Posted by: Marisa Dowling
69 Nigerian children have been paralyzed by the oral polio vaccine meant to stop the disease, USA Today reports.
Outbreaks caused by the oral vaccine's live virus have occurred previously. But the continuing Nigerian outbreak is the biggest ever caused by the vaccine.
This is largely attributable to the ongoing boycott against the vaccine by Muslims in the country, who believe it is a plot to sterilize Muslims. With this large susceptible population, officials fears that this virus-induced outbreak will spread into this unvaccinated population, where the virus may mutate into novel forms, for which there is no vaccine.
But this outbreak has only increased beliefs that the vaccine is unsafe, hindering the WHO goal of a polio-free world.
Full article
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease kills deer in Jersey
Virus Killing Some Deer in New Jersey
By TINA KELLEY
State wildlife officials are tracking a virus, carried by tiny biting insects, that is killing white-tailed deer in parts of New Jersey.
Signs of the virus, called epizootic hemorrhagic disease, have been found in the carcasses of nearly 200 deer in New Jersey, state officials said. The virus can kill an animal in 5 to 10 days.
The disease is not expected to significantly reduce the state’s deer population. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, there are about 150,000 wild deer in the state.
Carried by midges that hatch on mud flats, the virus causes high fevers and bleeding from the mouth, nose and eyes. The carcasses of deer that die of the disease are often found near water, where they have gone to drink. Outbreaks of the virus have also been confirmed this year in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, according to the department.
Larry Herrighty, assistant director of the department’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, said that so far, the virus has not spread to livestock in the state. It is not fatal to cows, but can reduce their milk production. The virus spreads mostly in the warmer months and is contained after the first frost, which kills the midges, wildlife officials said.
A hunter in Somerset County found the first evidence of the disease in New Jersey about six weeks ago, discovering 15 dead deer on property belonging to a hunting club.
Mr. Herrighty said that about 65 deer had died in Hillsborough Township in Somerset County, and 104 in or around Wharton State Forest in Burlington County.
“It’s a relatively small number compared to prior outbreaks,” he said.
About 4,000 deer statewide died of the disease in 1999, and about 1,000 in Morris County in the mid 1970s, he said.
Suspected incidences of the disease have also been found this year in parts of Morris, Middlesex, Camden, Cumberland and Salem Counties. The disease has not been shown to spread to humans, but hunters are advised not to eat the meat of deer that appear sick, wildlife officials said.
Ed Markowski, president of the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, said he had heard about outbreaks of the disease in the upper regions of the Mullica River, and near Hammonton in Atlantic County, Tuckahoe in Cape May County, and Lake Atsion in Burlington County.
“Locally it can decimate a population, but over all New Jersey’s deer herd is healthy enough,” he said. Hunters observing deer acting abnormally are asked to report their findings to Dr. Douglas Roscoe, at the Fish and Wildlife Division, by calling (908) 735-6398.
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=46383@kyw.dayport.com
--Rohan
By TINA KELLEY
State wildlife officials are tracking a virus, carried by tiny biting insects, that is killing white-tailed deer in parts of New Jersey.
Signs of the virus, called epizootic hemorrhagic disease, have been found in the carcasses of nearly 200 deer in New Jersey, state officials said. The virus can kill an animal in 5 to 10 days.
The disease is not expected to significantly reduce the state’s deer population. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, there are about 150,000 wild deer in the state.
Carried by midges that hatch on mud flats, the virus causes high fevers and bleeding from the mouth, nose and eyes. The carcasses of deer that die of the disease are often found near water, where they have gone to drink. Outbreaks of the virus have also been confirmed this year in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, according to the department.
Larry Herrighty, assistant director of the department’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, said that so far, the virus has not spread to livestock in the state. It is not fatal to cows, but can reduce their milk production. The virus spreads mostly in the warmer months and is contained after the first frost, which kills the midges, wildlife officials said.
A hunter in Somerset County found the first evidence of the disease in New Jersey about six weeks ago, discovering 15 dead deer on property belonging to a hunting club.
Mr. Herrighty said that about 65 deer had died in Hillsborough Township in Somerset County, and 104 in or around Wharton State Forest in Burlington County.
“It’s a relatively small number compared to prior outbreaks,” he said.
About 4,000 deer statewide died of the disease in 1999, and about 1,000 in Morris County in the mid 1970s, he said.
Suspected incidences of the disease have also been found this year in parts of Morris, Middlesex, Camden, Cumberland and Salem Counties. The disease has not been shown to spread to humans, but hunters are advised not to eat the meat of deer that appear sick, wildlife officials said.
Ed Markowski, president of the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, said he had heard about outbreaks of the disease in the upper regions of the Mullica River, and near Hammonton in Atlantic County, Tuckahoe in Cape May County, and Lake Atsion in Burlington County.
“Locally it can decimate a population, but over all New Jersey’s deer herd is healthy enough,” he said. Hunters observing deer acting abnormally are asked to report their findings to Dr. Douglas Roscoe, at the Fish and Wildlife Division, by calling (908) 735-6398.
http://cbs3.com/video/?id=46383@kyw.dayport.com
--Rohan
Indonesia reports 108th H5N1 case
The numbers keep rising! Its becoming a bigger and bigger threat...demands close watch.
-Kelsey
Story:
A 44-year-old Indonesian woman who died Oct 6 had H5N1 avian influenza, marking the country's 108th human H5N1 case and 87th death, Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today.
The woman, from Sumatra's Riau province, fell ill Sep 27 and was hospitalized Oct 2, said I Nyoman Kandun of the Indonesian Health Ministry, as quoted today by Antara, the national news agency.
Kandun said it was unclear how the woman contracted the disease, but she often visited marketplaces and might have had contact with poultry there.
He said the ministry was sending a team to Riau to conduct an epidemiologic investigation. The patient's contacts remain healthy but are being monitored, according to a WHO statement.
With the woman's illness, the WHO's global H5N1 count has reached 330 cases with 202 deaths, for a case-fatality rate of 61%.
Also in Indonesia, eight people ill with suspected H5N1 infections were hospitalized yesterday in Medan, North Sumatra province, according to another Antara report.
A hospital spokesman said six of the patients were improving, but two, a pregnant woman and a 3-year-old, were in serious condition, according to the report. The results of laboratory tests were being awaited.
See also:
Oct 8 WHO statement
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_10_08/en/index.html
-Kelsey
Story:
A 44-year-old Indonesian woman who died Oct 6 had H5N1 avian influenza, marking the country's 108th human H5N1 case and 87th death, Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today.
The woman, from Sumatra's Riau province, fell ill Sep 27 and was hospitalized Oct 2, said I Nyoman Kandun of the Indonesian Health Ministry, as quoted today by Antara, the national news agency.
Kandun said it was unclear how the woman contracted the disease, but she often visited marketplaces and might have had contact with poultry there.
He said the ministry was sending a team to Riau to conduct an epidemiologic investigation. The patient's contacts remain healthy but are being monitored, according to a WHO statement.
With the woman's illness, the WHO's global H5N1 count has reached 330 cases with 202 deaths, for a case-fatality rate of 61%.
Also in Indonesia, eight people ill with suspected H5N1 infections were hospitalized yesterday in Medan, North Sumatra province, according to another Antara report.
A hospital spokesman said six of the patients were improving, but two, a pregnant woman and a 3-year-old, were in serious condition, according to the report. The results of laboratory tests were being awaited.
See also:
Oct 8 WHO statement
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_10_08/en/index.html
Rubella Elimination in Sight?
At the annual meeting of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), leaders of the 44 member countries and territories of the region renewed their vows to make rubella elimination in the Americas a top public health priority. This scale-up will include increased efforts to combat both rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. Now in the so-called “final stages” of rubella elimination, the major challenge in the region is to maintain vaccine coverage at over 95% - the percentage needed in order for elimination of rubella infection to be achieved. Increasing access to childhood vaccines, as well as implementing public health surveillance systems and other programs, are still needed in many areas. The completion of rubella vaccination programs alone, especially in Brazil and Mexico, will require another $112.5 million. Maintenance of scaled-up childhood vaccination programs, including MMR – the combination vaccine for measles virus, mumps virus, and rubella virus – will also prove to be a challenge.
Despite these barriers to universal coverage, much improvement has been made in the last 2 decades on the front of childhood vaccinations and, in particular, rubella control. In the 1980s, only 6 of the 44 PAHO countries and territories included rubella vaccine in their childhood immunization programs. By comparison, approximately 99% of newborns currently have access to the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Incidence of rubella is now the lowest in history, leading many political leaders and public health officials to be highly optimistic about the goal of completely eliminating rubella infection in the Americas by 2010.
“Rubella Elimination Advancing in the Americas.” Oct. 10, 2008. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/84459.php
- Claire
Despite these barriers to universal coverage, much improvement has been made in the last 2 decades on the front of childhood vaccinations and, in particular, rubella control. In the 1980s, only 6 of the 44 PAHO countries and territories included rubella vaccine in their childhood immunization programs. By comparison, approximately 99% of newborns currently have access to the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Incidence of rubella is now the lowest in history, leading many political leaders and public health officials to be highly optimistic about the goal of completely eliminating rubella infection in the Americas by 2010.
“Rubella Elimination Advancing in the Americas.” Oct. 10, 2008. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/84459.php
- Claire
Squirrels
So I couldn't resist. Although this isn't a human virus, I think it has particular relevance to our campus and the war of the squirrels we have here. Apparently, grey American squirrels were imported to England and are absolutely ravaging the native red squirrel population. Not only do they boss around the reds, they also have a virus that kills the reds, but which they appear immune to: squirrelpox (exclamation point). Anyways, this descendent of William the Conquerer has gotten 148,000 pounds (think of all the possible virus work we could fund) from the British government to control the population of the greys. When asked about his techniques, he said the following: "“What is this ‘method of cranial concussion’?...Why not just say ‘hit on the head’? Sounds better.” It's estimated that 2/3 of the greys carry the virus.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/magazine/07squirrels-t.html ("Squirrel Wars" appearing in the NY Times Magazine on Oct 7)
Nasty pictures: http://www.cockermouth.org.uk/squirrels/squirrelpox1.jpg
http://www.e-ayrshire.co.uk/local/redsquirrel/gallery/PoxAlive%20copyright%20C.Bruemmer.jpg
My favorite: http://www.e-ayrshire.co.uk/local/redsquirrel/gallery/PoxDead%20copyright%20C.Bruemmer.jpg
Dave
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/magazine/07squirrels-t.html ("Squirrel Wars" appearing in the NY Times Magazine on Oct 7)
Nasty pictures: http://www.cockermouth.org.uk/squirrels/squirrelpox1.jpg
http://www.e-ayrshire.co.uk/local/redsquirrel/gallery/PoxAlive%20copyright%20C.Bruemmer.jpg
My favorite: http://www.e-ayrshire.co.uk/local/redsquirrel/gallery/PoxDead%20copyright%20C.Bruemmer.jpg
Dave
Virus Hide and Seek
Since we have all had to think about how viruses evade the immune system sometime in the past 24 hours, here's a tidbit on why the mechanism for latency for Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpes Virus (KSHV) can cause cancer...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071008183306.htm
An AIDS-related Virus Reveals More Ways To Cause Cancer
Science Daily — Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have shed new light on how Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpes Virus (KSHV) subverts normal cell machinery to cause cancer. A KSHV protein called latency-associated nuclear antigen, LANA for short, helps the virus hide out from the immune system in infected cells. When LANA takes the place of other proteins that control cell growth, it can cause uncontrolled cell replication.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071008183306.htm
Monday, October 8, 2007
EEEk! Eastern Equine Encephalitis Case
A British man visiting the US came down with EEE after a bite from an infected mosquito. EEE is caused by a member of togaviridae.
-Rebecca Hebner
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7033203.stm
-Rebecca Hebner
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7033203.stm
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