Recent News

By Region: South Asia

Rinderpest, Scourge of Cattle, Is Vanquished

(New York Times) On Tuesday in a ceremony in Rome, the United Nations is officially declaring that for only the second time in history, a disease has been wiped off the face of the earth. The disease is rinderpest. Everyone has heard of smallpox. Very few have heard of the runner-up. That’s because rinderpest is  Read More »

Bangladesh: anthrax outbreak total now at 30

EXAMINER — A district civil surgeon in Sirajganj, Bangladesh confirmed Sunday that there are now 30 confirmed cases of anthrax in the district. Dr. Najimuddin Khan said that the newest cases are related to an outbreak of the bacterial disease that started a few days ago. Continue reading on Examiner.com Bangladesh: anthrax outbreak total now  Read More »

World First: Cattle Plague Is Declared Eradicated

AFP — (Paris) World farm monitors on Wednesday declared a cattle-killing virus that has been a curse through the ages had been wiped out, the first time an animal disease has been eradicated in human history. To prolonged applause from delegates, the global watchdog for farm-animal trade approved a report certifying that the last 14  Read More »

Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly closes after passing multiple resolutions

24 May 2011 — The Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly concluded on Tuesday afternoon. The Assembly spent eight days working through a broad agenda. In the end, 28 resolutions and three decisions were adopted to guide the upcoming work of WHO and to address priority global health issues.

UN puts off destroying last smallpox viruses

GENEVA (AP) — Health ministers from around the world agreed Tuesday to put off setting a deadline to destroy the last known stockpiles of the smallpox virus for three more years, rejecting a U.S. plan that had called for a five-year delay. After two days of heated debate, the 193-nation World Health Assembly agreed to  Read More »