18th century composer is credited with helping premature babies gain weight in Israel. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.

Densely populated Gaza has no H1N1 cases but it also has no vaccines. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.

Special from iReporter Sally Shalabi

Last month I was asked to do an iReport for CNN about Breast Cancer Awareness. And as I was thinking about what to say it was clear to me that I also had to write and tell my story in a little bit more than 60 seconds!

Breast cancer and cancer in general is not a new or strange concept in our worlds. However if you are anything like me, it's something that is in the darkest corner of my mind. I know it's there I just pretend not to hear its voice saying “Shalabieh, you need to get checked, for your sake just make sure everything is OK and you are healthy.” I ignore the voice because I feel great, I feel fine but cancer doesn’t work like that.

Last year the voice got out of my head and went into the real world. I first heard about it on the radio, in a cab heading to the office. Then I saw a massive billboard, and flyers everywhere. It was a national campaign in full force: The Jordan Breast Cancer Program was launched. And it was only a matter of time before I responded to all those ads. I called the support line and learned about free breast exams, subsidized mammograms and where I can get them and how much they were and who the participating doctors are and where their clinics are located. I talked to my colleagues about it and my friends. We all knew the importance of getting checked, but we all managed to somehow put it off.

Our breasts, no matter how prominent they are, are often ignored- especially when it comes to their health. But after ignoring the health of my breasts for a long while (20 years of carrying these babies around), I FINALLY went to my gynecologist and asked her to teach me how to do a self breast exam. It was awkward and strange having my doctor play with my boobs, coz that’s what it felt like. But by the end of those 10 minutes I was cleared and I had gotten a tutorial! I can now do the exams myself and I get an excuse to play with boobs (not that one needs an excuse)! But on a more serious note I got some very good advice which included:
• The self breast exam should be done monthly
• The best time to do it is after a period
• It is best to do the exam standing up in front of a mirror. But If you have large breasts then you may want to do it lying down
• If you have a fast paced life and no time then you can check your breasts when you are in shower and soaping up
I won’t go into how to do the actual exam as I am not qualified to do so, but I will say this: it’s easy, it’s fast and it can save your life.

My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and she is a survivor, she was lucky she caught it early and is recovering nicely. You can be lucky too, but you will never know unless you go that first time and learn about this disease, and learn how to catch it in its tracks. Don’t ignore your breasts, go play with your boobs and if you need advice then check the The Jordan Breast Cancer Program’s Website for more information. Be healthy, be safe and spread the word you may save someone else’s life too.

Check out Sally's blog here

As more Israelis die of swine flu, CNN's Paula Hancocks asks what safeguards are in place.

According to Arab News, the first official society to care for patients living with HIV/AIDS in Saudi Arabia was launched this week; a notable development in the Kingdom where the presence of the disease wasn't admitted only a few years ago.

Click here to read more on this issue.

Confirmed cases of swine flu are spreading across the Middle East as Qatar, Yemen and Jordan report their first cases.

Qatar reported its first cases of swine flu Tuesday when three people arriving in Doha on international flights were diagnosed with H1N1. Health Minister Abdullah al-Qahtani said the cases were a two-year-old New Zealand boy arriving Saturday from Austria, an a two-year-old American-Bangladeshi boy transiting Doha on Sunday from New York to Bangladesh, and a seventeen-year-old Iraqi arriving from the United States.

Photo: KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/Getty Images

The Yemeni Health Ministry said a 16-year old Yemeni student returning from the U.S. was its first case of the virus.

Jordanian Health Minister Nayef al-Fayez said Tuesday the kingdom's first cases were two young girls who arrived from the U.S. on separate flights Sunday.

The United Arab Emirates announced its second case on Tuesday – an Emirati arriving from the U.S.

Kuwait confirmed Tuesday that three of its citizens returning on flights from the U.S. tested positive for swine flu. Last month, 18 U.S. soldiers tested positive for the virus in the emirate.

Saudi Arabia announced three new cases on Tuesday, taking its total to 17, the highest figure among the Gulf countries.

Bahrain reported 11 new cases of swine flu among students returning from their studies in the United States, taking the total to 12.

Lebanon's cases have risen to nine with health ministry reporting Tuesday two new cases, a woman coming from Canada and a man coming from Australia.

Egyptian health officials said two Sudanese women and one Egyptian-American child, all coming from abroad, were the latest victims, raising the number in Egypt to 26.