A child receives a blood test to check for hand, foot and mouth disease at a local hospital in Zhengzhou, Henan province March 26, 2009. Chinese state media accused a local government on Tuesday of covering up the number of children suffering from hand, foot and mouth disease and the number of deaths. The government of Minquan county in central Henan province said only one child was killed by the virus, but there may be at least 10 more deaths cases in the region, the official China National Radio said on its website (www.cnr.cn). REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA HEALTH POLITICS) 

Cardiovascular specialists talk as they use a valve during Luis Ramirez's cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 4, 2008. Ramirez's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping people suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena (L) performs surgery on Luis Ramirez, 20, at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 4, 2008. Ramirez's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping people suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

A cardiovascular specialist tests a valve to be used in Luis Ramirez, 20, during his cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 4, 2008. Ramirez' surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping people suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Luis Ramirez, 20, undergoes cardiovascular surgery while Dr Scott Lim from Virginia University supervises at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 4, 2008. Ramirez's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping people suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Luis Ramirez, 20, undergoes cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 4, 2008. Ramirez's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping people suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Jacxol Lopez Cuevas, 2, is brought into a operating theatre for cardiovascular surgery, as his mother Lucy Cuevas (L), 20, watches, at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Jacxol's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Jacxol Lopez Cuevas, 2, undergoes cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Cuevas' surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Jacxol Lopez Cuevas, 2, smiles as he waits to undergo cardiovascular surgical at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Cuevas' surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Jacxol Lopez Cuevas, 2, rests next to his mother Lucy Cuevas, 20, as he waits to undergo cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Jacxol's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Saory Cabrera Burgos, 4, is consoled by her mother Martha Burgos, 28, after undergoing cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Saory's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

A relative of two-year-old Jacxol Lopez Cuevas waits for information as he undergoes cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Cuevas' surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Carlos Manuel Lebron Bocion, 13, rests after undergoing cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. The greeting card reads: "You are a very brave child. Many congratulations". Bocion's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Carlos Manuel Lebron Bocion, 13, rests after undergoing cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Bocion's surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Carlos Manuel Lebron Bocion, 13, is consoled by his mother Nicauri Gisel Bocion, 33, after undergoing cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Carlos' surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

Jacxol Lopez Cuevas, 2, undergoes cardiovascular surgery at the CEDIMAT hospital in Santo Domingo December 3, 2008. Cuevas' surgery is sponsored by Heart Care Dominicana, an organization devoted to helping indigenous children suffering from heart disease. In the past eight years, Heart Care Dominicana has helped some 870 children undergo surgery, according to cardiovascular specialist Dr Pedro Urena. REUTERS/ Eduardo Munoz (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) 

A laboratory technician examines blood samples for HIV/AIDS in a public hospital in Valparaiso city, about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of Santiago, November 14,2008. Chile's public health system is being analyzed deeply by a mushrooming AIDS scandal after the government said the public health system had failed to notify at least 512 people that they were infected with HIV virus. REUTERS/Eliseo Fernandez (CHILE) 

An Indian health official stores blood samples from sex workers and their clients in a HIV test laboratory in Sonagachi, the red-light district of the eastern Indian city of Kolkata April 24, 2008. REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw (INDIA) 

An Army nurse takes a blood sample to test for dengue fever at an Army field hospital at Military village in Rio de Janeiro April 8, 2008. Dengue has killed 67 people since January and infected more than 43,500 in Rio de Janeiro state, according to official figures. Last week, Health Minister Jose Temporao blamed a poor disease prevention network and fragile public health system for the crisis. Dengue is a viral disease spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and there is no vaccine or drug for it. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (BRAZIL) 

Victor Manuel Sagot, 78, who suffers from heart problems, exercises during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 6, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 6. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

People with heart problems speak after a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 11, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 11. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Xinia Gomez and Daniel Jimenez exercise during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 6, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 6. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

People with heart problems stretch during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 11, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 11. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Carmen Vargas, 57, exercises during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 11, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 11, 2008. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

People with heart problems perform stretching exercises during a cardiovascular therapy session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

People with heart problems walk as part of cardiovascular therapy at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

People with heart problems play with a ball as part of cardiovascular therapy at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Regina Aguero, 83, who has heart problems, exercises during a cardiovascular therapy session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Regina Aguero, 83, who suffers from heart problems, throws a ball during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

People with heart problems stretch during a cardiovascular therapy session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Miguel Umana, 64, has his blood pressure taken by rehabilitation instructor Nidra Rosabal before a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Heriberto Lobo's hands are seen during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 6, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 6. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Ruth Gonzalez, 66, exercises during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 11, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 11, 2008. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Rehabilitation instructor Nidra Rosabal takes the blood pressure of Enid Bustamante, 66, before a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

People with heart problems exercise during a cardiovascular therapy session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 13, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Miguel Umana and Xinia Gomez exercise during a cardiovascular therapy training session at Sabana Park in San Jose March 11, 2008. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Costa Rica with more than 60 percent of the country's population suffering from coronary problems, according to the National Statistics Institute. Picture taken March 11, 2008. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate (COSTA RICA) 

Blood samples taken for HIV tests are seen inside a GHESKIO (Le Groupe Haitien d'Etude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes) center in Port-au-Prince March 12, 2008. Established in 1982, GHESKIO is one of the oldest institutions dedicated to the fight against AIDS and is supported by the United States Agency for the international Development (USAID). U.S. first lady Laura Bush will visit a GHESKIO medical center on Thursday during her one-day trip to Haiti. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (HAITI) 

Blood from a goat is collected in pots to be later splashed on amulets and fetishes during a voodoo ceremony in Cotonou, December 19, 2007. Benin, the home of ritual Voodoo sacrifice, became the latest in a string of West African states to report cases of H5N1 bird flu after laboratory tests confirmed the deadly virus on two poultry farms. Benin's immediate neighbours, Nigeria, Togo, Niger and Burkina Faso, have all reported H5N1 cases. Other regional states hit include Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon. Picture taken December 19, 2007. REUTERS/Charles Placide Tossou (BENIN) 

A Haitian takes an HIV test at a hospital in Port-au-Prince on World AIDS Day in Port-au-Prince December 1, 2007. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (HAITI) 

Diabetic Felix Alvarado-Lopez, 51, has his blood sugar level measured at the J.W.C.H. safety-net clinic in the center of skid row in downtown Los Angeles July 30, 2007. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES) 

Butchers wait for turkeys to be brought to them inside a slaughter house in Dabas, 35 km (22 miles) south of Budapest, February 13, 2007. Hungary's animal health authorities have found no evidence that could show poultry or poultry products from Hungary could have transmitted the H5N1 bird flu virus to Britain, Chief Veterinarian Miklos Suth said. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh (HUNGARY) 

A butcher stands near turkeys inside a slaughter house in Dabas, 35 km (22 miles) south of Budapest, February 13, 2007. Hungary's animal health authorities have found no evidence that could show poultry or poultry products from Hungary could have transmitted the H5N1 bird flu virus to Britain, Chief Veterinarian Miklos Suth said. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh (HUNGARY) 

Residents slaughter pigeons in Jakarta January 25, 2007. A group of residents in Jakarta on Thursday slaughtered poultry in response to government instruction to fight the birdflu virus in the country. REUTERS/Supri (INDONESIA) 

A volunteer takes a blood sample from a migrant bird to test for the presence of the bird flu virus in Yogyakarta January 16, 2007. Indonesia is getting more hospitals ready to deal with a spike in bird flu cases, a health official said on Tuesday, after a Jakarta hospital said it was struggling to cope with patients suffering from symptoms of the virus. REUTERS/Dwi Oblo (INDONESIA) 

A health worker sits outside a makeshift camp for blood tests on the outskirts of the eastern Indian city of Kolkata November 30, 2006. India has the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS at 5.7 million, according to UNAIDS, and 85 percent of infections are transmitted through sex. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA) 

Pakistani kidney patients undergo dialysis at a kidney dialysis centre in Multan March 9, 2006. The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) have jointly launched a World Kidney Day to increase awareness of chronic kidney disease and its associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and to draw attention to the urgent global need for early detection and prevention of chronic kidney disease. REUTERS/Asim Tanveer 

A chicken is prepared for sale by staff at a poultry farm in Pompignac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, February 21, 2006. France confirmed on Saturday it had found the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain in a wild duck, the first case of the virus in Europe's biggest poultry producer. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau FR060021 

Dead swans lie on a table after autopsy in the laboratory of the Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, February 17, 2006. Tests performed at the laboratory on ten dead birds found in Switzerland, six of them swans, have proved negative for all forms of bird flu, including the killer H5N1 virus. REUTERS/Siggi Bucher 

A dead chicken is seen after it is killed in Belin Beliet near Bordeaux, southwestern France January 19, 2006. Europe's consumers are shunning poultry over fears of bird flu again, particularly in countries nearer to Turkey, where authorities are battling to contain an outbreak of the virus that has killed four children. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau Pictures of the Month January 2006 

A dead duck bleeds over a sink at a slaughterhouse in Andenne, southern Belgium, October 27, 2005. A United Nations agency warned on Thursday against pre-emptive bans of poultry imports to ward off a possible bird flu outbreak, saying they were unnecessary and destructive to world trade. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir Pictures of the month October 2005 

A technician takes a sample of serum from chicken blood to run a test, which will show if the animal had been in contact with birds carrying avian influenza or bird flu, in the laboratory of the IDAC (Depatmental Institute of Analysis and Consultants) in Nantes, western France October 14, 2005. Europe's multi-billion-euro poultry industry is braced for heavy losses should bird flu take hold across the region, hitting export markets and dampening consumer demand at home, industry officials said on Friday. HALTH REUTERS/Daniel Joubert 

A biotechnologist processes cord blood samples to be cryopreserved at a Singapore laboratory August 26, 2005. Since 1988, stem cells have been used to treat an increasing number of diseases, including blood and metabolic disorders, immuno-deficiency ailments, and auto-immune diseases. HALTH REUTERS/Luis Enrique Ascui LA/VP 

More than 40 dancers will jump and swing their way, hopefully, to a
world record at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, July 29, 2003.
The participants will dance non-stop for more than three consecutive
days in hopes of shattering the existing world record. They will
attempt to dance for more than 51 hours, and also to raise awareness of
the dangers of America's number one killer, cardiovascular disease.
REUTERS/Ron Kuntz

RK 

A Thai man known only as "Tee", high on metamphetamine drugs and
covered in his own blood after cutting himself in a rage, takes
19-year-old university student Patcharapan Tiyawanich hostage in a
siege which lasted over three hours before police overpowered him and
freed the girl in central Bangkok August 29, 2002. Thai authorities
estimate that around 700 million methamphetamine pills flood Thailand
annually, a cheap but strong drug widely used among labourers and truck
drivers to help work long hours but whose side effects include paranoia
and violent bahaviour. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang

JIR/PB 

Taiwan pop music group 4-In-Love participates at the World Heart Day
Event in Hong Kong September 30, 2001 to promote exercise preventing
heart diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are most frequent causes
of death through out the world today. It is now estimated that 15
million patients are stricken with CVD each year. In the year 2000
alone, 5,315 in Hong Kong lost their lives to cardiovascular diseases.
Even more disturbing is the fact that CVD is making its way into the
younger segment of the population, killing an average of 200 young
people annually below age 40, mostly males. REUTERS/Kin Cheung

KC 

Hong Kong actor-singer Aaron Kwok wipes sweat during the World Heart
Day Event in Hong Kong September 30, 2001 to promote exercise
preventing heart diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are most
frequent causes of death through out the world today. It is now
estimated that 15 million patients are stricken with CVD each year. In
the year 2000 alone, 5,315 in Hong Kong lost their lives to
cardiovascular diseases. Even more disturbing is the fact that CVD is
making its way into the younger segment of the population, killing an
average of 200 young people annually below age 40, mostly males.
REUTERS/Kin Cheung

KC 

Four-year-old Wing Chow is lifted up by staff as she participate in a
jumping rope exercise during a World Heart Day Event in Hong Kong
September 30, 2001. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are most frequent
causes of death through out the world today. It is now estimated that
15 million patients are stricken with CVD each year. In the year 2000
alone, 5,315 in Hong Kong lost their lives to cardiovascular diseases.
Even more disturbing is the fact that CVD is making its way into the
younger segment of the population, killing an average of 200 young
people annually below age 40, mostly males. REUTERS/Kin Cheung

KC 

Hong Kong actress-singer Kelly Chan performs during the World Heart Day
Event in Hong Kong September 30, 2001 to promote exercise preventing
heart diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are most frequent causes
of death through out the world today. It is now estimated that 15
million patients are stricken with CVD each year. In the year 2000
alone, 5,315 in Hong Kong lost their lives to cardiovascular diseases.
REUTERS/Kin Cheung

KC/CP 

Hong Kong actor-singer Aaron Kwok jumps rope during the World Heart Day
Event in Hong Kong September 30, 2001 to promote exercise preventing
heart diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are the most frequent
causes of death through out the world today. It is now estimated that
15 million patients are stricken with CVD each year. In the year 2000
alone, 5,315 in Hong Kong lost their lives to cardiovascular diseases.
REUTERS/Kin Cheung

KC/CP 

Georgette Buga (L) and Gautam Ghandhuri, associates and research assistants of University of California's Los Angeles School of Medicine's Dr Louis Ignarro pose together in the lab where they assisted Ignarro, who was announced as a joint winner of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize for Medicine October 12. [Ignarro, along with Robert Furchgott and Ferid Murad, received the award for discoveries about the role of nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system. The discovery has applications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, shock and possibly cancer, as well as impotence. ]