Health Highlights: Oct. 18, 2018

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

Sharp Drop in U.S. Life Expectancy Rankings by 2040: Study

The United States will have the largest drop in life expectancy rankings of all high-income countries by 2040, a new study says.

The U.S. will fall from 43rd in 2016 to 64th by 2040, with an average life expectancy of 79.8, and will be overtaken by China, which will rise 29 places to 39th, CNN reported.

Compared to 2016, Americans will live only an average of 1.1 years longer in 2040, well below the average worldwide increase of 4.4 years.

By 2040, average longevity is predicted to be highest in Spain (85.8 years), followed by Japan (85.7), Singapore (85.4) and Switzerland (85.2), CNN reported.

Life expectancy in the U.S. has declined in each of the past two years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. That’s the first multi-year decrease since 1962 and 1963.

Drug-related deaths and obesity are believed to be major factors in the decline, CNN reported.

There were 63,600 accidental drug overdose deaths in 2016, and nearly 40 percent of adults and 18.5 percent of children are obese,

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Congo Ebola Outbreak Not a Global Emergency: WHO

The latest Ebola outbreak in Congo is not yet severe enough to be declared a global emergency, the World Health Organization decided after a meeting of experts on Wednesday.

The U.N. health agency said it is “deeply concerned” about the outbreak and that “response activities need to be intensified and ongoing vigilance is critical,” the Associated Press reported.

There have been 181 confirmed cases, including 104 deaths, so far in the outbreak, according to Congo officials.

The rate of new Ebola cases more than doubled this month and WHO has said the risk of the deadly disease spreading in the region is “very high,” the AP.

WHO said the risk of international spread is low, but another meeting about declaring a global emergency could be called if the outbreak does spread to another country, according to Robert Steffen, chair of the WHO’s emergency committee.

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Salmonella Cases Linked to Raw Chicken Rises to 92 in 29 States: CDC

The number of people sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to raw chicken products now stands at 92 people in 29 states, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.

Of those who have fallen ill, 21 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Test show that the outbreak strain is resistant to multiple antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No single supplier of raw chicken products or live chickens has been connected to the outbreak. Evidence to date indicates that many types of raw chicken products from a variety of sources are contaminated with salmonella, suggesting that it might be widespread in the chicken industry, the CDC said.

The investigation is continuing.

CDC is not advising retailers to stop selling raw chicken or for consumers to avoid eating properly cooked chicken.

Ways to prevent salmonella infection include proper handwashing after handling raw chicken and cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, the CDC said.

Do not wash raw poultry before cooking. Doing so can spread germs in raw chicken to other foods and kitchen surfaces.

Illness typically begins 12 to 72 hours after swallowing salmonella. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe, the CDC said.

The agency suggested seeing a healthcare provider if you’re concerned about symptoms such as fever (temperature over 101.5 degrees F), blood in your stool, diarrhea, or frequent vomiting that prevents keeping liquid down.

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