The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that seven cases of jungle yellow fever have been confirmed in Paraguay while four others may have also been infected from the recent outbreak in 34 years.

The United Nations' agency statement says that seven cases came from the San Pedro region, while the other four were discovered in the town of Lorenzo, near Paraguay's capital

Because of the weak demand for camera supplies as more consumers shift to digital photography, Japanese firm Fujifilm is shifting to pharmaceuticals. The company announced it will purchase 66 percent of Toyama Chemical Company that is experimenting on an influenza medicine capable of battling bird flu.

Following the announcement of Fujifilm's diversification, its price on the Tokyo Stock Exchange went up Tuesday by 1 percent to $36.69 (3,940 yen) per share, while Toyama shares were constant at $8.14 (874 yen) per share

In response to the outbreak of psittacosis or parrot fever in a number of cockatiels, PetSmart Inc. self-imposed a 30-day quarantine in 775 of its 1,000 stores in 46 states.

Random testing of birds at PetSmart led to the discovery of the disease, which is characterized by coldlike and flulike symptoms. The disease can be passed on to humans, but the infection can be treated with an antibiotic

The Ministry of Health of Singapore announced that eight foreign workers were infected with Chikungunya virus, a dengue-like disease over the week since the case was first traced on Monday.

The latest cases involved two people who were apparently sent to isolation ward at the Communicable Disease Center on Friday

Brazilians are lining up at health centers and medical facilities in the wake of a yellow fever scare. The ailment, an acute viral disease, claimed a third victim from the southern city of Maringa.

According to municipal health officers, 46-year old Almir Rodrigues da Cunha died Wednesday. He may have acquired the ailment after a visit to Caldas Novas, a town in Goias state, where he stayed for the Christmas break