Health Highlights: May 31, 2016

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Plain Packaging Reduces Tobacco Use: WHO

Plain packaging on tobacco products helps reduce people’s use of the dangerous items, says a World Health Organization report released Tuesday on “World No Tobacco Day.”

The document outlines efforts to remove logos, colors and brand imagery from tobacco packaging, and refutes legal challenges from the tobacco industry, the Associated Press reported.

Since Australia became the first WHO member state to introduce plain packaging on tobacco products in 2012, other nations have done the same. On Tuesday, New Zealand said it will move forward with similar plans.

Plain packaging on tobacco products “kills the glamor, which is appropriate for a product that kills people,” said WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan, the AP reported.

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