Pandemic prevention: Costs divide rich, poor countries ahead of WHO treaty talks
DEBORAH J NELSON, RYAN MCNEILL and HELEN REID, of Reuters, report ahead of this week’s discussions of a pandemic prevention treaty…
Surging bird flu outbreaks raise human-infection risk, UN agencies warn
Reuters Three UN agencies on Wednesday warned that an ongoing rise in avian flu outbreaks globally raised concerns that the virus might adapt to infect humans more easily, and urged countries to strengthen disease surveillance and improve hygiene at poultry farms. A South African National Parks ranger monitors a group of African penguins at Cape […]
World’s first vaccine against deadly swine fever nears approval in Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam Reuters Vaccines against African swine fever being tested in Vietnam are close to approval, global and US veterinary officials said, in what would be a major breakthrough to tackle the deadly animal disease that regularly ravages pig farms worldwide. African swine fever has for years disrupted the $US250 billion global pork market. In […]
Bird flu spreads in Europe and Asia
Paris, France Reuters Several outbreaks of severe bird flu in Europe and Asia have been reported in recent days to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), in a sign the virus is spreading quickly again. The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has put the poultry industry on alert after […]
Countries accused of failing to meet pledge to tackle antibiotic misuse
Thomson Reuters Foundation Only half of 200 or so countries have abided by a pledge to tackle the use of antibiotics with concerted nationwide efforts, threatening lives and crops, particularly in poor countries, expert groups said this week. Nearly 200 countries agreed in 2015 to address the issue of resistance to antimicrobials such as antibiotics, […]