Zika virus: FDA recommendstesting for all blood donated in U.S.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that all blood donated in the United States and its territories be tested for Zika virus, as it moves to prevent transmission of the virus through the blood supply. The current Zika outbreak was first detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. In Brazil, Zika has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly, and U.S. officials expect as many as 270 cases in Puerto Rico, where local transmission of the virus is widespread. Testing of donated blood is underway in Florida, Puerto Rico, as well as in other areas of the United States, and has been proven helpful in finding infected donations. Aug 27, 2016

What is the Human Rights Act?

IBTimes UK explains the key points behind the Human Rights Act, after Justice Secretary Liz Truss confirmed that the government intends to go ahead with replacing the legislature. Scrapping the Act was a key manifesto pledge by the Conservative Party during the general election in May 2015. A petition to stop the act being replaced has gained over 30,000 signatures. Aug 26, 2016