A team of World Health Organization experts has been deployed to help investigate what is being termed a worrisome family cluster of human cases of avian influenza in northern Indonesia, organization officials said yesterday.
“The leading hypothesis” right now is that the disease spread among family members after extremely close contact with ill relatives, said Dr. Julie Gerberding, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Health officials emphasized that laboratory tests didn't suggest that the H5N1 bird flu virus had mutated in any way that would allow it to spread among humans more readily.
New York Times News Service
Rice cites progress in talks about Iran
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said talks yesterday in London among diplomats on perks and penalties meant to prevent Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon produced “good progress.”
Meanwhile, the possibility of direct talks between Iran and the United States appeared distant despite back-channel overtures from Iran and others.
Associated Press
Arrest of 54 Bahais in Iran is reported
UNITED NATIONS – Iranian authorities have arrested 54 members of the Bahai faith in Shiraz in southern Iran, the Bahai International Community said yesterday.
It said the Bahais were arrested Friday while they were teaching classes to underprivileged children as part of a community service program of the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF.
Reuters
Congo says arrested guards planned coup
KINSHASA, Congo – Congo arrested a group of foreign security guards, including three Americans, on suspicion of plotting a coup ahead of national elections, a government official said yesterday.
However, a United Nations official cast doubt on the claim and said the U.N. was confident the country would remain calm for the country's long-delayed vote, now set for July 30.
Associated Press
Gates foundation gift will boost TB fight
SAN FRANCISCO – The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said yesterday that it is giving $104 million to the nonprofit Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. Tuberculosis is a scourge in the developing world.
Associated Press
29 killed in fighting in Afghan mountains
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Fighting in southern mountains killed at least 24 militants and five members of Afghan forces.
Meanwhile, a British military C-130 cargo aircraft carrying the British ambassador caught fire while landing at an airstrip in Helmand, said Sgt. Chris Miller, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition. No one was hurt and there was no hostile fire involved, he said.
Associated Press
