Health Headlines - September 3

Nigeria Cholera Outbreak Kills 30

A cholera outbreak in northeastern Nigeria has killed 30 people, officials said Friday.

Range of Medicines Needed for Storm Relief

Six truckloads of medical materials from the Strategic National Stockpile are headed to hurricane-stricken Louisiana and Mississippi, and 10 temporary hospitals should open at area military bases by Friday night.

Theory: Mad Cow May Have Come From Humans

A new theory proposes that mad cow disease may have come from feeding British cattle meal contaminated with human remains infected with a variation of the disease.

FDA Approves Drug for Short Children

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to treat children who suffer from a condition that prevents them from growing, the drug's manufacturer says.

Ohio High School Has 64 Pregnant Students

Thirteen percent of the female students at Timken Senior High School in Ohio are pregnant. High school senior Monica Selby thought she would be busy this year planning for college, not preparing for the birth of her first child.

CDC Recommends Flu Shot Priority Rankings

Hoping to avoid last year's flu vaccine shortage, federal health officials Thursday urged doctors and other health officials to give the first batch of flu shots to people at risk of severe complications.

Report: Better Tracking Needed for Illness

Federal health officials need better access to airline passenger lists so they can quickly locate those who may have been exposed to infectious diseases during a flight, a major gap in the nation's border defenses, says a new report.

U.N.: Cholera Has Killed 500 in Africa

A cholera epidemic spreading across West Africa has sickened tens of thousands of people this year and killed nearly 500 amid a long-term deterioration in health services in one of the world's poorest regions, the United Nations said Thursday.

Mo. Can Cut Medical Equipment Payments

A federal judge decided to let Missouri move ahead with plans to stop paying for certain medical equipment while he considers a lawsuit aiming to stop the cuts.

Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Testicular Cancer?

Testicular cancer, which usually strikes men ages 15 to 34, is one of the most common tumors seen in men under age 40, according to Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

All men in this age group should conduct monthly self-exams, especially those who may be more prone to testicular cancer.

The following factors may increase your risk:

You are a white male between the ages of 15 and 40.
You have undescended or late-descended testes.
There is a family history of testicular cancer.
You've been diagnosed with inguinal hernia.

Health Tip: When Your Children Are Grieving

When a family member dies, children react differently than adults. Some may act like nothing has changed, others may become more infantile, and certain kids will even blame themselves.

But how do you know whether your child's behavior is normal or something more serious?

According to Barnes Jewish Hospital, if your child shows one or more of the following signs, professional help may be needed:

An extended period of depression in which your child loses interest in daily activities or events.
Inability to sleep, loss of appetite, prolonged fear of being alone.
Acting much younger than actual age for an extended period.
Excessively imitating the dead person.
Repeated statements of wanting to join the dead person.
Withdrawal from friends.
Sharp drop in school performance or refusal to attend school.