Imagine if Israel had a law like this

Can you imagine the New York Times being so respectful if Israel had a law like this on the books? The international edition of the Daily Show, a weekly compilation of the best clips from Jon Stewart’s news satire program, did not air in Britain two weeks ago, as has been well-documented by the blog Mediaite.

Perplexed viewers, seeking answers, quickly found that the apparent programming error

MRSA in Decline: England Edition

Don't know what I want
But I know how to get it
I wanna destroy passerby

-Sex Pistols "MRSA? in the UK"

MRSA rates have just reached their lowest levels in recorded history. Per a BBC report, there were 97 cases in the entire NHS in June, which represents the first time rates have been below 100. 25 hospitals had no MRSA cases in the month. C. difficile cases are also falling, so the decline is likely due to an overall emphasis on infection prevention including hand hygiene, which would impact both infections. Good news, overall.

BBC report
Guardian report

MRSA Video - If this doesn't get you excited "almost" nothing will

The video was made by The University Hospital of South Manchester.

Things to note:
1) They start off by washing their hands and not swabbing their noses
2) Ties are tucked, sleeves are rolled up and they're mostly bare below the elbows.

Source: BBC News

H1N1 Flu Deaths in the UK on the rise

Per a government report in the BBC and other UK papers, there have been 39 deaths from the flu this winter with 36 confirmed as H1N1-related while the other three were caused by influenza B.  Unlike here in the US, the UK vaccination committee does not recommend a flu "jab" for healthy children less than 5 and other children ages 5 to 15.  All but one of the deaths occurred in people <65yo. Around 20% of all ICU beds in England are now filled with confirmed or suspected influenza patients.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said "the people we would wish to vaccinate are people in at-risk groups and over 65s who can be contacted via their GP." Which makes some sense since 23/38 deaths (one patients data wasn't available yet) were from high-risk groups. However, that still leaves 40% of patients without any risk factors. Since there is no vaccine shortage, I wonder why they aren't broadening their vaccine strategy to include younger children. As it is, only 23% of currently eligible children <5 get vaccinated.

The H1N1 virus continues to attack younger children and not older adults. In English children <4yo, the influenza incidence is 184 cases/100,000 while it is only 36 cases/100,000 in those >65yo. An epidemic is defined as an incidence >200 cases/100,000.  Seems like rapid vaccination of children might be a good idea, particularly when you look at the graph below showing 2010-2011 as an active year, similar to the spring of 2008-2009 season when H1N1 began.  If H1N1 vaccine was available in spring 2009, I bet they would have promoted it more than they are promoting the vaccine now.

Oh, Happy New Year!

BBC report (12/30/2010)
Guardian report (1/1/2011)

UK Health Protection Agency Epidemiological Report 30 December 2010

ILI Activity with 2010-11 in red  - taken from UK HPA report (link above)

Aneurin Bevan

"... no society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means."

—Aneurin Bevan, In Place of Fear

I suspect many in the US will have never heard of Aneurin Bevan. I recently came across his name while reading the obituary of Michael Foot. In the wake of England's Labour Party landslide victory in 1945, Bevan was appointed Minister of Health, charged with starting the new National Health Service and asked to solve the nation's housing shortage. He was the youngest member of the cabinet. His "National Health Service Act of 1946" did not come into force until July 1948 after great fights with the conservative party and a showdown with the BMA.

It has been interesting to read the postmortem stories and talks of battles ahead. What I'm struck with are the similarities and differences between Britain's fight in 1945 and ours. Tough economic times, major housing issues (bombs vs foreclosures), landslide victory for one party and the long duration of the battle for universal coverage. At the same time, England's left nationalized healthcare and ours maintained a free-market system which will now be challenged by the "free-market" right. Oh, well. It hasn't even been a year...or has it been 65?