Health & Science

• Saturday, July 4th 2009 - 08:19 UTC

  A/H1N1 virus “unstoppable”; vaccine access a “political question”

  

  The United Nations top health official opened a forum in Mexico on combating the A/H1N1 flu saying that the spread of the virus worldwide is now “unstoppable”. World Health Organization head Margaret Chan added that the holding of the meeting in Cancun showed confidence in Mexico, which has been hard hit.

• Friday, July 3rd 2009 - 13:52 UTC

  Argentina reports 44 deaths; highest A/H1N1 virus flu mortality rate

  

  Argentine health officials reported 17 more H1N1 flu deaths, bringing the total to at least 44 in the country hardest hit by the A/H1N1 virus in the southern hemisphere. Health Minister Juan Manzur said that “between 43 and 44 deaths” linked to the virus had been confirmed, a significant jump from the 26 that had been reported by the ministry on Friday.

• Friday, July 3rd 2009 - 06:44 UTC

  UK concedes pandemic can’t be contained and changes to “new treatment”

  

  The rising numbers of A/H1N1 virus flu cases mean trying to contain the virus is no longer an option says the British government says, reports BBC.

• Wednesday, July 1st 2009 - 13:00 UTC

  Argentina: health emergency and school vacations extended to fight the flu

  

  Authorities in Buenos Aires City and Buenos Aires province declared health emergencies on Tuesday and extended school vacations as the country’s death toll of A/H1N1 virus influenza surged to 35.

• Tuesday, June 30th 2009 - 15:03 UTC

  Uruguay reports first death of A/H1N1 virus influenza

  

  Uruguay confirmed the first death of the A/H1N1 virus influenza and two more hospitalized cases, which have been described as in “critical situation”. The victim is a 60 year old woman who died in a government managed hospital on Monday

• Monday, June 29th 2009 - 15:11 UTC

  Argentina ready to impose flu pandemic “sanitary emergency”

  

  Health authorities confirmed that this week Argentina will be declaring a “sanitary emergency” in the whole country given the advance of the A/H1N1 virus influenza that so far has killed 27 people and infected at least 1.800. Another victim of the pandemic is forecasted to be Public Health minister Graciela Ocaña.

• Friday, June 26th 2009 - 13:02 UTC

  Human-to-swine A/H1N1 virus contagion in Argentine hog farm

  

  Argentine health authorities have detected human-to-swine transmission of the A/H1N1 influenza virus in a farm in the province of Buenos Aires, it was officially reported Thursday.

• Thursday, June 25th 2009 - 17:12 UTC

  Argentina/ Chile react differently to Brazil’s travel warning on flu

  

  Argentina and Chile reacted differently to this week’s advice from the Brazilian government against travelling to A/H1N1 virus flu-stricken Argentina and Chile by people older than 60 and younger than 2 as well as those with weakened immune systems.

• Thursday, June 25th 2009 - 17:00 UTC

  UK cocaine capital of Europe; one in 100 Londoners “problem drug user”

  

  The United Kingdom is the cocaine capital of Europe, the United Nations has said. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime said the UK was Europe's largest cocaine market - with more than one million regular users.

• Thursday, June 25th 2009 - 06:43 UTC

  Paraguay hosts global conference to eradicate FMD in poor countries

  

  Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo opened Wednesday in Asuncion the world conference on “Foot and Mouth Disease; the way towards global control” organized by FAO and the World Organization for Animal Health, OIE.