41.   Former health secretary Stephen Dorrell and former education secretary Gillian Shephard were additional possible candidates being mentioned.

42.   Among those left, but undeclared, were former Welsh secretary William Hague, former home secretary Michael Howard, and former health secretary Stephen Dorrell.

43.   But shadow health secretary Harriet Harman said the move proved the Government had lost the battle for public opinion.

44.   Carmencita Reodica, a doctor and former assistant health secretary, was named to the top post of the department, a government statement said.

45.   Former health secretary Stephen Dorrell and former Welsh secretary William Hague and former education secretary Gillian Shephard were also being counted as possible candidates.

46.   Federal health secretary P.P. Chauhan said there was no need to panic but called on health authorities to strengthen mosquito control measures.

47.   Mary Jo Bane, assistant health secretary for children and families, said evidence shows that many more children are being abused than is ultimately verified by the states.

48.   Not a single case of confirmed plague has been found in the Indian cities of Bombay, Calcutta or Madras, the health secretary said.

49.   Not a single case of confirmed plague has been found in the major Indian cities of Bombay, Calcutta or Madras, the health secretary said.

50.   The health secretary of Sindh province said he had ordered the board to be convened after a complaint filed by Ghinva on Tuesday.