Perhaps one of the biggest fears in a pandemic is the fact that we won't have enough vaccines (a given at this point). This brings up tons of questions, like who deserves the vaccine more than others? Now the WHO is expecting vaccine capacity to soar, but other experts aren't convinced- not to mention the fact that these viruses are constantly changing. What a mess!
-Kelsey
WHO expects pandemic vaccine capacity to soar
Oct 23, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today estimated that by 2010 the world may be equipped to make enough pandemic influenza vaccine to immunize 4.5 billion people—vastly more than in previous projections, though still well short of the world's population of 6.7 billion.
See story- http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/oct2307who.html
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Laser Zaps Virus
A physicist and his biologist son at the University of Arizona used a superfast pulsing (femtosecond pulses) laser to shatter the capsid of tobacco mosaic virus. They are now testing it on HIV and hepatitis, and hope to use it for cleaning blood supplies.
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/11/laser_virus
PS is it ok that I added myself as a user?
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/11/laser_virus
PS is it ok that I added myself as a user?
Setback for Nigeria's Polio Fighters
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1675423,00.html
This is a really good example of how technological advances are not enough to combat viral epidemics- religion, anti-Western sentiments, and broader social & economic factors all contribute to a pathogen's devastating effects on the human population.
- Elizabeth
This is a really good example of how technological advances are not enough to combat viral epidemics- religion, anti-Western sentiments, and broader social & economic factors all contribute to a pathogen's devastating effects on the human population.
- Elizabeth
I forget... when did I last have a cold sore?
The BBC online news source published an article on a Manchester University research team that has found preliminary evidence linking herpes simplex virus-1 with Alzheimers.
They gave some evidence about people with Alzheimers having a 70% incidence of HSV-1 (but didn't state whether that percentage was statistically significant in comparison with non-Alzheimers populations), and they said something about a " 'dramatic' increase " in beta amyloid protein levels. Beta amyloids form plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's.
The scientists went as far as saying: "In the future - although it is a long way off - people could even be immunised against the virus which could help protect people against Alzheimer's."
Concerns with, I think, rightfully placed public "scepticism" were expressed, too: "We need to carry out much more work into this, but the problem is people are quite sceptical of a viral link."
so in the future if they were to prove and use this link to diagnose alzheimbers, what would patients say in response to relevant signs and symptoms? "i think i had a cold sore before, but I can't remember..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7071576.stm
Full Link^
-Jessie
They gave some evidence about people with Alzheimers having a 70% incidence of HSV-1 (but didn't state whether that percentage was statistically significant in comparison with non-Alzheimers populations), and they said something about a " 'dramatic' increase " in beta amyloid protein levels. Beta amyloids form plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's.
The scientists went as far as saying: "In the future - although it is a long way off - people could even be immunised against the virus which could help protect people against Alzheimer's."
Concerns with, I think, rightfully placed public "scepticism" were expressed, too: "We need to carry out much more work into this, but the problem is people are quite sceptical of a viral link."
so in the future if they were to prove and use this link to diagnose alzheimbers, what would patients say in response to relevant signs and symptoms? "i think i had a cold sore before, but I can't remember..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7071576.stm
Full Link^
-Jessie
HIV 'spreads more from asymptomatic patients'
Asymptomatic HIV patients are more infectious than previously thought. Read a summary and the original PNAS article at http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/hiv-spreads-more-from-asymptomatic-patients.cfm.
Julie
Julie
HIV Infection Rate Drops in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has registered a 2.5 percent decline in HIV infection rates, and the number of AIDS deaths also is dropping, the government said Thursday, crediting its "tireless efforts" to fight the pandemic.
Quoting figures it said were verified by the United Nations, the Ministry of Health said the HIV rate dropped from 18.1 percent in people aged 15 to 49 years last year to 15.6 percent this year.
AIDS deaths also have decreased, down to 2,214 a week from around 2,500 a week, according to the new statistics.
A researcher at London's Imperial College who helped work on the figures said the trends presented were as accurate as possible given the available data, according to college spokeswoman Laura Gallagher. The UNAIDS agency was not immediately available for comment.
-Raquel
Zimbabwe has registered a 2.5 percent decline in HIV infection rates, and the number of AIDS deaths also is dropping, the government said Thursday, crediting its "tireless efforts" to fight the pandemic.
Quoting figures it said were verified by the United Nations, the Ministry of Health said the HIV rate dropped from 18.1 percent in people aged 15 to 49 years last year to 15.6 percent this year.
AIDS deaths also have decreased, down to 2,214 a week from around 2,500 a week, according to the new statistics.
A researcher at London's Imperial College who helped work on the figures said the trends presented were as accurate as possible given the available data, according to college spokeswoman Laura Gallagher. The UNAIDS agency was not immediately available for comment.
-Raquel
A Case of Bovine Rabies
Recent information released 30 October 2007 of new rabies virus outbreak in cattle of Uruguay. Last known occurrence was in 1968. 8 cattle deaths have been reported thus far, and many other species (dog, cats, sheep, horses) are susceptible to the disease. Rabies in Uruguay is spread by vampire bats. So far, the mountainous and forested area near the Tacuarembo river (northern Uruguay) has been quarantined, and those in contact with sick animals have been immunized.
Although Halloween has passed, keep a look out for those vampire bats...
-Erin
Although Halloween has passed, keep a look out for those vampire bats...
-Erin
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