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Rats could have been cause of Sars outbreak Latest research into the spread of the virus at a Hong Kong apartment complex overturns previous ideas. Ien Cheng reports Published: August 24 2003 18:24 | Last Updated: August 24 2003 18:24 The World Health Organisation is studying new research that points to rattus rattus - the common black rat - as a key agent in the massive spread of Sars at Amoy Gardens, the Hong Kong apartment complex where 329 people contracted the deadly virus earlier this year. The research by Dr Stephen Ng, published this month in The Lancet, the...

"Taboo of poo" blocking progress on global sanitation crisis: Kyoto forum[slightly edited] KYOTO, Japan (AFP) Mar 17, 2003 Embarrassment and inhibitions over discussing human waste is one of the prime obstacles to resolving the global sanitation crisis, experts gathered at the Third World Water Forum said here Monday. Ensuring access to fresh water for 1.4 billion people is dominating discussions at the forum gathering 10,000 participants from 165 countries, but equally important is what to do with the waste generated by six billion people worldwide. Only one billion people use flush toilets that are connected to sewage systems. Another...

<p>For most of the world during most of human history, the public toilet has been a convenient bush, riverbank, street or wastewater canal.</p> <p>Though sophisticated water systems that included underground drainage and running water were developed in a number of ancient cultures, they usually served the rich. The poor just tapped into them at strategic spots.</p>

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. WASHINGTON (AP) — The first public toilet in the Washington area subway system would get a one-year trial under a recommendation Thursday from transit officials. If the full Metro Board approves Feb. 20, a self-cleaning single stall unit made in New Zealand will be placed inside the fare gates of the Huntington station in Fairfax County, Va. The test run, with a price tag of $66,500, will monitor customer acceptance, feasibility, safety and cleanliness, officials said. ``We're going to gauge it and see what happens,'' Metro chief engineer Pat Porzillo said....