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New vaccines may not reduce tuberculosis incidence

Despite the potential of new vaccines to prevent TB, new research shows that the removal of one strain of TB can allow a previously suppressed strain to succeed. Consequently, a vaccination program could result in the proliferation of strains more likely to be, or become, drug resistant, and could even result in an increased prevalence of the disease.

6 Oct 2008

Improper cooking linked to 32 cases of Salmonella in the U.S.

Following another outbreak in the United States of salmonella, Americans have been warned to follow the cooking instruction on the labels of some prepared chicken products.

6 Oct 2008

Philippines receives $5 million from Chevron for TB eradication efforts

Chevron Corporation has pledged 235 million Philippine pesos, or about $5 million, to the Tropical Disease Foundation in the Philippines to scale up efforts to fight tuberculosis in the country as part of the company's $30 million contribution over three years for TB eradication efforts in Asia and Africa, GMA News reports.

5 Oct 2008

Call for India to legalize homosexuality to improve fight against HIV/AIDS

Following his recent efforts to legalize homosexuality in India, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the country should recognize the increasing acceptance of homosexuality worldwide because such tolerance would ensure "an effective fight against AIDS," IANS/Thaindian News reports (IANS/Thaindian News, 9/29).

5 Oct 2008

Canadian program provides care to HIV-positive pregnant women, aims to reduce mother-to-child transmission

The CP/Yahoo! News on Tuesday examined the Positive Pregnancy Programme, a Canadian initiative created to provide HIV-positive pregnant women with care, resources and support.

5 Oct 2008

Newsweek examines global malaria action plan

Newsweek in its Oct. 6 issue examines malaria eradication efforts and the Global Malaria Action Plan, which aims to eradicate malaria worldwide and was released last week during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (Carmichael/Cunningham, Newsweek, 10/6).

5 Oct 2008

Kenya signs $15 million grant agreement to fight HIV/AIDS

The Kenyan government recently signed an agreement for a grant worth 1.1 billion shillings, or about $15 million, for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Kenya's Nation reports.

5 Oct 2008

Ukraine Parliament introduces bill to increase HIV prevention, treatment efforts

Ukraine's Parliament recently approved a bill that would establish a national program to increase HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts in the country, Ukrainian News reports.

5 Oct 2008

100 years of HIV in humans

HIV has existed among human populations for about 100 years, decades earlier than previously believed, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, the Los Angeles Times reports (Engel, Los Angeles Times, 10/2).

5 Oct 2008

Spiritual healing threatening adherence to antiretrovirals in Uganda, official says

Unverified spiritual healing promoted by some churches throughout Uganda is threatening HIV-positive patients' adherence to antiretroviral drugs, Robert Ochai, executive director of The AIDS Support Organisation, said recently during the organization's 17th annual general meeting, Uganda's Monitor reports.

5 Oct 2008

Lack of advocacy, communication, mobilization programs hindering Uganda's efforts to fight TB, health official says

A lack of advocacy, communication and social mobilization programs are hindering Uganda's efforts to fight tuberculosis, National Leprosy and TB program manager Francis Adatu said recently, Uganda's Monitor reports.

5 Oct 2008

Newspapers examine efforts, reaction to easing ban on HIV-positive visitors to U.S.

Some HIV/AIDS advocates are "being cautious with their optimism" regarding new immigration rules for HIV-positive visitors as well as HHS efforts to remove HIV from the list of diseases barring entry into the U.S., the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Fulbright, San Francisco Chronicle, 10/2).

5 Oct 2008

Medicines for Malaria venture launches five-year plan for new drugs

Medicines for Malaria Venture has outlined a $600 million, five-year plan to develop new malaria drugs, SciDev.net reports. The plan was launched in conjunction with the release last week of the Global Malaria Action Plan, which aims to eradicate malaria worldwide.

5 Oct 2008

HIV cases increasing among women, MSM in rural China

The number of HIV/AIDS cases among men who have sex with men has increased eightfold during the past few years in areas of China, according to a study published recently in the journal Nature, Reuters reports.

5 Oct 2008

HIV-positive women in Nepal call for greater assistance from government

Nepal's HIV/AIDS policies and programs have failed to address the problems of women living with HIV/AIDS in the country, HIV-positive women with Shakti Milan Samaj -- a social organization working on behalf of women living with HIV/AIDS -- said during a press conference on Wednesday, the Rising Nepal reports.

5 Oct 2008

New York Times examines California HIV testing bill

The New York Times on Thursday examined a California bill (AB 1894) that requires health care plans operating in the state to pay for routine HIV testing. The bill was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) (Cathcart, New York Times, 10/2).

5 Oct 2008