Beware before you pick up chyawanprash from a drug store. The most popular brands of this ayurvedic tonic has artificial sweeteners, which have unconscionable side-effects. On January 11, 2008,

Several thousand fowls were culled in Gazipur and Bogra as reports of chicken dying of bird flu kept pouring in from different parts of the country on Monday. Awareness raising campaigns initiated by various government and local authorities could not stop dumping of dead fowls in the open, risking public health in some areas. Over 6,000 fowls were culled in Gazipur and Bogra after laboratory tests confirmed bird flu outbreak at least in two firms in the districts. About 100 dead chickens were found floating in a canal at Tootpara Mowlabari area in Khulna city Monday morning.

Fifteen people who were staying at a mountain lodge in Nagano Prefecture fell ill early Monday due to carbon monoxide poisoning, police said. After receiving a report from the lodge, police in Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures carried the 15

Speakers at a seminar on Monday called for educating the masses and an increased social mobilisation about the risk perceptions linked to avian influenza (AI). They observed that the disease had already made its way into the country posing a threat to poultry, farm workers, consumers of poultry products and other people. Well-coordinated initiatives are needed to be taken by the government agencies concerned, they stressed while calling for a careful dissemination of preventive health education vis-

The risk of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu or N5N1) which is a highly contagious viral disease, is being overestimated in the metropolis especially by the media. People close to the birds and pigs usually are infected with the avian influenza due to the highly concentrated poultry and pig farming in the non-Muslim countries. Avian influenza cannot be declared as pandemic on behalf of only 206 deaths world wide in duration of more than 12 years.

There is a negative side to increasing computer penetration in India. As much as 330,000 tonnes of electronic waste (e-waste) is being generated annually in the country. The recycling of this e-wasle in the informal sector is leading to pollution and environmental degradation, besides being a health hazard for those employed in this re-cycling.