Disease/Infection News

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China checking another possible case of human bird flu

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), China is checking on a possible human case of bird flu in a northeastern province, the second part of the country to make such a precautionary diagnosis.

14 Nov 2005

"Luckiest man" - cured of AIDS - will have further tests

The British man thought to be the first person to have shaken off HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is to undergo further clinical tests in the hope of a breakthrough in treating the condition.

14 Nov 2005

Why the bird flu virus H5N1 is so deadly to humans

A study published today in the open access journal Respiratory Research reveals that, in human cells, the virus can trigger levels of inflammatory proteins more than 10 times higher than the common human flu virus H1N1.

14 Nov 2005

New plan to defeat Malaria in Africa

Achieving victory over malaria in Africa, a disease that each year kills millions and imposes costs that cripple entire economies, requires a new internationally funded effort dedicated to training and supporting a critical mass of African malaria researchers

14 Nov 2005

Maternal malaria and gravidity interact to modify infant susceptibility to malaria

Every year at least 30 million women in malaria-endemic areas of Africa become pregnant. Many of them develop placental malaria, a pregnancy-specific form of the disease, which frequently results in low birth weight of the child.

13 Nov 2005

Genetic factors versus environmental factors in assessing malaria risk

Humans exposed to malaria get infected and sick to varying degrees, and some of that variation is due to differences in genetic makeup between individuals. But how important are genetic factors compared with environmental ones?

13 Nov 2005

Bangkok has first human case of bird flu

Health authorities in Thailand are investigating the first confirmed human infection from bird flu in Bangkok.

13 Nov 2005

Bird flu in China now up to 8 in one month

The Chinese government has reported its eighth outbreak of bird flu within a month which indicates the virus seems to be spreading.

13 Nov 2005

Doctors want 'cured' HIV victim to have more tests

Doctors in the UK are urging a man to come forward for more tests after he apparently shook off the HIV virus.

13 Nov 2005

Bird flu in two Kuwait birds a far weaker strain

According to health officials in Kuwait two birds infected with avian flu have been destroyed, but it seems the strain of the virus present in the birds is weaker than the one which has killed more than 60 people in Asia.

13 Nov 2005

Another bird flu death as $1 billion plan revealed to fight virus

The announcement by Health experts of a $1 billion plan to halt the spread of bird flu came at the same time as Indonesia said initial tests showed the virus had killed a 16-year-old girl.

9 Nov 2005

Syphilis on the rise in U.S. - high risk sex among men to blame

According to an annual report on sexually transmitted diseases (STD), by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of U.S. syphilis cases rose for the fourth year in 2004, and that increase was mainly among men.

9 Nov 2005

Will the world beat bird flu?- experts doubt it

As international health experts finalised plans at a UN conference in Geneva, on the spread of bird flu, Vietnam, reported its 42nd death from the avian virus.

9 Nov 2005

More dead birds in Malaysia raises bird flu alarm

Concern has been raised in Malaysia after a second flock of pigeons was found dead in the country's northwest.

8 Nov 2005

Chinese insurer offers bird flu cover

According to Chinese media sources a Chinese insurance company is offering a life policy specifically for bird flu.

8 Nov 2005

Report warns bird flu could cause world meat trade crisis

According to the latest report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), one of the effects of a major outbreak of bird flu in the Europe would be higher world market prices for poultry.

8 Nov 2005

Dead poultry in Saudi tested for bird flu

According to local media reports, veterinary authorities are carrying out tests in order to determine whether poultry found dead in a farm in southwestern Saudi Arabia were infected with the bird flu virus.

8 Nov 2005

Bird flu will cost as much as $800bn

At a global conference at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, the World Bank has warned a bird flu pandemic could cost the global economy up to $800bn, which amounts to 2% of the global economy.

7 Nov 2005

About turn by China over suspected bird flu death

In a complete about turn Chinese authorities have now called in the World Health Organisation (WHO) to examine three suspected human cases of bird flu, including one of a girl who died.

7 Nov 2005

Getting the picture on bird flu

A massive cull of poultry in a northeastern part of China, hit by the country's latest bird flu outbreak, will be carried out by some 1,700 officials and backed up by armed police, who have been sent to the affected county in Liaoning province to slaughter the birds.

7 Nov 2005