Millions stretch and bend on International Day of Yoga in India

Here is the latest Health News from Reuters.

Millions stretch and bend on International Day of Yoga in India
CHANDIGARH, India (Reuters) – Millions across India on Tuesday celebrated the International Day of Yoga, the country’s signature cultural export, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi joining 30,000 participants in a mass session of exercise and meditation.

Exclusive: In Zika-struck Puerto Rico, trouble delivering donated contraceptives
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Only a small fraction of contraceptives donated in Puerto Rico to prevent Zika-related birth defects are expected to get to the women who need them this month, public health officials told Reuters.

Australian watchdog sues Heinz over ‘Little Kids’ health claims
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s consumer watchdog on Tuesday sued the Australian subsidiary of U.S.-based Kraft Heinz Co alleging it falsely advertised the nutritional value of its Little Kids Shredz range of food for young children.

Teen marijuana use in Colorado found lower than national average
DENVER (Reuters) – Marijuana consumption by Colorado high school students has dipped slightly since the state first permitted recreational cannabis use by adults, a new survey showed on Monday, contrary to concerns that legalization would increase pot use by teens.

Many surgical readmissions can’t be blamed on hospitals
(Reuters Health) – When too many surgery patients come back to a hospital after being sent home, the hospital can be fined by the federal government. But a new study suggests many of those so-called readmissions are not the hospital’s fault.

Parkinson disease may be getting more common
Reuters Health – Parkinson disease may have become more common over the past 30 years, at least according to a study in one Minnesota county.

Many patients at risk for stroke get wrong medicine
Reuters Health – More than a third of patients with a heart rhythm problem that can cause a stroke are incorrectly given aspirin instead of the blood-thinning medications they need to make this complication less likely, a U.S. study suggests.

U.S. to help fund technology to eliminate Zika in blood supply
(Reuters) – The U.S. government said on Monday it has agreed to help fund two pathogen reduction technologies to help reduce the risk of Zika virus and other infections from being transmitted through the blood supply.

Drug company-sponsored meals tied to more prescriptions
(Reuters Health) – Doctors who received even one free meal from a pharmaceutical salesperson were more likely than others to prescribe the drug being promoted, even when a generic equivalent was available, according to a new study.

Many U.S. kids don’t see doctors after concussions
(Reuters Health) – As many as 1.9 million children get concussions from sports and other recreational activities each year, and most of them don’t get checked out by doctors after these injuries, a U.S. study suggests.

Zika’s impact on children will require new medical approach: expert
(Reuters) – The spread of Zika virus through the Americas is likely to affect tens of thousands of children with a wide range of neurological and psychiatric problems in the next year, requiring a new approach to their care, a leading U.S. disease expert said on Monday.

Congo declares yellow fever epidemic, 1,000 suspected cases
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo declared a yellow fever epidemic in three provinces including the capital Kinshasa on Monday after confirming 67 cases of the disease, with another 1,000 suspected cases being monitored.

Inovio Pharma gets green signal to test Zika vaccine in human trial
(Reuters) – Drug developer Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc and its partner GeneOne Life Sciences Inc said they had received approval from U.S. regulators to start an early stage human trial testing their Zika vaccine.

Circassia’s cat allergy treatment fails late-stage trial
(Reuters) – Drug developer Circassia Pharmaceuticals Plc said its cat allergy treatment failed to meet its main goal in a late-stage study, due to a marked placebo effect.

Roche announces availability of LightMix modular Zika Virus Assay
ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss drugmaker Roche said on Monday its LightMix Modular Zika Virus Assay (CE) is available in markets accepting the CE mark for patients with signs and symptoms of the Zika infection where the virus is known to be present.

GlaxoSmithKline says lung drug meets late-stage study goals
(Reuters) – Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc said its experimental combination therapy for a chronic lung problem met the main goal of a late-stage study, allowing the company to apply for marketing of the drug by the end of 2016.

Australian watchdog files suit against e-cigarette retailers
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s consumer watchdog has launched a lawsuit in the Federal Court against two e-cigarette retailers, saying the companies misled consumers with claims that their products are not carcinogenic.

Novartis aims to nearly triple biosimilar drugs on market by 2020
KUFSTEIN, Austria (Reuters) – Switzerland’s Novartis pledged to nearly triple its number of biosimilar drugs on the market by 2020, raising its bet that cheaper versions of blockbuster cancer and immune system medicines will snatch billions in rivals’ profits.

Hologic wins emergency U.S. authorization for Zika test
(Reuters) – Hologic Inc won emergency U.S. authorization to sell its Zika test, expanding the number of public and private labs that can test for the virus as health officials brace for a rise this summer in the number of infections.

After wrangling, Canada Parliament adopts law on assisted death
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada’s Parliament on Friday adopted a law allowing medically-assisted death for the terminally ill, brushing aside critics who wanted the legislation to cover people with degenerative diseases.

Well-timed exercise might improve learning
(Reuters Health) – Aerobic exercise four hours after a memorization task, but not exercise right afterwards, was linked to improved recall in a series of Dutch experiments.

Mediterranean diet with olive oil, nuts linked to weight loss
(Reuters Health) – Extra “good fats” from nuts and olive oil in a Mediterranean diet may help older adults lose weight, or at least avoid gaining it, a Spanish study suggests.

Many travelers from Britain find new sexual partners abroad
One in 10 men and one in 20 women who travel internationally from Great Britain find new sexual partners abroad, according to two new studies.

Bloomberg looks West after bankrolling Philadelphia soda tax win
NEW YORK (Reuters) – After successfully funding a campaign to pass a soda tax in Philadelphia, billionaire Michael Bloomberg is preparing to fund similar efforts in several other cities, giving new momentum to measures seeking to limit soft drink consumption.