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.

Salk scientists explain how CBN protects the brain against aging and neurodegeneration

One in every 10 individuals above the age of 65 develops an age-related neurological disorder like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, yet treatment options remain sparse for this population.

17 Apr 2024

ChatGPT could be an effective tool to help reduce vaccine hesitancy

New research being presented at this year's ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) suggests that the free-to-use, widely accessible ChatGPT could be an effective tool to help reduce vaccine hesitancy among the general public, as well as providing helpful advice on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in conjunction with sexual health clinics, by improving knowledge and access to care.

10 Apr 2024

Denmark's pertussis epidemic reveals the power of maternal vaccination

A study published in Eurosurveillance details the 2023 pertussis epidemic in Denmark, emphasizing the age-specific incidence, the role of maternal vaccination in reducing infant hospitalizations, and the impact of vaccination strategies on managing the outbreak.

8 Apr 2024

Digital payments revolutionize health worker compensation in Africa

Campaigns in Africa to stop polio and other diseases have a more stable, better-motivated workforce thanks to WHO's collaboration with countries and partners to pay frontline health workers through their mobile phones instead of in cash.

1 Apr 2024

WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria prevention in children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, for the prevention of malaria in children.

27 Mar 2024

Novel brain organoid model unveils link between inflammation and astrocyte dysfunction

The brain is typically depicted as a complex web of neurons sending and receiving messages. But neurons only make up half of the human brain.

28 Feb 2024

Collaborative analysis of disease and death drivers in Gaza conflict

The analysis was conducted to help better address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza both during and after the war.

23 Feb 2024

Florida defies CDC in measles outbreak, telling parents it’s fine to send unvaccinated kids to school

With a brief memo, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has subverted a public health standard that's long kept measles outbreaks under control.

23 Feb 2024

Unlocking non-hormonal male contraception with HDAC inhibitors

Surveys show most men in the United States are interested in using male contraceptives, yet their options remain limited to unreliable condoms or invasive vasectomies.

20 Feb 2024

Mitochondrial misfire sparks inflammation

Cells in the human body contain power-generating mitochondria, each with their own mtDNA-;a unique set of genetic instructions entirely separate from the cell's nuclear DNA that mitochondria use to create life-giving energy.

8 Feb 2024

Evidence from Malawi: Typhoid conjugate vaccine provides protection for up to four years

Study shows that a single dose of typhoid conjugate vaccine provides over four years of protection against typhoid fever in Malawian children, proving effective across all age groups.

31 Jan 2024

Higher local Ebola incidence causes lower child vaccination rates

The impact of the Ebola epidemic on the child vaccination rate.

18 Jan 2024

Novel type 2 oral polio vaccine secures WHO prequalification for broader rollout

The novel type 2 oral polio vaccine (nOPV2), developed by a team including scientists from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has today (9 January) been quality-assured (prequalified) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

13 Jan 2024

Salk scientists map brain circuit triggering the crippling panic attacks

Overwhelming fear, sweaty palms, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate-;these are the symptoms of a panic attack, which people with panic disorder have frequently and unexpectedly.

4 Jan 2024

HDAC inhibitors may offer new strategy for reversing fibrotic wall around pancreatic tumors

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers-;only about one in eight patients survives five years after diagnosis.

6 Dec 2023

Salk scientists uncover mechanism for repairing damaged nerves during peripheral neuropathy

Each year in the United States there are more than 3 million cases of peripheral neuropathy, wherein nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord are damaged and cause pain and loss of feeling in the affected areas.

28 Nov 2023

Bio Farma's Bio-TCV typhoid conjugate vaccine licensed in Indonesia following marketing approval

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), an international organization with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health, and Bio Farma, a biotechnology company based in West Java, Indonesia, announced today that Bio Farma's Bio-TCV typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) was licensed in Indonesia following marketing approval from Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM), the national regulatory authority.

9 Nov 2023

New study unveils Foxp3's role in regulatory T cell chromatin architecture

Regulatory T cells are specialized immune cells that suppress the immune response and prevent the body from attacking its own cells.

6 Nov 2023

Virtual driving assessment can identify at-risk young drivers

New research published today by the journal Pediatrics found that driving skills measured at the time of licensure on a virtual driving assessment (VDA), which exposes drivers to common serious crash scenarios, helps predict crash risk in newly licensed young drivers.

16 Oct 2023

Living past 100: Healthy habits, good company, and a purpose in life

Researchers explore the secrets behind increased life expectancies, focusing on the influence of diet, lifestyle, and socio-economic changes. Centenarians, individuals living past 100, often delay age-related symptoms, suggesting a lifestyle emphasizing a balanced diet, social interaction, and regular exercise can significantly boost longevity and resilience.

10 Oct 2023