CDC chief boldly picks 6 ‘winnable battles’ for health focus, angering advocates left out

CDC chief picks 6 ‘winnable battles’ in health

Cigarettes could be snuffed out in Central Park as NYC pursues park, beach smoking ban

NYC to try banning smoking in parks and at beaches

Scottish study: Smoking bans help curb number of children hospitalized for asthma

Smoking bans help curb kids’ severe asthma attacks

Fear over China’s plan to vaccinate millions for measles highlights growing public distrust

China mass measles vaccination plan sparks outcry

Chain-smoking Greeks face tough new ban after previous restrictions were mostly ignored

Chain-smoking Greeks face tough ban

ATHENS, Greece — Greece is set to impose a tough smoking ban starting Wednesday that will outlaw lighting up in all public indoor areas and prohibit most tobacco advertising.

HEALTHBEAT: Plenty of vaccine on hand as season to get flu shots rolls around a bit early

Time to get your flu shot, but just one this year

Catching up to private insurance, Medicare expands coverage for counseling to quit smoking

Will grandma ever quit smoking?

WASHINGTON — Medicare is catching up to most private insurers by providing counseling for any beneficiary who’s trying to quit smoking. More than 4 million seniors are hooked on cigarettes.

Federal appeals court upholds decision that vaccines do not cause autism

Appeals court rejects autism vaccine link

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a ruling that vaccines are not to blame for autism.

Virginia judge recommends $12 million settlement in salmonella outbreak tied to peanut company

Judge recommends $12M settlement on bad peanuts

Cameroon: 155 die, more than 2,000 affected in country’s worst cholera outbreak in years

UNICEF: 155 die in Cameroon cholera outbreak

World Health Organization says swine flu pandemic is over

WHO says swine flu pandemic is over

GENEVA — The World Health Organization declared the swine flu pandemic officially over Tuesday, months after many national authorities started canceling vaccine orders and shutting down telephone hot lines as the disease ebbed from the headlines.

WHO says decision on whether to downgrade swine flu pandemic is likely Tuesday

WHO: Decision on swine flu pandemic likely Tuesday

Obama, Clinton, speaking to AIDS conference by video, pledge US support for AIDS fight

U.S. President Barack Obama
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Global AIDS conference warns of growing epidemic in Eastern Europe, Central Asia

AIDS spreading in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

WHO: People on AIDS drugs climbs to 5.2 million after 1.2 million increase in 2009

Former US President Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton speaks at int’l AIDS conference, calls for more efficient use of funding

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AIDS conference chief calls for universal access to treatment of deadly disease

AIDS conference chief lashes out at world leaders

Calif. legislators consider scrapping state rock designation of mineral that contains asbestos

Calif may dump ’state rock’ that contains asbestos

New meningitis vaccine could stop deadly outbreaks across Africa, experts say

New meningitis vaccine could stop outbreaks

Mexico declares official end to swine flu alert after 14 months, and 1,289 deaths

Mexico declares end to 14-month swine flu scare

Experts: Misguided policies that criminalize drug users fuel AIDS epidemic

Experts urge reform of global drug policy

VIENNA — Policies that criminalize drug users fuel the spread of AIDS and should be reformed, experts preparing for an international conference said Monday.

WHO chief rejects claim that swine flu decision was influenced by advisers’ drug company links

WHO: Pharma interests didn’t influence flu verdict

Wis. set to launch media blitz ahead of statewide smoking ban

Wis. to launch statewide smoking ban ad blitz

European rights watchdog: WHO’s handling of swine flu outbreak was wasteful, unjustified scare

Council of Europe slams WHO handling of swine flu

WHO chief says swine flu is still a pandemic though period of most intense activity passed

WHO chief says swine flu is still a pandemic

WHO says measles making ‘rapid comeback’ as countries pledge sharp cut in deaths by 2015

WHO says measles making ‘rapid comeback’

GENEVA — Measles is making a rapid comeback in African, Asian and even some European countries despite being easily avoided through vaccination, the World Health Organizations said Friday as countries pledged to sharply cut infections and deaths worldwide by 2015.

New strategy to wipe out polio may be last shot to eradicate it before money runs out

New strategy may be last shot to get rid of polio

Gates-linked vaccine group supports likely WHO resolution to fight pneumonia in poorer nations

Vaccine body supports WHO action on pneumonia

Bill Gates checks on progress of polio eradication program in remote village in eastern India

Bill Gates checks up on polio eradication in India

5 weeks before World Cup, WHO alerts visitors to South Africa of Rift Valley Fever outbreak

WHO alerts visitors to SAfrica of fever outbreak

No ifs, ands or butts: Michigan braces for smoking ban to kick in at 6 a.m. Saturday

Michigan’s workplace smoking ban begins Saturday

Chairman hopes to tackle bias among members of panel reviewing WHO’s response to swine flu

Chair seeks to tackle bias in WHO swine flu review

Paraguay bans smoking in restaurants, bars, malls, other closed spaces where people gather

Paraguay bans smoking in all closed public spaces

GlaxoSmithKline agrees to cut British government’s order of H1N1 swine flu vaccine

UK goverment cuts Glaxo swine flu vaccine order

WHO: Independent experts to review swine flu outbreak, UN body’s response starting April 12

Outside experts to review WHO’s swine flu response

Correction: WHO drug-resistant TB story

Correction: WHO drug-resistant TB story

LONDON — In a March 18 story about drug-resistant tuberculosis, The Associated Press reported erroneously that there were no U.S. cases in 2008 of extensively drug-resistant TB. There were four cases in 2008 and no cases in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thai protesters give blood then pour it on government headquarters to push for new elections

Thai protesters give blood then pour it on streets

Thai protesters give own blood to pour in Bangkok to pressure government to hold elections

Thai protesters give blood to pour on streets

94 found to have lead poisoning in SW China; authorities order lead ingot factory to close

94 people in SW China found to have lead poisoning

Special court rejects claims that vaccines with mercury preservative caused autism

Court says thimerosal did not cause autism

Supreme Court steps into dispute over parents’ lawsuits against vaccine makers

Court will hear case about vaccine side effects

WHO: polio vaccination for over 85 million children starts in 19 African countries

WHO: over 85M African kids get polio vaccination

Shanghai scrambles to implement ban on smoking in indoor public places ahead of World Expo

Shanghai declares indoor smoking ban ahead of Expo

Shanghai scrambles to implement ban on smoking in public places ahead of World Expo

Shanghai declares smoking ban ahead of World Expo

Smoking ban starting in most areas of Michigan International Speedway after state law change

MIS bans smoking in most areas after law change

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