KVAL - News - Health

Tamiflu-resistant swine flu cluster reported in NC

Health officials say four people in North Carolina have tested positive for a type of swine flu that's resistant to the drug Tamiflu. It's the first cluster of that many cases seen in the U.S.

The kids are all right: Hospitals lift ban on child visitors

Report: 20-somethings can go 2 years between Paps

New guidelines by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say most women in their 20s can have a Pap smear every two years instead of annually to catch slow-growing cervical cancer.

Call the free Flu Hotline before you go to the doctor

Before you rush to the clinic or hospital, there's a simple call you can make. Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline (1-800-978-3040) now has nurses to talk to about symptoms, prevention advice, concerns about flu exposure, taking care of others and when to see a doctor.

Military experiment seeks to predict PTSD

The U.S. Marine Corps is conducting a military experiment to try to predict who's most at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. Understanding underlying triggers might help reduce the burden of those who return psychologically wounded - if they can get early help.

FDA panel backs safety, benefits of Spiriva

Federal health experts on Thursday brushed off lingering safety questions about a popular inhaler drug and suggested it carry bolder benefit claims.

Oregon cat first in U.S. to die from H1N1 swine flu

One week, Rhonda Rebmann's niece had the flu. The next, her 10-year-old tabby cat started showing respiratory symptoms. Buddy Lou died four days after she brought the cat to the family's veterinarian, the first feline H1N1 death in the United States.

Tests show water in Cottage Grove now OK to drink

The notice to boil drinking water in the Northeast portion of the City of Cottage Grove has been lifted. Test results from the water samples taken on Tuesday evening have been analyzed and no harmful bacteria or contaminants were found.

Experts say radical measures won't stop swine flu

Health experts say extraordinary measures against swine flu - most notably quarantines imposed by China, where entire planeloads of passengers were isolated if one traveler had symptoms - have failed to contain the disease.

Study: CT scans rule out heart attacks faster

CT scans are increasingly used to diagnose problems because they give a deep, detailed view inside the body. But they put out a lot of radiation, which may raise a person's chances of developing cancer.