Dec 16th, 2008 · In Zimbabwe, nearly 1,000 people have died from an outbreak of cholera, which is spread by contaminated drinking water. Public health experts say the outbreak is shocking because until recently Zimbabwe had all but eliminated the conditions that lead to cholera.
Dec 10th, 2008 · President Bush is calling for Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to step down amid a growing humanitarian crisis in the region, including a massive cholera outbreak. Jendayi Frazer, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, offers more on this situation.
Dec 9th, 2008 · A tenuous truce between rival factions in Zimbabwe is showing cracks. And a cholera outbreak has thousands fleeing to South Africa to seek medical care. James McGee, U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, discusses the situation.
Dec 6th, 2008 · The government appealed for outside help this week in combating a cholera outbreak that has claimed close to 600 lives since August. The disease is symptomatic of the general collapse of infrastructure and services in Zimbabwe, including the breakdown of its public health system.
Nov 12th, 2008 · With flu season fast approaching, people who feel themselves getting sick are turning to the web to self-diagnose. Aggregating Google's flu-related seraches can yield interesting trends about where outbreaks are occurring — and might even provide earlier regional warnings than the CDC.
Sep 19th, 2008 · A Canadian official had to apologize for being a little too cheerful about death. The farm minister is managing a crisis. It's an outbreak of killer disease linked to deli meat. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was on a conference call when he said, "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts." Then, after learning of a new death, the minister said, "Please tell me it's Wayne Easter," which is the name of a rival for his job.
Aug 29th, 2008 · State and local governments across the country are requiring a growing list of vaccinations for children entering school. Public health advocates say that the vaccines are well-tested and serve a vital role in preventing disease outbreaks, but some parents still have concerns.
Aug 1st, 2008 · Congress wants to know who is to blame for the lag time between the onset of the latest salmonella outbreak and the identification of the suspected peppers. Some House members say the FDA was slow. The agency says it was a very complicated outbreak.