Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

SARS outbreak unlikely according to World Health Organization

The regional head of the World Health Organization said today that it was possible the region would experience SARS cases this winter, but he doubted the situation would be serious. "I don't think a large outbreak is likely," said Dr Shigeru Omi, Regional Director of WHO's Western Pacific Regional Office.

29 Nov 2004

Moldova making progress in fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis

Moldova’s early actions to fight HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are slowing the rise of the country’s dual tuberculosis and AIDS epidemics, the World Bank reports.

29 Nov 2004

Scientists have given blind nerve cells the ability to detect light

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have given "blind" nerve cells the ability to detect light, paving the way for an innovative therapy that could restore sight to those who have lost it through disease.

24 Nov 2004

Female condoms should be promoted as an effective solution to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS

While scientists work to find the 'perfect' solution to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, a reasonable option--the female condom--is not being promoted, especially in African and southeast Asian countries where the deadly virus is most prevalent, according to a new study.

24 Nov 2004

Breakthrough HIV research wins prestigious industry award

Research that could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of HIV has scooped a University of Manchester scientist a prestigious industry award.

From The University of Manchester 23 Nov 2004

Parainfluenza virus found in Hong Kong patients

A CHP spokesman said PIVs are spread by respiratory secretions through close contact with infected persons or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

18 Nov 2004

Animal research and its benefits to both humans and animals

From preventing polio to finding cures for cancer patients, animal research has saved countless lives.

18 Nov 2004

Statement from U.S. Department of Agriculture on an inconclusive BSE test result

Statement by Andrea Morgan, Associate Deputy Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture on an Inconclusive BSE Test Result.

18 Nov 2004

Evidence of exposure to a monkey virus possibly related to cancer has been found in the blood of North American zoo workers

The virus, a polyomavirus known as simian virus 40 (SV40), has long been a subject of public health concern, in part because it has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals, and some investigators have reported SV40 DNA in human tumors.

18 Nov 2004

Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from a virus that causes a fatal nervous system disorder, according to research conducted at Brown University and Case Western Reserve University.

18 Nov 2004

Eisai In-licenses Anti-hepatitis B Agent clevudine From Bukwang Pharm

Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that the Company has in-licensed an anti-hepatitis B agent (generic name: clevudine) from Bukwang Pharm (Headquarters, Seoul, South Korea, President: Sung-Koo Lee).

16 Nov 2004

Answer to the increase of flu cases may be extremely minute seasonal changes

Flu season is on its way to homes across Canada. But the question of why influenza epidemics take place in the few cold months of winter remains unanswered. Is it the change in the weather? The return to school? Or increased viral production under winter conditions?

16 Nov 2004

Computer models to combat the H5N1 strain of the bird influenza virus

A group of scientists who are developing computer models to combat infectious diseases have focused their attention on the H5N1 strain of the bird influenza virus.

16 Nov 2004

Silicone facial implants provide HAART patients with a healthier appearance

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS is the name given to treatment regimens recommended by leading HIV experts to aggressively suppress viral replication and progress of HIV disease. These treatment regimens have been shown to reduce the amount of virus so that it becomes undetectable in a patient's blood.

16 Nov 2004

Research opens up new avenues to diagnosis and treat Lyme disease

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have identified a Lyme disease receptor called TROSPA that is used by disease agents to invade ticks.

14 Nov 2004

Hep C and HIV among injecting drug users in London are higher than expected

Levels of hepatitis C virus and HIV among injecting drug users in London are higher than expected, according to a study published online by the BMJ.

14 Nov 2004

Canada puts in place a national plan to ensure an adequate flu vaccine supply

Per capita, more Canadians receive the flu shot than residents of any other country. The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu virus, so it is encouraging to see that even more Canadians are getting the flu shot this season than ever before.

11 Nov 2004

Important advance in understanding the structure of phage viruses

An important advance in understanding the structure of phage viruses, which infect and destroy bacteria, has been made by a team of scientists from Oxford and Finland, which could help develop new strategies to combat bacterial infections.

11 Nov 2004

Domestic ducks could pose new avian Influenza threat

Domestic ducks may be acting as a silent reservoir for the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus, which is highly pathogenic for chickens, and may thus have acquired an important new role in the transmission of the virus to other poultry and, possibly, to humans as well, three international agencies warned today.

10 Nov 2004

Nanogen announces clinical diagnostic to simultaneously detect multiple respiratory viruses

Nanogen announced today that it is developing new analyte specific reagents (ASRs) for clinical reference laboratories to develop and validate a single test to detect six of the most common respiratory viruses.

10 Nov 2004