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Recent releases in Global Health

"The spread of dengue virus throughout the tropics represents a major, rapidly growing public health problem with an estimated 2.5 billion people at risk of dengue fever and the life-threatening disease, severe dengue," write the authors of a Lancet Infectious Diseases review that examines what is known about the virus and progress in the development of a dengue vaccine (Webster et. al, 11/09).

24 Oct 2009

Philippines calls for help to address disease outbreak in storms' aftermath

The WHO on Thursday said the Philippines is requesting "international help to fight a deadly outbreak of an infectious disease following two devastating tropical storms," Agence France-Presse reports. Parts of Manila, which are still flooded almost four weeks after Tropical Storm Ketsana hit, are experiencing an outbreak of the bacterial infection, leptospirosis (10/22).

24 Oct 2009

News outlets examine challenges with expanding global child immunization campaigns

Wednesday's release of the WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank joint report on childhood vaccines highlighted gains in recent global vaccination campaigns and also found that nearly 24 million infants worldwide don't get the recommended first-year vaccination.

23 Oct 2009

eHealthInsurance releases answers for FAQs on swine flu and their health insurance

eHealthInsurance (NASDAQ: EHTH) today released a list of answers to questions frequently asked from people concerned about the H1N1 virus (also called swine flu) and their health insurance, who have called into its Customer Care Center, which includes a call center staffed with licensed insurance agents. Getting answers to these questions is particularly important for high-risk individuals: pregnant women, children and seniors.

22 Oct 2009

106m infants worldwide received vaccines last year, coverage gaps remain, report says

A joint report by the WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank on worldwide vaccination efforts released Wednesday found "a record 106 million infants were vaccinated last year against life-threatening diseases, but nearly a fifth of the world's babies still are not protected fully," the Associated Press reports.

22 Oct 2009

Study reveals a dramatic increase in TTB cases

Babesiosis is a potentially dangerous parasitic disease transmitted by ticks and is common in the Northeast and the upper Midwest. Babesia lives inside of red blood cells, meaning it can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion from an infected but otherwise asymptomatic blood donor.

21 Oct 2009

Philadelphia's Franklin Institute to exhibit Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds 2 & The Brain

Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds 2 & The Brain made its debut at Philadelphia's Franklin Institute on October 17, and will be one of many points of interest for visitors eager to explore the area's vast array of scientific treasures.

21 Oct 2009

Amputation prevention tips for diabetic patients

While "One Foot, Two Foot, Red Foot, Blue Foot" may be the opening line of a humorous children's book by Dr. Seuss, foot complications are no laughing matter to the 20 million Americans with diabetes. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS), ulceration, infection, and gangrene are the most common foot and ankle problems of the diabetic patient.

21 Oct 2009

World Medical Association adopts climate change, task shifting resolutions

At its general assembly in New Delhi, India, the World Medical Association (WMA), "a conglomerate of medical associations around the world," approved a plan that aims "to minimise the risk of increased malnutrition deaths, diseases and injuries due to climate change," IANS/Thaindian News reports (10/17).

20 Oct 2009

Swine flu outbreak at USAFA: Investigators study behavior of the nH1N1 virus

With the 2009 influenza season upon us, characterization of the epidemiology and duration of shedding for the nH1N1 virus is critical. Investigators from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service capitalized on a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights about the natural behavior of the nH1N1 virus, including shedding patterns, during a recent large-scale swine flu outbreak at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA).

20 Oct 2009

Optimer Pharmaceuticals to present additional data on fidaxomicin at the 47th IDSA meeting

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that additional data related to fidaxomicin, the Company's lead developmental product candidate for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, will be presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) to be held at The Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 29 through November 1, 2009.

20 Oct 2009

California's community hospitals launch public education and media campaign on H1N1

As preparations for the H1N1 flu season kick into high gear, California's community hospitals have launched a statewide public education and media campaign.

19 Oct 2009

School-age children most vulnerable to malaria infection in Africa, study says

Children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 in malaria-endemic African countries are "the most vulnerable group to malaria following the successful distribution of the free bednets to protect children under five and pregnant women against the killer fever," according to a study published in the journal BMC Public Health, the East African reports.

19 Oct 2009

URL Pharma's Colcrys approved by FDA for prevention of gout flares

URL Pharma, Inc., announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Colcrys(TM) (colchicine, USP) for the prophylaxis (prevention) of gout flares. Colcrys was first approved by the FDA on July 30, 2009 for the treatment of acute gout flares when taken at the first sign of a flare.

19 Oct 2009

First high-throughput analysis of Salmonella Typhi gene

For the first time, researchers are able to look at the need for every gene in a bacterial cell in a single experiment. The new method will transform the study of gene activity and the search for weaknesses in bacterial armouries.

19 Oct 2009

Research study on cowpox virus

In the annals of medicine, Edward Jenner's 1796 vaccination of a young boy against smallpox, using fluid from cowpox blisters, remains a landmark case. In a new study, Kathryn Sykes, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute and her colleagues have taken a fresh look at cowpox.

19 Oct 2009

Inaccurate body temperature readings can harm the entire health care system

As we head into a flu season where the 2009 H1N1 swine flu is expected to cause increased sickness, hospitalization and deaths across the U.S., something as simple as inaccurate body temperature measurements may lead to social and economic turmoil – and may cause many more deaths.

19 Oct 2009

FDA approves Gardasil vaccine usage in boys and men for preventing genital warts

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved use of the vaccine Gardasil for the prevention of genital warts (condyloma acuminata) due to human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 in boys and men, ages 9 through 26.

19 Oct 2009

CVS Caremark's seasonal flu shot clinics to run through October 22

CVS/pharmacy announced today that its seasonal flu shot clinics will run through October 22, in light of manufacturer delays in delivery of seasonal flu vaccine affecting all health care providers. However, MinuteClinic will continue to administer seasonal flu vaccines at its 500 locations in 25 states throughout the flu season with the supply of vaccine replenished as frequently as possible.

19 Oct 2009

UT Southwestern Medical Center awarded $15.7M NIH contract to develop a new virus database

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $15.7 million contract to UT Southwestern Medical Center and Northrop Grumman Corp. to develop an open-access national online database and analysis resource center that will help scientists study and combat viruses such as those that cause hepatitis, encephalitis, smallpox, acute respiratory distress and dengue fever, as well as newly emerging pathogenic viruses.

15 Oct 2009

Fever News and Research

Recent releases in Global Health

Philippines calls for help to address disease outbreak in storms' aftermath

News outlets examine challenges with expanding global child immunization campaigns

eHealthInsurance releases answers for FAQs on swine flu and their health insurance

106m infants worldwide received vaccines last year, coverage gaps remain, report says

Study reveals a dramatic increase in TTB cases

Philadelphia's Franklin Institute to exhibit Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds 2 & The Brain

Amputation prevention tips for diabetic patients

World Medical Association adopts climate change, task shifting resolutions

Swine flu outbreak at USAFA: Investigators study behavior of the nH1N1 virus

Optimer Pharmaceuticals to present additional data on fidaxomicin at the 47th IDSA meeting

California's community hospitals launch public education and media campaign on H1N1

School-age children most vulnerable to malaria infection in Africa, study says

URL Pharma's Colcrys approved by FDA for prevention of gout flares

First high-throughput analysis of Salmonella Typhi gene

Research study on cowpox virus

Inaccurate body temperature readings can harm the entire health care system

FDA approves Gardasil vaccine usage in boys and men for preventing genital warts

CVS Caremark's seasonal flu shot clinics to run through October 22

UT Southwestern Medical Center awarded $15.7M NIH contract to develop a new virus database

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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