Disease/Infection News

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2 SARS patients in Beijing discharged from hospital

Xinhua reported today that there were no new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) over the past 24 hours in China and 2 SARS patients in Beijing were discharged from hospital.

11 May 2004

Botswana begins massive emergency polio campaign

The Minister of Health of Botswana today kicked off a massive emergency immunization campaign in the southern African nation of Botswana, following the re-introduction of poliovirus into the country from Nigeria in February.

10 May 2004

The outbreak of SARS is under control in China's eastern province of Anhui

A labratory worker who was China's first SARS patient in the recent outbreak has fully recovered and has been discharged from hospital today as Chinese health officials claimed success in controlling the disease in eastern Anhui province.

10 May 2004

China recognizes 10 million Chinese may be HIV-positive by 2010

The Official Chinese News Agency reported today that the Chinese cabinet has admitted that AIDS epidemic is out of control and spreading rapidly through the country. They have also recognized the need for urgent measures to be put into place to change the situation.

9 May 2004

No evidence of CJD associated with the Garden State Racetrack

The Department of Health and Senior Services released a report today on an investigation of a suspected cluster of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) associated with the Garden State Racetrack.

8 May 2004

Disease control strategies in Africa could help to halve deaths from malaria by 2010

Linking malaria programmes to other disease control strategies in Africa could help to halve deaths from malaria by 2010, say researchers in this week's BMJ.

6 May 2004

International research team have decoded the genetic blueprint of the tularemia (rabbit fever) bacterium

Two teams of researchers, one based in the United States and the other in Europe, have decoded the genetic blueprint of the tularemia (rabbit fever) bacterium, a highly infectious human and animal pathogen.

6 May 2004

West Nile virus found in Arizona mosquito samples

Mosquito samples collected by Maricopa County health officials in the Maricopa County, Arizona have tested positive for the West Nile virus, marking the arrival of the virus in the state in 2004.

6 May 2004

Research into Chinese herbal medicine Qian Ceng Ta may help Alzheimer’s

Georgetown University Medical Center researchers today opened a new clinical trial designed to test if huperzine A, a natural product derived from a Chinese herb, can slow down or prevent cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

6 May 2004

Investigation to find the source of the current SARS outbreak

Investigation of the source of the current outbreak, first reported on 22 April, continues to focus on the National Institute of Virology in Beijing. The institute is known to have conducted experiments using the live SARS coronavirus during February and March.

5 May 2004

West Nile Virus returns to United States for another season

The winter cold and flu season is barely over, and the new mosquito season won't really get rolling for a few more weeks, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already is reporting the presence of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes, birds and other animals in nine states.

5 May 2004

World's first gene therapy trial aimed at preventing cancer

The concept seems straightforward. If, at its heart, cancer is a disease of genes, then giving patients new genes should disarm cancer. Such treatment would replace missing or faulty genes that keep cell growth in check, or would flush the body with "super genes" that could attack and destroy cancer.

5 May 2004

Prevention and partnerships are the keys to improving health and reducing chronic disease in the United States

Prevention and partnerships are the keys to improving health and reducing chronic disease in the United States and throughout the Americas, a Pan American Health Organization official said today.

5 May 2004

New estimate of more than three million diabetes-related deaths every year

3.2 million deaths can be attributed to diabetes each year according to a new publication released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to mark the launch of their joint programme "Diabetes Action Now".

5 May 2004

New estimate of more than three million diabetes-related deaths every year

5 May 2004

Hong Kong SARS update

Hong Kong has been free from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) since 2 June 2003 and is a safe place to visit.

5 May 2004

First confirmed SARS patient given all clear

As reported by Xinhuanet, Beijing's first confirmed SARS patient has been discharged from hospital after being given the all clear.

4 May 2004

Virginia prepares for mosquito borne diseases

The Virginia Department of Health reminds residents that mosquito season has arrived, and with it the risk of mosquito-transmitted viral diseases that can cause brain inflammation/encephalitis in humans.

4 May 2004

Tooth cells may help treat Parkinson's disease

Cells derived from the inside of a tooth might someday prove an effective way to treat the brains of people suffering from Parkinson's disease.

4 May 2004

Randall Tobias in Indiana to discuss efforts to combat AIDS

Indiana University has arranged for a media availability on Monday (May 10) at 1:30 p.m. in Indianapolis with Randall L. Tobias, U.S. Global AIDS coordinator and chairman emeritus of Eli Lilly and Co. Tobias will be back in Indianapolis for the dedication of the Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence, a new research and outreach initiative housed in IU's Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis.

4 May 2004