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Political will, funding needed for successful polio eradication initiative

While there is "much to be proud of" in the progress in the fight against polio, "there's still more work to be done," former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin writes in a GlobalPost opinion piece. Martin, a polio survivor, notes that in 1988, when the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched, 350,000 cases in more than 125 countries were recorded annually, but "so far this year, we've seen just 171 cases, and only Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria have never stopped transmission."

1 Nov 2012

AP examines future of AMFm following conflicting reports on program's success

The Associated Press examines the debate over the future of the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm), after the recent release of two papers evaluating the program's effectiveness. AMFm was established in 2010 as "a pilot project to subsidize artemesinin combination drugs, the most effective malaria treatment," the AP writes, noting the $460 million program is managed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

1 Nov 2012

PLoS NTDs celebrates 5th anniversary with special collection on 'Geopolitics of NTDs'

To commemorate its fifth anniversary PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on Thursday "compiled editorials and research papers published over the last five years to create a collection called 'The Geopolitics of NTDs,'" the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases' "End the Neglect" blog reports.

1 Nov 2012

CDC report outlines international influenza activities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday released a 268-page annual report that "profiles a wide range of CDC influenza-related projects around the world, from flu surveillance in Indonesia to vaccine effectiveness studies in El Salvador and epidemiology training in Ghana," CIDRAP News reports.

1 Nov 2012

New track-and-trace proposal advanced to combat drug counterfeiting, gray market

The bipartisan track and trace draft legislation released last week would allow drugs to be authenticated throughout the supply chain, which could help combat counterfeiting as well as the so-called gray market that's been highlighted in the drug shortage crisis, Democratic staffers who worked on the draft said.

1 Nov 2012

Microbiologists confirm existence of new tick disease in Switzerland

Until now, we knew that ticks primarily transmit two pathogens to humans in Switzerland: the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi - which causes borreliosis - and the early-summer-meningoencephalitis virus, which can cause cerebral inflammation. Now, microbiologists from the University of Zurich confirm the existence of another tick disease in Switzerland - neoehrlichiosis.

1 Nov 2012

Experimental HIV test might help improve diagnosis, treatment in developing countries

"Scientists have come up with a test for the virus that causes AIDS that is 10 times more sensitive and a fraction of the cost of existing methods, offering the promise of better diagnosis and treatment in the developing world," Reuters reports.

1 Nov 2012

Novartis resumes distribution of two seasonal influenza vaccines in Canada

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. has announced it is resuming distribution of two seasonal influenza vaccines in Canada, Fluad and Agriflu, following the announcement by Health Canada earlier today that it has completed its review of safety information for Agriflu and Fluad and is releasing the two vaccines for immediate use.

1 Nov 2012

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason wins Grand Challenges Explorations grant

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

1 Nov 2012

Scientists solve mystery behind what triggers the herpes virus to become active again

The mere mention of the word "herpes" usually conjures negative images and stereotypes, but most people have been infected with some form of the virus. For most, a sore appears, heals and is forgotten, although the virus remains latent just waiting for the right circumstances to come back. Now, the mystery behind what triggers the virus to become active again is closer to being solved thanks to new research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology's November 2012 issue.

1 Nov 2012

FDA: Ameridose voluntarily recalls all unexpired drug products in circulation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Ameridose, LLC, based in Westborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling all of its unexpired products in circulation.

1 Nov 2012

African American women coinfected with HIV and HCV less likely to die from liver disease than Caucasian or Hispanic women

A new study shows that African American women coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are less likely to die from liver disease than Caucasian or Hispanic women.

31 Oct 2012

Fla. suspends compounding pharmacy as report slams lax oversight

The fallout from a deadly meningitis outbreak continues as Florida suspends operations at one compounding pharmacy, while a report finds state oversight of the facilities lacking.

31 Oct 2012

BioCryst announces withdrawal of BCX5191 IND following discussion with FDA

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the withdrawal of its Investigational New Drug application (IND) for the antiviral nucleoside, BCX5191, following a discussion with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

31 Oct 2012

Eliminating bacteria's DNA, boosting antimicrobial proteins may help prevent recurrent ear infections

Eliminating bacteria's DNA and boosting antimicrobial proteins that already exist may help prevent middle ear infections from reoccurring. These are the findings from a Nationwide Children's Hospital study that examined how an immune defense protein common in the middle ear interacts with a structure meant to protect a colony of bacteria.

31 Oct 2012

State roundup: Hurricane Sandy has east coast hospitals scrambling

Healthcare providers on the East Coast have spent the weekend preparing for Hurricane Sandy, with hospitals canceling elective surgeries and discharging patients to free up beds.

30 Oct 2012

All health care workers should be vaccinated with annual flu vaccine to protect patients

All health care workers in health care institutions should be vaccinated with the annual influenza vaccine to protect patients, argues an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

30 Oct 2012

AOAC-PTM validates 3M Tecra Listeria Visual Immunoassay

3M Food Safety announced today that its 3M Tecra Listeria Visual Immunoassay (VIA) for Environmental Testing (#091201) has received validation from the AOAC Research Institute's Performance Tested Methods Program.

29 Oct 2012

RUB-medical researchers receive $2.3M Gates Foundation grant for HIV vaccine research

To support their research for a vaccine against the HI-Virus, Prof. Dr. Klaus Überla of the Faculty for Medicine at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and his research team will receive $2.3 million in funding within the next three years from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The scientists are part of the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD), which seeks to speed up the development of an HIV-vaccine through a rigorous exchange of information, methods and reagents.

29 Oct 2012

Blog examines PEPFAR restrictions regarding family planning

"Though the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been touted as one of our nation's most successful initiatives in global health (and certainly one of President George W. Bush's most positive legacies) it continues to miss the mark" when it comes to family planning, global gender specialist and freelance writer Jessica Mack writes in KPLU 88.5's "Humanosphere" blog.

29 Oct 2012

Disease/Infection News

Political will, funding needed for successful polio eradication initiative

AP examines future of AMFm following conflicting reports on program's success

PLoS NTDs celebrates 5th anniversary with special collection on 'Geopolitics of NTDs'

CDC report outlines international influenza activities

New track-and-trace proposal advanced to combat drug counterfeiting, gray market

Microbiologists confirm existence of new tick disease in Switzerland

Experimental HIV test might help improve diagnosis, treatment in developing countries

Novartis resumes distribution of two seasonal influenza vaccines in Canada

Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason wins Grand Challenges Explorations grant

Scientists solve mystery behind what triggers the herpes virus to become active again

FDA: Ameridose voluntarily recalls all unexpired drug products in circulation

African American women coinfected with HIV and HCV less likely to die from liver disease than Caucasian or Hispanic women

Fla. suspends compounding pharmacy as report slams lax oversight

BioCryst announces withdrawal of BCX5191 IND following discussion with FDA

Eliminating bacteria's DNA, boosting antimicrobial proteins may help prevent recurrent ear infections

State roundup: Hurricane Sandy has east coast hospitals scrambling

All health care workers should be vaccinated with annual flu vaccine to protect patients

AOAC-PTM validates 3M Tecra Listeria Visual Immunoassay

RUB-medical researchers receive $2.3M Gates Foundation grant for HIV vaccine research

Blog examines PEPFAR restrictions regarding family planning

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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