Disease/Infection News

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Genesis Bioventures signs agreement for control of Mad Cow diagnostic company

Further to a Letter of Intent previously reported, Genesis Bioventures today announced that it has entered into a binding agreement with Efoora Inc. and Prion Developmental Laboratories, Inc. to buy all of Efoora's majority interest shares owned or pledged in PDL thereby gaining controlling interest of PDL. A Form 8-K has been filed with the SEC in this regard. Prior to the Agreement, GBI had one-third equity interest in PDL.

1 Jun 2005

Study of MRSA bloodstream infections in children

The UK's Health Protection Agency (HPA) is to begin a study reviewing bloodstream infections in children caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

1 Jun 2005

African HIV subtypes identified in Minnesota

Public health researchers in Minnesota recently identified 83 persons infected with subtypes of HIV-1 that are not common in the United States, according to a report published in the June 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online.

31 May 2005

Indonesia vaccinates millions against polio

In an attempt to eradicate an outbreak of polio, Health officials in Indonesia will vaccinate millions of children this week. The vaccination programme is a massive response by the government to try to stamp Indonesia's first outbreak of polio in a decade.

31 May 2005

Over 3,000 lives lost because of blood bungle by Canadian Red Cross

The Canadian Red Cross has pleaded guilty to distributing contaminated blood supplies. Since getting the tainted blood in the 1980s thousands of Canadians with HIV and hepatitis C were infected and more than 3,000 people have died.

31 May 2005

1980's brain surgery may have exposed 50 patients to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

It has now been revealed that as many as 50 patients may have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) following brain surgery during the 1980s.

31 May 2005

West Nile virus more of a threat than previously thought

West Nile has traditionally only been considered a serious problem for the elderly and frail, and more of a nuisance illness for everyone else. But a surprising number of patients show the virus is more threatening than widely believed.

31 May 2005

Health ministry warns against encephalitis vaccine

The Japanese Health Ministry is calling for a nationwide suspension of the Japanese encephalitis vaccination paid for by local governments following a report of serious side effects caused by the shots.

31 May 2005

Health officials out to zap mozzies before the peak season

Even though no cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this year, area health officials at the Virginia Department of Health are getting a head start on mosquitoes carrying such diseases before the peak breeding season arrives.

30 May 2005

Sickle cell protects against malari

In this month's issue of the open access journal PLoS Medicine, Dr. Thomas N. Williams and colleagues from Kilifi, Kenya, show that the protection against malaria given by carrying the gene for sickle cell haemoglobin may involve the immune system.

30 May 2005

A sudden increase in the number of British cases of Lyme disease

Lyme disease, an infection carried by ticks causes a rash and stiffness in the joints and, if left unchecked, it can affect the central nervous system, causing tingling in hands and feet, or facial palsy. In the worst cases the disease can also affect the heart, liver and spleen and even lead to encephalitis, which can kill.

29 May 2005

Doubts cast over India's AIDS figures

A controversy has erupted after Indian health workers have, expressed doubts over the new HIV/AIDS figures released by the government, they says the figures are too good to be true.

29 May 2005

Mosquitoes in Missouri test positive for West Nile virus

Health officials in Missouri said yesterday that they have received the first report this year of mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus in the state.

29 May 2005

Bill Clinton urges U.S. drug companies to be more flexible on generic drugs

Bill Clinton, the former U.S. president, is urging the United States to be more flexible in allowing money pledged for AIDS prevention to be used for low-cost generic drugs, and he has criticized U.S. drug manufacturers for pressuring the government to restrict use of those funds.

26 May 2005