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Infectious diseases account for about a third of all deaths in the world. Immunisation has already greatly reduced the toll of suffering from several infectious diseases - most notably smallpox, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles - but many more deaths could be prevented if a wider range of effective and affordable vaccines were available. Major killers for which there are as yet no vaccines include malaria, HIV and viral diarrhoea. DfID is currently providing over £1 million per annum for research to devise and/or test vaccines for each of these diseases. A promising new vaccine to prevent rotavirus diarrhoea in young children is now being tested in Ghana by a team of UK and Ghanaian scientists. As a partner in Roll Back Malaria (a campaign spearheaded by World Health Organisation), DfID is helping to support cutting-edge research into the development of malaria vaccines by scientists from the UK and other countries. DfID is also a contributor to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, which has been established to accelerate the pace of HIV vaccine research and development. The Foresight International Health Group’s proposed focus on vaccines, including DNA vaccines, is expected to expedite progress toward the International Development Goal (to which DfID is committed) of reducing infant and child mortality rates by two-thirds by 2015.
Volcanic activity on Montserrat began in July 1995 and grew steadily in intensity over the following two and a half years. The effect on an island 17 km by 8 km wide was devastating. The population fell from 11,000 to just over 4,000. Decisions had to be made, against ever-changing levels of volcanic activity, about the degree of risk and areas that might remain safe for occupation, and about the future of the island. Scientists and statisticians employed by DfID developed new methodologies for producing detailed risk assessments and refined complex mathematical modelling techniques that allowed reasoned predictions on the potential extent of volcanic lava flows, airborne volcanic debris and ash. These helped to define the boundaries of the exclusion zone, which currently covers the southern two-thirds of the island. In December 1997, a major scientific inquiry concluded that the northern third of the island would face a risk which was less, or no worse, than the risk of other major natural hazards in the region, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. The techniques and conclusions were validated by the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Medical Officer and a special international panel drawn together specifically to review and validate the methodology and conclusions. The volcano went into a period of repose in 1998, but a high level of risk remains. Risk and hazard analysis continue, and are the key factors in deciding the extent of the exclusion zone, and when previously threatened areas may be reoccupied. These analyses have played an important part in creating Montserrat’s new Sustainable Development Plan. The behaviour of the Montserrat volcano is now well understood, and scientists are confident that their ability to use these newly-developed techniques and facilities will provide reasonable warnings of further activity on the island. The techniques are being published and will be used extensively in other active volcano scenarios around the world in the future.
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For further information on SET expenditure see Chapter 3
For further information on expenditure by subject area see Chapter 4
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