Wrong cure

Who will benefit from globally promoted pneumonia vaccine? the pneumonia vaccine that the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, a public-private coalition, and who are promoting in developing countries is expensive, inefficient and causes serious side-effects, contends a letter published in a public health journal.

World Health assembly to discuss fat issues

Of the many issues that will be discussed at the 61st World Health Assembly in Geneva this month, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases is what the food industry will be following closely. Its future, and growth plan, will depend on the outcome of the deliberations in Geneva.

Anthony McMichael on health risks from climate change

What are the impacts of climate change on disease outbreaks? In the past two decades, we have recorded several changes in disease outbreaks across the world. When taken together, it seems they tell us a story about the impacts of climate change. Interviewee:  Anthony Mcmichael

In Short

>> Governments of Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast have announced a joint health programme to tackle a meningitis epidemic, which has gripped the bordering area of the two countries. By the second week of March, the disease killed 441 people in Burkina Faso and 44 people in Ivory Coast. More than 6,000 people are suffering from the disease in the two countries.

Drug-resistant TB spreading fast, says WHO

Drug-resistant tuberculosis is spreading faster than feared.

Yellow fever vaccine supply under pressure, says WHO

As the outbreak of yellow fever spreads from Brazil to its neighbouring countries, Argentina and Paraguay, who has said that the world's supply of vaccine against the disease is under extreme pressure.

Plague is spreading to new areas

plague cases are on the rise and are afflicting countries more frequently than before. A who report says there were around 1,900 cases worldwide in 2002, which increased to 2,100 cases in 2003. In India, 16 cases of pneumonic plague were identified in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, in 2002--after a gap of 20 years.

Disinfectants pollute water

about 250 million people in urban India drink municipal water, which is treated and disinfected before being supplied. A recent study shows the chemicals used for treatment methods might give the water a different set of harmful characteristics.

Meningitis outbreak begins in West Africa

The government of Uganda has confirmed the outbreak of the deadly meningitis bacterium in the country. On January 16, health officials said that 121 people are suffering from the disease in Arua and Nebbi districts alone; three have already succumbed to it.

South Asia

First human bird flu case in Pakistan: WHO has confirmed that the limited human-to-human bird flu transmission has occurred in Pakistan. The country reported eight cases of human bird flu in December including two people who succumbed to the disease.