8400 children sickened by suspected outbreak of food-borne vomiting virus (SCW Update #242)

Number of children sickened by suspected outbreak of food-borne vomiting virus rises to 8400. According to The Associated Press, German health authorities say the number of children that have fallen ill with vomiting and diarrhea after eating food from school cafeterias and daycare centres has risen from about 4500 to 8400. Authorities in Berlin and the surrounding eastern German states reported the new cases on Saturday, while laboratory investigations to determine the exact cause of the outbreak were still under way. Berlin’s health department says the sicknesses are moderate and most children recover within two days without requiring to be hospitalized. Israel’s finance minister says Iran’s economy is “on the verge of collapse”. According to Reuters, Israeli Finance Minister Yu-val Stein-itz said on Sunday that Iran’s economy is edging towards collapse due to international sanctions over its controversial nuclear program. Israel regards the prospect of its arch enemy developing nuclear weapons as a threat to its existence, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that, although sanctions are taking their toll, they are not yet forcing Iran to abandon work that could soon lead to a nuclear warhead. However, Israeli officials appear increasingly ready to acknowledge the effect of recent American and European sanctions designed to restrict Iran’s lifeline oil exports. Egyptian president’s adviser describes Israel as ‘occupied Arab Palestine’. According to The Times …