BMJ  2006;332:928 (22 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7547.928

News

In brief

Egypt reports its 12th case of bird flu: Egypt has reported its 12th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The patient is an 18 year old girl, who is in hospital in a stable condition. As with all other cases in Egypt, her infection has been linked to direct contact with diseased birds. Of 12 cases in Egypt, three patients have died.

Drug trial patients leave hospital: Five of the six men who became seriously ill after being given the monoclonal antibody TGN1412 in a UK phase I clinical trial have been discharged from hospital but are being followed-up closely (BMJ2006;332: 683, 25 Mar[Free Full Text]). The one man remaining in hospital is making steady progress.

Healthcare staff in Slovakia maintain strike: Slovak doctors and medical staff have pledged to continue a country-wide strike against the free market reforms of Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda indefinitely until the government agrees to discuss their demands to end plans to privatise hospitals—and a 25% pay rise.

Children's hospitals predict cash crisis: Four children's hospitals in England say they will lose a total of £22m (32m; $39m) in the coming year under the new system of payment by results. The drop in funding could lead to cuts in services at Great Ormond Street, Alder Hey, Birmingham, and Sheffield hospitals, warn chairs and chief executives in a letter to health ministers.

EU issues new advice on breast cancer: The European Commission has published the latest European Union guidelines for quality assurance of breast cancer screening and diagnosis. See http://europa.eu.int.

Survey finds high incidence of aggression in care homes: A new survey by the Alzheimer's Society of nearly 200 care homes throughout the United Kingdom has shown the high frequency of aggressive behaviour by people with dementia and the distress this causes to staff. The survey will be available at www.qrd.alzheimers.org.uk/onlinejournal.

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Relevant Article

Severe adverse reactions prompt call for trial design changes

Susan Mayor
BMJ 2006 332: 683. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]