Public Health Emergency Declared by U.S-Swine Flu Cases Rise

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said today “We are declaring today a public health emergency”. All levels of government can now start taking preparatory steps to try to contain the swine flu outbreak. 

Swine flu cases in the U.S. have risen to 20 people. Eight of those swine flu cases involved students from the Saint Francis Preparatory School in Queens, N.Y. Seven of the cases were in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.

Officials are advising to stay home if you’re sick, avoid close contact with people ,wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

The Department of Homeland Security is releasing 25% of stockpiled antivirals Tamiflu and Relenza.

Janet Napolitano said the public health emergency declaration  reagarding swine flu “sounds more severe than it really is”, However, the Center for Disease Control‘s interim deputy director for science and public health program, Anne Schuchat, Md. advised: be prepared for the possibility that there may be severe cases and even fatalities in the U.S. She also said at a news conference today, “I do fear that we will have deaths here”.

Diet Soda May Be Relief for Kidney Stone Battle

Research from the University of California, San Francisco suggests that the citrate and malate in diet soda may be enough to hinder the development of kidney stones.

Alkalis citrate and malate help counter kidney stone formation. Both were found in several diet sodas. Diet Sunkist Orange and Diet 7-Up had the highest total alkali content.

The studies were conducted using only diet soda since researchers wanted to be able to recommend something that was healthier to their patients.

The diet soda-kidney stone study was presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association. AUA spokesperson Anthony Smith, M.D. said the study “by no means suggests that patients with recurrent kidney stones should trade in their water bottles for soda cans. However, this study suggests instead that people with stone disease who do not drink soda may benefit from moderate consumption”.

Golden Girls Actress Bea Arthur Dead

“Golden Girls” Actress Bea Arthur passed away today at the age of 86. A family spokesperson said she died peacefully at her Los Angeles home early today with her family at her side. The spokesperson said Bea had cancer but declined to give any other details.

Bea Arthur had a successful stage and TV career but perhaps was best known for her role as Maude on the “Golden Girls” TV comedy show. The show ran from 1985-1992. The show and the stars earned 10 Emmys including 2 for best comedy. Arthur also won a Tony award for the musical “Mame”.

Bea’s tall stature and deep voice made her a unique figure in her career.     

Actress Bea Arthur is survived by her sons Mathew and Daniel and her two granddaughters, Kyra and Violet.