A round-up of other world news in brief
Report on better Tamiflu survival rates
CHICAGO – Roche AGs antiviral drug Tamiflu helped prevent deaths from seasonal flu in severely ill patients who had chronic underlying health problems, Chinese researchers said yesterday.
A study of 760 older, severely ill patients in Hong Kong found that Tamiflu cut the death rate by 37per cent.
More than 60 per cent of patients in the study had underlying chronic illnesses, and 78 per cent had been hospitalised with complications from seasonal flu. The study suggests the drug can help save the lives of seriously ill flu patients, said Dr David Reddy, who leads the flu task force said. – (Reuters)
38 die in fire at clinic for addicts
ALMATY – A fire at a clinic for drug addicts in the southeastern Kazakh city of Taldykorgan killed 38 people yesterday, the former Soviet republic said.
It said workers evacuated and rescued another 40 people from the facility, built in 1951 using blocks of pressed cane stems. The cause of the fire is unknown.
The emergencies ministry said 36 of the victims were patients and two others were staff members of the clinic.
A special government commission will investigate the incident, it said. – (Reuters)
Megrahi's health reported worse
TRIPOLI – The health of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was under question yesterday following reports it had deteriorated markedly.
Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal prostate cancer, is in a special unit at the Tripoli Medical Centre in Libya, the reports said. However, his British lawyer, Tony Kelly, said he could not “confirm or deny” the claims.
Megrahi’s brother, Abdenasser, told Reuters: “His condition has deteriorated rapidly. He is unable to speak to anyone.” – (PA)
Son of 'Columbia' astronaut killed
JERUSALEM – The 20-year-old pilot son of Ilan Ramon, the Israeli astronaut who died in the Columbia space shuttle disaster of 2003, was killed yesterday when his fighter plane crashed during training, the Israeli military said.
Assaf Ramon graduated from airforce flying school three months ago amid a flurry of local media interest in the career of the eldest son of the first – and only – Israeli in space. Broadcasters interrupted programmes on Sunday to air the news, which one station labelled “An Israeli Tragedy”. – (Reuters)