Health News Roundup: African swine fever, AstraZeneca's diabetes drug

Major Chinese animal feed maker Tangrenshen Group reported on Sunday that feed produced by one of its units had been contaminated with African swine fever, raising fears of its spread further across the country.

New drug options, risk factors added to U.S. heart guidelines

Updated U.S. guidelines on heart health advise more personalized assessment of risk as well as two newer types of cholesterol-lowering drugs for people at particularly high risk of heart attack or stroke. The recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, last issued in 2013, acknowledge recent research showing the benefit of very low levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, which contributes to fatty plaque buildup and narrowing of arteries.

African swine fever found in animal feed raises China's contagion risk

Major Chinese animal feed maker Tangrenshen Group reported on Sunday that feed produced by one of its units had been contaminated with African swine fever, raising fears of its spread further across the country. This is the first reported contamination of feed supplies in China and increases the concerns for pig farmers trying to avoid the disease. It also raises the economic pressure on feed manufacturers already struggling with low margins and slowing demand.

AstraZeneca's diabetes drug curbs heart failure, kidney risks

The biggest clinical trial so far to assess a new class of diabetes pills shows that AstraZeneca's Farxiga can prevent heart failure and cut the risk of kidney problems in a broad range of patients. However, the medicine - belonging to a class of treatments known as SGLT2 inhibitors - failed to show a statistically significant benefit in preventing heart attacks or strokes, even in patients with established cardiovascular (CV) disease.

China proposes new laws on vaccine management

China has proposed new draft laws on vaccine management which seek to tighten the supervision and management of how vaccines enter the country's market and will also require stricter management of their production, research and distribution. The State Administration for Market Regulation, which published the draft laws on its website late on Sunday, is soliciting public views up to Nov. 25.

WHO uncovers big national variations in antibiotics consumption

Antibiotics are used far more in some countries than in others, a survey by the World Health Organization showed on Monday, suggesting that urgent action was needed to slash unnecessary consumption of the medicines. The "WHO Report on Surveillance of Antibiotic Consumption" looked at antibiotic use in 65 countries and found the Netherlands used 9.78 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 people, while Britain used twice as much and Turkey almost twice as much again, at 38.18 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)