Breaking Tweets » Health

Four on Hajj killed by swine flu

Fahad Zuberi — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:06:15 +0000

The Saudi Health Ministry has announced the first four deaths from swine flu at this year’s annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

BBC reports, The Saudi government has said all pilgrims need a certificate of vaccination before they can apply for a visa. In September, the Egyptian authorities barred hundreds of Muslim pilgrims in Cairo from travelling to Mecca because of fears about the virus.

Twitter users are worried that the virus could spread and kill many more during Hajj.

mj_santos (location undisclosed) That is horrible! @AJEnglish Saudi health ministry has confirmed to Al Jazeera that four #Hajj pilgrims have died from H1N1 flu (via @omarc) 21 Nov 2009 from web

omarc (Doha, Qatar) Corrections on #Hajj #H1N1 deaths – Was a Sudanese man who died, not Algerian. He was hospitalised four days after arriving in Saudi 21 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

live_h1n1 (location undisclosed) Pilgrims Ready for Hajj, Unfazed By #SwineFlu – Islam Online : http://bit.ly/89ZYPH 21 Nov 2009 from API

MoodyMohd (Saudi Arabia) Thinking about all the people going 2 hajj mashallah 21 Nov 2009 from Echofon

somemuslim (location undisclosed) Swine Flu kills for at Hajj. Hope this isn’t part of a bigger epidemic, and that my friends and all others return safely. http://is.gd/50ur3 21 Nov 2009 from web

DavidWaldock (United Kingdom) RT @krishgm: 4 pilgrims dead from H1N1 virus in Saudi Arabia and the Hajj hasn’t even started… 21 Nov 2009 from Echofon

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Munich doctors make breakthrough in breast reconstruction

Fahad Zuberi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:17:59 +0000

Doctors in Bavaria have become the first in Europe to test a new post-mastectomy plastic surgery procedure that uses pig tissue.

News24 reports, after giving replacement breasts made from pigskin to six women in Germany, doctors in Munich detailed the new method on Thursday, saying it results in fewer scars for mastectomy patients.

Twitter users are feeling optimistic about this breakthrough. One user is even having a little fun and warning people of the pig breast cancer flu.

AngelaSS (Royston, Georgia) Make sure you don’t catch the pig breast cancer flu! http://tinyurl.com/yfdrdfw 05 Nov 2009 from web

o_m_g_w_t_f_ (location undisclosed) Reconstructive breast surgery hope from pigs: This article generated quite a few comments, Ladies of AMA if you.. http://bit.ly/VUOyR 12 Nov 2009 from twitterfeed

yagbebi (Berkshire, UK) BREAST REGROWTH AFTER CANCER ~ A pioneering medical technique developed using pigs could allow women to re-grow br (cont) http://tl.gd/tpn3 12 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

jensbeautybytes (Atlanta, Georgia) Med. miracle out of Australia: Breast Cancer patients may be able to regrow breasts …for now, it just works in pigs: http://bit.ly/44P53h 12 Nov 2009 from web

Dynasplint (USA)Using pig skin for breast implants leaves fewer scars and less risk for developing a contracture? Who knew? http://tiny.cc/qqYCk 12 Nov 2009 from web

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Medical marijuana policy a hot topic on Twitter

David Adams — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:53:07 +0000

Per The Christian Science Monitor, the Obama administration has created a new policy wherein federal officers will no longer prosecute medical marijuana users and sellers in states that have legalized the drug.

A reversal of the Bush administration policy, the Justice Department stressed that federal prosecution will only be enforced to those who abuse the amount and usage of medical marijuana in states where it is legal.

Medical marijuana advocates tweeted their feelings.

Bear082370 (Undisclosed) Medical marijuana approved under federal law as long as patients follow state laws. HUGE WIN FOR MEDICINE!!! 19 Oct 2009 from web

Druminfected (Madison, Wisconsin) Obama just passed a bill so the feds cants shut down and mess with states with medical marijuana! Such grat news, obama stepping it up 19 Oct 2009 from twidroid

PotFacts (Undisclosed) RT @legalizems @alapoet: [ACTION] Thank President Obama For Pledging To Pledging To Protect Medical #Marijuana Patients http://bit.ly/2lzZQe 19 Oct 2009 from web

DStruyk (Oregon) Good move by Obama 2 reverse stance on medical marijuana — http://bit.ly/Fciey 19 Oct 2009 from web

BazmanianDevil (Washington, D.C.) Cancer & AIDS victims rejoice today over AG’s decision to end Bush-era crackdown on medical marijuana clinics. Big win for states’ rights! 19 Oct 2009 from txt

topofthemap989 (Undisclosed) good news medical marijuana will now be untuchable by the feds for the 14 states that have that law get ready the drought is over ya dig 19 Oct 2009 from mobile web

Ozmizzle (Los Angeles, California) RT @GavinNewsom: Good move by Obama 2 reverse stance on medical marijuana — http://bit.ly/Fciey 19 Oct 2009 from Echofon

jwolf85 (Columbia, Missouri) Feds to no longer prosecute for medical marijuana use. Interesting policy change. Of course it still depends on the local and state laws. 19 Oct 2009 from web

States that have legalized medical marijuana include California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

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Large anti-abortion rally held in Madrid

Bryan Simpson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:05:34 +0000

An estimated one million people took part in an anti-abortion protest in Madrid on Saturday, backed by Roman Catholic Bishops, BBC News reports.

According to RIA Novosti, protesters were demonstrating against Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s plan to relax the country’s existing abortion laws. BBC News adds that the current law only allows abortion in cases of rape, fetal abnormality, and when the women’s physical or psychological health is at risk.

Twitterers in Spain and around the world are commenting on the rally and the issue of abortion:

jstorres2075 (Spain) Going to the prolife rally,lot of people in th bus,firts of it’s kind in Madrid http://myloc.me/14F8E 17 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

tasos (Greece) Abortion should be legal. “Big anti-abortion rally in Spain” http://tr.im/C8RD 17 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

anastasis (Undisclosed) is europe becoming conservative? the italian parliament said no to protection of gays and lesbians, & spain, 1 million against abortion 17 Oct 2009 from Echofon

spiritheals365 (Undisclosed) Can you imagine an anti-abortion crowd like this in the U.S.? : I can’t. It’s in Spain. The AP repor.. http://bit.ly/gWj90 17 Oct 2009 from twitterfeed

jsalomonsson (Barcelona, Spain) Spain, wake up, it is 2009. Everyone has a right to choose! Anti-abortion rally in Spain http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8311824.stm 17 Oct 2009 from web

steenyweeny (Undisclosed) huge abortion protest in spain: everyone who doesnt have a uterus can immediately piss off and stop telling women what they can and cant do. 17 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Some Twitterers posted TwitPics of the event.

“Puerta de Alcala a rebosar de gente que no queremos el aborto como solución al embarazo (Puerta de Alcala to the brim with people who do not want abortion as a solution to pregnancy)” per @Kikemb:

“Madrid capital of Life” per @Kikemb:

“SI a la vida, NO al aborto!” per @maribardaji:

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H1N1 vaccine being widely distributed

Lindsey Drakert — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:48:06 +0000

The H1N1 (also known as Swine Flu) vaccine is swiftly being introduced to the American public to heed the potential of a flu outbreak this winter says Chicago’s Channel 7 News. It is advised that health care workers and healthy children recieve the vaccine.

Many Twitter users are wondering where they can get the vaccine:

manimal (Undisclosed) @incanus77 where did you find h1n1 vaccine? I’ve been asking around. 13 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to incanus77

thienkim (Washington, D.C.) trying to find some info about dosage of H1N1 vaccine. where to look? 13 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

SuburbanChicken (Undisclosed) #swinefluvaccine Who here has gotten the H1N1 vaccine already? Is it even available in your area? I can’t get it yet where I live. 13 Oct 2009 from web

bcahrens (San Jose, CA) just talked to the pediatrician about H1N1 vaccine and the flu shot. They have neither at this point. 13 Oct 2009 from TwitterGadget

Others are more concerned about the newly created vaccine, worried that it may not have been properly tested in such a short time.

whatsupLuis (Los Angeles, CA) @Lilayy u got h1n1 vaccine? tell me how that goes. people told me it could be dangerous cause it wasmt tested in a lab. 13 Oct 2009 from web in reply to Lilayy

shontahiggins (Dunlap, TN) is really worried ab this swine flu bc of the babies. Got my 1st ever flu shot yesterday. Wondering what to do ab the h1n1 vaccine? 13 Oct 2009 from web

There are even others who are critical of the critics.

islandidea (Disclosed) Two words for everyone who refuses to get the H1N1 vaccine: Natural Selection 13 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Hadramie (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) First we worry about H1N1. Now we worry about its vaccine side effects. What next? 09 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

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Senate OK’s health reform bill, Obama wants more progress

David Adams — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:42:39 +0000

Per CNN, The United States Senate Finance Committee passed a health care reform bill on Tuesday, but President Barack Obama said more must be done to get it right.

“It’s time to dig in and work even harder to get this done,” said Obama of the progress of the health care reform bill. The Senate passed the health care legislation 14-9.

As it was reported earlier in the day, Maine Republican Senator Olympia Snowe voted to support the health reform bill and President Obama thanked her and the rest of the committee for “plowing forward” on an “extraordinary complicated” issue.

People on both sides of the political spectrum expressed their feelings about the bill through Twitter

pcsupergeek President Obama’s $829bn plan to reform US health care has cleared a key hurdle after it was backed by the Senate finance committee. 13 Oct 2009 from Echofon

judygruen Obama promises decision on troops in Afghanistan “in the coming weeks,” but health care reform must be passed NOW! 13 Oct 2009 from web

YantisGreen The Senate Finance Committee approves a Health Care Reform bill with one Republican vote and the Democrats call that bipartisan. Really? 13 Oct 2009 from Twitter Tools

poliquest RT @hannityshow: What’s Next?: Health care reform cleared a major hurdle Tuesday, as the Senate Finance Committee voted… http://tinyur … 13 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

darthsheelfpunk Just because one Republican voted yes, that doesn’t mean the passing of the health care reform bill was bipartisan. 13 Oct 2009 from txt

JazzieJama the Senate Finance Committee passed the Health Care Reform bill…and President Obama has remained stalwart in seeing this bill thru 13 Oct 2009 from web

mdavis7000 Health Care Reform needs the Public Option to really lower cost and cover the millions of Americans currently without coverage. 13 Oct 2009 from mobile web

moomoobrowncow Barack Obama praises Senate committee’s endorsement of health care reform: President Barack Obama has prais.. http://bit.ly/A7inL 13 Oct 2009 from twitterfeed

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Chicago Marathon attracts another year of international runners

Lindsey Drakert — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:37:01 +0000

Even after losing the Olympic bid, Chicago proves it can still put on a successful international sporting event. The 32nd Chicago Marathon took place Sunday, Oct. 12. Thirty-three thousand, four hundred eleven people finished running the 26.2 miles out of the 34,792 people who started at 7:30 a.m. Runners from 114 countries competed.

Runners tweeted about their experiences:

gfbrich (Carol Stream, IL) Forgive me for not standing today, I ran the Chicago Marathon yesterday. 12 Oct 2009 from web

Mark26pt2 (Chicago, IL) Feeling good 24 hours after chicago marathon. Need my R&R before this weekend’s marathon in Des Moines @imtdsmmarathon 12 Oct 2009 from TwitterBerry

n9zkp (Chicago, IL) Hobbling like an old(er) man after finishing the Chicago Marathon. It was great to see all the neighborhoods and people. 12 Oct 2009 from web

AnnieTowanda (West Palm Beach, Fl.) 5:30am. Knee blown out. Can’t sleep. But I finished the Chicago Marathon! Don’t know how I did the last 4, but I did….☺ 12 Oct 2009 from Twittelator

paulludwig (Chicago, IL) My whole body is aching after the running the Chicago Marathon yesterday. But it was an incredible experience! 12 Oct 2009 from web

meg_connolly (Chicago, IL) went to hell and back today–26.2 miles–Chicago Marathon 2009. woot woot!! 12 Oct 2009 from web

Twitterers who did not compete commented how they felt about the race:

MSUSteve280 (Novi, Michigan) Saw some of the Chicago marathon yesterday. Very inspiring. Hmm, odd to be inspired by something where the original runner died at the end. 12 Oct 2009 from TwitterGadget

FChristine (New York City, NY) Congrats to you that ran the Chicago marathon. 12 Oct 2009 from Echofon

zcarr (Undisclosed) Congrats to everyone who ran the Chicago marathon yesterday, very inspirational, nice work! 12 Oct 2009 from web

News Sun reports that Samuel Wanjiru, 22, from Kenya came in first and broke the Chicago Marathon record by one second with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 41 seconds. As his reward, Wanjiru took home an extra $100,000 on top of the $75,000 for first place.

Twitterers in Kenya reacted to this good news:

kairitu (Nairobi, Kenya) #mapenzifm Samuel Wanjiru won the Chicago Marathon today ….. Niice! 11 Oct 2009 from Snaptu

DStvKenya (Nairobi, Kenya) Wanjiru sets a new course record of 2:05:41 in Chicago but misses out on the world record. Too windy for the talented Kenyan… 11 Oct 2009 from web

robertalai (Nairobi, Kenya) Hey Samuel Wanjiru has won Chicago Marathon. Congrats Wanjiru #fb 11 Oct 2009 from mobile web

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Canadian researchers claim breakthrough in breast cancer

Marcus Wekenmann — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:50:11 +0000

Scientists in Canada have successfully decoded the 3-billion-letter sequence “of a metastatic lobular breast cancer tumour,” one that accounts for about one-tenth of all breast cancers, for the first time in history, according to a press release.

The scientists from BC Cancer Agency in British Columbia have uncovered all of the mutations that cause this type of tumor to spread.

The study has the potential to help scientists understand how breast cancer begins and spreads, as well as develop cutting-edge treatments.

Early tweets are flooded with optimism:

goodlifeccs (Undisclosed) Happy about the news on the breast cancer research! Go Canada! At least we can see where the money is going. Proud.. 07 Oct 2009 from web

jodyms (The Woodlands, Texas) Will the Canadian research breakthrough be a “tipping point” for breast and other cancer research? Can we dare hope? 07 Oct 2009 from web

GROCERYBAG (Chicago, Ill.)Let’s all hope this Canadian breast cancer cure is legit. 07 Oct 2009 from web

JJDaco (Undisclosed) Yay Canadian scientists and their breast cancer breakthrough. 07 Oct 2009 from API

One particular Twitterer has even more reason for optimism:

susanreynolds (Virginia) @musecrossing WOOHOO! THAT specific type of breast cancer that has just had its DNA decoded is MINE! http://news.bnonews.com/n3it 07 Oct 2009 from Seesmic in reply to musecrossing

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Drew Carey rallies for 1 million Twitter followers, $1 million for @Drew

Lisa Wyczesany — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:01:07 +0000

According to a CBS News Interview, the Price is Right Host Drew Carey (@DrewFromTv) will be donating $1 million to Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Foundation if he reaches 1 million Twitter followers by December 31, 2009.

Carey’s initiative was derived from Drew Olanoff (@Drew), a man diagnosed with Cancer in May and raising money for the foundation ever since. Olanoff also created the popular hashtag #blamedrewscancer for people to tweet about problems and essentially, blame his Cancer for anything.

Twitter users can’t stop talking about and RT’ing both Drews’ tweets in hopes of obtaining more followers for the cause.

truebosko (Kitchener, Ontario) Drew Carey is really an awesome guy for doing this: http://bit.ly/416hhz 07 Oct 2009 from web

Kelc0519 (Decatur, IL) RT @Malinky2Stoatir JOIN THE CAUSE Drew Carey Ups The Ante To $1 Mill http://www.cbsnews.com/blog… #craigferguson 07 Oct 2009 from web

Tsukiko415 (Boston) Alongside of drew carey donating money, I will donate 100 dollars to a good charity if I hit 100 followers by 11/22. Tell your friends! ^_^ 07 Oct 2009 from Echofon

sparkreport (Undisclosed) Follow Drew Carey @DrewFromTV and he will donate a bunch of money to @livestrong 07 Oct 2009 from web

At this time of writing, Drew Carey is at 53,384 followers. It’s said that other famous “Drew’s” are also getting inspired by the @Drew cause and may be in the talks of possibly starting a bidding war.

If you want to join the cause and help raise $1 million for the LiveStrong Foundation, start following @DrewFromTv.

Also use the hashtag #BlameDrewsCancer. According to Olanoff’s site, “When Drew beats Cancer we hope to have sponsors that will donate a dollar for every participant to our partner, LIVESTRONG.”

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Autism rates reported to have doubled in U.S. since 2003

Lauren McTigue — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:00:28 +0000

Twitterers are reacting to a report from the journal “Pediatrics” stating that the rates of children being diagnosed as autistic has doubled since a 2003 survey.

ABCnews.com reports that some doctors say that the number of children with autism from the study, 1 in 91, cannot be taken as an “official estimate” just yet. Pediatric physicians remain skeptical of the report because because of misdiagnoses and certain children who seem to have “outgrown” autistic behavior that was shown at a younger age.

Some Twitterers are not reassured by these possible reasons for the rise, while others have a more optimistic outlook:

beausies (Undisclosed) @JennyfromMTV when will autism be given the attention as the H1N1 pandemic? Or, when will it be considered a pandemic…? ???? 06 Oct 2009 from web in reply to JennyfromMTV

bekcheno (Australia) autism is 1 in 91 kids now. They say that the number is high cuz of misdiagnoses. What will they say when its 1 in 20. Same thing? (WTF) 06 Oct 2009 from web

Louiseasl (Central Maryland) RT @autismexpo: Autism now 1 in 91: What is happening? And why isn’t anyone shocked? – http://shar.es/14Ba8 06 Oct 2009 from Echofon

KeishaLove (Michigan) Simply put….we need more #AUTISM awareness & less cover ups on the cause(s) of #autism 06 Oct 2009 from mobile web

suecwebber (Los Angeles, Calif. & Beijing) 1 in 100 children have autism disorders?!http://bit.ly/kkzTb Can this be cured?! and and is this genetic?! 06 Oct 2009 from web

P1AutismMom (San Diego, Calif.) Need to get hold of ourselves, take a breath & take fresh look at symptoms clearly defined in DSM1V. Hysteria does not serve us well #autism 06 Oct 2009 from web

Retweets and questions came in from Jenny McCarthy, @JennyfromMTV, who is a well known advocate for autism research and awareness as her son was diagnosed with autism and has recovered a great deal.

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