The Australian: China and Moldova believers in garlic as guard against A(H1N1)

The Australian has a story on the increase in prices for garlic in China. It ends with:

"But last year China reduced its total garlic planting areas by 50 per cent, diminishing the overall supply and giving speculators a reason to assume future shortages.

The H1N1 virus, and the suggestion that garlic may offer some immunity from it, has also had an effect. Some believe that the suggestion may have been promoted by traders in Jinxiang.

Nevertheless, the theory has been adopted beyond China's borders: the Moldovan Army has added 0.5 ounces of garlic to soldiers' daily rations to protect them from the ravages of swine flu -- and make their food taste better."

The full story is available here.