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EPIDEMICS
Cape Verde dengue fever epidemic stabilises

Bangladesh cholera linked to rivers
Boston (UPI) Nov 9 - U.S. scientists say they've discovered why cholera outbreaks that occur once a year in Africa and Latin America occur twice a year in Bangladesh. Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, scientists said. But they have tried, without much success, to determine the cause of the unique dual outbreaks in Bangladesh. Researchers from Tufts University, led by Professor Shafiqul Islam, say they have found a link between cholera and fluctuating water levels in the region's three principal rivers -- the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna. "What we are establishing is a way to predict cholera outbreaks two to three months in advance," Islam said. "It's not a microbiological explanation. The key is the river discharge and regional climate." The study's findings are reported in the Oct. 10 issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
by Staff Writers
 Praia (AFP) Nov 9, 2009
 A dengue fever epidemic that has already killed six people in Cape Verde has stabilised with less than 600 new cases daily reported in the last two days, authorities here said Monday.

The Atlanic island nation has recorded 12,000 cases of the crippling mosquito-borne disease since October 1.

Last week the number of new cases was on average over 900 daily, the national epidemic surveillance service said Monday. The islands most affected are Santiago, Fogo, Maio and Brava.

The drop in cases follows a massive three day campaign to eradicate the breeding grounds for the type of mosquitoes which transmit the disease, for which there is no vaccine.

"It is too soon to tell if the trend of the stabilisation or drop of the number of cases that we have seen in the past few days is the result of the campaign," Health Minister Basilio Ramos said.

Dengue causes a severe flu-like illness which can lead to potentially deadly internal bleeding.

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EPIDEMICS
Ukraine flu epidemic slows but new wave possible: officials
 Kiev (AFP) Nov 9, 2009
 An epidemic of flu and acute respiratory disorders has slowed down in Ukraine, officials said Monday, as the World Health Organization warned of a possible second wave of infections. "In the last few days, the number of patients falling ill per day has fallen," Ukraine's deputy health minister, Vasyl Lazoryshynets, said at a news conference. The number of new cases peaked on November 4 ... read more






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