U.S. declares Swine Flu as national emergencyOctober 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States on Saturday declared the swine flu epidemic as a national emergency, following death of over a thousand people due to the deadly H1N1 virus. The White House has said that President Barack Obama signed a proclamation on Friday evening, which would allow doctors to bypass certain federal requirements.
Obama declares a national emergency for swine flu that has killed more than 1,000October 24th, 2009 Obama declares swine flu a national emergencyWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency. The White House on Saturday said Obama signed a proclamation that would allow medical officials to bypass certain federal requirements.
5,000 people died of swine flu worldwide: WHOOctober 23rd, 2009 GENEVA - At least 5,000 people have died of swine flu and 414,945 people were infected with the viral disease worldwide, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a latest update Friday. The WHO noted the Americas region is most affected with 160,129 confirmed cases and 3,539 fatalities.
Swine flu killed over 4,700 people worldwide, says WHOOctober 16th, 2009 GENEVA - At least 4,735 people have been killed by swine flu since the viral disease was detected in April, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a latest update. Of all the deaths, 3,406 occurred in the Americas, 530 occurred in South-East Asia and 432 occurred in the West Pacific.
South Africa, follows lead of New York, Canada, to limit trans fats to fight heart diseaseOctober 15th, 2009 SAfrica to limit trans fats as heart disease risesJOHANNESBURG — South Africa's health department says it will draft regulations aimed at reducing the trans fats South Africans consume. Health officials said in a statement Thursday that they are concerned about a rise in lifestyle illnesses such as heart disease and strokes as some South Africans grow wealthier.
No shutdowns, but Delhi schools alert on swine fluOctober 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The hype and panic over swine flu has definitely mellowed down in Delhi schools, but precautionary measures are very much in place to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus among students. Unlike two months ago, when classes were suspended or an entire school was shut down if a student was suspected to have swine flu, now authorities as well as students have learnt to live with the threat of the disease while taking precautions.
Taiwan launches world's first anti-swine flu sprayOctober 1st, 2009 TAIPEI - A Taiwan company Thursday launched what it called the world's first spray capable of destroying the swine flu virus. VirusBom costs 350 Taiwan dollars ($10) and can be used 700 times, Money Marketing Communication representative said.
S. Africa athletics chief keeps job after admitting to lying over sex tests on top runnerSeptember 24th, 2009 SAfrica track chief keeps job after sex-test flapJOHANNESBURG — An athletics official says South Africa's athletics chief is keeping his job even though he admitted to lying about his role in gender tests done on runner Caster Semenya. Athletics South Africa board member Chris Britz said Leonard Chuene retained his leadership position during a closed-door ASA council meeting on Thursday.
South Korea reports ninth swine flu deathSeptember 18th, 2009 SEOUL - An 81-year-old woman has died of swine flu in South Korea Friday, raising to nine the number of fatalities from the viral disease in the country, health officials said. The victim belonged to the South Jeolla province.
South Korea swine flu toll rises to eightSeptember 17th, 2009 SEOUL - A 64-year-old woman has died of swine flu in South Korea, raising toeight the number of deaths from the viral disease in the country, health officials said. The woman was admitted to a hospital after she was infected with the virus Aug 28.
Brain's 'alert status' opens up new ways of treating coma: StudySeptember 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An 'alert status' area in the brain potentially opens up new ways of treating insomnia, excessive sleepiness, reversible coma or loss of consciousness, says a new study. Hebrew University professor of pain research Marshall Devor, graduate student Ruth Abulafia and research associate Vladimir Zalkind discovered how a brain area participates in the control of "alert status".
Scientists unveil brain area involved in 'alert status' controlSeptember 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have gained fresh insights into how anaesthesia and anaesthesia-like states are controlled in the brain, opening the door to possible new future treatments of various states of loss of consciousness, such as reversible coma. Marshall Devor, the Cecile and Seymour Alpert Professor of Pain Research, graduate student Ruth Abulafia and research associate Dr.
Eyes alert us to approaching objects before brain noticesSeptember 6th, 2009 LONDON - Swiss scientists have discovered a kind of eye cells that can alert people to any objects drawing near, without taking the brain's help. Botond Roska and his colleagues at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Basel believe that this ability may have evolved to speed escape from predators.
Goa records its first swine flu deathSeptember 6th, 2009 PANAJI - Goa recorded its first swine flu death Sunday after a 28-year-old woman succumbed to the deadly H1N1 virus, officials said. The victim, a resident of Khola in Canacona in South Goa and undergoing treatment at a private clinic in Margao, about 30 km from here, was even given a double dose of Tamiflu after swine flu was confirmed on Aug 25 but to no avail, the state's nodal officer for swine flu Jose de Sa told IANS.
New iPhone application can alert users to swine flu, infectious diseasesSeptember 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Apple has introduced a new iPhone application, which enables users to track and report outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as H1N1 (swine flu), on the ground in real time. The application called 'Outbreaks Near Me' has been created by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab.
