H1N1 merebak ke burung pula

SANTIAGO 22 Ogos - Chile semalam menyatakan ujian menunjukkan selesema babi (H1N1) kini menjangkiti burung sekali gus membuka bab baru dalam epidemik global.

Pakar mengenai wabak selesema dan kesihatan haiwan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) di Rom dan Pusat Kawalan dan Pencegahan Penyakit Amerika Syarikat (AS) di Atlanta sedang memantau situasi tersebut.

Bagaimanapun, mereka menjelaskan bahawa ayam belanda yang dijangkiti hanya mengalami selesema ringan, seterusnya mengurangkan kebimbangan mengenai perkembangan buruk mengenainya.

Pemilik ladang ternakan ayam belanda Chile Sopraval SA berkata, daging ayam belanda negara ini masih selamat dimakan dan setakat ini belum ada tanda-tanda mutasi berbahaya kerana tidak ada seekor pun ternakannya mati akibat selesema babi.

Influanza selsema babi (H1N1)

Kementerian Kesihatan Chile semalam telah mengarahkan dua ladang ayam belanda di luar bandar pelabuhan Valparasiso dikuarantin selepas ujian genetik mengesahkan ternakan yang sakit dijangkiti virus sama yang telah mencetuskan pandemik kepada manusia.

Pemilik ladang ternakan berkata, ayam belanda yang dijangkiti telah dipindahkan ke bangunan kosong untuk mengelakkan penyebaran kepada unggas liar.

Setakat ini, virus yang merupakan campuran genetik manusia, babi dan unggas itu terbukti sangat mudah berjangkit namun tidak meragut banyak nyawa seperti selesema bermusim.

Bagaimanapun pakar virus bimbang jenis selesema baru mungkin muncul sekiranya ia bergabung dengan selesema burung (H5N1) yang lebih berbahaya namun sukar berjangkit.

Katakan tidak pada virus H1N1

Sopraval melaporkan keadaan yang berlaku kepada Kementerian Pertanian selepas penghasilan telur berkurangan bulan ini dan selepas ujian awal ke atas empat sampel mengesahkan jenis kecil A/H1N1 2009.

"Apa yang menjangkiti ayam belanda itu adalah virus selesema manusia, tiada mutasi berlaku," kata Timbalan Menteri Kesihatan, Jeannette Vega kepada Radio Cooperativa semalam.

Hal tersebut juga telah dilaporkan kepada Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia. Sementara itu, Pertubuhan Makanan dan Pertanian (FAO) pula sedang bekerjasama dengan saintis Chile. - AP



Sumber : Utusan Malaysia

'Mini-Laptop' From Nokia To Compete with Netbooks

By Jennifer LeClaire, newsfactor.com - Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:16PM EDT

Nokia is getting into the netbook game. The mobile-phone maker announced Monday the Nokia Booklet 3G, a Windows-based netbook with an Intel Atom processor that is set to compete in a crowded, but growing, market.

As Nokia sees it, more people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility. Kai Oistamo, Nokia's executive vice president for devices, said the Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for a company in the business of connecting people.

"Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design, and all-day, always-on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling," Oistamo said. "In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful, and more personal."

Connecting Nokia Products

The Booklet 3G uses Intel's Atom processor and offers up to 12 hours of battery life. Nokia promises its latest innovation will deliver the experience of a full-function PC in an ultraportable box with a 10-inch glass high-definition-ready display.

Nokia isn't calling the Booklet 3G a netbook. The company has labeled it a mini-laptop. It weighs 1.25 kilograms, is about two centimeters thin, and has a variety of connectivity options. Users can choose to connect via 3G/HSPA or Wi-Fi to get high-speed Internet access.

The mini-laptop is also equipped with an HDMI port for HD video out, a front-facing camera for video calling, integrated Bluetooth, and a SD card reader. The Booklet 3G even comes with integrated A-GPS which, working with the Ovi Maps gadget, can pinpoint a user's position and create a personal map.

The Booklet 3G aims to bring Ovi experiences to life, whether it's access to song tracks through the Nokia Music Store or using Ovi Suite to sync from a Nokia smartphone to the mini-laptop to the cloud. Ovi is Nokia's suite of Internet services, which includes games, maps, media, messaging and music.

Will Carriers Pick Up the Booklet 3G?

Although the Booklet 3G appears to be an attractive device, Nokia is late to the netbook market, according to Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret. Nokia is going head-to-head with PC vendors who know the space well.

"While consumers are used to buying Nokia phones, will they be interested in buying computers from them?" Gartenberg pondered. "Certainly, Nokia's tablets haven't fared well in the marketplace. But a lot of Nokia's success here is going to depend upon what it can leverage in terms of distribution, branding and marketing."

If the Booklet 3G is an expensive unlocked device that's only sold in Nokia stores, it's going to get a different reception than if it's carrier-subsidized, Gartenberg said. Carriers seem to be somewhat interested in picking up netbooks, he continued, so Nokia may do well if the carriers are willing to sell the device.

Nokia said it will offer detailed specifications, market availability, and pricing at Nokia World on Sept. 2.

Source : Yahoo Tech News