►December 9, 2003 - Singapore not going to widen flu vaccination advisory -  www.channelnewsasia.com - "Health Ministry experts have come out to say there is no need to panic about the flu as there is no serious outbreak of influenza in Singapore...
So if you are a generally healthy adult, you don't need to rush out and get a flu jab."

►December 22, 2003 - IRAN: Mammoth vaccination drive will benefit 33 million - IRIN

►January 1, 2004 - Lawmaker urges vaccine planning - Bad deal sparks call for change - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - "The vice chairman of the state House Health and Human Services Committee said he was disappointed by health officials' handling of the botched flu vaccine deal, and he wants to see plans to ensure it won't happen again."

►January 1, 2004 - WHO praises Hong Kong's polio eradication drive - www.chinaview.cn - "Hong Kong has maintained impressive high-quality immunization services and certification standards on surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis, despite extraordinary demands put on the health services system by the SARS outbreak."

►December 31, 2003 - Anthrax Vaccine Safe, FDA Says - Washington Post via www.immunizationinfo.org (abstract)

►December 30, 2003 - Experts Seek New Effort to Control Hepatitis A - New York Times via www.immunizationinfo.org (abstract)

►December 30, 2003 - Gabon: Bongo Aims to Vaccinate 80 Percent of Children in 2004 - Africa News Service via www.immunizationinfo.org (abstract)

►December 29, 2003 - Egypt Announces Intention to Manufacture Typhoid Vaccine - BBC News via www.immunizationinfo.org (abstract)

►December 30, 2003 - Meningitis Drops in 2003, Despite Several Recent Cases - Boston Globe via www.immunizationinfo.org (abstract) - "New Hampshire health officials have disclosed that the strain of meningitis that killed an 18-year-old woman in the Bennington area is not the same strain that infected two 15-year-old students in Keene, allaying fears that an outbreak of the dangerous illness is erupting. In addition, two other youths who contracted meningitis last week appear to have no relation to any of the other cases. In fact, the rate of meningitis infection has dropped in 2003 despite this recent jump in the disease's visibility."

►December 29, 2003 - Grim Race Against Disease Grips Iran Quake Zone - Reuters via www.immunizationinfo.org (abstract)

►December 29, 2003 - Flu outbreak sparks push to vaccinate - Centre Daily Times via www.kansas.com

►December 29, 2003 - Advanced BioScience aiming at HIV vaccine - (subscription required) - The Daily Record

►December 30, 2003 - 'Unlimited Potential' program offers hope - New therapy surfaces in the treatment of autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and brain injuries. - www.thetimesonline.com 

►December 29, 2003 - Changes in autism funding leave many questions - The Sheboygan Press  

►December 29, 2003 - Medicaid funding cuts leave autistic children searching for help - The Sheboygan Press 

►December 30, 2003 - New Test for Cognitive Impairment - Archives of Neurology via Ivanhoe

►January 1, 2004 - Multi-pronged approach - As the problems of the learning disabled are manifold, opting for a combination of therapies may be a better way of helping them. Pang Hin Yue talks to two experts in Auditory Integration Therapy and Mediated Learning Experience. - The Star Online - "There is no single solution when it comes to helping children with autism, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, pervasive developmental disorder and other learning disabilities...As more scientists agree that the way in which the brain functions is influenced by a person's biological make-up and environmental factors, a multi-disciplinary approach is encouraged in seeking treatments for persons with learning disabilities." 

►December 31, 2003 - Inside the mercurial Bush policy on mercury pollution - Nearly 2 years of work by EPA panel dumped - "For nearly 21 months, a government task force steadily moved toward recommending rules that within three years would force every coal-fired power plant in the country to reduce emissions of mercury, which can cause neurological and developmental damage to humans...But in April, the EPA abruptly dismantled the panel. John Paul, its co- chairman, said members were given no clue why their work was halted -- that is, until late last month, when the Bush administration revealed it was taking an entirely different approach, using a more flexible portion of the Clean Air Act."

►December 29, 2003 - N.H. struggles with bacterial meningitis cases - Scientists are examining a strain of bacterial meningitis and trying to make links among five teenagers who contracted the brain-swelling disease. One of them has died. - AP via CNN

►December 29, 2003 - Parents Cautioned About Flu Warning Signs - www.wcpo.com

►December 29, 2003 - Kids' Acting Out May Signal Asthma Onset - Reuters Health

►December 29, 2003 - Breast-Saving Cancer Surgery OK for Young Women - Reuters Health

►December 29, 2003 - Delayed Diagnosis Explains Worse Breast Cancer Survival in Europe Than U.S. - (registration required) - Reuters Health via www.medscape.com

►December 30, 2003 - Aventis Submits New Drug Application to FDA for Asthma Drug Alvesco® (ciclesonide) - Marks successful completion of four new product submissions in 2003 - Aventis Press Release

►December 29, 2003 - New mad cow disease test would give quicker results - San Jose Mercury News via www.kentucky.com

►December 29, 2003 - How Not to Relate With HIV-Positive People - This Day (Lagos) via www.allafrica.com

►December 26, 2003 - Preventive Antibiotics for Syphilis Found Feasible - Reuters Health

►December 12, 2003 - Ebola blamed in tragic decline of great apes - Emergency meeting aimed at staving off extinction from disease, poaching, habitat destruction - MSNBC

►December 29, 2003 - Carbon monoxide poisoning mimics flu symptoms - AP via www.kobtv.com

►December 27, 2003 - New weapon against asthma - Scientists have identified a new class of drug which could dramatically boost the weaponry against asthma - BBC

►December 28, 2003 - Health Resolutions Recommended for Kids - AP via Yahoo!

►December 29, 2003 - Magnesium Prevents Cerebral Palsy? - Ivanhoe

►December 2003 - Change in health risk perception following community intervention in Central Havana, Cuba - journal article (Health Promotion International)

►December 28, 2003 - How could this happen? A prominent family's son dies of starvation - (registration or subscription required) - Times Herald-Record

►December 30, 2003 - Growth hormones given the all-clear - AAP via The Age

►December 29, 2003 - Research examines mind over body - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via www.mhnet.org

►December 30, 2003 - Healthbeat: Hot flashes too bad for some women to quit hormones; antidepressants an option - AP via www.fox23news.com

►December 29, 2003 - Doctors: Learn Manners or Fail - Ivanhoe - "Up until 1964, medical students were actually tested on their bedside manner. Forty years later, that concept is back with an updated test. Starting with the class of 2005, all future doctors will be tested on their ability to communicate with a patient."

*Note:  Starting December 10, 2003 news will be posted in the "daily news" pages based on when it was posted on this website, not by publication date.