Measles News and Research

RSS

Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. It remains a leading cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. An estimated 197 000 people died from measles in 2007, mostly children under the age of five.

Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. The measles virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and the lungs. It is a human disease not known to occur in animals.

Nasal antiviral blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission in ferrets

A nasal antiviral created by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons blocked transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in ferrets, suggesting the nasal spray also may prevent infection in people exposed to the new coronavirus, including recent variants.

17 Feb 2021

Viral ExoN regulates the rate of recombination in SARS-CoV-2

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston have discovered what may be the Achilles' heel of the coronavirus, a finding that may help close the door on COVID-19 and possibly head off future pandemics.

28 Jan 2021

Why even presidential pressure might not get more vaccine to market faster

Americans are dying of covid-19 by the thousands, but efforts to ramp up production of potentially lifesaving vaccines are hitting a brick wall.

26 Jan 2021

Busting myths on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2

The rapid spread of COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to significant research on the mechanisms of how the virus spreads, which is usually by airborne transmission.

20 Jan 2021

5 reasons to wear a mask even after you’re vaccinated

As an emergency physician, Dr. Eugenia South was in the first group of people to receive a covid vaccine. She received her second dose last week — even before President-elect Joe Biden.

15 Jan 2021

Could intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccines be a practical alternative to intramuscular shots?

The unchecked advance of COVID-19 has made it a top public health priority to produce a vaccine capable of inducing a safe and powerful protective response against its causative pathogen: SARS-CoV-2. An encouraging new study shows the immunogenicity, safety, and protective efficacy, of a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based intranasal vector vaccine in animal studies.

14 Jan 2021

SARS-CoV-2 may join the ranks of mild cold-causing coronaviruses

What is the endgame for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that is causing worldwide devastation? If it becomes endemic -- circulating in the general population -- and most people are exposed in childhood, SARS-CoV-2 may join the ranks of mild cold-causing coronaviruses that currently circulate in humans, according to a model developed by Emory and Penn State scientists.

13 Jan 2021

Researchers receive NIH grant to develop more effective flu vaccines

To build better vaccines, scientists want to know more about how our bodies make adequate numbers of effective, durable antibodies against the influenza virus.

11 Jan 2021

Credible fact checking can effectively reduce vaccine misinformation on social media

Social media misinformation can negatively influence people's attitudes about vaccine safety and effectiveness, but credible organizations -- such as research universities and health institutions -- can play a pivotal role in debunking myths with simple tags that link to factual information, University of California, Davis, researchers, suggest in a new study.

7 Jan 2021

Large proportion of UK population hesitant over COVID-19 vaccine

Researcher Dr. Alex de Figueiredo from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has conducted a study showing that a significant proportion of people in the UK will probably be reluctant to receive a vaccine to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

22 Dec 2020

Researchers evaluate changes in measles vaccination rates before COVID-19 pandemic

One consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic is that more families are putting off their children's preventive care visits, causing pediatric providers to worry about missed vaccines.

17 Dec 2020

Pediatricians want kids to be part of COVID vaccine trials

If clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines aren't expanded soon to include children, it's unlikely that even kids in their teens will be vaccinated in time for the next school year.

15 Dec 2020

New polio vaccine is the first to work on mutated form of the virus

A new polio vaccine that could tackle mutated strains of the disease has passed phase II clinical trials, according to two studies published in medical journal The Lancet.

10 Dec 2020

COVID-19 herd immunity threshold far higher than previously thought, say researchers

Researchers in the US have re-analyzed the data on herd immunity from spring 2020 from Europe. Their study shows that the herd immunity threshold is much higher than earlier speculated.

4 Dec 2020

Feds look to pharmacists to boost childhood immunization rates

Torey Watson is trained as a pharmacist but aims to do more than simply fill prescriptions.

3 Dec 2020

Immune system differences, better blood vessel health could protect children from severe COVID-19

Differences in the immune systems and better blood vessel health were among the factors protecting children from severe COVID-19, according to a new review.

2 Dec 2020

COVID-19 Peer Hub program works to tackle vaccine hesitancy amid pandemic

UniSA researchers are evaluating a new vaccination education initiative - the COVID-19 Peer Hub - to help immunization and public health professionals to tackle the emerging dangers of vaccine hesitancy amid the pandemic.

30 Nov 2020

MMR vaccine could protect against COVID-19

The number of reported global infections of SARS-CoV-2 stands at 56.88 million as of 19 November 2020, and this number continues to rise.

20 Nov 2020

Existing UV light technology has potential to be effective against Covid-19

A recent study has shown that a UV light technology already used to prevent the spread of other airborne diseases in buildings has the potential to be effective against Covid-19.

17 Nov 2020