Glowing insect bug 'harms humans'
A tobacco hornworm with the glowing bug
Insects and human immune systems are similar
A new disease has been identified caused by a luminous bug that has evolved in insects, scientists say.

There have been about a dozen cases of the bug - Photorhabdus asymbiotica - in the US and Australia, which causes pustulant sores to appear on the body.

In insects, the disease leaves the bodies glowing, the University of Bath and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine scientists said.

They are now warning more insect bugs may mutate to threaten humans.

The team believe the sores caused Photorhabdus asymbiotica may also glow but this has not been proved so far as victims have been treated before tests could be done.
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Consumers warned not to eat Irish pork products

By David McKittrick, Ireland correspondent
Sunday, 7 December 2008

Consumers were today warned not to eat sausages, bacon and other pork products from Ireland after an outbreak of contamination plunged the country's agriculture into crisis.

Although safety agencies in both the UK and the Irish Republic issued assurances that any risk to health was minimal, they also warned consumers not to eat Irish pork, and advised shops and restaurants not to sell it.

This followed the discovery of illegal levels of dioxin, a chemical which can affect the health of those who are exposed to relatively high levels of it over long periods.