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An international team of scientists has discovered that two of the most devastating pandemics in human history -- responsible for killing as much as half the population in Europe at the time -- were caused by strains of the same bacterium. The researchers announced Monday that the Plague of Justinian and the Black Death were caused by distinct strains of the same pathogen, and warned that similar pandemics can strike again. The Plague of Justinian struck in the 6th century and is estimated to have killed between 30 and 50 million people -- virtually half the world’s population as it...

The largest outbreak to date of one strain of what authorities have called “nightmare bacteria” is adding to concerns about the spread of such drug-resistant bugs. The outbreak, centered on a hospital in a Chicago suburb, has infected 44 people in Illinois over the past year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The bug, known as carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, bears a rare enzyme that breaks down antibiotics. “This is a huge cluster,” said Alex Kallen, a medical officer with the CDC and supervisor for the Illinois outbreak investigation, noting that only 97 cases of the infection have been reported...

n is a form of passive-aggressive behavior. Doing or saying nothing is still doing something. William Shakespeare once said: "Action is eloquence." Barack Obama is considered by some to be an eloquent speaker, but the President's rhetoric is meaningless when his hollow words, regardless of how well-executed, are followed up with inaction. In the past, Obama has been quick to remark on issues and events of which he disapproves. Unable to contain himself, oftentimes uncontrolled frustration and disdain inappropriately...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday that it plans to ban the sale of “the most toxic rat and mouse poisons, as well as most loose bait and pellet products” to residential customers. The goal is to better protect children, pets and wildlife. “These changes are essential to reduce the thousands of accidental exposures of children that occur every year from rat and mouse control products and also to protect household pets,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. The EPA also will require that all rat and mouse poisons

Valliere: Barack Obama, One-Term President? For the first time since Barack Obama’s inauguration 16 months ago, we’re beginning to think there’s a reasonable chance he’ll be just a one-term president. Even though the economy is enjoying a modest recovery, there are three compelling factors that are making us think Obama is in serious trouble in 2012: He has a tin ear: The Gulf oil spill disaster has highlighted a major Obama flaw – he doesn’t do empathy very well. Cerebral and aloof, Obama spent over an hour in a recent press conference (his first one in 10 months) describing the...

M. D. Anderson scientists use genetic fingerprint to nail 'killing organism' This release is available in Spanish. IMAGE: Xiang-Yang Han, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor in Laboratory Medicine at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. HOUSTON - A new species of bacterium that causes leprosy has been identified through intensive genetic analysis of a pair of lethal infections, a research team reports in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. All cases of leprosy, an ancient disease that still maims and kills in the developing world, previously had been thought to be caused by a...

And there came to pass a plague upon the land and its name was Soros, and its name was moveon.org, and they begat gold and silver and riches to make a king. And there arose up a new savior over the land and his name was Obama. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be a mouth, and we shalt be to him a source of riches. Now therefore go, and we will be thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And they will say Obama will be king. And Obama spoke. And...

Rosie O'Donnell, hosting ABC's popular "The View" morning show, came to the defense of terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed today, suggesting the government elicited a false confession from the 9/11 mastermind by using torture, robbing him of his humanity and treating him like an animal. O'Donnell then argued terrorists are people too, and asserted the U.S. "robs them of their humanity." "They've been treating them like animals … they have hoods over their heads, they torture them on a daily basis," she said. In November, O'Donnell told Hasselbeck in an exchange on "The View" that Americans shouldn't fear terrorists. "Faith or...

MIDI - THE TWELFTH OF NEVER Tornadoes hit the Midwest...destruction reigns A DUmmy jumped from his roof...he's driven insane Bank robbers hit Wells Fargo and took the vault The NEW YORK TIMES is on it...they write it's Bush's fault My, oh, my...someone tell us why He's causing havoc...when will we impeach this guy It hailed in Cincinnati...the game was called A gay performer by his own tiger was mauled You find your curly fries had way too much salt The NEW YORK TIMES is on it...they write it's Bush's fault That will go on forever...they write it's Bush's fault...

Eleven people died and thousands were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties after a swarm of grasshoppers invaded a town in central Sudan. Health authorities in Wad Medani, capital of the central al-Jezira state, said an epidemic of what they considered to be asthma had afflicted 1,685 people since October 22, all of whom had since been cured. The government-owned Al-Anbaa newspaper reported 11 people had died from the breathing difficulties. "The appearance of the epidemic is linked to the unprecedented increase in the grasshopper insects," the daily quoted the health authorities as saying. Resident Joseph Mogum in Wad Medani,...

<p>As many as five people have died in Hong Kong from a mystery virus authorities now believe has mutated from a common childhood disease.</p> <p>While they would not identify the disease, they say the deadly respiratory illness sweeping through Asia and the world comes from a class of viruses known as paramyxovirus.</p>