Alarm as breakthrough could fall into wrong hands

International scientists on Friday agreed to a temporary two-month halt to controversial research on a bird flu virus that may be easily passed among humans, citing global health concerns.

Health facilities, adequate compensation must be provided

Taking a serious note of the increasing silicosis-related deaths in the country, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended that silicosis be made a notifiable disease. Once notified, all government and private health facilities will have to report confirmed as well as suspected silicosis cases to the government.

Corporation cites environmental, topographical reasons

The civic administration on Monday decided upon a three-pronged strategy to deal with Total Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (TDR-TB) reported by a city hospital,

Manisha Mhaiskar, Additional Municipal Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, told reporters here. Private practitioners will now have to refer all TB cases or those having similar symptoms to the nearest Directly Observed Treatment Short course ( dispensaries.

The United Nations and leading world organizations celebrated India’s first polio free year and termed it as a major milestone in their fight against this dreaded disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan, termed it as the “greatest public health achievement” of India, the Bill Gates, of Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation described it as a major milestone in the global fight against polio.

Health Minister Adoor Prakash said here on Monday that government was ready to extend the comprehensive health plan to all districts of the State from January 15.

Addressing a press conference here, the Minister said that the first phase of the programme had been initiated in Alappuzha district. As the result was found good, preparations were done for extension of the plan to other districts.

Odisha has alerted all its district authorities in view of the detection of a bird flu case in the state, an official said on Monday.

Cases of dengue-chikungunya co-infection are on the rise, causing concern to health planners and doctors.

Measures will be initiated to banplastic carry bags within a year

Minister for Rural Development K.C. Joseph said here on Friday that scientific waste treatment plants would be installed in corporations and major municipalities by October.