[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1049599/posts

"Doctors Warn Of Death Toll From 'Silent Epidemic' Of Hepatitis C"
Independent (UK) ^ | 1-1-2004 | Jeremy Laurance


Posted on 12/31/2003 4:09:01 PM PST by blam


Doctors warn of death toll from 'silent epidemic' of hepatitis C

By Jeremy Laurance Health Editor
01 January 2004



ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Hospital specialists criticised the Government yesterday for failing to act to curb the spread of hepatitis C, a lethal blood-borne virus.

The silent epidemic of hepatitis C is officially estimated to have infected 200,000 people in the UK - four times as many as HIV - and more than 100 people are being infected each week.

It is already the main reason for liver transplants and is predicted to be killing more people than Aids by 2020, yet only a quarter of victims know they are infected and just 1 per cent are receiving treatment.

The seriousness of the threat was recognised by the Department of Health when it published a strategy for dealing with the epidemic 18 months ago and promised an action plan by the end of 2002. But a year later nothing has been done."

[JustPiper]

Flight Sent Back on Terror Fear, U.S. Officials Say By ERIC LICHTBLAU - Published: January 1, 2004 -

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 — The American authorities in the last week directed a United States-bound flight from Mexico to turn around in midair and imposed extraordinary security measures on at least six other incoming flights because of terrorist concerns, federal officials said Wednesday. Officials were so concerned about possible attacks on at least five foreign flights that landed in the United States, including one on Wednesday night at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, that they moved the planes away from the main terminals and rescreened the passengers.