NEWS SCAN: E coli outbreak, GI anthrax update, avian flu in Texas (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) E coli outbreak takes in 16 states Twenty-one people in 16 states have been sickened in the recent steak-related outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced. Nine victims have been hospitalized, one with hemolytic uremic syndrome. [News Source]

Also In Global Health News: ART Access In Zimbabwe; Indonesia Bird Flu Deaths; Kenya Floods; Solomon Island Tsunami (Medical News Today) Zimbabwe Wants To Boost Access To ART By End Of 2010, Health Minister Says Zimbabwe's government plans work with international organizations to increase the number of people receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to 300,000 by the end of the year, up from the 180,000 who currently get the drugs, Henry Madzorera, the country's health minister, said on Tuesday, ZimOnline reports. "The need to ... [News Source]

Scientists predict rise in illnesses passed from animals to humans. If swine flu hasn’t given you enough health worries this winter, here’s some more dark news from the disease front: Scientists believe that a host of new illnesses passed from animals to humans are waiting around the corner. [News Source]

Extra H1N1 shots heading south. Canada is lending some of its leftover swine flu vaccine to Mexico so the country can begin immunizing the general public while it waits for the rest of its own supply to show up. [News Source]