File photo of a migrating flock of snow geese in Canada. (Pchoui/iStock/Getty Images)

Flu experts gather with H5N1 risk on the agenda

Threat to humans from current strain seen as low

London | Reuters — The world’s leading experts on influenza met this week to discuss the threat posed to humans by a strain of H5N1 avian flu that has caused record numbers of bird deaths around the world in recent months. The group of scientists, regulators and vaccine manufacturers meets twice a year to decide […] Read more

(UCCS.ucdavis.edu)

U.S. court blocks California cancer label on Roundup

WHO agency's ruling alone insufficient, judge says

Reuters — A U.S. federal appeals court on Monday blocked California from requiring that Bayer label its glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup with a cancer warning, handing the company a victory in its ongoing litigation over the product. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge William Shubb called California’s cancer warning misleading and said the state’s label is […] Read more


The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France on June 12, 2017. (Reuters file photo by Robert Pratta)

WHO seeks new director for cancer agency facing U.S. scrutiny

London | Reuters – The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a new leader for its France-based cancer research agency to replace the current director, Chris Wild, from January 2019. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a semi-autonomous unit of the WHO, is currently under scrutiny by influential members of the United States […] Read more

Photo: File

Stop using antibiotics in healthy animals, WHO urges farmers

London | Reuters – The World Health Organization urged farmers on Tuesday to stop using antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals because the practice fuels dangerous drug-resistant superbug infections in people. Describing a lack of effective antibiotics for humans as “a security threat” on a par with “a sudden and deadly […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Tim Hortons parent updates antibiotic policy for chicken

The parent company for the Tim Hortons and Burger King chains has tightened up its pledge to curb the use of antibiotics by its chicken suppliers. Restaurant Brands International on Thursday released its first “Sustainability Report,” outlining its work during 2016 in support of “sustainable practices that promote positive change.” Back in late December, Oakville, […] Read more


(Keith Weller photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

WHO says bird flu outbreaks raise alarm

London | Reuters — The risk of sustained human-to-human transmission of H7N9 avian flu in China is low, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, but a surge in human cases there is worrying and requires constant monitoring. Outbreaks of H5 bird flu strains in poultry and wild birds across Europe, Africa and Asia are […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

McDonald’s investor renews push to cut antibiotics in all meat

Reuters — A McDonald’s Corp. shareholder is redoubling efforts to convince the fast-food chain to stop all of its global restaurants from serving the meat of animals raised with antibiotics that are vital for fighting human infections. More than 70 per cent of medically important antibiotics in the U.S. are sold for livestock use. Scientists […] Read more



(WHO.int)

Can coffee cause cancer? Only if it’s very hot, says WHO agency

London | Reuters — There is no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency said Wednesday, in a reverse of its previous warning, but it also said all “very hot” drinks are probably carcinogenic. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously rated coffee as “possibly […] Read more