congress on Friday includes what advocates call a landmark compromise to provide an estimated $1.5 billion over 10 years to try to keep struggling families together, including those with babies born dependent on opioids.

Tobacco firms in France cheated nicotine tests: anti-smoking body

PARIS (Reuters) - Four tobacco companies operating in France manipulated tests to conceal the real level of nicotine and tar contained in cigarettes, endangering the lives of smokers, a French anti-smoking organization alleged in a legal complaint.

Roche wins UK watchdog's nod for lymphoma drug after initial snub

ZURICH (Reuters) - Britain's healthcare watchdog (NICE) recommended Roche's medicine Gazyvaro for previously untreated advanced follicular lymphoma patients after initially rejecting the Swiss drugmaker's medicine last year as too expensive.