Posted on April 4, 2008 by Common Person
Reports BBC: “The first case of human-to-human transmission of avian flu in Pakistan has been confirmed. Tests carried out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that bird flu killed some members of a family in north-west Pakistan late last year.The WHO says steps were taken to prevent future fatalities in the area. Pakistan’s north-west and southern regions were hit by bird flu last year. Thousands of birds were culled to control the spread of the disease.”
Full report on BBC website
Tags: birdflu, avian flu, Pakistan
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Posted on April 4, 2008 by Common Person
Reports BBC: “Officials say 13 people have died since Friday, bringing the number of deaths this year in Rio de Janeiro state to 67, with some 45,000 people infected.The mosquito-borne disease causes high temperature, headaches and muscle pain and, in extreme cases, can be fatal…
“The Brazilian military has opened three new field clinics in Rio de Janeiro to help officials tackle a surge in dengue fever that has overwhelmed hospitals.”
Read full report on BBC website
Tags: dengue, Brazil
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Posted on April 4, 2008 by Common Person
Somalia is again polio-free, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced recently, calling it a ‘historic achievement’ in public health. “Somalia has not reported a case since 25 March 2007, a major landmark in the intensified eradication effort launched last year to wipe out the disease in the remaining few strongholds.
“Against a backdrop of widespread conflict, large population movements and a dearth of functioning government infrastructure, transmission of poliovirus in the country has been successfully stopped. This landmark victory is a result of the efforts of more than 10 000 Somali volunteers and health workers who repeatedly vaccinated more than 1.8 million children under the age of five by visiting every household in every settlement multiple times, across a country ranked one of the most dangerous places on earth.”
Full report on WHO website
Tags: polio, Somalia, Africa
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