Swine fever, cannabis to fight psychosis, HIV drugs and more: Health News Roundup

China probably underreporting swine fever: U.S. Agriculture's Perdue

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in China's hogs is probably bigger than what has been reported publicly, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Thursday. "We think that it probably has been underreported in China - the way they're able to control their media about that," Perdue said at Landus Cooperative office in Ames, Iowa.

Yes, cuddles can help ease babies' pain from needle sticks

Babies have long been offered a bit of sugar water or breastmilk to comfort them during needle sticks, and a new study suggests these methods of pain relief may work even better when babies are also nestled in their mothers' arms. Researchers randomly assigned 80 healthy three-day-old infants getting a needle stick in their heel for blood tests to receive one of four types of pain relief: sugar water while they were on a changing table; pumped breast milk while they were on a changing table; sugar water while they were held by their mothers; or breastmilk directly from their mothers.

Scientists unpick how cannabis component may fight psychosis

British scientists have unraveled how a non-intoxicating component of cannabis acts in key brain areas to reduce abnormal activity in patients at risk of psychosis, suggesting the ingredient could become a novel anti-psychotic medicine. While regular use of potent forms of link cannabis can increase the chances of developing psychosis, the chemical cannabidiol or CBD appears to have the opposite effect.

Bayer's hemophilia A treatment gets U.S. FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved Bayer AG's long-acting treatment for hemophilia A, a rare genetic disorder in which blood does not clot easily, the company said in a statement. The injection, marketed under the name Jivi https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bayer-receives-fda-approval-for-jivi-new-hemophilia-a-treatment-with-step-wise-prophylaxis-dosing-regimen-300704579.html, has been approved for previously treated patients and adolescents aged 12 years or older and helps replace the reduced or missing protein, factor VIII, required to form blood clots.

China reports the fifth case of African swine fever

African swine fever has infected 185 pigs on a farm in eastern China's Anhui province, the country's fifth case of the deadly disease in less than a month amid growing concerns about the rapid spread of infection in the world's largest hog herd. The outbreak killed 80 of 459 hogs on a farm in Nanling county in Wuhu city, with the remaining 379 culled, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Thursday. The farm is 350 km (217 miles) directly west of Shanghai.

FDA approves two new HIV drugs from Merck

Merck & Co Inc said on Thursday the U.S. Food And Drug Administration approved two of its HIV oral drugs, nearly two months ahead of schedule. The drugs have been approved to treat adults with the most common strain of the virus, HIV-1, and target patients who have received no prior antiretroviral treatment, Merck said.

Russian trolls fan flames in U.S. vaccine debate

Some of the same Twitter accounts that tried to influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election have sent messages to amplify strong views - both pro and con - about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, a U.S. study suggests. The biggest problem with this is that there shouldn't be a debate at all, said lead study author David Broniatowski, a professor of engineering management and systems engineering at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Parents need screen time limits, too, pediatricians say

As much as children need limits on their smartphone use and screen time on other devices, parents need "off-hours" time, too, according to a new resource published in JAMA Pediatrics. Children learn smartphone habits from their parents, so it's important to make time to unplug and "single-task," prioritize quality time with children, and resist the urge to document everything, the authors write.

Weight gain tied to heart risk in U.S. pro football players

Former U.S. National Football League (NFL) athletes who bulked up before and during their professional careers have an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems compared with other players, researchers say. The study results published in the American Journal of Medicine add to the concerns over the short- and long-term health risks of the game, the authors write.

The UK considers banning 'energy drink' sales to children in England

The sale of high-caffeine soft drinks to children could be banned in England, the British government said on Thursday, citing public health concerns. The so-called 'energy drinks' contain high levels of sugar and caffeine and have been linked to obesity and a range of other health issues.