Polio - alive and kicking

The polio virus (pv) is possibly the most innocuous virus that affects humans. The improvement of sanitation standards across the world has meant fewer people are afflicted by polio as infants, upsetting the historical balance between virus and host. But, since poorer sections still live in squalor and consume water and food contaminated by faeces, the virus remains a threat to the global community.

Ta, rabies

a revolution in the treatment of rabies might be in the offing. The world's first combination dna veterinary vaccine against rabies, produced by scientists from the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Sciences (iisc), is ready for trials. This is good news for many countries, especially the poorer ones, where the disease is a serious public health problem.

Polio panic

at a time when the Pulse polio immunisation drive is in full swing, rumours are rife about the presence of polio virus in some goats in Gumbli village in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvellur district. Experts fear this can affect the already floundering national polio eradication programme.

The buzz on Malaria

participants: chris curtis, professor of medical entomology at the london school of tropical medicine & hygiene, london; nirbhay kumar, professor at school of hygiene and public health, john hopkins university, usa; rob ridley, coordin

Malaria

the yellow international vaccination card that most western tourists carry describes malaria as "a serious and sometimes fatal disease, endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries. You cannot be vaccinated against it, but you can protect against mosquito bites, and take antimalaria tablets regularly. If you get a fever within two years after your return, tell your doctor you have recently been in a malarious country."

Polio poser

the recent upsurge of polio in Uttar Pradesh has once again accentuated the failure of its eradication programme in the country. Out of 370 new cases detected this year, 313 have occurred in up alone. Experts say that the situation is worse this year as compared to 2001. While 28 districts of up were affected last year, 47 districts in the state are already reeling under the impact of the scourge this time over.

Magic drop

Potato cure

transgenic potatoes may be used in the future to vaccinate women against cancer of cervix caused by the human papilloma virus (hpv). It is the most common form of cancer afflicting Indian women. The vaccine was developed by a team of scientists from us-based University of Rochester, Cornell University and Tulane University.

Vaccine launched

A chickenpox vaccine has been launched in the UK. Glaxo SmithKline, the manufacturer responsible for the pioneering move says that the vaccine will be particularly beneficial for prospective mothers and healthcare workers. Official sources say that there has been a rise in the number of adult cases of chickenpox since the late 1960s.

Prickly issue

Starting September 2002, about two million children would be vaccinated free of cost against Hepatitis b in 15 cities and 32 districts in the country.