zika virus started their work in south east asia

Tests have confirmed two of four babies suspected of having microcephaly are immune to Zika infection and their birth deformity was not caused by the virus, a doctor claimed on Tuesday.

On Monday, a team of experts conducted tests on four babies to determine whether their unusually small heads were associated with infection by the Zika virus.

Public health permanent secretary Sophon Mekthon said tests showed the two infants were immune.

The other two cases are a newborn and a 37-week-old foetus. It is unclear if the newborn is infected, he said, adding further tests are needed.

The three babies were born with unusually small heads in non-Zika watch areas. The unusually small head of the foetus, carried by one of the 33 pregnant women in Zika-watch areas, was detected during an ultrasound.

Dr Sophon said it was too early to determine if it is a case of microcephaly.

Doctors need more time to conduct further tests, he said, with some test results expected in two days.

Aphichai Mongkol, director-general of the Department of Medical Science, said probes into the suspected cases are being sped up to ensure results are submitted to an academic committee on Friday.

Bad Monsoon in South adelaide

Thousands of people are without power across South Australia and Adelaide's CBD has been plunged into darkness as a massive storm lashes the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the thunderstorms moved in ahead of more significant storms that will hit the EP's south this afternoon, and will also affect the Upper EP and the mid north.
A thunderstorm produced large hailstones at Cleve and 14 millimetres of water in 15 minutes on the EP along with an 87kph gust of wind.
BoM's updated severe thunderstorm warning said the system was likely to produce "destructive winds of up to 140kph" and heavy rain that may lead to flash flooding at locations such as Whyalla, Clare, Maitland, Hawker and Leigh Creek.
Severe thunderstorms are also forecast for Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Lightning has struck across the state ahead of a cold front, including in Adelaide where a tree at Myrtle Bank was struck down by a bolt.
Myrtle Bank resident Emma Altman said the tree fell into her house.
"The tree seems to have exploded and come down into the house taking another tree with it," she said.

"It's gone through our kitchen windows and through a bedroom and taken down the fence."

WAR for telecom reliance, idea and Airtel

Reliance conducted the 42nd Annual General Meeting yesterday where it announced tons of offers for users. These announcements can start a data tariff war between Reliance Jio and other telecom operators. However, according to experts, the offers presented by Reliance Jio are distinctly disruptive and a “bold move” towards digitizing millions in the rural parts of the country, setting a tough benchmark for its competitors as data becomes the new thing. Reacting to an array of announcements made by Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani at the company’s 42nd Annual General Meeting post its listing in Mumbai, they said data mining is the future and Jio is a “perfectly-planned” move towards that.