RABIES DEATH in Scotland
A bat conservationist who died on Sunday was Britain鈥檚 first rabies case since 1902. David McRae was diagnosed with European bat lyssavirus 2 鈥� a virus closely related to rabies. He probably caught it after a bite from a Daubenton鈥檚 bat. Over the past 15 years, Britain鈥檚 Veterinary Laboratories Agency has analysed 3000 bats. Only twowere found with EBL2. This suggests that 鈥淓BL2 is endemic at low levels in the UK鈥�, says Bill Reilly at the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health in Glasgow.
FOOD AID REQUEST
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A top US official has asked the European Union to publicly condemn the 鈥渟care tactics鈥� of groups campaigning against genetically modified crops. US commerce under secretary Grant Aldonas says they are frightening African countries into rejecting GM grain from the US. 鈥淧eople are going to die,鈥� he warned. Aldonas wants the EU to reassure African countries that their exports to the EU will not be jeopardised or blocked if they accept the GM grain. Zambia has refused to accept the aid, although it has millions facing starvation.
ACADEMIC FREEDOM FEARS
Since last year鈥檚 terrorist attacks, the US has passed laws, notably the US Patriot Act, restricting scientific hiring, teaching and publishing. The idea is to keep information that could be used for weapons out of enemy hands. But the American Association of University Professors fears this increased concern about national security could harm academic freedom. The AAUP wants to hear about 鈥渞estraints on controversial teaching or speech鈥� and problems encountered by foreign scholars. Email concerns to jknightaaup.org.