NEW STRAIN OF AFRICAN TB INFECTS WESTERN NATIONS
United Nations - The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a deadly new strain of tuberculosis has spread from South Africa to Europe, Canada and the United States. The extremely strong strain called XDR-TB (extremely drug-resistant) has now been documented
in 35 countries world wide, with 16 new countries occurring in the first 3 months of 2007.
Mario Raviglione, the Director of the STOP TB program at WHO stated that "If it keeps spreading, as it has in South Africa, then we are really in trouble." Raviglione stated that the new strain was now documented in the United States, Canada, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Sweden, the former Soviet Union, and other countries.
ELI LILLY RAMPS UP MARKETING FOR CIALIS IN CHINA
INDIANAPOLIS - Eli Lilly & Co., the manufacturer of the impotency drug Cialis has launched its marketing campaign in China with the release of a survey showing that 45% of middle-aged Chinese couples experience erectile dysfunction, according to Lilly sources.
With only one-third of Chinese couples seeking treatment, Lilly's campaign is targeted at raising awareness for treating the disorder. At the same time, Lilly has distributed its Cialis to over 5,000 Chinese pharmacies.
CHINA READY FOR BIRD FLU AND SARS AT 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
Beijing - According to the Beijing Disease Prevention and Control Center, China will be prepared to handle any outbreak of any infectious diseases like SARS or Bird Flu by the 2008 Olympics.
The Chinese government which came under fierce attack for it's cover-up of SARS, and wide spread criticism for its under-reporting of bird-flu incidents, says it'll be ready for the 2008 Olympics.
ILLEGAL OVERSEAS TRANSPLANT ORGAN PURCHASES ON RISE
GENEVA - According to the United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO), the lack of organ donors and new advanced transplantation surgical techniques have created a demand on poorer countries for organs, especially kidneys.
According to WHO, the demand for overseas organs has advanced steadily over the last 10 years and is now reaching epidemic proportions.
NEW COMPANY TO TAILOR CHEMO DRUGS FOR INDIVIDUAL CANCER PATIENTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A new company, backed by George Mason University and $5 million in private investment funds has been formed by two cancer researchers to tailor chemotherapy treatments for individuals based their individual needs.
Two cancer researchers, Dr. Lance Liotta and Emanuel Petricoin have announced the formation of Theranostics Health LLC. The President and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Reilly stated that "rather than relying on a one size fits all method to choose chemotherapy, information on protein activity in tumor cells will allow doctors to select the best drug".
FRANCE REJECTS BAN ON SKINNY MODELS
PARIS - The French Health Ministry said that it would not ban skinny models from Paris runways and catwalks, but will introduce a voluntary charter to make the fashion industry "more aware of the problem and not use skinny models".
Following the head of the French fashion federation's statement that no extra measures would be taken to ban ultra-thin models from print to commercials, the statement comes as no surprise.
