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.

Emergence of drug resistant influenza viruses more common than previously thought

Results of a small study from Japan in this week’s issue of THE LANCET suggest that the emergence of influenza viruses which are resistant to a widely used influenza drug may be more common than previously thought.

26 Aug 2004

U.S. plan for influenza pandemic response

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has unveiled the draft Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan, which outlines a coordinated national strategy to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic.

26 Aug 2004

Inevitable that H5N1 avian influenza viruses will be detected in pigs

Considering the widespread nature of the current H5N1 outbreak in Asia and the capability of influenza viruses to jump the species barriers, it is inevitable that H5N1 virus will be detected in some pigs.

26 Aug 2004

Hong Kong suspends bird and poultry imports from Malaysia, after deadly H5 avian influenza was found

The Hong Kong Government has suspended the import of live birds and poultry meat from Malaysia, after a strain of the deadly H5 avian influenza was found in Kelantan.

20 Aug 2004

Embryonic stem cell therapy show benefits in rebuilding damaged heart

Despite improvements in earlier diagnosis and treatment, cardiovascular disease is far and away the leading cause of death in the U.S. and the world.

18 Aug 2004

2004 AIDS Vaccine Conference has announced it's forthcoming programme

The Conference will examine the entire spectrum of issues in AIDS vaccine development and deployment, including the global effort in preventative and therapeutic vaccines, immunology, pediatric and adolescent vaccines, clinical trials in emerging countries and the need for strong political and financial commitment.

17 Aug 2004

Contract for the production of an investigational vaccine based on an H9N2 strain of avian influenza virus

In 1999 and 2003, an H9N2 influenza strain caused illness in three people in Hong Kong. Scientists are concerned about H9N2 and other emerging types of avian influenza viruses because as they spread—most commonly through poultry—they continually mutate, increasing chances that they may infect humans, evade the body’s immune response and become more lethal.

17 Aug 2004

Three recent deaths in Viet Nam were caused by infection with avian influenza

The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has informed the World Health Organization (WHO) that three recent deaths from influenza-like illness in Viet Nam were caused by infection with avian influenza. These are the first officially reported cases of avian influenza in Viet Nam since late February.

13 Aug 2004

$5 million to assist Pacific island nations develop and implement country-specific HIV/AIDS prevention

Australia will provide $5 million for a Pacific HIV/AIDS Grant Scheme to assist Pacific island nations develop and implement country-specific HIV/AIDS prevention and information campaigns.

11 Aug 2004

Patent pending botanical extract, V38-AMF-1, completely inhibits bird flu (H5N1) and Fujian Flu

PRB Pharmaceuticals and Lee's Pharmaceuticals have announced the discovery that PRB'S patent pending botanical extract, V38-AMF-1, completely inhibits bird flu (H5N1) and Fujian Flu (H3N2) infections in vitro.

29 Jul 2004

Drug used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders appears effective at treating Alzheimer’s disease

Doctors are reporting some success in treating one of the most troubling symptoms of dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease. A drug commonly used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders appears effective at reducing actions like screaming at or slapping caregivers – agitated behaviors that occur in as many as half of patients.

23 Jul 2004

Culling wild birds won't help battle agianst H5N1 avian influenza strain

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations health agency has warned of the possible emergence of an avian influenza strain capable of sparking a deadly global human pandemic and has also urged countries in Asia not to cull wild birds in response to recent outbreaks of avian influenza in China, Thailand and Viet Nam.

19 Jul 2004

Drugs and crime are important, yet often neglected factors in the evolution of the HIV/AIDS pandemic

The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, is participating in the Bangkok International AIDS Conference.

13 Jul 2004

How HIV/AIDS treatment can best be combined with community-based care in some of the poorest areas of sub-Saharan Africa

A West African community has joined the network of community-based treatment support programs that form Bristol-Myers Squibb's real world field test of how HIV/AIDS treatment can best be combined with community-based care in some of the poorest and most remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

13 Jul 2004

By 2010 there will be an estimated 50 million orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa

A report released today by global health organizations says that by the year 2010 there will be an estimated 50 million orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa. It also claims that over 15 million of them will have lost a parent to AIDS/HIV.

13 Jul 2004

Australia takes lead on looming HIV/AIDS epidemic by doubling funding

Australia is leading efforts to tackle the looming HIV/AIDS crisis in the region by more than doubling our funding - to $600 million by 2010 - to combat the virus and prevent an African-style tragedy.

12 Jul 2004

Action needed to reverse a growing HIV epidemic in Asia

Nationwide programs to increase condom use in commercial sex, help drug injectors to use clean needles and cut risky sex between men are needed to reverse a growing HIV epidemic in Asia, according to leading scientists.

11 Jul 2004

Avian influenza virus is still present in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam

New outbreaks of the avian influenza virus H5N1 in China, Thailand and Viet Nam confirm that the virus is still endemic in the region, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement yesterday.

10 Jul 2004

Emerging infectious diseases will continue to confront society in unpredictable ways as long as humans and microbes co-exist

Emerging infectious diseases, which have shaped the course of humanity and caused incalculable suffering and death, will continue to confront society in unpredictable ways as long as humans and microbes co-exist

9 Jul 2004

Avian influenza virus in East Asia arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses

An avian influenza virus that has caused three major outbreaks among poultry and killed several people in East Asia over the past seven years arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses.

9 Jul 2004

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Emergence of drug resistant influenza viruses more common than previously thought

U.S. plan for influenza pandemic response

Inevitable that H5N1 avian influenza viruses will be detected in pigs

Hong Kong suspends bird and poultry imports from Malaysia, after deadly H5 avian influenza was found

Embryonic stem cell therapy show benefits in rebuilding damaged heart

2004 AIDS Vaccine Conference has announced it's forthcoming programme

Contract for the production of an investigational vaccine based on an H9N2 strain of avian influenza virus

Three recent deaths in Viet Nam were caused by infection with avian influenza

$5 million to assist Pacific island nations develop and implement country-specific HIV/AIDS prevention

Patent pending botanical extract, V38-AMF-1, completely inhibits bird flu (H5N1) and Fujian Flu

Drug used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders appears effective at treating Alzheimer’s disease

Culling wild birds won't help battle agianst H5N1 avian influenza strain

Drugs and crime are important, yet often neglected factors in the evolution of the HIV/AIDS pandemic

How HIV/AIDS treatment can best be combined with community-based care in some of the poorest areas of sub-Saharan Africa

By 2010 there will be an estimated 50 million orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa

Australia takes lead on looming HIV/AIDS epidemic by doubling funding

Action needed to reverse a growing HIV epidemic in Asia

Avian influenza virus is still present in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam

Emerging infectious diseases will continue to confront society in unpredictable ways as long as humans and microbes co-exist

Avian influenza virus in East Asia arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses

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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