Biology Digest

  SANTIAGO, March 29 (Reuters) - Chile detected the first case of bird flue in a human, the country's health ministry reported on Wednesday. The case was detected in a 53-year-old man who presented severe influenza symptoms, according to a statement issued by the ministry, but they noted the patient was in stable condition. The government is also investigating the source of contagion as well as others who were in contact with the patient. Chile has reported cases of the H5N1 bird flu since late last year in wild animals. Recent cases in industrial farms caused the government to halt poultry exports. Industrial cases have also been  detected in Argentina , but Brazil, the world's largest exporter of poultry, remains free of the contagion. Chilean health authorities noted the virus can be transmitted from birds or marine mammals to humans, but there is no known human-to-human transmission. Earlier this year, Ecuador confirmed its first case of human transmission of  bid flu in a

 

Human bodies are needed to advance medical science and many tissue banks that distribute bodies donated to science provide a valuable service. But unlike organ donation, this market is for-profit and largely unregulated, creating opportunities for bad actors to mislead families or outright con people out of their loved ones' remains to line their pockets. In this eye-opening documentary, CBS Reports goes inside the $100 million market where bodies donated to science are bought and sold for profit.  

When it comes to health, rural America lags far behind the country’s urban and suburban areas. The reasons are complex and these challenges are the focus of a new series called Rural RX. With support from the Pulitzer Center and in collaboration with the Global Health Reporting Center, William Brangham starts our series in Martinsburg, West Virginia.  

Farewell to the Foldit Crew