China takes new steps as bird flu in humans tops 20; new death confirmed

Authorities in several areas of China are confirming that the outbreak of H7N9 bird flu in humans now stands at 21 nationwide, including a total seven deaths in Shanghai and Zhejiang, according to the South China Morning Post and the Wall Street Journal. Two new cases in Shanghai and one in Anhui were confirmed even as Hong Kong government officials announced they could not rule out a chance of an outbreak in their city.

More pursuing agricultural degrees

The popularity of a degree in agriculture has been growing steadily. Dr. Michael Compton, director of the School of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville says "From 2006 to 2011, […]

Investigation of E. coli outbreak continues

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reported a total of 24 people were infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O121. According to the CDC, 78 percent of the people are 21 years old or younger, seven of them were hospitalized. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure, but no deaths have been reported. Current information indicates that consumption of frozen food products made by Rich Products Corp., Buffalo, NY, is the likely source of infection, CDC said.

New avain influenza strain in China

The World Health Organization says there is no evidence that a type of avian influenza which killed two men in Shanghai, China can be transmitted between people. The men, ages […]

Sodium, hiding in plain sight

Centuries ago, salt was more valuable than gold, but today the condiment has fallen out of favor. Now we know that its main component, sodium, can raise blood pressure, increasing […]

Big Agriculture flexes its muscle

Congress holds the purse strings, but who holds Congress these days when it comes to farm policy: the meatpackers and Monsanto? So it seemed last week as lawmakers sent the […]