Carol CampbellThe possibility that the swine flu virus — influenza A(H1N1) — could pass between humans through faeces could have important ramifications for developing countries, where millions live without proper sanitation, according to WHO director-general Margaret Chan. In her address to the 62nd World Health Assembly held in Geneva this week (18 May) she said that diarrhoea and vomiting... [read more]

Nadia El-Awady* Blame for the turmoil in Egypt over swine flu can be laid squarely at the feet of the media and politicians, says Nadia El-Awady. The emergence of a new influenza virus — A(H1N1) or 'swine flu' — has thrown Egypt into a state of disarray. As rumours and conspiracy theories spread, 70 million people are blindly thrashing their wooden swords to ward off an unseen and ubiquitous... [read more]