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Daily Rounds: Armadillos & Leprosy; Speedy Autism Screen For Babies; Deadly Business Travel; Medicare Split

Armadillos Can Transmit Leprosy To Humans, Federal Study Confirms (The New York Times) "Using genetic sequencing machines, researchers were able to confirm that about a third of the leprosy cases that arise each year in the United States almost certainly result from contact with infected armadillos. The cases are concentrated in Louisiana and Texas, where some people hunt, skin and eat armadillos."

Simple Quiz Speeds Diagnosis of Autism in Infants - WSJ.com "A brief screening in a pediatrician's office can detect autism-like symptoms in children as young as 12 months old, giving them an important head start on treatment, according to a study published Thursday."

Business travel is bad for health - latimes.com "Extensive travelers were 260% more likely than light travelers to rate their health as fair to poor. Obesity was 92% more common in the extensive travelers. They also had higher cholesterol and high blood pressure."

Where Is The Public On Medicare? Depends How You Ask The Question : Shots - Health Blog : NPR "Last week's New York Times/CBS poll, for example, found 57 percent of respondents agreeing that it would be "necessary" to make changes to Medicare to reduce the budget deficit, compared to 34 percent who thought those changes unnecessary. A Washington Post/ABC poll, however, found a whopping 78 percent of respondents somewhat or strongly opposed "cutting spending on Medicare...in order to reduce the national debt." House votes to restrict unions - Boston.com "House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly last night to strip police officers, teachers, and other municipal employees of most of their rights to bargain over health care, saying the change would save millions of dollars for financially strapped cities and towns."

This program aired on April 28, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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