Polio News and Research

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Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause severe paralysis. The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralyzed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Polio mainly affects children under five years of age. Naturally occurring polio was eliminated in the U.S. in 1979 and in the Western Hemisphere by 1991; however, worldwide efforts are continuing towards eradication of this contagious and devastating disease.

Rapidly growing polio outbreak in Tajikistan raises serious concerns, states CMAJ

The rapidly growing polio outbreak in Tajikistan raises serious concerns that the disease could spread to other regions in the world, states an editorial http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/doi/10.1503/cmaj.100831 in CMAJ. It is imperative that health agencies attempt to limit further spread by ensuring high vaccination rates.

24 Jun 2010

Report says G8 countries short $10B on $50B commitment, reveals mixed progress on health goals

An accountability report, prepared by officials in G8 member countries' foreign affairs departments, acknowledges that G8 "countries are $10 billion behind the five-year, $50-billion commitment they made at their 2005 summit in Scotland," the Canadian Press/CTV News reports (6/20).

22 Jun 2010

Health leaders formally launch new strategy for polio eradication

Health leaders from around the world gathered on Friday to formally launch a new strategy for eradicating polio, Newsweek's "The Human Condition" blog reports in a post examining the challenges and successes health advocates face in attempting to wipe the virus out completely (Carmichael, 6/18).

22 Jun 2010

USAID pledges $1.2M in support for national polio vaccination campaigns across Central Asia

The United States Agency for International Development has pledged $1.2 million in support for national poliomyelitis vaccination campaigns across Central Asia to fight the first outbreak of polio in the region since 2002.

19 Jun 2010

New polio strategy builds on 99% drop in Nigeria cases but faces 50% funding shortfall

In Geneva this Friday, a broad range of stakeholders will formally launch the new Strategic Plan 2010-2012 for eradicating wild poliovirus.

18 Jun 2010

Stony Brook team creates live attenuated influenza virus vaccine by computer-aided rational design

A team of molecular biologists and computer scientists at Stony Brook University have used a novel method to weaken (attenuate) influenza virus by way of designing hundreds of mutations to its genetic code to create an effective vaccine. Reported online and in the July issue of Nature Biotechnology, the method may be a major step in developing more effective and safe vaccines against influenza, which claims 250,000 to 500,000 lives annually worldwide, partly because existing vaccines are not fully effective.

17 Jun 2010

Cyntellect to provide LEAP Cell Processing Workstation to Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Cyntellect, Inc., a privately-held life sciences company commercializing products to advance the study of cell biology, stem cell research, biopharmaceutical production, and drug discovery, has entered into an agreement with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies to provide its researchers with the LEAP™ Cell Processing Workstation.

16 Jun 2010

sanofi pasteur congratulates Canadian Public Health Association for 100 years of leadership and service

As a longstanding partner in Canada's public health system, sanofi pasteur congratulates the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) for their 100 years of leadership and service to our country's public health.

11 Jun 2010

2010 Independence Expo to promote active living and independence for aged and disabled Americans

United Spinal Association presents the 2010 Independence Expo – Long Island, the region's premier lifestyle-enhancing Expo designed to promote active living and independence for all people with disabilities and aging Americans.

10 Jun 2010

Medicare bidding program will lead to 'suicide bidding', says Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers

Providers of home medical equipment and services across Pennsylvania are proposing a fiscally responsible alternative to the mislabeled "competitive" bidding scheme currently under way in Medicare that will actually discourage competition, reduce access to care for many of Pennsylvania's more than two million Medicare beneficiaries, and put hundreds of Pennsylvania's homecare providers out of business.

8 Jun 2010

Hebrew Union College honors Dr. Dean Lorich with 2010 Roger E. Joseph Prize for humanitarian efforts

Dr. Dean Lorich was honored with the 2010 Roger E. Joseph Prize by Hebrew Union College for his humanitarian efforts in treating victims of the recent Haiti earthquake and in Landstuhl, Germany treating soldiers injured in Iraq and in Afghanistan. The award recognizes individuals making lasting contributions to the causes of human rights.

29 May 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

A Lancet Infectious Diseases Leading Edge article examines the history of the global efforts to control polio and the challenges associated with targets to globally eradicate the disease. "The eradication of polio seems imminent, but with so few cases, there is a temptation to think an acceptable level of infection has been achieved. Not so.

29 May 2010

Previous recommendations on H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand: SAGE

Previous recommendations on who should be vaccinated with the H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand according to the World WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, the principal advisory group to WHO for development of policy related to vaccines and immunization.

28 May 2010

WHA endorses interim targets to eradicate measles as WHO warns disease on the rise

"Measles is making a rapid comeback in African, Asian and even some European countries despite being easily avoided through vaccination, the World Health Organization said Friday as countries pledged to sharply cut infections and deaths worldwide by 2015," the Associated Press reports (Jordans, 5/22). On the final day of the 63rd Annual World Health Assembly, the assembly endorsed a series of interim targets towards the global eradication of measles, VOA News reports.

25 May 2010

Health leaders discuss polio, alcohol, childhood obesity at WHA

From the 63rd World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, the Associated Press reports on what some "describe as a new strategy to get rid of" polio that focuses on developing solutions to "problems in each country, provides more WHO monitoring, like more teleconferences, and holds governments more accountable." The plans also provide "[n]ew [polio] outbreak response plans," according to the AP.

24 May 2010

WHA addresses counterfeit medicines

Discussions about combatting counterfeit medicines continued at the 63rd World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Wednesday, Agence France-Press reports

21 May 2010

3rd Annual Disability Leadership and Policy Summit to commemorate 20th Anniversary of the ADA

United Spinal Association will host its 3rd Annual Disability Leadership and Policy Summit commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on June 2nd at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

20 May 2010

Grifols reaches agreement with Pharmalink to acquire PPS drug development project

Today, Grifols SA announced that it has reached an agreement with the Swedish company Pharmalink AB to acquire various forms of intellectual property associated with the treatment of post-polio syndrome. The acquisition is expected to be finalized in the next few weeks and will include documentation, know-how, and Swedish regulatory approvals under the trade name Xepol.

20 May 2010

Vaccinations recommended for adults

Yearly vaccinations aren't just for kids any more. You probably heard a lot about a seasonal or H1N1 flu shot last fall, but you should know that a battery of other adult vaccinations might also become part of your health care routine. Pneumonia and shingles vaccines are preventive-care essentials for older adults, and meningitis and tetanus shots are now college rites of passage. Even the vaccines of childhood—measles, mumps and rubella, and whooping cough—are recommended for adults who missed out in their younger years.

19 May 2010

WHO Director-General pushes for sustained commitment to MDGs at World Health Assembly

During her opening address to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called for increased global efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports. Chan also set-up several global health challenges to be addressed during the five-day meeting, according to the news service.

19 May 2010

Polio News and Research

Further Reading

Rapidly growing polio outbreak in Tajikistan raises serious concerns, states CMAJ

Report says G8 countries short $10B on $50B commitment, reveals mixed progress on health goals

Health leaders formally launch new strategy for polio eradication

USAID pledges $1.2M in support for national polio vaccination campaigns across Central Asia

New polio strategy builds on 99% drop in Nigeria cases but faces 50% funding shortfall

Stony Brook team creates live attenuated influenza virus vaccine by computer-aided rational design

Cyntellect to provide LEAP Cell Processing Workstation to Salk Institute for Biological Studies

sanofi pasteur congratulates Canadian Public Health Association for 100 years of leadership and service

2010 Independence Expo to promote active living and independence for aged and disabled Americans

Medicare bidding program will lead to 'suicide bidding', says Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers

Hebrew Union College honors Dr. Dean Lorich with 2010 Roger E. Joseph Prize for humanitarian efforts

Recent releases in Global Health

Previous recommendations on H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand: SAGE

WHA endorses interim targets to eradicate measles as WHO warns disease on the rise

Health leaders discuss polio, alcohol, childhood obesity at WHA

WHA addresses counterfeit medicines

3rd Annual Disability Leadership and Policy Summit to commemorate 20th Anniversary of the ADA

Grifols reaches agreement with Pharmalink to acquire PPS drug development project

Vaccinations recommended for adults

WHO Director-General pushes for sustained commitment to MDGs at World Health Assembly

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