Your speedy update on all the day’s stories, Friday, June 20 2014
1. Measles warning released as fear of an outbreak increases.
Health authorities fear a severe outbreak of measles in Queensland with concerns much of the population has not received the second vital dose of the vaccine. People require 2 doses of the vaccine containing the measles virus to be properly immunised. Many adults are not vaccinated with the 2nd dose as it wasn’t listed on the immunisation list when they were children. Queensland Health senior medical officer Dr Heidi Carroll says, “It’s one of the most highly contagious diseases we have.” Measles is spread through the virus travelling through coughing and sneezing. Signs to watch our for is a viral infection that causes a cough, runny nose and then develops into the red spotty rash that starts on the face before spreading through the rest of the body. “There’s no treatment, other than prevention. It’s a really nasty illness and that’s why we encourage people to get vaccinated,” said Dr Carroll. So far, 41 cases of the virus (which can be deadly) have been reported this year (in 2013 a total of 52 cases were reported). For more information on measles visit the Queensland Health website or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
2. Our kids on prescription drugs.
A study by the University of Sydney has found the rise in the number of prescriptions for medications for children and adolescents to treat attention deficit disorder, severe depression and psychosis is as much as 50 per cent. The Sydney University study found that over a four-year period, ending in 2012, the use of Ritalin jumped by 35 per cent nationwide. Anti-depressant medication for children aged between 10 and 14 jumped by more than 1/3 and anti-psychotic prescriptions rose by almost 50 per cent. Professor Philip Mitchell head of psychiatry at the University of New South Wales told the ABC “We’ve got to be careful we don’t over-prescribe but for children with clear psychotic illnesses such as those, these can make a huge difference to people’s lives.”
3. Surprise witness in the Baden-Clay trail says the screams weren't from Allison.
Gerard Baden-Clay has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Allison on April 19, 2012. During the trial, neighbours of Baden-Clay told the jury that on the night of Allison's disappearance, they heard a woman screaming. However, Baden-Clay's defence team has tracked down a witness whosays otherwise. Resident Stephanie Apps told the court she made a statement to the police at the request of the defence lawyers. Apps told the jury that her two children, aged 15 and 13, fought loudly when they returned to their home at about 9:40pm on April 19, 2012. "I was shouting quite loudly for them to both get [inside] and stop [arguing].” Then Apps heard her daughter scream. “And she had apparently run into a spider’s web, so it was kind of a loud scream. I was actually cringing because the neighbourhood is very quiet and ... I was worried about the neighbours hearing it. It was quite loud.” The trial continues.
4. Teenager killed after State of Origin.
A Sydney teenager shot dead after watching the State of Origin on Wednesday night is reported to have been crying out “Shoot me Shoot me” moments before the fatal shot. Jed Coates, 18, had been at the Colyton Hotel in Sydney watching the State of Origin game when police said he became involved in a fight with 21-year-old Matthew Perry. Mr Perry, a Queensland supporter, is accused of later fatally shooting him in the neck. The twin brother of Jed Coates Sam, paid tribute to his brother online. “Rip Jed my brother my twin your a king in my eyes love you bro.”
5. Viral video of a mother kicking her child went viral.
A video of a mother in Japan kicking her child in a train station has gone viral with many commentators angry that it depicts child abuse. In the footage, which was captured by a witness, a woman yells at her young daughter in what is said to be Shibuya Train Station in Tokyo. The little girl can be seen screaming and crying and just as the mother grabs the child and starts to drag her away, the little girl tries to resist. The angry mother lifts up her leg and kicks her young daughter so hard in the head that the little girl falls to the ground. The video which made headlines on most major news sites and received thousands of views on YouTube has since been removed.
6. Crack down on illegal downloading of shows.
The season-four finale of Game Of Thrones has became the most-pirated program in history with 1.5 million people worldwide downloading it illegally within 12 hours of it being aired in the US (with 11.6% of those being from Australians). The number is expected to rise to 7.5 million by the end of the week. Australia is the worst offender in the world of illegal downloads. Attorney-General George Brandis says he is considering “legal incentives” for internet service providers to co-operate with copyright owners to prevent illegal sharing.
7. This bad guy is so attractive it's criminal
California's Stockton Police Department posted a photo of accused weapons offender Jeremy Meeks on their facebook page and couldn't understand why people were commenting on how attractive he is. What's not to get?! The guy is smoking. Unfortunately, the convicted felon is being held on $900,000 bail for illegally possessing firearms and ammo, carrying a loaded firearm in public and criminal street gang activity. The specific charge is street terrorism. Damn't. So he's not next-boyfriend material.