News bites: Top stories

Polio outbreaks in Yemen and Indonesia - Outbreaks of polio in Yemen and Indonesia and the threat of polio returning to troubled regions of Africa have dealt a blow to the World Health Organization's polio eradication programme in what was meant to be the final year of a 17 year campaign. A total of 63 cases of polio have been identified in Yemen, and last week four cases were confirmed in Indonesia. Bruce Aylward, coordinator of WHO's global polio eradication programme, remains hopeful that polio can be eradicated next year: "Twenty years from now, when polio is long gone, I don't think anyone will be worrying whether we missed the target by six months. The important thing is not to let up, now that we're so nearly there" (BMJ 2005;330:1106).

WHO reports on health risks - The top 10 health risks globally are underweight in children and mothers; unsafe sex; high blood pressure; tobacco; alcohol; unsafe water and poor sanitation and hygiene; high cholesterol; indoor smoke from solid fuels; iron deficiency; and overweight or obesity. These account for more than 40% of the 57 million deaths occurring worldwide each year, says the World Health Organization.

Italy to ease smoking restrictions The newly appointed Italian health minister, Francesco Storace, has declared that he will not continue what he described as his predecessor's excessive measures in favour of healthier lifestyles, in particular against smoking. He is a former smoker and is planning to make it easier for bars and restaurants to have smoking areas. See Life p 256-8.

Cannabis users have 10-fold increased risk of car crashes - A New Zealand survey of 571 drivers of cars involved in crashes, in which at least one occupant was admitted to hospital or killed, showed those who habitually used cannabis were 9.5 times more likely to be involved in crashes than non-users (Addiction 2005;100:605-11).



studentBMJ 2005;13:221-264 June ISSN 0966-6494