Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

13,000 plus wild birds in Alaska tested, no bird flu found

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has announced that their departments and the State of Alaska have tested more than 13,000 wild migratory birds for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Alaska.

30 Aug 2006

U.S. Senator Obama takes public HIV test during visit to Kenya

U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who for two weeks as part of a congressional delegation is traveling throughout Africa, on Saturday publicly took an HIV test to help combat the stigma surrounding the virus, the Chicago Sun-Times reports (Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times, 8/27).

30 Aug 2006

New York Times profiles Clinton's role in fight against HIV/AIDS

The New York Times on Tuesday profiled former President Clinton's role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, as well as in the rest of the world.

30 Aug 2006

Chinese scientists come up with safe and effective bird flu vaccine

According to official reports a bird flu vaccine for humans developed by Chinese researchers has proven to be both safe and effective.

29 Aug 2006

Sen. Rodham Clinton should allow passage of new formula to reauthorize Ryan White care act

While former President Clinton attended the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) was "hard at work with her own AIDS effort, albeit significantly more political and less noble," a Washington Times editorial says.

28 Aug 2006

Vietnam fights bird flu yet again

Animal health officials in Vietnam say they have detected the H5N1 bird flu virus on a small duck farm, this second case within a month, has sparked fears of a possible resurgence of the H5N1 virus in the country.

28 Aug 2006

Indonesian authorities slow to react to bird flu outbreak

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Indonesian authorities have confirmed another case of a human case of the H5N1 bird flu virus.

28 Aug 2006

Bird flu database to be established

A global initiative has been launched by some of the world's top scientists and health officials to encourage more openness when it comes to sharing data on bird flu.

28 Aug 2006

Procedures for obtaining release of H5N1 sequences to the public domain

Information on the gene sequences of H5N1 viruses is important for vaccine development, the preparation of reagents used for diagnostic purposes, and monitoring for drug-resistant strains.

24 Aug 2006

So far no bird flu cluster in Indonesian village

According to health officials in Indonesia no evidence has been found of human-to-human transmission of H5N1 bird flu in the remote villages of West Java which have witnessed the latest outbreak of the deadly virus.

24 Aug 2006

Indonesia plays down bird flu cluster as family takes child home with suspected bird flu

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has confirmed the country’s 59th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in a 35-year-old woman from the district of Cikelet, in West Java Province.

21 Aug 2006

Asia needs cheap and affordable drugs to fight disease

The World Health Organisation (WHO) regional conference on August 22-25 will meet to discuss health strategies, including the fight against bird flu.

21 Aug 2006

AIDS 2006 new studies and developments

As part of its expanded coverage of the XVI International AIDS Conference, held through Aug. 18 in Toronto, the Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report will feature studies and initiatives released during the conference.

20 Aug 2006

Chink in the armour of H5N1 bird flu virus

British scientists say they have made a breakthrough in their development of a bird flu drug that could treat humans in the event of an outbreak.

20 Aug 2006

Bird flu cluster suspected in Indonesian village

A possible new bird flu cluster is being investigated in an Indonesian village following the death of a woman last week from the virus.

20 Aug 2006

What we have learnt from SARS epidemics in China?

Lessons learnt from SARS epidemics in China may help us prepare for new epidemics, such as human avian flu, say experts in this week's British Medical Journal.

17 Aug 2006

Global fund director Feachem, Rev. Warren partner to increase funding for faith-based groups

Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Rev. Rick Warren on Wednesday at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto announced that they will be partnering to increase funding for faith-based groups in Warren's global church network, USA Today reports.

17 Aug 2006

Study identifies prevention interventions set to reduce HIV infection in young people

For the first time, the effectiveness of different types of HIV interventions in schools, health services, media, communities, and for young people most at risk of HIV have been reviewed and graded for their usefulness.

17 Aug 2006

Natural HIV immunity

An international, multi-institutional research consortium is seeking to discover how a few HIV-infected individuals are naturally able to suppress replication of the virus.

16 Aug 2006

AIDS vaccine still long way off

Researchers are optimistic about a potential HIV/AIDS vaccine, even though none of the vaccines in development is likely to completely protect people from HIV transmission, participants at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto said at a news conference Tuesday, Reuters reports.

16 Aug 2006