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Canadian Health deploys IceWEB's GIS server technology to combat the growth of H1N1 Flu virus

IceWEB, Inc., www.IceWEB.com, a leading provider of purpose built appliances and building blocks for cloud storage networks, announced today that Canadian Health has deployed IceWEB high performance GIS (Geographic Information System) server technology to augment their efforts to combat the growth of the H1N1 Flu virus.

28 Dec 2009

Medical treatment and evacuation during international travel

Recent surveys indicate that international travel, which had fallen off substantially over the course of the global recession, has rebounded in recent months – which means more U.S. business and leisure travelers navigating health- and security-related risks out in foreign corners of the world.

28 Dec 2009

Sudden worldwide increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterium, a cause for concern

A sudden worldwide increase in an antibiotic-resistant bacterium is cause for concern, according to a review in f1000 Medicine Reports.

28 Dec 2009

Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria increases their resistance to human disease-causing viruses

Earlier this year, researchers showed that they could cut the lives of disease-carrying mosquitoes in half by infecting them with a bacterium they took from fruit flies. Now, a new report in the December 24th issue of Cell, a Cell Press publication, suggests that their strategy might do one better: The Wolbachia bacteria also makes the mosquitoes more resistant to infection by viruses that are a growing threat to humans, including those responsible for dengue fever and Chikungunya.

28 Dec 2009

Disinfectants can promote growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Using disinfectants could cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics as well as the disinfectant itself, according to research published in the January issue of Microbiology.

28 Dec 2009

Also in Global Health news: Food shortages in Eritrea; Kenya HIV testing; aid in Malawi, Nepal; U.S. agriculture appointment

BBC examines Eritrea's decision to pass on international food aid in an effort to produce enough food for its population. According to Girma Asmerom, Eritrea's ambassador to the EU, "foreign food aid demonises the local people and makes them lazy." The government's strategy for addressing food shortages, includes distributing food from some areas in the country that had a bumper harvest, he said.

28 Dec 2009

American Medical News examines PEPFAR five-year strategy

American Medical News examines the future of PEPFAR, as outlined in a five-year strategy released Dec. 1. "The plan's five-year strategy report calls for strengthening other countries' abilities to lead [a] response to the AIDS epidemic and other health issues, and expanding prevention, care and treatment,"

27 Dec 2009

Opinion: Food aid; HIV vaccine, microbicide research; Global Tobacco Surveillance

In a Washington Post letter to the editor, Alan Bernstein, executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, and Rafi Ahmed, science committee chairman of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, challenge a recent Washington Post editorial that questioned the scientific progress being made in the search for an HIV vaccine and microbicide. "The search for a safe and effective method to prevent HIV infection and AIDS is a long journey in which we should expect both success and failure," the authors write, before highlighting the lessons learned from the recent microbicide gel study and AIDS vaccine trial in Thailand.

27 Dec 2009

SemBioSys Genetics' Apo AI(Milano) program progress update

SemBioSys Genetics Inc. provided an update today on its progress on plant-produced Apo AI(Milano) in light of the Apo AI(Milano) license agreement between Pfizer Inc. and The Medicines Company, of Parsippany, New Jersey.

24 Dec 2009

New series of 30-second PSAs on getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with the Ad Council and the Jim Henson Company, has released a new series of 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) about the importance of getting the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Targeted to parents and children, the PSA campaign features 15 governors, a state first lady, a state chief medical officer and the main character from the PBS’ series “Sid the Science Kid” and reminds the public that getting vaccinated is the best way to stay healthy during this flu season.

24 Dec 2009

RP International benefit "The Eyes of Christmas" to be telecast to 160 million homes

The 15th annual "Eyes of Christmas" presentation is being telecast over multiple broadcasts, cable and satellite networks, as well as the Internet, to 160 million homes this year. Participating stars and other notables include Celine Dion, Garth Brooks, Reba McIntyre, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Bob Costas, and Natalie Cole.

24 Dec 2009

EGCg in green tea inhibits flu infection

Joint research conducted by the Central Research Institute of ITO EN, Ltd. and Professor Takashi Suzuki of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, showed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a kind of catechin contained in green tea, had an inhibitory effect against three types of influenza viruses, including the swine-origin H1N1 virus that caused pandemic flu in 2009, and that its effect did not depend on the type of virus. These findings once again suggest that green tea is effective in preventing flu.

24 Dec 2009

CPF, ATS and health groups launch campaign to raise awareness on lung health

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) announced today it is joining with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and lung health organizations around the globe for 2010: The Year of the Lung, a multi-faceted campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of lung health, generate social and political support for preventing and treating lung disease and encouraging increased public and private funding for lung disease research and development.

24 Dec 2009

Growing public health threat from surge in drug-resistant strains of acinetobacter

A new study in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology reports a surge in drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter, a dangerous type of bacteria that is becoming increasingly common in U.S. hospitals. This study is being posted online today and will appear in the journal's February print edition.

24 Dec 2009

Forest Laboratories acquires additional rights to NXL 104 beta-lactamase inhibitor

Forest Laboratories announced today its agreement to acquire additional rights to NXL 104, which amends the terms of its prior agreement with Novexel covering the combination of NXL 104 with ceftaroline and adds additional rights to the combination of ceftazidime and NXL 104, through a transaction with AstraZeneca executed immediately following AstraZeneca’s announced acquisition of Novexel, S.A.

24 Dec 2009

More H1N1 vaccines available in U.S., many Americans don't want it

While an increasing number of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines are available in the U.S., "more than half of American adults say they still don't want it, and one-third of parents say they don't want their children to get it either, according to two surveys," the Washington Post reports. "As of this week, 111 million doses of vaccine against the pandemic strain of H1N1 flu have been released to states and cities.

24 Dec 2009

Fluzone High-Dose inactivated influenza virus vaccine receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Fluzone High-Dose, an inactivated influenza virus vaccine for people ages 65 years and older to prevent disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B.

24 Dec 2009

IRIN series examines health, development issues in Kenya

In a special series, IRIN examines health and development in Kenya. "The vast arid lands of northern Kenya are generally drier, less fertile, poorer and rank lower in most humanitarian and development league tables than the rest of the country. ... Preventable and treatable diseases are often neither prevented nor treated for want of adequate healthcare. Attracting qualified doctors and nurses to the hinterland is a major challenge.

24 Dec 2009

Elusys Therapeutics receives contract to speed up drug development for Anthrax

The HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) today awarded a contract to Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. of Pine Brook, N.J., for the advanced development of a medication to treat inhalational anthrax, one of the top bioterrorism threats facing the nation.

23 Dec 2009

Majority of Australians think H1N1 vaccination is not necessary

Australia risks a serious swine flu (H1N1 influenza virus) outbreak with two-thirds (65 per cent) of unprotected Australians stating they're unlikely to get vaccinated against the disease in the next 12 months, according to an MBF Healthwatch Poll.

23 Dec 2009

Disease/Infection News

Canadian Health deploys IceWEB's GIS server technology to combat the growth of H1N1 Flu virus

Medical treatment and evacuation during international travel

Sudden worldwide increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterium, a cause for concern

Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria increases their resistance to human disease-causing viruses

Disinfectants can promote growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Also in Global Health news: Food shortages in Eritrea; Kenya HIV testing; aid in Malawi, Nepal; U.S. agriculture appointment

American Medical News examines PEPFAR five-year strategy

Opinion: Food aid; HIV vaccine, microbicide research; Global Tobacco Surveillance

SemBioSys Genetics' Apo AI(Milano) program progress update

New series of 30-second PSAs on getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu

RP International benefit "The Eyes of Christmas" to be telecast to 160 million homes

EGCg in green tea inhibits flu infection

CPF, ATS and health groups launch campaign to raise awareness on lung health

Growing public health threat from surge in drug-resistant strains of acinetobacter

Forest Laboratories acquires additional rights to NXL 104 beta-lactamase inhibitor

More H1N1 vaccines available in U.S., many Americans don't want it

Fluzone High-Dose inactivated influenza virus vaccine receives FDA approval

IRIN series examines health, development issues in Kenya

Elusys Therapeutics receives contract to speed up drug development for Anthrax

Majority of Australians think H1N1 vaccination is not necessary

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

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