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Saturday, 21 March 2015

Boko Haram crisis: At least 70 bodies found in Nigerian town


Chadian soldiers drive in the recently retaken town of Damasak, Nigeria, 18 March 2015. Chadian and Niger troops liberated Damasak, which is near the border with Niger, on Saturday

At least 70 bodies have been found dumped outside the town of Damasak in north-eastern Nigeria, after it was recaptured from Boko Haram militants.
The victims appear to have been killed some time ago, as the bodies were partially mummified by the desert air.

'Ebola-proof' tablet device developed


Ebola tablet device

Medics wear full protective gear to shield themselves from the virus
A tablet device that can withstand being doused in chlorine has been developed to help medics caring for patients with Ebola.
Designed by technology volunteers and Google, it can be used even wearing gloves and in storms and high humidity.
Medecins Sans Frontieres put out a call for an Ebola-proof tablet to help teams record vital patient information.
At the height of the current outbreak, doctors were shouting patient notes across fences to avoid contamination.

Thursday, 19 March 2015

Tanzania's MPs approve anti-foreigner law

Image result for tanzania parliament
Tanzania's government says it wants to protect the jobs of its citizens
Tanzania's parliament has approved a tough new law aimed at curbing foreign employment.
The bill requires firms to satisfy the authorities that no local could do the job before employing a foreigner.

Rapid blood test to 'cut antibiotic use'

Blood tests - stock footage
A new blood test can help doctors tease out whether an infection is caused by a virus or bacteria within two hours, reseaAppropriate drugs
Doctors face a number of challenges when deciphering which bug is responsible for an infection and the treatment that would best tackle it.

Saturday, 14 March 2015

South Africans perform first 'successful' penis transplant

Surgical team
The world's first successful penis transplant has been reported by a surgical team in South Africa.
The 21-year-old recipient, whose identify is being protected, lost his penis in a botched circumcision.
Doctors in Cape Town said the operation was a success and the patient was happy and healthy.
The team said there was extensive discussion about whether the operation, which is not life-saving in the same way as a heart transplant, was ethical.

Thursday, 12 March 2015

Gene Modification May Change Your Height, Complexion


Gene Modification May Change Your Height, Complexion
    In what could be a stepping stone towards customised babies, researchers at McGill University have identified a key mechanism by which environmental factors influence traits like our height, skin colour, intelligence etc. They believe that by identifying a key gene for each trait and how it is affected by the environment (epigenetically), it is potentially possible to influence the degree of its expression - and so, create variation in how specific traits are expressed.

Morocco-Nigeria spat over royal phone call

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan pictured in January 2015
Nigeria's foreign ministry says President Jonathan spoke at length to the Moroccan monarch
Morocco has recalled its ambassador from Nigeria, accusing the authorities there of using King Mohammed VI in an election campaign.
Its foreign ministry issued a statement, denying the king had spoken by phone to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, as had been stated by Nigeria.