Health & Science

• Friday, August 17th 2012 - 11:20 UTC

  Cuban health authorities admit dengue and yellow fever outbreaks

  

  The Cuban Public Health Ministry (MINSAP) this week again called on people's support to help eradicate the proliferation of the dengue transmitter Aedes aegypti mosquito during the summer months, when vector-associated diseases are on the increase.

• Friday, August 17th 2012 - 06:46 UTC

  Dallas in state of disaster; aerial spraying of mosquitoes to combat West Nile virus

  

  The city of Dallas in Texas is joining other municipalities declaring a state of disaster during what has become the worst outbreak of West Nile virus in the United States in 2012.

• Thursday, August 16th 2012 - 19:37 UTC

  Ship linked to Captain Scott’s failed South Pole expedition found off Greenland

  

  The wreck of the ship that carried Captain Robert Scott on his doomed expedition to the Antarctic a century ago has been discovered off Greenland. The SS Terra Nova was found by a team from a US research company.

• Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 23:40 UTC

  World Health Organization praises Australia’s high court ruling on cigarette packaging

  

  The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday it strongly welcomes the landmark decision from Australia’s High Court to dismiss a legal challenge from the tobacco industry, and calls on the rest of the world to follow Australia’s tough stance on tobacco marketing.

• Saturday, August 11th 2012 - 10:56 UTC

  Bill Gates finances research project to improve corn yields

  

  Billionaire computer magnate Bill Gates is to fund a €8m research project into whether cereal crops can be genetically engineered with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

• Saturday, August 11th 2012 - 07:02 UTC

  New strain of swine flu advances in the US Midwest region; 200 cases reported

  

  United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that a new strain of swine flu is raising concerns as it continues to infect people throughout the Midwest region.

• Friday, August 10th 2012 - 22:37 UTC

  Ice patrol HMS Protector crew to visit the affiliated city of Cambridge

  

  The university city of Cambridge might be more used to punts, but it is about to welcome the crew of a Royal Navy ship. HMS Protector, the Navy's 5.000-ton Antarctic patrol vessel is to visit the region on Monday, marking her first visit to her affiliated city of Cambridge since the formal link was established a year ago.

• Friday, August 10th 2012 - 08:56 UTC

  Uruguay begins to discuss ‘marihuana bill’ that makes government pot dealer

  

  A plan by Uruguayan president Jose Mujica to turn the government into the nation's marijuana dealer has been presented to Congress. The aim of the proposed bill is to take over an illegal marijuana trafficking business estimated to be worth 30 to 40 million dollars annually.

• Wednesday, August 8th 2012 - 18:28 UTC

  Continental animal virus reached UK and spreads throughout the country

  

  The Schmallenberg virus reached the UK this summer and could spread throughout the country, scientists say. Staff from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Institute for Animal Health (IAH) found the virus in animals on the RVC farm in Hertfordshire in June.

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 23:24 UTC

  Poor ranking for Uruguay’s main university; Brazil and Chile top of Latam list

  

  Uruguay’s government-financed national university came up in position 79 in the QS academic quality international ranking of the top 100 Latinamerican universities. Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia were far better ranked than Uruguay’s Universidad de la Republica, Udelar, which has caused deep concern among government officials.