TB cases decline for first time

The number of people getting sick with tuberculosis has dropped for the first time, while the death toll from the disease reached its lowest level in a decade, helped by progress in countries like China, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.

In 2010, 8.8 million people fell ill with TB and 1.4 million died, both marking a notable decline over prior years, the United Nations health agency said in releasing its 2011 Global Tuberculosis Control Report.
"The findings reflect a significant milestone for global health," said Dr. Mario Raviglione, director of the WHO's Stop TB Department, at a news briefing. "But history teaches that we cannot be complacent about TB. The international community therefore must not perceive these achievements as job done."
TB is a worldwide pandemic, with about a third of the world's population infected with the bacteria, although only a small portion ever develop the disease.
The WHO has revised its estimates to show that the absolute number of cases has been on a decline since 2006, not on a slight rise as previously reported. The number of people ill with TB peaked at 9 million in 2005.
The death toll from TB peaked at 1.8 million in 2003.
The WHO officials attributed the decline to better data collection around the world; increased funding in China for addressing TB; better prevention and care in the former countries of the Soviet Union and Latin America as their standard of living improves; and a drop-off of infection in Africa, which had peaked with the HIV epidemic.
The TB bacteria destroys patients' lung tissue, causing them to cough up the bacteria, which then spreads through the air and can be inhaled by others. If untreated, each person with active TB can infect on average 10 to 15 people a year.
TB is especially common in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Russia.
The countries the WHO especially noted for progress in the fight against the disease were Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Brazil and China, which saw a drop of nearly 80 percent to 55,000 TB deaths in 2010 since 1990.
Globally, the TB death rate dropped 40 percent in 2010 compared to 1990, and all regions except Africa were on track to reach a 50 percent mortality decline by 2015.
For full report from the WHO, see
CHALLENGE OF DRUG RESISTANCE
Some countries routinely vaccinate children with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, made by several companies including Merck & Co Inc. The vaccine doesn't always protect against TB.
The infection is also treatable by antibiotics, such as isoniazid or Sanofi's Rifadin, but they must be taken daily for months to be effective.
Because people do not always take the drugs as directed, multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) strains have emerged. Leaving them untreated increases the risk of drug-resistant strains of TB spreading.
In March of this year, the WHO warned that more than 2 million people will contract MDR-TB by 2015.
Drug-resistant TB strains remain one of the biggest challenges, as only about 16 percent of patients diagnosed with MDR-TB are actually getting treatment, said Dr. Katherine Floyd, coordinator of the TB monitoring and evaluation unit at the Stop TB department.
"There is little interest by the industry in developing new drugs in general for antibiotics, but when it comes to TB in particular ... they cannot count on making a lot of money off the drugs and therefore don't invest," Raviglione said.
Although many advances have been made in increasing access to diagnostic technology, clinics and treatment around the world, countries pay for some 86 percent of all anti-TB funding and continue to struggle with funding gaps.
With that in mind, global health experts warned against complacency about the reported improvement.
"We know from the past experience that as soon as you drop the guard, TB comes back," said USAID's Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez.

Death Toll From Cantaloupe

The death toll from an outbreak of listeria first linked to tainted cantaloupes has risen to 23, and a total of 116 people have been sickened across 25 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported late Wednesday.

The agency said that even though the cantaloupes in question were recalled Sept. 14, more cases might still emerge since Listeria monocytogenes infection has a long lag time between diagnosis and laboratory confirmation "and also because up to two months can elapse between eating contaminated food and developing listerosis."
The listeriosis-linked deaths have occurred in Colorado (5), Indiana (1), Kansas (2), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (5), New York (1), Oklahoma (1), Texas (2) and Wyoming (1), the CDC said. One pregnant woman who contracted the illness had a miscarriage, the CDC said.
On Sept. 14, the agency announced that Jensen Farms, of Granada, Colo., had voluntarily recalled its Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes and the produce is "now off store shelves." Consumers -- especially older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women -- should discard this brand of cantaloupe if it is in their refrigerator, the agency said. Other brands of cantaloupe are safe to consume, however.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the death toll from the current outbreak is on track to exceed that of the nation's worst listeria outbreak, in 1998, which was linked to hot dogs and killed 21 people while sickening 100 more.
In a news conference recently, CDC director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden called the cantaloupe-linked outbreak "the deadliest outbreak of a foodborne disease that we've identified in more than a decade."
Unlike other bacteria, listeria can flourish in colder temperatures. So, "if you've got a contaminated cantaloupe in your refrigerator, the listeria will continue to grow," Frieden said. "That's one of the reasons why we may see continued cases from cantaloupe already in people's refrigerators in the days and weeks ahead."
Although listeria tends to infect fewer people, it is typically deadlier than other foodborne pathogens and inordinately affects the elderly, newborns, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system. People can develop meningitis from the organism, but many people only experience milder diarrhea.
According to the CDC, some 1,600 cases are reported annually in the United States, resulting in 260 deaths.
The bacterium tends to grow in soil and water. But animals can also carry the organism and pass it on to humans through meats, dairy products and other foods of animal origins. Most listeria outbreaks are from animal products, not produce, the CDC said.

Virgo Love Signs!

Virgo rules the sixth home of services, company connected to do the job, responsibility, health, hygiene, nutritional and exercise habits. The Sun in Virgo phase is an excellent time for you to build an alliance with Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio and Capricorn. A Virgo is a creative, analytical and a practical zodiac sign. They do well as scientists or writers. They have great taste, and are interested in law and literature.

Let’s find out how compatible you will be with other zodiac signs!
Virgo with Aries: The relationship or marriage will not be as fruitful as you think, because Virgo believes in words and Aries believes in action. Aries is more passionate than the Virgo and this is what the Virgo doesn’t admire.
Virgo with Taurus: The creative, intelligent and delicate Virgo is practical and strong too. Both these zodiac signs are compatible with one another. They are materialistic and passionate. The only problem is that Taurus does not like Virgo’s tendency to criticize at every step.
Virgo with Gemini: A marriage between these two zodiacs will not be successful. But both will be compatible in bed. Gemini loves freedom and Virgo tries to dominate the Gemini which doesn’t help the situation.
Virgo with Cancer: Since both of you are highly ambitious, you will have to make some sacrifices to make your relationship work. You will have to set your priorities right if you want to avoid arguments. Taking time out from your busy schedules is a must or else your love life will be a mess.
Virgo with Leo: Virgo is a reserved character and Leo is the king. They both cannot be dominated but when in love, each zodiac will try to dominate each other. Hence, this is not a match you are looking for.
Virgo with Virgo: Both these zodiacs are reserved and they would like to talk less. Both partners share the same sun sign, and have similar likes and dislikes. So chances are that they will be a good match if they are able to overcome boredom.
Virgo with Libra: A Virgo is shy and a Libra is not. They will take time to understand each other. Once they get to know each other well, this couple will have a nice and balanced relationship.
Virgo with Scorpio: This match will be fiery hot! The most long lasting love is found in this pair. They will live up to each other’s expectations and never complain about anything as far as love is concerned.
Virgo with Sagittarius: This combination may not be such a great one for romance. You may have difficulty understanding each other. Even if you have a stable relationship you may not have fun together. It is highly possible that your love life may become a tedious affair.

Virgo with Capricorn: A Capricorn will always attract a Virgo. The attraction is sexual. But when it comes to marriage, it will be a dull one.

Virgo with Aquarius: You will have to work a bit harder than others to make your relationship a success. This relationship will work best when one of you is willing to make some compromises. Adjustments are highly essential to make such a match work.

Virgo with Pisces: Some difficulties are indicated in your love life. Differences in your thinking and your choices may come between you two. Arguments are likely to be much more frequent for such a match. Both will be unwilling to make sacrifices for the relationship.

Falling in love is easy but staying in love, so much harder…Find out what you can do to keep things strong between you and your partner! Don’t give up just because things aren’t going great. Order your Love Report and get advice and solutions to bring the spark back!

Golden:nutrition and hydration rules

Getting started in healthy eating can be a bit of a daunting task. There seems to be so much conflicting information and advice available, it is hard to decide which bit to listen to. To stop you giving up before you begin, realbuzz.com has come up with five golden nutrition and hydration rules.

Even if you only follow these few tips, it will set you well on your way to a healthier balanced diet, without you really noticing!
1. Always eat breakfast
After fasting all night, kick-start your body’s engine with some good quality food. If you ever feel lethargic in the morning, or skip breakfast and are ravenous by 10am, you will feel 100 per cent better if you have some food when you get up. Top of the breakfast charts is porridge, perhaps topped with some fresh or dried fruit. Porridge will provide you with sustained energy and cancel out the 10am ‘munchies’! Cereals provide a simple and quick breakfast fix but try and avoid sugar or chocolate coated varieties.
2. Hydrate
Symptoms of dehydration include unusual fatigue, dizziness, hunger, dry skin, dark urine and general lethargy. When you consider that the majority of our bodies are made up from water, topping up your body’s fluid intake with water and natural fluids (for example: fruit juice) is extremely important.
3. Take the ‘20 per day’ test
Try and eat 20 different, healthy foods each day to ensure that you are fuelling your body with a broad range of different nutrients and to guarantee that you are getting the full complement of vitamins, minerals and trace elements — and that your meals are interesting too!
4. Limit or avoid salt
A high consumption of salt has proven links to high blood pressure, so minimizing your salt intake is very important. Many foods have salt added to them to enhance their flavor because salt is the cheapest flavor enhancer available. For example, many ready-made soups contain up to three grams and a few slices of bread can easily net you another gram. When the maximum recommended daily salt intake is five to six grams per person, you can see how easy it is to take in large quantities — unknowingly.
5. Avoid eating late at night


Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper is an old adage but there is some truth in the saying. Many people have an ‘end-of-day load’ approach to their food intake, sometimes eating a large evening meal at 9pm, having eaten very sparingly throughout the day. Effectively they have starved themselves during their period of maximum activity and when they get home they are extremely hungry and eat a very large meal before going to bed.

Spice up broccoli

Mixing fresh broccoli with a spicy food that contains enzyme myrosinase boosts its cancer-fighting ability, a new study says.

The enzyme also ensures that the item is absorbed and placed in the upper part of the digestive system where it bestows the maximum health benefit, the study suggests.
'To get this effect, spice up your broccoli with broccoli sprouts, mustard, horseradish, or wasabi. The spicier, the better; that means it's being effective,' said study author Elizabeth Jeffery, University of Illinois professor of nutrition.
It's no secret that many people cook the benefits right out of broccoli instead of steaming it lightly for two to four minutes to protect its healthful properties, said Jenna Cramer who led the study, the British Journal of Nutrition reports.
'However, this study shows that even if broccoli is overcooked, you can still boost its benefits by pairing it with another food that contains myrosinase,' she said according to a university statement.
Myrosinase is the enzyme necessary to form sulforaphane, the vegetable's cancer-preventive component, study co-author Margarita Teran-Garcia explained.
Other foods that will boost broccoli's benefits if they are paired together include radishes, cabbage, arugula, watercress and Brussels sprouts.

Protect Fertile Farm Land

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) president Sharad Yadav said Sunday his party wants the budget for 2011-12 to protect the country's fertile agricultural land. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will present the budget in parliament Monday. 'Nothing has changed in the last 62 years. We want that steps and measures should be taken to protect the fertile land of the country. If SEZs (special economic zones) and hi-tech cities and factories come up on agricultural land which gives us food, then it is a matter of grave concern,' said Yadav on the sidelines of a party programme here. 'Measures should be taken to save the agricultural sector of the country, because this provides food to the whole country. Steps should be taken to save the land of the country as this is our asset,' said Yadav. Speaking at the party programme, Yadav criticised the central government on the issues of corruption and price rise. He alleged that nothing could be compared with the ongoing 'big loot' in Delhi. 'In the 2G scam, Rs.1.76 lakh crore of money was looted,' he said. 'The government is saying Rs.70,000 crore were used in CWG (2010 Commonwealth Games) but I am saying it was Rs.1 lakh crore. So much money was used for (an event that) was for few days. This money could have been used for making a freight corridor,' he said. 'The building (Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai) made for the martyrs of Kargil war was swallowed by dishonest persons,' said Yadav. When he was asked whether JD-U will forge an alliance with the Trinamool Congress for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, Yadav said: 'Nothing has been decided. The state committee of our party will send its report on what is needed to be done and then we will decide.' Yadav praised Mamata Banerjee's railway budget, presented Friday, for not increasing the fares but said a long list of pending projects of the last two rail budgets did not speak well about the health of the railways.

Delhi blast: Third Email Claim, Attack In Ahmedabad

Amid conflicting claims on who plotted Wednesday's Delhi High Court bombing, a third email surfaced Friday claiming responsibility for the terror attack and warning of another 'cruel attack'. Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the mail was written 'amateurishly' but was being taken seriously by investigators.

'After the first email, another email arrived and a third arrived today (Friday). These are not being dismissed, although the third one appears to be a very amateurish mail,' Chidambaram told reporters, elaborating that it was written with some numerical code pointing towards the next target.
'The code reads as Ahmedabad. So the email sender is hinting that the strike will be at Ahmedabad. But since it's such a simple code, very amateurish code, I am not sure whether it was sent by a serious person. But nevertheless, we are taking it seriously,' the home minister said .
IANS got the contents of the third email attributed the Indian Mujahideen that was sent to Delhi Police.
It reads: 'This is to inform you that we Indian Mujahideen claim the terror attack on (the) Delhi High Court.'
The email warns that the next attack 'will be so cruel that you people won't be able to forget it for decay (decade).'
'I just want you to pass a message to the Indian government that if you are willing to know the next attack it is 1,8,5,13,4,1,2,1,4. Till you come to know what it stands for, the next blast will be done. If you have any question get back soon because we don't have time for anything.'
The email sender identifies himself as Ali Saed el-Hoori and the message was sent from an ID killindia@gmail.com.
Chidambaram said a detailed advisory was issued to states, including Gujarat, reiterating to them to take steps and enhance vigil against terror attacks, particularly in metros.
This is the third email sent in as many days since the deadly bombing outside the Delhi High Court Wednesday which killed 13 people and injured more than 90.
The earlier emails were attributed to the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami (HuJI) and the home-grown terror group Indian Mujahideen which owned up to the bombing.
The HuJI email was tracked to an internet cafe in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. It threatened to carry out more such attacks if the death penalty to 2001 parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was not immediately repealed.
Chidambaram said the sender of the HuJI email has been identified and taken into custody. But he did not elaborate.
'The person we are looking for as suspect to the first email has been located and has been taken into custody for interrogation. We would like to wait for that report to come,' he said.
Police had earlier picked up the owners of the cafe.
A TV network received the second email in which the Indian Mujahideen said it had plotted the attack and warned that its cadres would strike outside a shopping complex Tuesday.
Meanwhile, sleuths led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are pursuing scattered leads to crack the case but have not achieved any major breakthrough.
Chidambaram said the investigators were not in a position to say if the blast was the handiwork of Pakistan-based terrorists.
'I cannot say if it's the Indian module or the module from across the border,' the minister said.

Anti-Graft Movement

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday indirectly hailed social activist Anna Hazare's anti-graft movement, saying the 'active interest' of the people in the national debate against corruption augurs well for the country.

Addressing the National Integration Council (NIC) meet here, Singh said Indian democracy had struck deeper roots in recent years with the strengthening of local governance institutions and a more informed and active citizenry.
'The active interest displayed recently by the people in the national debate on corruption augurs well for the future of our country,' he said, but did not name Hazare or his movement directly.
'Our democracy has struck deeper roots in the recent years with the strengthening of local governance institutions and a more informed and active citizenry,' he added.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a 13-day fast by Hazare at Ramlila Maidan here seeking a stronger Lokpal bill in parliament.