From the Associated Press:

GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Friday it is investigating samples of variant swine flu linked to two deaths and one severe case in Norway, but that so far the significance of the mutation is unclear.

Norway’s Institute of Public Health announced Friday that the mutation “could possibly…cause more severe disease” because it infects tissue deeper in the airway than usual.

The mutation was found in three of 70 analyzed swine flu cases, said Geir Stene-Larsen, the institute’s director.

Stene-Larsen said he does not believe the mutant virus is circulating in the general population in Norway, where about 680,000 people are estimated to have been infected with swine flu to date and 23 have died.

The same mutation has been found in both fatal and mild cases elsewhere, including in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine, and the United States, said WHO.

In addition, “worldwide, viruses from numerous fatal cases have not shown the mutation,” the global body said. “The public health significance of this finding is thus unclear.”

“Just to say that the mutated virus infects deeper tissue doesn’t really tell us very much,” WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham told The Associated Press. “What we really need is more clinical and epidemiological data.”

WHO said the anti-viral drugs still appear to be effective against viruses with the mutation, and studies show that currently available pandemic vaccines confer protection against the variant strain.

Virus mutations occur spontaneously and many have no effect on the danger a virus poses to humans.

“Although further investigation is under way, no evidence currently suggests that these mutations are leading to an unusual increase in the number of H1N1 infections or a greater number of severe or fatal cases,” said WHO.

Meanwhile the Geneva-based agency updated its global tally of deaths caused by the virus to over 6,750.

It said transmissions appear to have peaked in some parts of the United States and Western Europe, but elsewhere the number of cases is still increasing, including in eastern Europe, and Central and Western Asia

Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt and the Westchester Medical Center are among the local hospitals changing their visitor policies due to the H1N virus, commonly called swine flu.

No one under the age of 12 years is allowed into Hudson Valley Hospital unless they are receiving care. At the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, the same restriction applies to anyone under 18 years old.

Both hospitals prohibit anyone with a fever, cough or flu-like illness. Though hospital officials recognize the benefit of having loved ones, especially children, they can’t take chances during this flu season, they say.

The restrictions are based on recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health and are similar to policies in place at other hospitals across the state.

Only about 1 in 4 Americans aged 50-64 regularly take advantage of preventive services such as screenings and immunizations, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with AARP and the American Medical Association (AMA).

The report, “Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50-64: Community and Clinical Partnerships,” focuses on opportunities to improve the health of the growing number of adults in the 50-64 age bracket to broaden the use of potentially lifesaving preventive services.

The report identifies recommended preventive services such as influenza vaccine, cholesterol screening, breast and cervical cancer screening, as well as preventive screenings for behaviors that could negatively impact health such as binge drinking.

By 2015, an estimated 63 million U.S. adults will be between the ages of 50 and 64, comprising 20 percent of the nation’s population.  They are at greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer than younger adults.  Almost one-third of adults in this age group are uninsured.

To view the full report and for more information about CDC’s health aging activities visit www.cdc.gov/aging.

New recommendations for mammograms are sure to cause both concern and confusion.

A federal panel is changing long-standing advice and now recommending that women wait until they are 50 to get a mammogram and then every two years—a big change from years of telling women to get a mammogram at age 40 and then every year.

If you want to read the new study in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine so you can decide for yourself, click here.

The seven physicians of the Mount Pleasant Medical Group have joined the Internal Medicine division at Westchester Health, located in Valhalla.

“With a long-standing reputation for providing high quality, compassionate care, the physicians of Mount Pleasant Medical now offer patients seamless access to Westchester Health’s comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services,” commented Dr. Peter Mercurio, President and CEO of Westchester Health.

The doctors of Mount Pleasant Medical will continue to see patients at 401 Columbus Avenue in Valhalla.  To schedule an appointment, please call 914.769.0268.

Westchester Health includes a network of 80 community physicians who treat more than 100,000 patients. The practice provides primary and specialty care services from their main office in Katonah and 35 locations in Westchester and Putnam counties.

In an effort to prevent the spread of both seasonal and H1N1 flu, Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey is banning visitors under 18 from the hospital unless they have an appointment or need medical treatment.
In other steps designed to reduce the spread of the flu, the hospital is also asking patients not to bring children with them to appointments.  Neonatal Intensive Care Unit visitation is limited to parents, guardians, and grandparents.  All visitors must be free of flu-like symptoms, such as fever with cough or sore throat.

The restriction goes into effect Thursday. Call the hospital’s Department of Consumer Affairs with any questions regarding the flu-related visitation policy at 201-996-2010.

The Promenade at Blue Hill, an assisted living and memory care facility, is offering a free memory screening as part of  national Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month.
The screening is being held from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, at The Promenade, 582 Veterans Memorial Drive, Pearl River.
The event features a face-to-face screening, which takes five to ten minutes, and consists of a brief series of questions and tasks.  It is administered by a healthcare professional, such as a physician, nurse, psychologist or social worker.
The results do not represent a diagnosis, and those with below-normal scores or those who have normal scores but are still concerned, should follow up with a healthcare professional.
Registration is required. Call 845-735-6846.

The 19th Annual Nyack Hospital 10K Run and 5K Walk will take place Nov. 21.
Funds raised at the event will benefit the  Joint Replacement Center at Nyack Hospital.
The race will start at Nyack Hospital, loop around the village and end at the hospital. The event features computerized race results, spotters on the walk course, water stations, refreshments and same day race results posted on the internet. Awards will be presented to the top 3 finishers in each age categories.
The registration fee is $25 in advance; $30 on the day of the race. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Nyack Hospital urologist Leonard J. Rudin is once again serving as chairman emeritus.  Also organizing the event are orthopedic surgeon Richard D. Semble and podiatrist Charles J. Wolff.
To register, or for further information about this event, please contact
Mary Lichtman, director, special events, at 845-348-2771.

Everyone in the community with a desire to get healthy and lose pounds is invited to attend a TOPS Open House Information and Sign Up Session. The session will be held at Hudson River HealthCare, 1037 Main Street, Peekskill, in the 2nd floor Conference Room on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 12 noon – 2:00 pm. The TOPS program aims to help you choose weight loss success and provide ongoing support and encouragement as well as advice on following a sensible eating plan, and getting regular exercise, with tips from Dietitian, Lisa Breslin. For more information, call 914-734-8559.

New York state Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo  has reached an $875,000 settlement with the national retail pharmacy chain CVS to end its sale of expired products, including over-the-counter drugs, baby formula, milk, and eggs, at stores across New York State.

The settlement concludes the lawsuit previously filed by the attorney general in New York Supreme Court against CVS Pharmacy, Inc. for its pervasive sales of expired products and its breach of a prior settlement with the Attorney General in which it agreed to take measures to end such sales. Read the announcement here.