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Tanzania's antiretroviral distribution program expands after slow start

Tanzania's antiretroviral drug distribution program began slowly but is accelerating, with the number of people receiving treatment doubling over the past 10 months, IRIN News/AllAfrica.com reports.

30 Oct 2006

Indian Armed Forces introduces compulsory HIV screening for new recruits

The Indian armed forces has introduced compulsory HIV screening for all people entering the military, Vijay Singh, director general of the Armed Forces Medical Services, said on Thursday, the Press Trust of India/Hindu reports.

30 Oct 2006

South Africa shifts response to HIV/AIDS epidemic

The South African government has shifted its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic to focus more on expanding access to antiretroviral treatment, HIV testing and prevention, the Washington Post reports.

30 Oct 2006

What will Americans do if bird flu strikes?

According to a recent poll most Americans would comply with government orders to avoid work, school or other public places in the event of a flu pandemic.

30 Oct 2006

Six medics fight for their life in Libyan re-trial as another child dies of AIDS

The death of a nine-year old girl from AIDS in Libya brings the death toll to 52 of children in a Benghazi hospital who were allegedly deliberately infected with the virus by six foreign medics.

30 Oct 2006

Expert says flu vaccination programs a pointless waste of money

According to a vaccine expert the millions spent on flu vaccination programs each year are a waste of time and money.

30 Oct 2006

Wild pigs suspects in E. coli drama

Investigators now believe wild pigs were possibly the source of a recent spinach E.coli outbreak in the USA and Canada that resulted in the death of three people and made over 200 people ill.

30 Oct 2006

JAMA examines history of HIV testing

"HIV Screening in Health Care Settings: Public Health and Civil Liberties Conflict?" Journal of the American Medical Association: Lawrence Gostin, associate dean at the Georgetown University Law Center, in the Oct. 25 issue of JAMA examines the history of HIV testing and the new CDC recommendations regarding testing.

26 Oct 2006

Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria needs improved oversight of programs

The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria needs to improve its oversight of programs in developing countries and find ways to ensure that programs it funds are effective, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Center for Global Development, the Boston Globe reports.

26 Oct 2006

Injection drug use, lack of sex education contributing to spread of HIV in Malaysia

Illicit drug use and a lack of sex education in Malaysia are fueling the spread of HIV in the country, Reuters reports. The World Health Organization last year said Malaysia was close to an HIV epidemic.

26 Oct 2006

In the case of an outbreak of pandemic flu, large majority of Americans willing to make major changes in their lives

The latest national survey conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) Project on the Public and Biological Security finds that when faced with a serious outbreak of pandemic flu, a large majority of Americans are willing to make major changes in their lives and cooperate with public health officials' recommendations.

26 Oct 2006

Diagnostics for tuberculosis: Global demand and market potential

A significant and largely untapped global market exists for more effective and affordable tests to diagnose tuberculosis in low and middle income countries, where most TB cases today occur.

26 Oct 2006

WHO unveils new strategy to fight some of the most neglected tropical diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) and a group of more than 25 partner organizations unveiled a new strategy to fight some of the most neglected tropical diseases that destroy the lives and health of poor people.

26 Oct 2006

India cops criticism over alarming rise in polio cases

Health officials in India are concerned over the increasing number of polio cases in the country; 119 new cases have been reported in the past month, and the total number of infections is now 416.

26 Oct 2006

Bill and Melinda Gates put their money where it's needed

Bill Gates is once again putting his money into helping improve lives in developing countries.

25 Oct 2006

Significant number of teachers dying of AIDS-related complications in Namibia

The Namibian education system since last year has lost a significant number of teachers to AIDS-related illnesses, and more deaths among teachers are expected within the next few years, participants at a Namibia National Teachers Organization meeting said last week, the New Era/AllAfrica.com reports.

24 Oct 2006

Link between antiretrovirals, leprosy probable

Increased access to antiretroviral drugs in developing countries has revealed a "startling and worrisome side effect" by exposing "hidden leprosy infection" in some HIV-positive people receiving antiretrovirals, the New York Times reports.

24 Oct 2006

Zanzibar adopts first HIV/AIDS policy, rejects conservative Muslim recommendations

The Zanzibar parliament on Friday adopted its first HIV/AIDS policy but turned down the request of some conservative Muslim lawmakers to close all bars and outlaw revealing clothing as part of the strategy, AFP/Yahoo! News reports.

24 Oct 2006

Study identifies different species of North American birds that could transmit bird flu

University of Georgia researchers have found that the common wood duck and laughing gull are very susceptible to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses and have the potential to transmit them.

23 Oct 2006

Southern African Clinicians Society head calls for HIV testing in country to be required, confidential

Confidential HIV testing should be required for all people in South Africa so those who test positive can begin safeguarding their health immediately, Francois Venter, head of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society, said at a news conference on Thursday, the Washington Post reports (Timberg, Washington Post, 10/20).

23 Oct 2006