Recent outbreaks of a deadly diarrheal disease in Central America have galvanized national leaders, doctors, nurses and parents, as they battle against the killer disease known as rotavirus. Though it affects rich and poor children alike, the disease causes most of its devastation in developing countries, where rotavirus strikes mainly infants and young children; each year approximately 500,000 children around the world die from the disease.

NEW CANAAN, CT — Fever, cough, aches and chills mean one thing to most of us as the winter months draw near—influenza, the flu, is circulating again in our community. If we could avoid the misery and potential complications, most of us would choose to do so. Each year, we hope there will be plentiful vaccine, yet once again we have scarce supply.

COLD SPRING HARBOR, NY — Health experts wrapped up a meeting here Tuesday to formulate recommendations for vaccine policy in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. The group acknowledges that routine annual influenza epidemics would be overshadowed by the looming calamity posed by a pandemic influenza event.