Disease/Infection News

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New genetic lineage of Ebola virus discovered in great apes

The Zaire species of Ebolavirus (ZEBOV) remains the most virulent of the various known species. It alone is responsible for 88% of human deaths from haemorrhagic fever recorded since Ebola's discovery in 1976.

13 Nov 2007

Most UK citizens susceptible to hep B infection

The failure of the UK to introduce universal hepatitis B immunisation means that most UK citizens are susceptible to infection, warns an infectious diseases expert in this week's BMJ.

13 Nov 2007

Early, routine testing for HIV is key to curbing the disease among teens

Half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur among 13 to 24 year olds, but adolescents rarely seek HIV testing. Now, new research from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center suggests that early and widespread testing - both in schools and community centers - may be the key to effectively curbing the spread of HIV within this age group.

13 Nov 2007

H5 avian influenza found on Suffolk poultry farm

The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed avian influenza in turkeys on premises near Diss on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Preliminary tests were positive for the H5 strain.

13 Nov 2007

Chicken pox vaccination should be introduced for children in the UK

The only realistic way of preventing deaths and severe complications arising from chickenpox is to routinely vaccinate children against the disease, concludes research published ahead of print in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

13 Nov 2007

Microfluidics chips used to watch worm behavior

They wriggle and turn and explore new territory until they find something edible, and then they stay the course until the food disappears.

13 Nov 2007

Antivirals reduce deaths from flu in hospitalized patients

Adults with influenza infections serious enough to require hospitalization are much less likely to die from the disease if they are given antiviral medications, according to a new study published in the December 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, currently available online.

13 Nov 2007

Health officials to discuss links between commercial sex work, HIV transmission in Baltimore

Health officials from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Baltimore Health Department plan to hold the first in a series of meetings this month to discuss the links between commercial sex work and HIV transmission in an effort to curb the spread of the disease in the Baltimore area, the Baltimore Sun reports (Bor, Baltimore Sun, 11/9).

12 Nov 2007

Members of European Parliament launch Facebook campaign to reduce tax rate on condoms to curb HIV/AIDS in E.U.

Members of the European Parliament from the Socialist Group on Thursday in Brussels launched a campaign on the social networking Web site Facebook to cut tax rates on condoms in an effort to curb increasing HIV/AIDS rates in Europe, the Irish Examiner reports.

12 Nov 2007

Dengue fever vaccine looks very promising

The vaccine Tetravalent is manufactured by drug company Sanofi who say it will be ready to be submitted for approval by the year 2012.

7 Nov 2007

Plants provide better understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of infectious disease

Animals, like plants, can build tolerance to infections at a genetic level, and these findings could provide a better understanding of the epidemiology and evolution of infectious disease, according to evolutionary biologists.

6 Nov 2007

Researchers neutralise the HIV virus

With the latest advances in treatment, doctors have discovered that they can successfully neutralise the HIV virus.

6 Nov 2007

MRSA prevalent in Canadian pig farms and pig farmers

A new study published in Veterinary Microbiology found methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalent in Canadian pig farms and pig farmers, pointing to animal agriculture as a source of the deadly bacteria.

6 Nov 2007

Baltimore Sun series examines link between commercial sex work, HIV transmission in Baltimore

The Baltimore Sun this week published a two-part series examining the link between commercial sex work and HIV transmission in Baltimore.

6 Nov 2007

Zambia Medical Association calls for collaboration on HIV/AIDS research between doctors, herbalists

Conventional doctors and traditional herbalists in Zambia must collaborate on quality research for potential HIV/AIDS treatments to help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, Zambia Medical Association President Swebby Macha said recently, Xinhua News Agency reports.

6 Nov 2007

BCG vaccine causing illness, death among HIV-positive infants, report says

The BCG vaccine, which aims to prevent tuberculosis among children in developing countries, might be causing illness and death among some HIV-positive infants, researchers said on Friday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

6 Nov 2007

Botswana President says AIDS-related deaths decreasing

Botswana President Festus Mogae on Monday during his State of the Nation address to Parliament said while AIDS-related deaths have decreased in the country, huge challenges still lay ahead, AFP/Yahoo! News reports (AFP/Yahoo! News, 11/6).

6 Nov 2007

Ugandan President calls for public-private partnership to fight HIV/AIDS during U.S. meeting

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni last week during a meeting in Washington, D.C., with representatives from the African Diplomatic Corps, U.S. government officials and representatives from the health care industry called for a public-private partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Uganda, Uganda's Monitor reports.

6 Nov 2007

Immtech receives $5.1 million to tackle trypanosomiasis and leishmania

Immtech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that it has received $5.1 million from a scientific consortium led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), which received funds from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop drugs for fighting African sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) and leishmania.

6 Nov 2007

Oregon receives $1.2 million to provide rent, support services for HIV-positive people living with mental illnesses

The HIV Care and Treatment Program in the Oregon Department of Human Services recently received a three-year, $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide support services and rental housing for HIV-positive people living with mental illnesses, the Eugene Register-Guard reports.

5 Nov 2007