No shortage of yellow fever vaccine, assures DGHS

Refuting reports of shortage of yellow fever vaccine and “fake certification” by touts, director-general of health services (DGHS) Jagdish Prasad said that enough vials of the vaccine have already been procured. According to Dr Prasad, no traveller can be given fake certification and 60,000 vials have been procured to ensure that there is no shortage of YF vaccines. The total requirement of the vaccine is about 10 million vials. The shortage started following the closure of Central Research Institute Kasauli. The shortage of yellow fever vaccine was reported in March 2013. However, Dr Prasad said that the vials of the vaccine has been procured.

*** China parries India questions Beijing: China on Friday parried questions on India’s proposal for the establishment of mountain strike corps along the Sino-Indian border, while the official media here ignored the development. “The Chinese and Indian governments have signed several agreements on safeguarding peace and tranquillity in the border areas and on taking trust-building measures in the field of military,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a written response to a query on China’s reaction to the Indian move. “The overall situation in the border areas between the two countries is peaceful and stable. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Indian side to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border areas”, the brief response said. — PTI

*** SC notice to CBI on Hawara plea Age Correspondent New Delhi, July 19

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the CBI on a plea moved by Babbar Khalsa terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara, the mastermind in the killing of Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995, challenging his conviction and the life imprisonment awarded to him. A bench comprising justices B.S. Chauhan and S.A. Bobde sought the agency’s response on the appeal filed by Hawara against the October 12, 2010 judgment of the Punjab and Haryana high court.

*** Goa: 20 ill after midday meal Panaji: Nearly 20 students took ill after eating midday meal in their school near here on Friday, the second such incident in Goa in July. The government has sent a team to take stock of the situation and ensure proper treatment for the students of St. Joseph High School in Usgao village, about 40 km from here. The students complained of uneasiness after partaking the meal served to them, education department sources said and described it as “a clear case of food poisoning”. They were referred to a government-run hospital in nearby Ponda town. Initial reports suggested that their condition was stable. — PTI