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World News Roundup: April 30, 2017
Among the stories in this week’s roundup: the first malaria vaccine introduced in Africa, plans to tag millions of cows in India to curb smuggling, and how pet dogs reduce the risk for allergies and obesity.
Pet Dog, Healthy Baby (Mirror)
Having a pet dog in the home during pregnancy and soon after birth can help reduce a child’s chances of developing allergies and becoming obese later in life, according to a new study. “Microbes found in the fur of man’s best friend lead to two types of friendly bacteria in humans that are associated with a lower risk of both allergies (including asthma) and obesity. It found that having a dog around while the baby is in the womb and for 3 months after birth increases the likelihood of these bacteria working.”
First Malaria Vaccine Introduced In Africa (New Atlas)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is piloting the world’s first malaria vaccine in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi next year. According to WHO, “90% of 2015’s malaria cases occurred in Africa, as did 92% of malaria deaths.” The development of a malaria vaccine just recently ramped up with new candidates emerging, such as a vaccine that can be delivered through the skin with a microneedle patch and one that injects live malaria parasites into the human body. “The latter was shown to be 100% effective in providing long-term protection in early clinical trials.”
Animal Rights Activists Attack Buffalo Transporters (Hindustan Times)
“Three men were injured on Saturday night after a group of people, including animal rights activists, beat them up in south Delhi’s Kalkaji for transporting buffaloes in a cruel manner, police said.” The cattle were not being transported illegally, according to the police, but were carried in a cruel and inhumane manner. “Two [first information reports] were registered, 1 against the 3 men for cruelty toward animals, and the other for the assault against them.”
Celebrity Cheetah Trainer Opens Animal Rehab Center (Bay of Plenty Times)
Heidi Moller, who worked for 9 years as a cheetah trainer for celebrities such as Patrick Swayze, Charlize Theron, and Lou Diamond Phillips, is planning to open and run a multimillion dollar animal rehab center in Tauranga, New Zealand. “Moller said the aim is to alleviate pressure not only on the local SPCA but also on mental health services as [the center] will provide rehabilitation services to children and adults suffering from anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other mental health issues.”
India to Tag Millions of Cows to Curb Smuggling (Agence France-Presse)
Cows are considered sacred in Hindu-majority India, and to stop the smuggling and slaughter of cows the country plans to issue cows with unique identification numbers. “The government has told the Supreme Court that millions of cows will be tagged with a tamper-proof plastic tag linked to a national database in a bid to curb smuggling within India and beyond its borders.” These unique numbers will collect data from the tagged cows such as their age, breed, sex, height, color, and horn type.
ISIS Fighters Killed by Wild Boars in Iraq (The Independent)
Three ISIS fighters were reportedly mauled and killed by wild boars on Iraqi farmland controlled by terrorist group. “The militants had been trying to remove the animals near Kirkuk in the al-Rashad region when the boars went on a ‘rampage.’” One source claimed that other ISIS members “took revenge on the pigs after the fatal attack occurred.”