Zimbabwe Cholera Epidemic Still Not Under Control - UNICEF Official

An official of the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF said Monday that the cholera epidemic which has claimed more than 1,500 lives in Zimbabwe is still not under control even though some health sources have said new cases are tapering off in some areas.

UNICEF Acting Representative Roland Monashe said more must be done to heighten public awareness of the risk of cholera and to improve treatment.

http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-12-29-voa57.cfm

Culling operations in 11 areas over

GUWAHATI, Dec 29 – Culling of poultry and disinfection operations in the State’s eleven epicentres of bird flu have been completed and sanitation certificates for nine of these locations have also been issued to the Central Government by the State. Culling and disinfection operations in the epicentres are taken up to prevent spread of the dreaded disease to new areas. Altogether 18 locations in the State reported outbreak of the disease in a span of around one month since November 27 last.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec3008/at06

Researchers unlock secrets of 1918 flu pandemic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers have found out what made the 1918 flu pandemic so deadly -- a group of three genes that lets the virus invade the lungs and cause pneumonia.

They mixed samples of the 1918 influenza strain with modern seasonal flu viruses to find the three genes and said their study might help in the development of new flu drugs.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4BS56420081229?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews