Deadly cat virus outbreak.

A viral disease that was thought to have disappeared has caused the death of scores of cats in Sydney in recent weeks, according to investigations into the outbreak . DNA sequencing by Professor Vanessa Barrs from the University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science and Marie Bashir Institute, has confirmed that the strain of virus causing the outbreak in Australia is feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). It coincides with several large outbreaks of parvovirus in dogs in NSW, around the Shoalhaven area as well as the Riverina region and Tamworth. The symptoms of FPV are fever, lethargy and loss of appetite which is usually followed by vomiting and diarrhoea,but in severe cases cats can die suddenly without exhibiting any warning signs The .disease in cats is caused by parvoviruses, which are small DNA viruses,but the main one is feline panleukopenia virus. The parvoviruses that infect dogs can also cause the disease in cats,so petlovers with cats and dogs must ensure vaccination. FPV, also known as feline enteritis, is a deadly viral infection of cats that was first discovered more than 100 years ago,but with vaccinations the disease virtually disappeared from Australia in the mid 1970s. There is no risk for humans as the disease is not zoonotic and cannot be passed on to them. source.

Meat scientist: nitrates good for body

Meat scientist: nitrates good for body: Nitrates benefit human health and are present in far greater quantities in leafy vegetables than in processed meats, contrary to recent media coverage.

Nutritional upgrade: Changes to diet may address depression: Study

Nutritional upgrade: Changes to diet may address depression: Study: Tweaks to a diet’s nutritional make-up may provide an effective strategy for depression, says a study detailing extended benefits towards the management of associated disorders.

Dual pouch project helps child nutrition in South Africa

Dual pouch project helps child nutrition in South Africa: A functional food pilot in South African schools, using an innovative dual pouch system which allows students to mix water and food powder, has boosted attendance according to its organisers.

Turning smartphones into personal, real-time pollution monitors.

A study reported in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, has shown how scientists have used smartphone and sensing technology to better pinpoint where and when pollution is at its worst. When local pollution levels go up, the associated health risks also increase, especially for children and seniors. But air pollution varies widely over the course of a day and by location, even within the same city. The researchers equipped more than 50 school children with smartphones that could track their location and physical activity. The children also received sensors that continuously measured the ambient levels of black carbon, a component of soot. Although most children spent less than 4 percent of their day traveling to and from school, commuting contributed to 13 percent of their total potential black carbon exposure. The researchers conclude that mobile technologies could contribute valuable new insights into air pollution exposure.

Air pollution linked to heightened risk of type 2 diabetes in obese Latino children.

Air pollution linked to heightened risk of type 2 diabetes in obese Latino children. Latino children who live in areas with higher levels of air pollution have a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetes. Scientists tracked children's health and respective levels of residential air pollution for about 3.5 years before associating chronic unhealthy air exposure to a breakdown in beta cells, special pancreatic cells that secrete insulin and maintain the appropriate sugar level in the bloodstream. By the time the children turned 18, their insulin-creating pancreatic cells were 13 percent less efficient than normal, making these individuals more prone to eventually developing Type 2 diabetes. The children lived in neighborhoods that, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, had excess nitrogen dioxide and tiny air pollution particles that are generated by automobiles and power plants, formally called particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). Researchers found that the beta cells that were still functional were overworking to compensate for the damaged cells, leading to burn out. As the cells failed to secrete insulin efficiently, regulation of sugar in the bloodstream overwhelmed the system, heightening the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Chinese agriculture experts conclude 2-year mission in Namibia.

Namibia's agriculture ministry on Wednesday bade farewell to 15 Chinese experts who completed a two-year program teaching farming skills in the southern African country. The 15 Chinese agriculture experts were part of the Tripartite Agreement on South to South Cooperation (SSC) entered into between Namibia, China and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on June 2014. Under the agreement, China deployed 15 experts from various agricultural fields, who for the past two years provided technical assistance to Namibia's irrigation projects, veterinary laboratories and research stations. John Mutorwa, minister of Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF), said the ministry also hosted a debriefing meeting on the project Wednesday in the presence of delegates from FAO and the Chinese embassy as the first phase of the SSC that was implemented under the agreement is nearing completion on Apr. 30.continue