WHO group to tackle H5N1 virus-sharing dispute (CIDRAP)
The symptoms of human influenza were clearly described by Hippocrates roughly 2400 years ago. Since then, the virus has caused numerous pandemics. Historical data on influenza are difficult to interpret, because the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases, such as diphtheria, pneumonic plague, typhoid fever, dengue, or typhus. The first convincing record of an influenza pandemic was of an outbreak in 1580, which began in Asia and spread to Europe via Africa. In Rome over 8,000 people were killed, and several Spanish cities were almost wiped out. Pandemics continued sporadically throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, with the pandemic of 1830–1833 being particularly widespread; it infected approximately a quarter of the people exposed.
WHO group to tackle H5N1 virus-sharing dispute (CIDRAP)
Nov 19, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – A World Health Organization (WHO) working group will meet in Geneva over the next 4 days to try to solve an impasse over how countries share their H5N1 avian influenza virus samples, a disagreement that pits developing countries' demand for affordable vaccines against the global need to monitor virus changes and develop pandemic vaccines.
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Resurgent Severe Cold Virus Spreading In US With Fatalities (Medical News Today)
An uncommon, but resurgent and highly virulent strain of the cold virus, called adenovirus type 14 or Ad14, is spreading in the US and is causing severe and sometimes fatal respiratory illness, even in healthy adults.The virus has killed 10 people since May last year, when a 12 day old baby girl died from it in New York City. [click link for full article]
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ImmuneRegen BioSciences' Viprovex(R) Demonstrates Further Evidence For Effectiveness Against Influenza Virus, ... (Medical News Today)
ImmuneRegen announced additional findings from small animal studies of its lead clinical candidate, Viprovex, for treatment of infectious diseases. Ongoing studies in an accepted model for human respiratory virus infection, the Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus), continue to show the ability of Viprovex to decrease the symptoms and aftereffects of certain influenza virus strains. [click link for ...
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Badly bitten by bug (Lancaster Online)
In the early part of the 20th century, Americans lived through the Great Depression. Future historians may refer to this American age as the Great Anxiety. Adults, parents especially, have a lot to worry about these days. Toxic toys. Internet predators. And all of the usual childhood illne...
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Paperwork on risky viruses mislaid (Honolulu Advertiser)
The state Department of Agriculture lost track of hundreds of viruses and microbes imported to Hawai'i for research purposes over a five-decade period because of a breakdown in the agency's paperwork system.
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5 Minute Guide: Bird flu (Channel 4)
What happened? Bird flu was thought to only infect birds until the first human cases came to light in 1997 when the H5N1 strain infected 18 people in Hong Kong, killing six. All the territory's poultry - over one million birds - were culled, but the virus was not eradicated.
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For Children 1 Year And Older Tamiflu Found To Be Effective For Treatment And Prevention Of Influenza (Medical News Today)
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) significantly reduces illness severity and duration in children one year and older, particularly if given within 24 hours of symptom onset, according to new data presented at the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Disease (WISPID) meeting in Bangkok 15-18 November. [click link for full article]
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Flu Vaccination Should Reach More People Says CDC (Medical News Today)
There should be more flu vaccines to go round than ever before this season, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday last week. According the agency, the national supply of flu vaccinations distributed by manufacturers since 2nd November exceeds 103 million doses. This is more than ever before. [click link for full article]
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A new plague: The epidemic is coming (Independent)
We're in for another epidemic. You probably don't want to hear that; we've had enough with bluetongue, foot-and-mouth and bird flu in animals. We're only just beginning to calm down as the bird flu threat to humans apparently recedes, but mad cow disease seems only yesterday and our hospitals are cesspits of MRSA and C.difficile. Haven't we had enough? And how can I be so sure that we're due for ...
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Deaths From Flu In Hospitalized Patients Reduced By Antivirals (Medical News Today)
Adults with influenza infections serious enough to require hospitalization are much less likely to die from the disease if they are given antiviral medications, according to a new study published in the December 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, currently available online. [click link for full article]
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WHO group to tackle H5N1 virus-sharing dispute (CIDRAP)
Flu viruses can remain infectious for about one week at human body temperature, over 30 days at 0 °C (32 °F), and indefinitely at very low temperatures (such as lakes in northeast Siberia). Most influenza strains can be inactivated easily by disinfectants and detergents.
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