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• A retrospective review of the medical records of 1,786 patients in southern England found that wearing contact lenses remains the most important risk factor for infectious corneal ulcers. Contact lens wear was the main predisposing factor in nearly one third (31%) of cases. The authors urged continuous education of both patients and professionals to reduce the rate and severity of infectious keratitis. (Br J Ophthalmol. 2009;93:1319-24.)
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and WebMD Health Corp. have expanded their partnership to give consumers a larger selection of timely information and multimedia tools at www.webmd.com/fda. A highlight of the expanded partnership is the addition of five new sections focusing on allergies and asthma, children’s health, diabetes, heart health, and vitamins and supplements.
• Nearly 100 leading global health organizations joined forces to recognize the first annual World Pneumonia Day on November 2, 2009. Pneumonia is the world’s leading killer of young children, accounting for 20% of all deaths of children younger than 5 years of age. In conjunction with World Pneumonia Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF released the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia (GAPP), which outlines a 6-year plan for the worldwide scale-up of a comprehensive set of interventions to control pneumonia. A copy of the plan is available at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2009/WHO_FCH_CAH_NCH_09.04_eng.pdf.