Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Mexican Health Minister to discuss preparations and responses to H1N1 influenza

Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos, Secretary of Health, United States of Mexico, discussed preparations and responses to the H1N1 influenza during a visit to Washington D.C.

7 Oct 2009

Gen-Probe to acquire Prodesse for $60 million in cash

Gen-Probe Incorporated announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Prodesse, Inc., a privately held leader in molecular testing for influenza and other infectious diseases, for approximately $60 million in cash. Gen-Probe's purchase price could increase to up to $85 million if Prodesse achieves certain financial and regulatory milestones in 2010 and 2011.

7 Oct 2009

Parents should watch out for flu warning signs, says Minnesota physicians

Minnesota's physicians are urging parents to watch for the warning signs that their child is having a severe case of H1N1 and to seek out the H1N1 vaccine for their child when it becomes available.

7 Oct 2009

Research must focus on discovering potential causes and treatments for Bell's palsy

Drugs widely prescribed to treat facial paralysis in Bell's palsy are ineffective and are based on false notions of the cause of the condition, according to Cochrane Researchers. They say research must now focus on discovering other potential causes and treatments.

7 Oct 2009

Pennsylvania to receive first doses of live attenuated pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine

Pre-registered and certified providers in the southwest, southeast, and north-central regions of the state have begun to receive the first doses of the live attenuated pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine, also known by the brand name FluMist, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said today.

7 Oct 2009

New cases of H1N1 worldwide up 24,000 in two weeks

The number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases reported in WHO regions worldwide has grown by at least 24,000 in two weeks to cross the 340,000 mark since the virus was first detected in mid-April, the CDC reported Monday, according to Agence France-Presse.

7 Oct 2009

Measures taken by Memorial Blood Centers to stay prepared for the spread of H1N1 virus

Memorial Blood Centers today outlined steps the organization is taking to stay prepared for the spread of the H1N1 virus and to ensure a safe experience for blood donors and an ample blood supply for our communities.

7 Oct 2009

Get vaccinated against both H1N1 flu and the seasonal flu, advises Chief Nurse of the American Red Cross

With the first doses of the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine being shipped and seasonal flu shots underway, people should be getting vaccinations when they can for these flu viruses, said Sharon Stanley, Chief Nurse of the American Red Cross.

7 Oct 2009

PSI-879 nominated as second development candidate for treating HCV infection

Pharmasset, Inc. announced today the nomination of PSI-352879 (PSI-879) as a second development candidate from two series of purine analogs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

7 Oct 2009

AARP recommends older adults to get seasonal flu vaccination this year

With the thermometer dropping and the onset of flu season upon us, AARP is reaching out to their membership and the public to encourage them to get a seasonal flu vaccine this year.

7 Oct 2009

Health educator stresses the importance of sinus cleansing

With fall allergy season underway and Americans concerned about keeping their family safe from H1N1 and other flu viruses, health educator and fitness trainer Isabella "Betti" Jones is urging Americans to take a proactive, natural approach to staying healthy - the important step of daily sinus cleansing.

6 Oct 2009

PDS Biotechnology's Versamune-based immunotherapy drug demonstrates safety in preclinical studies

PDS Biotechnology Corporation today announced that the company has completed GLP toxicology studies of its lead HPV-cancer product. The studies, which included pharmacokinetic (PK) and adsorption, bio-distribution and excretion (ADE) studies in addition to the evaluation of toxicity, all demonstrated a very safe profile of the drug and PDS Biotech's platform Versamune((TM)) technology.

6 Oct 2009

Hepatitis B Foundation calls for consistent monitoring and referral of HBV infected children

An expert panel of nationally recognized pediatric liver specialists convened by the Hepatitis B Foundation is calling for more consistent monitoring and referral of children chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The panel's recommendations for pediatricians and other primary care practitioners stress the need for routine monitoring of children with chronic HBV infections, and timely consultation with a pediatric liver specialist.

6 Oct 2009

HIV prevalence high among African Americans

HIV prevalence among African Americans is ten times greater than the prevalence among whites. This racial disparity in HIV prevalence has persisted in the face of both governmental and private actions, involving many billions of dollars, to combat HIV.

6 Oct 2009

Gene therapy to improve ailing heart's contractions of muscle cells

Scientists from the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota show in a research report published online in the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) that gene therapy may be used to improve an ailing heart's ability to contract properly. In addition to showing gene therapy's potential for reversing the course of heart failure, it also offers a tantalizing glimpse of a day when "closed heart surgery" via gene therapy is as commonly prescribed as today's cocktail of drugs.

6 Oct 2009

Vivaldi receives US patent for live attenuated influenza vaccines

Vivaldi Biosciences Inc. (Vivaldi), a biotechnology company focused on development of vaccines for influenza, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent 7,588,768 covering live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) with modifications to the viral NS1 gene, and methods for producing the vaccines in cell culture systems.

6 Oct 2009

Emergency preparedness and business continuity planning to prevent and manage H1N1 virus

This fall the CDC estimates that upwards of 50 percent of Americans could come down with the H1N1 virus, killing as many as 1.2 million people. Additionally, there are estimates that many companies will experience between 30-50 percent absenteeism due to employee illness.

6 Oct 2009

Inviragen, SingVax merge their complementary vaccine pipelines

Inviragen and SingVax have merged their complementary vaccine pipelines and their international product development capabilities to create a company that is developing a wide range of vaccines for infectious diseases prevalent in emerging economies.

6 Oct 2009

Fresenius Medical Care to offer seasonal influenza and H1N1 flu vaccines

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts a more severe flu season this year, people with chronic health conditions are especially at risk and can develop a more severe illness from any influenza infection, including the H1N1 virus.

6 Oct 2009

Two-thirds of tonsil tumour samples show evidence of HPV-16 gene: Study

It is estimated that more than 7,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer each year in the UK and approximately 3,500 cases result in death. These cancers include tumours of the mouth, lips, throat and voice-box, and some have been linked to the sexually transmitted infection, HPV-16. Scientists at Liverpool analysed the DNA of more than 90 cancerous tissue samples to look for genes that indicated infection.

6 Oct 2009