Parkinson’s Disease Starting To Impact Younger Adults
Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is more common in people aged over 65, has started to affect younger adults aged 40 to 50, Dafin Muresanu, head of the Romanian Society of Neurology, told Mediafax.
“Unfortunately, the age at which the disease is diagnosed has dropped to 40-50 years old, and even 30 years old in some cases,” said Muresanu, adding that the disease is more common in men than women.
PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s and affects approximately seven million people globally and one million people in the United States. PD is more common in the elderly and prevalence rises from 1% in those over 60 years of age to 4% of the population over 80. The mean age of onset is around 60 years, although 5–10% of cases, classified as young onset, begin between the ages of 20 and 50. (Romania Libera)
WHO Experts Recommend Seven Mandatory Vaccines
Experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend seven mandatory vaccines against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio.
Experts said low immunization rates increase the risk of outbreaks, such as the recent outbreaks of measles and rubella which had severe consequences, including child deaths. (Puterea)
Romania’s EU Fund Absorption Rate Seen At 80% In 2015
Romania’s EU fund absorption rate is expected to reach 80% in 2015, said EU Funds Minister Eugen Teodorovici, adding the absorption rate currently stands at 53%.
Romania was reimbursed around EUR565 million by the European Commission since the beginning of the year, for applications sent last year, nearly half of which for transport projects. Of total reimbursements, EUR299 million were for the transport program and around EUR158 million for the human resources development program. Other funds went to the regional program (EUR80 million), technical assistance (EUR17 million) and the environmental program (EUR12 million).
For the 2014-2020 period, Romania may access a total of around EUR43 billion. (Romania Libera)
Natural Gas Bills Could Be 1-3% Lower Starting April
Natural gas bills could drop be 1-3% lower as of April, with the elimination of Russian imports, but the price of domestically produced gas could grow by 6-7% as of July, depending on the result of talks with the International Monetary Fund.
“We think we won’t be dependent on imports this year, but that doesn’t mean companies’ import agreements are no longer in effect,” said energy regulator president Niculae Havrilet.
The gas market was deregulated for companies as of January 1, 2014 and only household consumers still buy gas at regulated prices.
The IMF and the European Commission have asked the Romanian government to raise gas prices for household consumers and thermal power plants supplying heating service to households from RON53.3 to RON62 per MWh as of April. the government proposed a price of RON58, which the international institutions did not accept. (Adevarul)
President Klaus Iohannis To Attend Presentation Of Interior Ministry’s Activity Report
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is attending Monday the presentation of the Interior Ministry’s activity report, the presidential administration said in a statement.
The meeting is run by Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea.
Iohannis will meet Monday morning, at the presidential Cotroceni Palace, with British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, according to the statement. (Romania Libera)