Saying so long to polio

Article Abstract:

Because of the effectiveness of the vaccine, polio (as caused by the wild virus and not as a result of complications of the vaccine) has been eradicated in the United States. However, in tropical areas, such as in South and Central America, the disease has not been eradicated, because the vaccines are less effective. Children in these areas often suffer from viruses that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can prevent the vaccine from working. The rate of effectiveness for the vaccine is 60 to 80 percent in the tropics, compared with 90 percent in the United States. However, since 1985, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has carried out an extensive four-year vaccination program, immunizing 40 million children in 47 countries and territories in the Americas, with a total cost of $430 million. There have been no new cases of polio in the past six months. The number of cases of polio has decreased from 930 in 1986, to 130 in 1989, to only 11 cases in 1990. PAHO believes that it will be able to eradicate polio in the tropics. Thanks to this immunization program, more children have also been immunized against other diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles. The World Health Organization will use the same type of intensive immunization program in other areas of the world, including areas where the incidence of polio is high, such as Africa, China, and India. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Conferences, meetings and seminars, Prevention, Poliomyelitis, Central America, South America, American Association for the Advancement of Science, World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization

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DNA from an extinct human

Article Abstract:

Researchers have recovered and analyzed a tiny sample of DNA from the Neanderthal skeleton discovered in Germany in 1856. The analysis found a DNA sequence different from that of modern humans, indicating Neanderthals were not direct ancestors of today's humans.

Research, Analysis, Genetic aspects, DNA, Prehistoric peoples, Human evolution, Neanderthals, Neanderthal man

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Cultural divide at Stanford

Article Abstract:

The controversy over the withdrawal of tenure for cultural anthropologist Akhil Gupta is part of a wider dispute on the nature of anthropology. The conflict involves infighting between physical anthropologists and cultural anthropologists at Stanford.

Human resource management, Universities and colleges, Contracts, College teachers, College faculty, Anthropologists, Stanford University, Teacher tenure, Gupta, Akhil

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