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Health: Infectious diseases

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Here is a list of the latest articles

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Rapid diagnostic tests: The way forward?

Rapid diagnostic tests potentially present a quick, easy-to-use solution for improved malaria diagnosis. But are they the way to go?

25 September 2008 | EN

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How mobile phones contained Kenyan polio outbreak

A mobile phone application called EpiSurveyor proved instrumental in monitoring and containing a polio outbreak in Kenya.

Source: BBC Online

24 September 2008 | EN | 中文

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Vaccinating against 'Cantonese cancer'

Trials of a vaccine to prevent nasopharyngeal cancer will start soon in China, where it mainly affects the Cantonese-speaking population.

Source: Science

3 September 2008 | EN | 中文

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Clay filters clean up in Sri Lanka

A low-tech clay water filter is proving successful in Sri Lanka, cutting disease levels and saving on fuel costs.

Source: IRIN

15 July 2008 | EN

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Q&A: Advocating open source drugs

Leading geneticist Samir Brahmachari explains why India should kickstart a new open source approach to drug discovery for diseases like TB.

12 June 2008 | EN | 中文

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Antibiotic resistance and the developing world

Many factors are increasing antibiotic resistance, and authorities, doctors and patients all have a role in fighting it, writes Jia Hepeng.

26 March 2008 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

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Antibiotic resistance: Frequently asked questions

Priya Shetty answers some common questions surrounding antibiotic resistance, and the dangers for the developing world.

26 March 2008 | EN | ES | FR

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Zambia sets an example in malaria control

Researchers in Zambia are trying to eradicate malaria in rural areas, reduce deaths and set an example in malaria control.

Source: Nature

6 March 2008 | EN | 中文

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Turning plants into pills in Kenya

Traditional healers are joining forces with plant chemists in Kenya to develop antimalarials isolated from plants, reports Tatum Anderson.

13 December 2007 | EN

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Course enhances Latin American epidemiology

A US-sponsored course is helping increase South America's capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, write Andreas G. Lescano and colleagues.

Source: Science

31 October 2007 | EN | 中文

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Race for dengue vaccine speeds up

Scientists are finally getting nearer a dengue fever vaccine, as the disease explodes throughout South-East Asia.

Source: Science

19 September 2007 | EN | 中文

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South African HIV trial gets long-awaited go ahead

After years of legal wrangling and controversy, authorities finally approved an anti-HIV drug trial. Sharon Davis and Christina Scott report.

9 August 2007 | EN

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Fighting over the fly factory

Ethiopia has grand plans for wiping out its tsetse fly population but is it going about it the right way? Martin Enserink reports.

Source: Science

23 July 2007 | EN

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TB or not TB: The threat of bovine tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis is no less dangerous to humans than common TB, but relatively little is known about it, reports Natasha Bolognesi.

4 July 2007 | EN | 中文

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Tuberculosis: Facts & figures

Priya Shetty looks at the prevalence and distribution of tuberculosis in the developing world, outlining the truths — and myths — about this disease.

27 June 2007 | EN

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March of killer fungus sparks race for resistant wheat

The spread of deadly wheat rust to Yemen has triggered a rush to pin down wheat varieties that are resistant to it.

Source: Science

2 April 2007 | EN

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Power struggles and the fight against TB and HIV

The division between global programmes to fight TB and HIV is undermining the fight against the two diseases — but there are signs of change, reports Apoorva Mandavilli.

Source: Nature Medicine

7 March 2007 | EN | 中文

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Brazil faces forecast of heat and dust

New climate change models predict a heavy impact from global warming on Brazil's biodiversity, agriculture and health, reports Helen Mendes.

8 February 2007 | EN

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Indonesia seeks village allies against bird flu

Indonesia is countering its runaway avian flu problem by involving villagers as active participants in surveillance and response.

Source: Science

5 January 2007 | EN | 中文

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A fresh start: South Africa's war on HIV/AIDS

South Africa has unveiled a new plan for tackling HIV/AIDS, seeking to end the controversy of the recent past, reports Robert Koenig.

Source: Science

1 December 2006 | EN | 中文