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Astros coach is living healthier after cancer

Astros coach Sean Berry went to the doctor after finding blood in his urine, and was told he had cancer.

Flesh-eating bacteria kills angler after Galveston Bay trip

A Baytown man has died from illness caused by exposure to a rare pathogen often referred to as flesh-eating bacteria.

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swine flu 101
What is it?
• A new, severe flu strain derived partly from a human flu virus and partly from several strains of influenza virus usually found only in pigs. It is called swine influenza A (H1N1).
Why is there so much concern?
This is an entirely new and unknown virus.
• Swine flu viruses do spread from human to human, but in the past, this transmission was limited, the CDC says. The A (H1N1) is spreading human-to-human.
If it spreads effectively, it can cause a global epidemic - a pandemic. The impact of such a pandemic is difficult to predict: it depends on many factors including virulence of the virus and existing human immunity.
What are the symptoms?
Fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing.
Possible other symptoms: runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Many of the victims in Mexico contracted fatal pneumonia, possibly from secondary infections.
How can I help stop it?

If you have symptoms, stay home to avoid spreading the infection. Stay home for two days after symptoms are gone.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wash your hands frequently.
• Go to the hospital if you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, but otherwise stay home.
Should I wear a mask?
• Masks may be recommended for people in close contact with swine flu patients, but there is no general need for them.
Will I get swine flu from eating pork?
• No. It is safe to eat properly handled/cooked pork.
How is treated?
• The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention.
• Recommendations for these antiviral drugs may change.
• There is no vaccine.
Health care's massive death toll — Experts estimate that a staggering 98,000 people die from preventable medical errors each year. Learn more in our special section, Dead By Mistake.
Carolyn Thomas' new normal — The determined Waco gunshot victim turned her devastating injury into an inspirational journey of recovery with the help of Houston doctors. A three-part series and a follow-up story.
The great silicosis hoax — To attorneys who had earned millions from asbestos settlements, silicosis represented the next potential windfall. But it all came undone in a haze of dust and deception. A two-part series.
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useful links
CDC
Advice and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
HEALTH CARE FORMS
Print out advance directives, medical power of attorney documents and do-not-resuscitate orders. From the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.
TEXAS MED CENTER
Links to more than 40 hospitals and schools in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.
CITY OF HOUSTON
Food inspection reports, animal regulations, mold and pollen counts, birth and death records and more.
HARRIS COUNTY
Advisories from the Harris County Health Department, updates on West Nile Virus and more.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Recommended shots for kids and frequently asked questions. From the Texas Department of Health Services.
ARE YOU FAT?
Calculate your Body Mass Index.

multimedia reports
  Keeping the Promise — Doctors led by Baylor College of Medicine fight AIDS in Africa.
  Houston doctor fosters hope in Africa — Baylor physician Mark Kline is pioneering efforts to help children with HIV in Africa. The Chronicle's Leigh Hopper and Carlos Antonio Rios traveled with Kline.

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