Recent News

By Region: South Asia

Public Health Ministry warns Thais of 17 monsoon diseases

(PattayaMail) The Public Health Ministry has expressed its concerns on people catching diseases during the wet season, while disclosing that nearly 900,000 people were found sick during the rainy season of 2012, with 764 fatalities. As Thailand has now entered the monsoon season, Dr. Pradit Sintavanarong, Minister of Public Health, has warned people to be Read More »

June 4, 2013
| Filed under North America, South Asia, Agents & Toxins, International, and Public Health
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New Tools to Hunt New Viruses

(TheNewYorkTimes) A new flu, H7N9, has killed 36 people since it was first found in China two months ago. A new virus from the SARS family has killed 22 people since it was found on the Arabian Peninsula last summer. In past years, this might have been occasion for panic. Yet chicken and pork sales Read More »

May 28, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, South Asia, Agents & Toxins, International, Public Health, and Research
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Genetically modified Crops and Food Security

(TimesofAssam) The biotechnologically manipulated gene combination, occurring in genetically modified crops owns the potential to overcome several threats of food insecurity, by uprooting the drawbacks of traditional agriculture practices. Economic solutions aside, GM crops with higher yields, better resistance to pests and weeds, shorter maturation periods, tolerance to drastic climatic challenges and possibly added nutrition Read More »

May 8, 2013
| Filed under South Asia, Agriculture, and Policy & Initiatives
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Global scientists back 10-year moratorium on field trials of Bt food crops

(TheHindu) Even as the final report of the Supreme Court-appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on open field trials of genetically modified crops is awaited, 51 independent international scientists with expertise in genetic engineering and biosafety protocols have approved the panel’s Interim Report. The report has called for a 10-year moratorium on open field trials of Read More »

April 29, 2013
| Filed under South Asia and Policy & Initiatives
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Dengue fever outbreak in Singapore affects thousands

(InSerbiaNews) The National Environment Agency (NEA) said a total of 4,756 dengue cases have been reported in Singapore between 1 January and 19 April 2013. This is higher than the 4,632 cases in 2012. To get community leaders involved in the fight against dengue, over 460 grassroots leaders, volunteers and Health Promotion Board’s ambassadors were Read More »