Scientists have discovered a new, inexpensive compound that has the potential to treat acute diarrhea. The finding could prove beneficial for developing countries, where diarrhea is a major cause of child deaths.

The new compound is a pyridopyrimidine derivative that targets E. coli and other enterotoxigenic strains of bacteria that cause acute secretory diarrhea, researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston said

An experimental skin patch containing E. coli toxins may protect travelers from diarrhea, an illness that sickens millions each year.

The new patch, developed by U.S. biotechnology company Iomai Corp., has been found to reduce the likelihood of contracting traveler's diarrhea among people going to high-risk areas like Mexico

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers in New Mexico and Texas not to eat certain types of raw red tomatoes as it could be linked to the recent salmonella outbreak in the area.

Health officials in New Mexico began testing a variety of tomatoes after it received 57 reported cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Saintpaul in New Mexico and Texas from April 23 through June 1. Seventeen people have also been hospitalized

- In seemingly three separate cases, beef has been recalled in the U.S. and Canada because of likely E.coli contamination.

A recall of meat used in ground beef products was issued Friday for 11 states in the U.S

The rise in number of clostridium difficile-related deaths in Ontario has prompted Canadian Health Minister George Smitherman to order all hospitals to report cases of the superbug to the ministry.

So far 76 confined at the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington have died the past 20 months from direct and indirect exposure to the superbug bacteria, which leads to severe diarrhea