West Nile Virus News and Research

Latest West Nile Virus News and Research

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

Computers to combat disease

A new initiative harnesses the USA's computing skill to enhance our ability to respond to disease epidemics and bioterrorism.

4 May 2004

Health Canada urges Canadians to protect against West Nile Virus

Health Canada and its partners are reminding Canadians to take active steps to protect themselves from the risk of West Nile Virus.

29 Apr 2004

Pennsylvania launches West Nile virus surveillance program

Officials from the state departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection and Health today joined representatives from Cumberland and Dauphin counties to launch Pennsylvania’s program to detect and control mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus.

28 Apr 2004

Tips to avoid Lyme disease and West Nile virus

What's bugging you now that spring is here? Probably the same thing that's bugging your child -– mosquitoes, ticks and other flying, crawling, or creeping creatures of the great outdoors. Not only are these bugs' bites and stings painful and itchy, the potential health risk of insect-borne diseases -- such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus

28 Apr 2004

Canadian company requested to ship Dengue Fever test kits to Hong Kong immediately

Medical Services International Inc. has announced that it has been requested to ship VScan Dengue Fever test kits to Hong Kong immediately.

27 Apr 2004

Los Angeles health officials urge public to take preventative measures against West Nile virus

Los Angeles health officials have issued a statement urging the public to take precautions against mosquitoes after crows in the county tested positive for the West Nile virus. "These findings are a clear warning that the virus is continuing to circulate and amplify in the environment. Now is the time to take precautions," said Steve West of the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District.

24 Apr 2004

Overview of West Nile virus before season starts

West Nile virus is a newly emergent virus of the family Flaviviridae, found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is also the cause of a number of conditions in humans, horses, and some other mammals. It is transmitted by bites of infected mosquitoes.

24 Apr 2004

Health Canada prepares for West Nile virus

To prepare for the upcoming West Nile (WN) virus season, Health Canada, in collaboration with its many partners, is focussing its efforts in six main areas of activity

24 Apr 2004

Getting ready for an outbreak of West Nile virus

Between now and then the Marion County Health Department will use a time-proven, research based, proactive approach to reducing the local mosquito population and limiting potential human cases of West Nile virus.

24 Apr 2004

Research may offer potent vaccines for viruses such as HIV and West Nile

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI) have identified two molecules (TL and CD8aa) that cooperate to trigger immune cells to develop into long-lived memory cells to fight recurring infections. This finding may have important implications for the future development of longer lasting and more potent vaccines for viruses such as HIV and West Nile.

23 Apr 2004

44 countries to hammer out global health issues at Earth Observation Summit

44 countries will hammer out plans for sharing outbreak data at the Earth Observation Summit meeting, to be held Sunday in Tokyo.

19 Apr 2004

Protecting against West Nile virus

What's that buzzing noise? Believe it or not, mosquito season is already here again. Why do we even need mosquitoes? What purpose do these pesky insects serve? In the grand scheme of biology, mosquitoes are an important food source for other insects and birds, and fish eat their larvae.

14 Apr 2004

21st century is shaping up to be the "century of vaccines"

The 21st century is shaping up to be the "century of vaccines," as vaccine developers make striking progress against both emerging and longstanding diseases, according to Vaccines: Preventing Diseases and Protecting Health, from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

14 Apr 2004

New York - Due to changing blood donor criteria, donor deferral rates have been increasing since 1999

Due to changing blood donor criteria, donor deferral rates have been increasing since 1999 with trend lines predicting additional deferral increases. This predicament has created a critical demand for new people to step forward to donate to ensure there is an adequate supply of blood for hospital patients in New York and New Jersey who require life-saving transfusions, reports New York Blood Center (NYBC) officials.

6 Apr 2004

Chinese testing of Hepatitis B rapid test kit complete

Medical Services International Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed a second set of testing of its Hepatitis B rapid test kit in the People's Republic of China.

29 Mar 2004