In The News

Preparing for the Next Pandemic

Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D, M.P.H. May 5, 2005
Periodic influenza outbreaks over the past few centuries have resulted in high mortality and enormous damage. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, the world is still grossly under-prepared to cope with such pandemics. Recent concerns over the possibility of a large avian flu outbreak mean that this global lack of response capability to public health crises is an urgent problem....

Brazil Spurns US Terms for AIDS Help

Sarah Boseley May 4, 2005
Washington's "global gag" – its refusal to fund any foreign-based organization with links to abortion – has caused a great deal of controversy in the international community. Brazil recently became the first country to publicly refuse to accept US funding for AIDS prevention and treatment programs, on account of the perceived strings attached. "I would like to confirm that...

More Creative Thinking Needed On Drug R&D

Priya Shetty May 4, 2005
Countries worldwide are investing more and more in research and development on diseases and drugs to fight them. But few of these projects are aimed at illnesses afflicting the world's poorest regions – illnesses which account for widespread death and devastation. A major reason for this neglect is the patent system, which prioritizes duplication over innovation; new global intellectual...

Deadly Flu Strain Shipped Worldwide

Rob Stein April 13, 2005
Health officials worldwide are scrambling to secure a potentially lethal sample of the flu virus sent to over 3,700 laboratories for testing. As part of routine quality control procedures, scientists often order flu samples from private biotechnology companies in order to certify their laboratories. These samples are usually innocuous and safe for testing. As a scientist in Winnipeg, Manitoba...

Cheap AIDS Drugs Under Threat

Randeep Ramesh March 23, 2005
Recent legislation passed by the Indian government will hamper the ability of poorer nations and individuals to treat the HIV virus. In order to comply with the World Trade Organization's patent licensing policies, India has criminalized the copying of patented drugs, which include the antiretroviral drugs used to treat AIDS. India's generic pharmaceuticals have treated almost half the...

A Pageant with a Purpose

Simon Robinson February 28, 2005
Last week, Botswana played host to a unique type of beauty pageant. Twelve competitors from around the nation danced, smiled, and glamorized in the 5th annual Miss HIV Stigma Free Pageant, designed to showcase the fact that even with the AIDS virus, life goes on. Botswana, regarded as one of the most progressive African nations in its handling of the AIDS crisis, views the culture of shame and...

"Tsunami Effect" Likely to Hit Africa

Kevin J. Kelley February 24, 2005
In January, international donors quickly met the UN appeal for US$977 million for tsunami relief operations. That same month, member countries gave only US$21 million of the US$29 million requested by the UN World Food Program, resulting in ration cuts for some African nations. This disparity reflects a serious problem: While the international community has quickly responded to the tsunami...