The latest update on the genetically modified H5N1 virus was released a few days ago with the original research team claiming that the virus was not as contagious or as infectious as the media portrayed it- new data has prompted for a re-evaluation of the government's recommendation to not reveal specific steps involved in the project.
These new recommendations were submitted to the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, which will convene in March. The head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci stated that " THere is a gross, pervasive misunderstanding out there," and the danger of this genetically modified virus may have been overstated.
Dr. Fouchier, the head of the research team that undertook this modification, was able to reveal a few of the research's results this past week at a convention for the American Society for Microbiology. Dr. Fouchier stated that the mutated H5N1 virus was not as lethal as the media claimed- not all of the healthy ferrets that were exposed to the virus contracted the infection, and those that did become infected did not necessarily show symptoms or die. In addition to this, the healthy ferrets that had been exposed to the seasonal flu prior to the H5N1 infection gained immunity to the mutated H5N1 virus.
Genetically modified flu viruses are a definite threat to public health if used as a bioterrorist weapon.
The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity re-evaluation will be covered here in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned :)
-Angela Cesena
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/science/maker-says-bird-flu-virus-not-as-dangerous-as-thought.html?_r=1&ref=health
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Chikungunya in the US?
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently issued a warning that the Americas may be at risk for Chikungunya virus. According to the CDC, the virus is currently responsible for a number of pandemics in Africa and Asia - and recently, in parts of southern Europe. From 2006 to 2010, there have been 106 cases of registered chikungunya virus in the US from travelers returning from pandemic areas.
Clinically, chikungunya is most often characterized by a fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash and joint pain (the last of which can be sustained for weeks or months). It is an arbovirus transmitted through the species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Travelers carrying chikungunya have been quickly quarantined by US health authorities, but PAHO is concerned that the infected mosquitoes themselves may soon begin to spread the virus to the entire Western Hemisphere.
This story stood out to me because so many people are currently concerned about influenza and smallpox - specifically, viruses that can be scientifically engineered to be more lethal. It is often forgotten that there are a number of viruses and diseases endemic in developing countries that US health officials take wide precautions to protect us against. Hopefully people continue to remember that they should be giving their full-fledged support to infectious disease prevention. It's much easier to keep chikungunya out of the US than it would ever be to eliminate it once present.
Article: http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_virus-may-infect-america-warns-health-group_1658238
CDC on Chikungunya: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Chikungunya/index.html
- Elena Higuchi
Clinically, chikungunya is most often characterized by a fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash and joint pain (the last of which can be sustained for weeks or months). It is an arbovirus transmitted through the species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Travelers carrying chikungunya have been quickly quarantined by US health authorities, but PAHO is concerned that the infected mosquitoes themselves may soon begin to spread the virus to the entire Western Hemisphere.
This story stood out to me because so many people are currently concerned about influenza and smallpox - specifically, viruses that can be scientifically engineered to be more lethal. It is often forgotten that there are a number of viruses and diseases endemic in developing countries that US health officials take wide precautions to protect us against. Hopefully people continue to remember that they should be giving their full-fledged support to infectious disease prevention. It's much easier to keep chikungunya out of the US than it would ever be to eliminate it once present.
Article: http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_virus-may-infect-america-warns-health-group_1658238
CDC on Chikungunya: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Chikungunya/index.html
- Elena Higuchi
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Foreign Nationals to Begin Getting Free HIV Treatment Under Britain’s NHS
Foreign nationals are about to begin getting treatment for HIV through the NHS in the UK, people who would usually not be covered under NHS. This, campaigners say, is a step in the right direction to reduce the risk of HIV transmission for all British residents.
Estimates say up to 25,000 people are currently undiagnosed and living with HIV in Britain and many were born abroad (the group includes failed asylum seekers, students, and tourists). However, if these people are HIV+ they could potentially spread the disease to UK citizens.
The proposed bill extends free treatment to people who have been living in Britain for 6 or more months. As we learned in class, treating people with HIV can drop the blood virus titers low enough that they are a lot less likely to pass on the infection to others.
According to the public health minister Anne Milton, “This measure will protect the public and brings HIV treatment in to line with all other infectious diseases. Treating people with HIV means they are very unlikely to pass the infection on to others.”
There is also a financial argument for the NHS to treat all HIV+ people. That is that it is a lot cheaper to treat HIV early than to treat someone who comes into the hospital with a very serious and complex condition.
From what we’ve learned in class, I would say, on the part of the NHS, this is a very forward thinking bill that in the long run will help the population of th uK stay healthier!
Elena Jordan
The original article can be found on the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17187179
Estimates say up to 25,000 people are currently undiagnosed and living with HIV in Britain and many were born abroad (the group includes failed asylum seekers, students, and tourists). However, if these people are HIV+ they could potentially spread the disease to UK citizens.
The proposed bill extends free treatment to people who have been living in Britain for 6 or more months. As we learned in class, treating people with HIV can drop the blood virus titers low enough that they are a lot less likely to pass on the infection to others.
According to the public health minister Anne Milton, “This measure will protect the public and brings HIV treatment in to line with all other infectious diseases. Treating people with HIV means they are very unlikely to pass the infection on to others.”
There is also a financial argument for the NHS to treat all HIV+ people. That is that it is a lot cheaper to treat HIV early than to treat someone who comes into the hospital with a very serious and complex condition.
From what we’ve learned in class, I would say, on the part of the NHS, this is a very forward thinking bill that in the long run will help the population of th uK stay healthier!
Elena Jordan
The original article can be found on the BBC at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17187179
Monday, February 27, 2012
Hepatitis C Death Rate Exceeds AIDS Rate
In the United States, the death rate from Hepatitis C is now greater than that of AIDS. The Centers for Disease + Control produced a recent report detailing how more than 3 million people are currently infected with Hepatitis C. The death rate of Hepatitis C is about 5 for every 100,000 now, despite rates being only 3 out of 100,000 about 10 years ago. During this same time frame, the HIV/AIDS death rate fell from 6/100,000 to 4/100,000.
Hepatitis C primarily infects people between the ages 45 to 64. The director of Viral Hepatitis at the C.D.C., Dr. John Ward, exclaimed how a treatment exists for Hepatitis C that is capable of clearing more than 70% of the viral load from the body, so the lack of education and awareness for the disease is clearly the major problem causing this increased death rate.
Using the H.I.V. death rate decline as a model, Ward hopes to apply a similar program in raising awareness for Hepatitis C.
Pooja
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/health/research/hepatitis-c-deaths-creep-past-aids-study-finds.html?_r=1&ref=health
Hepatitis C primarily infects people between the ages 45 to 64. The director of Viral Hepatitis at the C.D.C., Dr. John Ward, exclaimed how a treatment exists for Hepatitis C that is capable of clearing more than 70% of the viral load from the body, so the lack of education and awareness for the disease is clearly the major problem causing this increased death rate.
Using the H.I.V. death rate decline as a model, Ward hopes to apply a similar program in raising awareness for Hepatitis C.
Pooja
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/health/research/hepatitis-c-deaths-creep-past-aids-study-finds.html?_r=1&ref=health
Discovery of Hepatitis C vaccine
The University of Alberta has its very own Li Ka Shing center (like us!) where a potential Hepatitis C vaccine, developed from a single strain of the virus over a period of 10 years, by researcher and chairman Michael Houghton, has shown to be effective against all known strains of the virus. The main challenge in the development of the vaccine had to do with a particular feature of HCV, whose very high level of virulence made it very difficult to come up with a vaccine that could neutralize all the different strains effectively. The vaccine that has been developed by Houghton and his coworkers is capable of generating broad cross-neutralising antibodies against all the different major strains, which is very good news for all the areas where HCV is prevalent.
Nevertheless, there remain a few critical but unanswered questions regarding this vaccine: Did the recipients actually produce antibodies that could neutralize the actual infectious virus? If they could, how broad was the neutralizing response?
Further experiments performed with this newly developed vaccines are needed to not only answer these questions but also ensure of its efficacy against multiple HCV strains.
At the same time, at Oxford University, significant progress has been observed in the development of a vaccine that would have effective targeting ability - by targeting the "inner engine" of the HCV virus instead of the surface markers/proteins.
Looks like we're on the right track!
- Julie
Nevertheless, there remain a few critical but unanswered questions regarding this vaccine: Did the recipients actually produce antibodies that could neutralize the actual infectious virus? If they could, how broad was the neutralizing response?
Further experiments performed with this newly developed vaccines are needed to not only answer these questions but also ensure of its efficacy against multiple HCV strains.
At the same time, at Oxford University, significant progress has been observed in the development of a vaccine that would have effective targeting ability - by targeting the "inner engine" of the HCV virus instead of the surface markers/proteins.
Looks like we're on the right track!
- Julie
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Koala retrovirus
That tree-climbing bundle of cute , the koala, is suffering from loss of habitat, urbanization, global climate change, and…Chlamydia? Not the human kind, but a different species that is transmitted during birth, mating, and fights and causes blindness, respiratory infections, and infertility. The Queensland population is especially devastated, with a little less than half the population disappearing from 2001 to 2008—why?
The answer is—koala retrovirus! The HIV-like virus is widespread in the area, and immunocompromises the koalas, leaving them open to severe Chlamydia infections. Researchers are looking for a vaccine to halt the decline of our furry friends, which would involve wild koala captures followed by vaccination and release.
It’s a bit surprising to me that we can produce effective vaccines against animal retroviruses but haven’t yet made an effective one against HIV. It may have something to do with different receptors or low viral loads, but I hope that each successful animal vaccine might bring us closer to a human one.
Article!
-Annelise
The answer is—koala retrovirus! The HIV-like virus is widespread in the area, and immunocompromises the koalas, leaving them open to severe Chlamydia infections. Researchers are looking for a vaccine to halt the decline of our furry friends, which would involve wild koala captures followed by vaccination and release.
It’s a bit surprising to me that we can produce effective vaccines against animal retroviruses but haven’t yet made an effective one against HIV. It may have something to do with different receptors or low viral loads, but I hope that each successful animal vaccine might bring us closer to a human one.
Article!
-Annelise
Indian Teen Mother Infected With HIV Through Blood Transfusion
This is a very sad story - we're all aware of the early HIV incidences that occurred in the 70s and 80s due to infected blood transfusions. Today, however, blood banks are required to screen all donations for a number of viruses, including HIV. Or at least, that is supposed to be the case - not so for Sheikh Hasina in Andhra Pradesh, India. Sheikh was tested for HIV and other communicable diseases during her pregnancy and immediately prior to C-section, and both turned up negative for HIV.
Following the birth, she was administered a blood transfusion (3 units) due to significant blood loss. Specifically, the blood was bought from a nearby Red Cross Society blood bank. Roughly 3 months later, Sheikh experienced a fever and vomiting; she was tested again and this time found to be HIV positive. At this time, both her husband and infant were similarly tested and found to be HIV negative.
Sheikh's complaints to local authorities led to a series of media reports and subsequent closure of the blood bank, accompanied by a formal investigation. Sadly, no follow-up care was provided for the mother, Sheikh. According to this article, she is terrified of breastfeeding her infant (viral titers have been found in breast milk, to varying degrees). Hopefully following this secondary wave of media response, people will reach out and provide her with some support.
This is obviously just such a backward occurrence, but will hopefully act as a cautionary tale to all blood banks, and those in developing nations in particular (where contamination can be more likely). The transmission of HIV is high enough that we really don't need it to be parenteral, as well...
- Elena Higuchi
Following the birth, she was administered a blood transfusion (3 units) due to significant blood loss. Specifically, the blood was bought from a nearby Red Cross Society blood bank. Roughly 3 months later, Sheikh experienced a fever and vomiting; she was tested again and this time found to be HIV positive. At this time, both her husband and infant were similarly tested and found to be HIV negative.
Sheikh's complaints to local authorities led to a series of media reports and subsequent closure of the blood bank, accompanied by a formal investigation. Sadly, no follow-up care was provided for the mother, Sheikh. According to this article, she is terrified of breastfeeding her infant (viral titers have been found in breast milk, to varying degrees). Hopefully following this secondary wave of media response, people will reach out and provide her with some support.
This is obviously just such a backward occurrence, but will hopefully act as a cautionary tale to all blood banks, and those in developing nations in particular (where contamination can be more likely). The transmission of HIV is high enough that we really don't need it to be parenteral, as well...
- Elena Higuchi
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