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.

Opinions: Sanitation and women, child health; GM in Global Food Security bill; U.S. malaria strategy; GHI on NTDs; Haiti recovery

"If Stephen Harper is serious about maternal health and child health [as suggested by his plans for the upcoming G8 and G20 summits], he needs to recognize that healthy mothers come from healthy communities," Maude Barlow and Meera Karunananthan of the Council of Canadians write in a Chronicle Herald opinion piece that examines the connections between the health of women and children and access to drinking water and sanitation.

30 Apr 2010

People infected with gastrointestinal worms respond better to injected vaccines

According to the World Health Organization, two billion people around the globe suffer from chronic parasitic worm infections, which, in addition to causing illness and developmental delay, are also suspected to interfere with the effectiveness of ordinary vaccines, making their victims more vulnerable to life-threatening diseases. A recent discovery by researchers at the Trudeau Institute promises to bypass these obstacles and help deliver more effective vaccines to these people, boosting their protection against common childhood diseases.

27 Apr 2010

WHO experts to examine polio outbreak in Tajikistan

The WHO said it sent six technical experts to assess a small outbreak of polio in Tajikistan, VOA News reports, adding that WHO "says this is the first importation of polio in the European region since Europe was certified as polio-free in 2002."

27 Apr 2010

Wall Street Journal examines changes to polio eradication strategy

The Wall Street Journal examines upcoming changes to the global strategy to eradicate polio with a focus on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's role in fighting the disease. "[O]rganizations behind the polio fight," which include the WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and the CDC, "plan to announce a major revamp of their strategy to address shortcomings exposed by" the increasing number of polio outbreaks in "countries believed to have stopped the disease." The plan is expected to be announced next week.

27 Apr 2010

Immunization campaigns to be launched simultaneously in 112 countries and territories

For the first time, immunization campaigns are being launched simultaneously tomorrow in 112 countries and territories in the World Health Organization Regions of the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and Europe, with the goals of expanding immunization coverage and raising awareness of the importance of vaccines.

24 Apr 2010

New York Times examines how developments in India, Nigeria could aid global polio eradication campaign

"A decade after the world's original deadline for eradicating polio, the most tenacious bastions of the crippling virus - Nigeria and India - have recently shown remarkable progress in halting its spread, giving even some of the antipolio campaign's severest doubters hope that it may yet largely achieve its goal,"

15 Apr 2010

Newsweek examines tech startup's tools to fight malaria

Newsweek examines the work of Intellectual Ventures, a Seattle-based startup that is "trying to develop a computer model that could help eradicate malaria."

15 Apr 2010

Touching story of young man fighting Alzheimer's disease

In her new unwavering memoir, Jim's Journey: The Story of a Young Man with Early On-set Alzheimer's (published by Trafford Publishing), debut author Gretchen L Dausey reveals the touching story of her husband's battle against Alzheimer's disease and her unwavering support despite the inevitable degeneration of his mind and body.

13 Apr 2010

AP examines anticipated changes to U.S. National Security Strategy, use of health diplomacy

The Associated Press looks at some anticipated changes to the "National Security Strategy, a document that previously outlined the Bush Doctrine of preventive war." The article focuses on the prospective strategy changes, but notes that the "revisions are part of a larger effort about which the White House talks openly, one that seeks to change not just how the U.S. talks to Muslim nations, but also what it talks to them about, from health care and science to business startups and education."

8 Apr 2010

UCSF, SEEK Development launch international partnership to improve global health

UCSF and SEEK Development, a global health and development consulting group based in Berlin, Germany, have launched an international partnership that aims to improve global health by helping to turn scientific evidence into policy and action. The Evidence-to-Policy Initiative, or E2Pi, officially launches this week in San Francisco and Berlin, Germany.

7 Apr 2010

Free online training program for saving individuals with disabilities during fire emergencies

United Spinal Association has developed a free online training program designed to save the lives of individuals with disabilities and mobility impairments during fire emergencies.

5 Apr 2010

Disability Leadership and Policy Summit to be hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

United Spinal Association will host its inaugural Disability Leadership and Policy Summit on April 15th in Philadelphia, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990 and prohibits discrimination based on disability. The law was amended in 2008 to offer more protection to disabled workers.

5 Apr 2010

Wall Street Journal examines railway hospital in India

The Wall Street Journal examines Lifeline Express, "the world's first hospital on rails," which is run by Impact India, a group that "initially focused on immunization and prevention of diseases such as polio and malaria." Its success has spread to China and Zimbabwe, where three Lifeline Express trains are operated, and to "hospital river boats based on the India model have been set up to tend to patients in Bangladesh and Cambodia." It has also been used as a model for other health projects in India, according to the newspaper.

3 Apr 2010

PhRMA report: 234 medicines in development for special health care needs of children

America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are developing 234 medicines for the special health care needs of children, according to a new report released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

31 Mar 2010

Inovio Biomedical's total revenue increased to $2.6M for quarter ended December 31, 2009

Inovio Biomedical Corporation today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

29 Mar 2010

SMA Foundation completes biomarker study for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

The Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the development of a treatment for SMA, is pleased to announce the completion of a pilot study to identify Biomarkers for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (BforSMA) and the discovery of over 400 candidate biomarkers.

26 Mar 2010

Study on zebrafish regenerate tissues links human heart implications

In a paper published in the March 25, 2010 issue of Nature, researchers working at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona (CMRB) identified a fish heart cell population that is the source of this astonishing healing feat, a finding that could provide insight into how mammalian hearts might be coaxed into repairing themselves after injury brought on by heart attack.

25 Mar 2010

Competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment: Myths and realities

Medicare has been touting the merits of the "competitive" bidding program for durable, or home medical equipment and services (HME) to convince Congress that the program is good for seniors. Unfortunately, proponents have conveyed misleading information and cherry-picked facts that exaggerate the benefits and ignore the severe shortcomings of the program.

18 Mar 2010

Global access to safe drinking water increased, sanitation lagging behind, WHO-UNICEF report finds

A report released Monday by the WHO and UNICEF documents mixed progress in improving drinking water and sanitation conditions worldwide, VOA News reports (Schlein, 3/15). "The report - presenting the latest data on improved sources of sanitation and drinking water in 209 countries or territories - is aimed at assisting policy-makers, donors, government and non-governmental agencies decide what needs to be done," U.N. News Centre writes (3/15).

17 Mar 2010

Former President Clinton, Bill Gates encourage U.S. global health investment at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

Former President Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said Wednesday at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing "that U.S. investments in fighting [HIV/]AIDS, malaria and other diseases in underdeveloped nations save lives and play a vital role in improving America's image abroad," the Associated Press reports.

12 Mar 2010

Polio News and Research

Further Reading

Opinions: Sanitation and women, child health; GM in Global Food Security bill; U.S. malaria strategy; GHI on NTDs; Haiti recovery

People infected with gastrointestinal worms respond better to injected vaccines

WHO experts to examine polio outbreak in Tajikistan

Wall Street Journal examines changes to polio eradication strategy

Immunization campaigns to be launched simultaneously in 112 countries and territories

New York Times examines how developments in India, Nigeria could aid global polio eradication campaign

Newsweek examines tech startup's tools to fight malaria

Touching story of young man fighting Alzheimer's disease

AP examines anticipated changes to U.S. National Security Strategy, use of health diplomacy

UCSF, SEEK Development launch international partnership to improve global health

Free online training program for saving individuals with disabilities during fire emergencies

Disability Leadership and Policy Summit to be hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wall Street Journal examines railway hospital in India

PhRMA report: 234 medicines in development for special health care needs of children

Inovio Biomedical's total revenue increased to $2.6M for quarter ended December 31, 2009

SMA Foundation completes biomarker study for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Study on zebrafish regenerate tissues links human heart implications

Competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment: Myths and realities

Global access to safe drinking water increased, sanitation lagging behind, WHO-UNICEF report finds

Former President Clinton, Bill Gates encourage U.S. global health investment at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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