Health Highlights: Feb. 20, 2008

"Preventing and fighting H5N1 outbreaks in poultry is extremely urgent and important in preventing and curbing H5N1 outbreaks among humans," he said,AFPreported.

Vietnam's government also reported the country's third human victim of bird flu this year. The 27-year-old man from northern Ninh Binh province died Feb. 14. That brings Vietnam's human death toll to 50 since the virus first appeared in the country a few years ago. Worldwide, it's believed the H5N1 virus has killed 228 people.

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Luxembourg Poised to Legalize Euthanasia

Luxembourg appears poised to become the third European country to legalize euthanasia, which is currently legal in the Netherlands and Belgium.

In a close vote, Luxembourg's parliament passed a bill to allow doctors to help patients end their lives. The bill still has to be approved in a second reading to take effect,Agence France-Pressereported.

The bill places strict regulation on the use euthanasia. For example, a doctor will have to consult with a colleague to confirm that a patient is suffering from a "grave and incurable condition."

Under the bill, a national commission dominated by doctors and officials would conduct a case-by-case review to ensure adherence to all legal conditions and procedures,AFPreported.

The country's medical community was mostly against the bill, which sparked passionate debate in Luxembourg, where Catholic values remain strong.

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Study Identifies Emerging Infectious Disease Hot Spots

Latin America, tropical Africa and South Asia are the most likely locations for the emergence of infectious diseases in the future and require closer monitoring, says a study by American and British researchers.