For the first time ever, scientists have released a detailed map highlighting the world's hotspots for emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). Using data from past 65 years, the map pinpoints the locations where majority of these new diseases come from wildlife.

EID's such as HIV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus and Ebola are indeed on the rise. The study has determined that zoonoses, diseases that originate in animals, are the current and most important threat in causing new diseases to emerge. The study analysed 335 incidents of previous disease emergence beginning in 1940 and concluded that most of these EID's originated in wildlife

China's Ministry of Health has vowed to step up measures to protect public health during the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

Health Minister Chen Zhu said they will strengthen monitoring, emergency response and medical treatment for rabies, bird flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), as well as group poisonings

Three scientific institutes in Singapore have jointly developed a palm-size device that can quickly and cheaply test saliva or stool sample from humans and poultry for signs of the bird flu virus H5N1, the CBC News reported on Monday.

CBC News said the gadget can detect within 28 minutes the presence of the fatal virus at a cost of only 20 to 50 cents. Other test methods takes up to four hours to return results and cost $20 to $50 per kit

The U.N World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned about the emergence of new deadly infectious disease like AIDS or Ebola in the 21st century.

The WHO report attributed the cause of diseases to rapidly increasing world population, intensive farming practices and changes in human and sexual behaviour

Scientists have internationally teamed up to discover the first human and animal antibodies that are capable of neutralizing different strains of the virus causing severe acute respiratory syndrome, also known as SARS.

From 2002 to 2004, several SARS outbreaks occurred in humans. It was believed that the virus originated in animals hosts causing humans to be infected with SARS. Therefore, concerns of future human outbreaks from animal strain infections are feared