Disease

Smog Responsible for Underweight Newborns

The worse the air pollution, the more underweight the children were in the study group. A new U.K.-based study of more than 3 million human births in nine countries has shown that exposure to air pollution is linked to low birth weights. Scientists looked at the average level of air pollution expecting mothers were exposed to, specifically exhaust and power plant emissions.

They found that pregnant women living in areas with high pollution were more likely to have babies with low birth weight.

Being undersized at childbirth has been linked with infant mortality as well as a host of diseases and chronic health problems throughout a child's life.

Previous studies had suggested a link between air pollution and low birth weight but contained too little data to confirm it.

While much has been done about air quality in Western nations over the past several decades, urban centers such as Beijing and other industrialized areas of Asia have shown a sharp increase in air pollution.

Beijing last month experienced air pollution that officials termed was “off the charts.”

Disease

An outbreak of a variant of swine flu has infected 141 people in Indiana and Ohio. No person-person transmission has been found.

More than 8 million chickens have been destroyed on farms in northern Mexico due to a bird flu outbreak.

 

Disease

Typhoid outbreak in Harare and Chitungwiza in Zimbabwe after people once again start eating their own faeces.

 

Disease

Outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Stoke-on-Trent in England. 9 People affected.

 

Disease

Cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone sickens more than 3 800 and kills 66.

 

Disease

The mystery disease that has claimed the lives of more than 50 children in Cambodia has been linked to the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease.

 

Disease

The authorities in Uttar Pradesh in India are battling an outbreak of encephalitis.

Second person dies in Legionnaires disease outbreak in Edinburgh, Scotland. There are 42 confirmed cases and 47 suspected cases in the outbreak which is believed to have peaked. Five people who contracted the disease have instructed attorneys to seek answers to the outbreak.

 

Disease

Legionnaires disease outbreak in Edinburgh, Scotland. 1 person dead with 16 others critical.

Disease

Anthrax outbreak in Ghana. Two people have died after eating the infected meat of a cow. The government vaccination program has been halted causing concern for the health of both cattle and humans.

Disease

Dengue fever outbreak in India claims at least 30 lives. Dengue fever is a seasonal hazard in India, but the outbreak is larger than usual and the authorities are taking measures to combat the spread of the disease.

Cameroon orders the widespread vaccination of pigs after an outbreak of Erysipelas, a disease causing skin lesions and ulcers which is often fatal.

Disease

Wisconsin, USA is the latest State to report a widespread outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis).

 

Drought

Famine and drought in Niger affect more than 300 000 children who are receiving treatment for severe malnutrition.

Disease

The incidence of liver disease in Britain has risen by 25% over the last decade, causing a record number of related deaths. The rise has been attributed in large part to the British fondness for binge drinking.

Measels outbreak in Pakistan has killed 12 children, with 70 more confirmed cases hospitalized.

Disease

Outbreak of chikungunya disease in Orissa, India. Dozens of people infected.

Disease

An outbreak of the highly contagious respiratory disease pertussis (whooping cough) has claimed its first life. A nine week old infant girl died this week in Idaho, USA. The outbreak extends to Montana and Washington State.

The latest Salmonella outbreak in the US has been linked to dog food made by Diamond Pet Foods. At least 14 people in 9 States have been hospitalized.

Dengue fever outbreak in Sri Lanka.

Disease

Measels outbreak in Merseyside, near Liverpool in the U.K. More than 200 cases have been confirmed.

Egypt's foot and mouth disease outbreak has spread to Gaza, endangering the entire MIddle East.

Disease

The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a travel advisory for Nigeria due to an ongoing lassa fever outbreak. Lassa fever is a haemorhragic fever.

Measels outbreak in Rayagada, India kills at least 9 children.

Leptospirosis outbreak in Fiji following the severe floods kills at least 20 people.

An outbreak of bovine TB in a herd of alpacas in England has led to the culling of 500 animals. The disease is thought to have been spread by badgers which urinate in the fields occupied by the alpacas.

 

Disease

A salmon farm in Nova Scotia is ordered to kill all its fish in response to a viral disease outbreak amid fears the outbreak may spread.

Disease

A case of mad cow disease has been identified in California, USA. There is no threat to the nation's food supply. The cow is a diary cow not destined for human consumption.

Disease

The outbreak of a deadly mystery skin disease which has claimed 19 lives in Vietnam appears to have spread to Thailand.