the Infectious diseases community of South Africa

Sierra Leone: Rampant disease washes in with flood water

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:48:00 +0200

With malaria, diarrhea and vomiting, pneumonia, bronchitis and other respiratory infections, worm infestations, scabies, abscesses, sores, and boils all common ailments in the Kroo Bay community of the Sierra Leone capital Freetown local medical official Amadou Kandor says it's little wonder 35 is an average life expectancy for the slum's 6,000 inhabitants. Read full story... | Send to a friend

16th July was World Hepatitis Day

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:42:00 +0200

Hepatitis is a virus that is more common than most people realise and is most often caused by a viral infection so can be very easily contracted. Read full story... | Send to a friend

Madagascar: Plan to fight Rift Valley Fever needs funding

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:28:00 +0200

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has claimed the lives of at least 20 people and killed thousands of animals since the beginning of 2008, and UN agencies warn that worse is to come unless immediate action is taken. Read full story... | Send to a friend

One step closer to a cure for bird flu

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:12:00 +0200

Scientists and researchers have taken a big step closer to a cure for the most common strain of avian influenza, or "bird flu," the potential pandemic that has claimed more than 200 lives and infected nearly 400 people in 14 countries since it was identified in 2003. Read full story... | Send to a friend

GUINEA-BISSAU: Cholera epidemic reaches capital, Bissau

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:27:00 +0200

Cholera which first broke out in Guinea Bissau in May in the southern region of Tombali has now broken out in the capital Bissau killing four people and infecting 214, according to Daniel Kertesz, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO). Read full story... | Send to a friend

Internet used to track emerging infectious diseases

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:15:00 +0200

Online news outlets, government web sites and discussion forums used to track emerging infectious diseases. Read full story... | Send to a friend

Study shows H5N1 virus is adapting each time it infects a human

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:05:00 +0200

Scientists have discovered how bird flu adapts in patients, offering a new way to monitor the disease and prevent a pandemic, according to research published in the August issue of the Journal of General Virology. Read full story... | Send to a friend

Donors will pay drug industry to produce vaccines for developing countries

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:01:00 +0200

A controversial new public health funding mechanism, intended to stimulate pharmaceutical companies to create vaccines for diseases that affect patients in developing countries, is close to being finalised. Read full story... | Send to a friend

DRC: Monkey pox kills 22 in Equateur province

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:02:00 +0200

An outbreak of monkey pox in Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Equateur province has killed 22 of the 470 people infected since the start of 2008, according to medical officials. Read full story... | Send to a friend

Kenya: Cholera confirmed in western region

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:23:00 +0200

An outbreak of cholera has been confirmed in the Kisumu municipality in the western region, a senior health official has said. Read full story... | Send to a friend