Bhutan has joined the global map of countries affected by the pandemic influenza A H1N1 virus, initially known as swine flu, with four Bhutanese having tested positive for the flu, of whom two were detected within the country.

The two cases in Bhutan were confirmed on Monday in a three-year-old girl and a 38-year-old woman, both residents of Thimphu but from different families.

To support and restore damage caused by the recent flood and storm that hit Bhutan on May 26, the Indian government granted a cheque of Nu 100m to Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley yesterday.

The cheque was handed over by the Indian ambassador to Bhutan, Pavan K Verma, in the presence of the home minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji and a few dzongdas from flood affected dzongkhags.

The outbreak of dengue in Bhutan is an indicator of climate change, according to the world health organisation.

Health officials said that, with the change in climate, higher altitude places in Bhutan could see cases of dengue fever. Dengue is an urban disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions and outbreaks commonly occurs in towns and cities.

India and Bhutan have agreed to expedite work on hydro-power generation in the Himalayan nation, which has set a target of 10,000 MW by 2020. New Delhi also assured assistance to Thimpu in developing its IT and e-governance projects.

With an increasing incidence of human-wildlife conflict, the first question hour session of the third National Assembly discussed this old and protracted issue again.

India said on Tuesday it was working with Pakistan to evolve a common stance on the issue of climate change at international level.

With the Pagladiya project suffering inordinate delays, the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) is toying with the idea of shifting the project to upper reaches to neighbouring Bhutan.

This idea was discussed at a meeting between Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi and Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Vincent H Pala here on Wednesday.

The stretch past the mortuary of Thimphu referral hospital, where all medical waste is dumped, is a difficult place to take a walk by. It smells awful. Dead rats. Placentas. Used needles. Bloody bandages. All rotting.

There are also pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical devices and radioactive material.

With 123 malaria cases recorded early this year, which started in March, contrary to its usual beginning in April, Sarpang dzongkhag has reported the most malaria infections among the five southern malaria prone dzongkhags in the country.

The Asian Development Bank