Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Cervical cancer vaccine tipped for nine year olds

Health experts in the UK are considering vaccinating young girls of primary school age against the human papilloma virus.

28 Aug 2006

Vietnam fights bird flu yet again

Animal health officials in Vietnam say they have detected the H5N1 bird flu virus on a small duck farm, this second case within a month, has sparked fears of a possible resurgence of the H5N1 virus in the country.

28 Aug 2006

Indonesian authorities slow to react to bird flu outbreak

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Indonesian authorities have confirmed another case of a human case of the H5N1 bird flu virus.

28 Aug 2006

Bird flu database to be established

A global initiative has been launched by some of the world's top scientists and health officials to encourage more openness when it comes to sharing data on bird flu.

28 Aug 2006

Prevalence of herpes in the U.S. is declining

The prevalence of herpes in the U.S. is declining, according to a study published in the Aug. 23 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Reuters reports (Reuters, 8/22).

24 Aug 2006

Procedures for obtaining release of H5N1 sequences to the public domain

Information on the gene sequences of H5N1 viruses is important for vaccine development, the preparation of reagents used for diagnostic purposes, and monitoring for drug-resistant strains.

24 Aug 2006

Bird flu detection information on wild birds now available online

The public can now view a Web site showing current information about wild bird sampling for early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the United States.

24 Aug 2006

So far no bird flu cluster in Indonesian village

According to health officials in Indonesia no evidence has been found of human-to-human transmission of H5N1 bird flu in the remote villages of West Java which have witnessed the latest outbreak of the deadly virus.

24 Aug 2006

Indonesia plays down bird flu cluster as family takes child home with suspected bird flu

The Indonesian Ministry of Health has confirmed the country’s 59th case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus in a 35-year-old woman from the district of Cikelet, in West Java Province.

21 Aug 2006

GenoMed's third horse with presumed West Nile Virus recovers after treatment

GenoMed has announced that the third horse in its expanded trial for West Nile virus encephalitis recovered markedly within 24 hours after starting GenoMed's treatment.

21 Aug 2006

'Switch' may turn off immune cells that fight HIV

An international research team believe they have discovered why the immune system is unable to control HIV infection.

20 Aug 2006

China comes up with first AIDS vaccine

According to Chinese authorities, preliminary tests of its first AIDS vaccine indicate it could protect people against the HIV virus.

20 Aug 2006

Sex workers worldwide should receive legal recognition to control spread of HIV

Countries should legally recognize commercial sex work in criminal and labor laws to effectively control the spread of HIV among sex workers and the general population, researchers said at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, the Toronto Star reports.

20 Aug 2006

Simpler and less expensive method of controlling the progression of HIV

There might be a simpler and less expensive method of controlling the progression of HIV, according to several preliminary studies presented last Thursday at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, the Los Angeles Times reports (Chong, Los Angeles Times, 8/18).

20 Aug 2006

Chink in the armour of H5N1 bird flu virus

British scientists say they have made a breakthrough in their development of a bird flu drug that could treat humans in the event of an outbreak.

20 Aug 2006

Bird flu cluster suspected in Indonesian village

A possible new bird flu cluster is being investigated in an Indonesian village following the death of a woman last week from the virus.

20 Aug 2006

South Africa's AIDS policy 'comical'

The South African government came under harsh criticism over its AIDS policy at the close of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada.

20 Aug 2006

What we have learnt from SARS epidemics in China?

Lessons learnt from SARS epidemics in China may help us prepare for new epidemics, such as human avian flu, say experts in this week's British Medical Journal.

17 Aug 2006

H5 and N1 avian influenza found in two samples from wild mute swans in Michigan

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior has announced that routine surveillance has indicated the presence of H5 and N1 avian influenza subtypes in samples from two wild mute swans in Michigan.

17 Aug 2006

Cases of HIV infections with multiple strains more common than previously thought

Cases in which an HIV-positive person is infected with more than one strain of the virus are more common than previously believed, Canadian and U.S. scientists said Monday at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, CanWest News Service/Vancouver Sun reports.

17 Aug 2006