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Health: Infectious diseases

Editorials

Here is a list of the latest articles

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Surveillance vital for tackling antibiotic resistance

International surveillance systems are needed to curb the rise of antibiotic resistance.

26 March 2008 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

chicken head through fence

Africa’s bird flu preparations must involve the media

The media must be involved in African preparations for a possible bird flu outbreak.

8 February 2007 | EN

Journalists discuss bioethics at the workshop in Beijing

Bioethics reporting in China: a case for bold action

Journalists in China — as elsewhere — have an important function to play in reporting on how science and technology affects people's lives.

5 October 2006 | EN | 中文

redribbon

Beating HIV/AIDS still needs a scientific approach

The research community's failure in the past 25 years to develop either a vaccine or a cure for HIV/AIDS underlines the need to be more, not less, scientific.

25 August 2006 | EN

vaccine clipart

Stepping up to the flu vaccine challenge

Developing countries need to recognise the long-term benefits of creating the capacity to research and develop flu vaccines.

4 May 2006 | EN

Tom Egwang

Bird flu: a wake-up call to the African media

The only way for Africa to combat bird flu successfully is through an effective communication strategy that enables the public to prepare both for outbreaks in their poultry stocks and for a possible human pandemic.

14 February 2006 | EN

health worker selling bednets

Getting the right message across on malaria

Although research on malaria needs greater support, the fight against the disease will not be won in the laboratory but with tools in the field, many of which already exist. Improved techniques are needed to communicate this reality to decision-makers.

7 November 2005 | EN

Influenza A

Bird flu: the role of science journalists

As prospects grow of a global flu pandemic, it is important for governments to recognise that responsible science journalism can play a significant role in limiting its impact.

24 October 2005 | EN | ES

Vaccines vs. bednets: the malaria dilemma

There are few clearer examples of the need to combine high-tech solutions to development issues with the reality of problems as experienced and perceived on the ground than the challenge of designing an international strategy to combat malaria.

13 December 2004 | EN

Vaccination needles

Even failed experiments can be important ones

Disappointing results of clinical trials of a promising pair of new AIDS vaccines have highlighted the dilemmas faced by those determining strategy in this field. Fortunately, reactions on all sides indicate a willingness to use science as the principal basis of their decisions.

13 September 2004 | EN

birdflu virus

Bird flu: the communication challenge

Scientific advances since the major flu pandemics of the 20th century mean that, in principle, the world is better equipped to prevent bird flu from having the same consequences. But obstacles still exist, and greater transparency must be the order of the day.

26 July 2004 | EN

The good — and bad — news about AIDS

New research shows that treating HIV/AIDS patients need not be as expensive as feared. But that result must not fuel complacency about the disease; rather it should encourage more grass-roots engagement.

5 July 2004 | EN

Access to SARS research must be kept open

Fears that the US government may place excessively heavy restrictions on those working with the SARS virus highlight the need to ensure that concerns about the potential misuse of biological organisms are not allowed to impede important research.

21 June 2004 | EN

Microbicides research: no longer the poor relation

Julie Clayton argues that the successful strategy behind promising results now emerging from research into microbicides as a way of controlling HIV infection has important implications for other fields of biomedical research.

5 April 2004 | EN

It’s time to be even more generous on AIDS

Spending on HIV/AIDS has become a litmus test of the depth of international commitment to helping the developing world — and of the spirit of generosity in which is offered.

20 July 2003 | EN

The lesson of SARS for health communication

The SARS epidemic has underlined the importance of open and accurate reporting on health issues — as well as the responsibility of governments to allow this to take place.

22 April 2003 | EN