Health Highlights: July 13, 2009

July 14 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Rural Alabama Doctor Picked For U.S. Surgeon General

A rural Alabama family physician was nominated Monday to be the United States' next surgeon general. President Barack Obama made the announcement.

Dr. Regina Benjamin, the nominee, made headlines for her resolve to rebuild her nonprofit medical clinic after it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the Associated Press reported. A few months after it was rebuilt, it burned down. She started rebuilding it again.

Benjamin, 51, the first black woman and youngest doctor elected to the American Medical Association's board, received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights in 1998. She was also awarded the distinguished service medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Senate must confirm Benjamin's nomination for surgeon general, who acts as the people's health advocate, the AP reported.

The American Medical Association said it is "delighted" with Benjamin's nomination.

"Dr. Benjamin's most important qualification for surgeon general is her deep commitment to her patients. We are particularly gratified to see her recognized for her work caring for patients in rural Alabama, and for her commitment to rebuilding her rural health clinic in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She is a true professional who puts her patients first," the AMA said in a news release.

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1918 Flu Pandemic Survivors Immune to Swine Flu: Study

Many survivors of the 1918 flu pandemic appear to be immune to the current swine flu, but not to seasonal flu, says a University of Wisconsin researcher.

Yoshihiro Kawaoka also found that swine flu multiplies more severely in the respiratory system than seasonal flu, the Associated Press reported. In tests on mice, ferrets and monkeys, he found that the swine flu is present in greater numbers throughout the respiratory system instead of staying in the head, like common winter flu.