The outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe over the lives of 3028 people and has infected 57 702 as of yesterday, the update daily published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Figures released by the agency show an increase of 57 deaths and 1579 new infections. The outbreak of this disease is most deadly epidemic that has occurred in Africa in 14 years.

In the ten provinces in Zimbabwe is divided have been no cases of cholera and the NGO World Vision has reported previously that the disease has spread to rural areas. “The rapid deterioration of the health system in Zimbabwe, the lack of adequate water supplies and lack of action (…) have led to the cholera epidemic,” the organization said in a statement.

The report reveals that there have been fatalities in the 10 provinces and in 55 of the 62 districts. However, the disease is hitting in a special way in the provinces of Harare and Mashonaland West, which has recorded the highest number of victims.

Two weeks ago, a spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized that the epidemic had not yet been controlled. According to the organization, the situation is exacerbated by poor health facilities, as almost half of deaths occur even in specialized care centers.

“The threat of the use of smallpox virus as a weapon of bioterrorism has led to reconsider the need for a vaccine against smallpox,” the researchers said. “The serious events associated with first generation vaccines have raised barriers to vaccination campaigns in the U.S. UU.”

The second generation vaccines also cause a high rate of serious side effects, they said.

“Developing a vaccine that is safer than first-generation vaccines but highly immunogenic [to produce immunity or immune response] is crucial for the design of a prevention plan in the event of bioterrorism attacks,” they added.

The researchers studied immune responses to vaccination in 1.692 LC16m8 adults who had been previously vaccinated against smallpox and 1.529 that had not been vaccinated. The LC16m8 is a live attenuated vaccine (reduced power).

The participants were examined between ten and fourteen days after the application of the vaccine. The researchers found antibodies in about 90 percent of those who had not previously been vaccinated, and reinforced an effective response in 60 percent of those who had been vaccinated previously. None of the participants experienced serious side effects.

The study “provides evidence for the safety of the vaccine LC16m8 in adults,” wrote Dr. Tomoya Saito, University of Tokyo and his colleagues. “The vaccine LC16m8 appears to be a viable alternative to vaccines first, second and other third generation in a program of preparedness for a possible bioterrorist attack with smallpox virus.”

The study appears in the March 11 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

In an accident worthy of a science fiction movie, a researcher accidentally pricked her finger with a needle used to inject the deadly Ebola virus in a laboratory mouse.

Hours after the incident, several members of the community of virologists, biologists and other experts interconnected in a transatlantic teleconference hastily discussed how to save the life of his colleague.

The result was remarkable. About 24 hours after the accident on March 12, an experimental vaccine tested in humans. Never traveling from Germany to a laboratory in Canada. And in 48 hours, the scientist, a 45 year old woman whose identity was not released, was injected with the vaccine.

Until now the result is positive.

If the rough is still healthy on April 2, may be considered secure.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever, almost exclusively in Africa, is one of the most feared diseases in the world. It begins with symptoms similar to flu and continues with bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Days later, some victims begin to bleed from the nose, mouth and eyes. The most virulent strain of the virus can kill up to 90% of its victims. No cure. It is spread by direct contact with blood or secretions of an infected person.

Dr. Stephan Guenther, head of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg, where the researcher worked, told The Associated Press that the scientist is healthy and free of virus, as indicated by the tests so far.

He said the Ebola incubation period of 21 days ended this week and said that with each passing day reduces the risk.

One factor of uncertainty is not entirely clear whether the research actually was infected with the virus. At the time of the accident wore three layers of protective gloves. Although the needle jabbed the syringe plunger was pushed, so it is not certain that the virus has penetrated the blood.