· March, 2011

Stories about Health from March, 2011

Haiti: Monsanto's Agenda

  31 March 2011

Haiti Grassroots Watch takes “a closer look” at Monsanto's seed distribution in the wake of last year's devastating earthquake.

Venezuela: H1N1 Cases on the Rise

  31 March 2011

The H1N1 virus has hit Venezuela. While writing this post, on March 28, the number of people infected with the virus is 415. Using Twitter, Venezuelans are sharing their frustration at the increasing number of cases as they tweet the latest official information and encourage each other to take precautions.

Ecuador: Investigation Around Newborn Deaths Continues

  24 March 2011

According to Ecuador's latest census, more than 14 million people live in the country, but there is still no consensus on the national infant mortality rate. Recent incidents have called attention to health care practices in neonatal units in Ecuadorian hospitals, triggering an investigation around newborn deaths in the country.

Japan: Hoarding Water in Wake of Radiation Fears

  24 March 2011

South Korea's blogger/citizen news site, Wikitree posted a photo sent by a Japanese net user which shows people hoarding bottled water in big supermarket chains in Tokyo, reflecting heightened fears of radiation contamination.

Paraguay: Photo Blog Reveals Dangers of Childbirth

  23 March 2011

Most Paraguayans are not aware of the high rates of death from childbirth and abortion in the country. These issues are rarely reported on mainstream media. This is why running into Rodrigo Alfaro’s photo blog post on death from childbirth in Paraguay is horrifying and shocking --even for a Paraguayan.

Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago: On Nuclear Power

  21 March 2011

Guyana-Gyal just doesn't get “the benefits of nuclear power”, while Coffeewallah says: “The nuclear crisis has huge long term implications for the future use of nuclear power world-wide.”

Cuba: Linares to be Released

  17 March 2011

Havana Times reports on the imminent release of political prisoner Ricardo Librado Linares “with which only two of the 75 Cuban dissidents sentenced in 2003 will remain in prison”; Uncommon Sense explains why his release is both “personal” and “a big deal”.

China: Day two of salt-buying panic

  17 March 2011

With supermarkets in many Chinese cities now out of salt, Roland Soong at EastSouthWestNorth has published a second post on the panicky salt buying spree, comparing discussion of the frenzy on Twitter and domestic microblog Sina Weibo. “To summarize Chinese reactions to the Japan earthquake: hoard salt, create rumors, scare...

Japan: Radiation levels and the human body

  15 March 2011

To “put the radiation levels at Fukushima into perspective”, @gakuranman translated an infographic of radiation levels and their effects to the human body. He has also been updating his website with ongoing announcements.

Japan: Iodine Distribution Needed

  12 March 2011

@Traysizzzle writes: “I hope #Japan starts distributing #iodine asap to anyone close to the radiation…it's not #Chernobyl but its prognosis is not good…”

Ukraine, Japan: Drink Red Wine to Reduce Radiation Toxicity

  12 March 2011

@DJLoli shares a health tip that was popular in Ukraine in 1986: “If u r in the area affected by Japan radiation: drink red Wine to get it out. It what helped us in Ukraine during #Chernobyl. […]” (Here's an article on a 2008 study that showed that “resveratrol, the...

Cuba: Brother of Hunger Striker Detained

  11 March 2011

“The joy of the announcement Thursday evening that Cuban prisoner of conscience Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet was about to be released from jail, was tempered by the news that another dissident, Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina had been arrested”: Uncommon Sense has the details.

India: Euthanasia Debate Re-kindled

  11 March 2011

The Indian blogosphere is buzzing with mixed emotions after the Supreme Court of India rejected the mercy killing petition filed by journalist Pinki Virani on behalf of Aruna Shanbaug who has been cared for and kept alive for 37years at the KEM hospital, Mumbai, India. Conversations abound on blogs, forums, comments on published news posts, Twitter and Facebook.

About our Health coverage

Juhie Bhatia
Juhie Bhatia is the Global Health editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.