Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Scientists evaluate past outbreaks and pandemic potential of H7 subtype influenza viruses

The emergence of a novel H7N9 avian influenza virus in humans in China has raised questions about its pandemic potential as well as that of related influenza viruses.

12 Jul 2013

H7 influenza may spillover repeatedly into humans, say scientists

The H7N9 avian flu strain that emerged in China earlier this year has subsided for now, but it would be a mistake to be reassured by this apparent lull in infections. The virus has several highly unusual traits that paint a disquieting picture of a pathogen that may yet lead to a pandemic, according to lead scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

10 Jul 2013

McMaster University researchers identify three factors that influence pandemic influenza

Three waves of the deadliest influenza pandemic in history, known as the Spanish flu, hit England and Wales in 1918, just as World War 1 was coming to an end.

10 Jul 2013

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus currently unlikely to cause a pandemic, finds study

New estimates of the transmissibility of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in humans suggest that it does not yet have pandemic potential, according to research published in The Lancet.

9 Jul 2013

Seattle researchers map critical molecules that regulate inflammation during flu infection

The influenza virus' ability to mutate quickly has produced new, emerging strains that make drug discovery more critical than ever. For the first time, researchers at Seattle BioMed, along with collaborators at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the University of Washington, have mapped how critical molecules regulate both the induction and resolution of inflammation during flu infection.

6 Jul 2013

Research shows influenza infection increases susceptibility to pneumococcus bacteria by 100-fold

It's been known for more than two centuries that pneumonia cases increase during flu epidemics. But population-level epidemiological studies looking at seasonal patterns of influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia incidence have revealed either a modest association or have failed to identify any signature of interaction between the two.

27 Jun 2013

Medicago produces Rotavirus VLP vaccine candidate using plant-based manufacturing platform

Medicago Inc. (TSX: MDG; OTCQX: MDCGF), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced the successful production of a Rotavirus VLP vaccine candidate comprising all four structural antigens of rotavirus (VP2, VP4, VP6 and VP7) using Medicago's plant-based manufacturing platform.

20 Jun 2013

UTHealth collaborates with Rice University to save lives of CVD patients in Fiji

A device born out of a collaboration between The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Rice University could save lives in Fiji where cardiovascular disease has been called a pandemic.

14 Jun 2013

Medicago gets Health Canada clearance to initiate Phase II clinical trial for H5N1 vaccine

Medicago Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles, today announced it has received clearance by Health Canada to initiate its Phase II dose-sparing clinical trial for an H5N1 Avian Influenza VLP vaccine candidate ("H5N1 vaccine").

11 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: 'Reasonable' debate about health law's 'rate shock; 'absurdity' of Sebelius' account of fund raising; Obama killed the grand bargain

Many of us have been wondering whether it's possible to have an honest, reasonable debate about Obamacare. To my pleasant surprise, one may finally be starting.

7 Jun 2013

Medicago reports positive interim results from preclinical trial for H7 VLP vaccine candidate

Medicago Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles, today reported positive interim results from a preclinical trial for an H7N9 Avian Influenza VLP vaccine candidate ("H7 vaccine").

6 Jun 2013

Experts from ProfNet are available to discuss hurricane preparedness and response

With hurricane season on its way, here are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss hurricane preparedness and response for consumers and businesses. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing.

1 Jun 2013

Researchers develop new gene therapy to thwart potential influenza pandemic

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic. Specifically, investigators in the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, directed by James M. Wilson, MD, PhD, demonstrated that a single dose of an adeno-associated virus expressing a broadly neutralizing flu antibody into the nasal passages of mice and ferrets gives them complete protection and substantial reductions in flu replication when exposed to lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus.

30 May 2013

Columbia University, Chinese Center for Disease Control to open joint pathogen discovery lab in Beijing

The Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention within the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention will open a Joint Research Laboratory for Pathogen Discovery to conduct surveillance, identify new infectious microbes, establish novel platforms for diagnostics, and develop drugs and vaccines to treat diseases in humans and animals.

29 May 2013

Sinovac Beijing receives GMP certificate for its proprietary vaccines

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced that Sinovac Beijing, the main operating subsidiary company of Sinovac, obtained the Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices for Pharmaceutical Products (GMP Certificate) from the China State and Food Administration (CFDA) for its proprietary vaccines, its Haidian district bulk production plants, and its Changping filing and packaging facility.

24 May 2013

New, improved drugs can boost body's natural flu killer system

A known difficulty in fighting influenza (flu) is the ability of the flu viruses to mutate and thus evade various medications that were previously found to be effective. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown recently that another, more promising, approach is to focus on improving drugs that boost the body's natural flu killer system.

24 May 2013

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists evaluate past outbreaks and pandemic potential of H7 subtype influenza viruses

H7 influenza may spillover repeatedly into humans, say scientists

McMaster University researchers identify three factors that influence pandemic influenza

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus currently unlikely to cause a pandemic, finds study

Seattle researchers map critical molecules that regulate inflammation during flu infection

Research shows influenza infection increases susceptibility to pneumococcus bacteria by 100-fold

Medicago produces Rotavirus VLP vaccine candidate using plant-based manufacturing platform

UTHealth collaborates with Rice University to save lives of CVD patients in Fiji

Medicago gets Health Canada clearance to initiate Phase II clinical trial for H5N1 vaccine

Viewpoints: 'Reasonable' debate about health law's 'rate shock; 'absurdity' of Sebelius' account of fund raising; Obama killed the grand bargain

Medicago reports positive interim results from preclinical trial for H7 VLP vaccine candidate

Experts from ProfNet are available to discuss hurricane preparedness and response

Researchers develop new gene therapy to thwart potential influenza pandemic

Columbia University, Chinese Center for Disease Control to open joint pathogen discovery lab in Beijing

Sinovac Beijing receives GMP certificate for its proprietary vaccines

New, improved drugs can boost body's natural flu killer system

iBio announces production of vaccine candidate for new H7N9 influenza virus

TB clinical drug trials in jeopardy due to federal sequestration funding cuts

Groundbreaking germ-fighting vaccine research to be presented at National Biotechnology Conference

New computer model predicts when avian influenza strain becomes infectious

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