Recent News

By Region: North America

2009 pandemic flu death toll much higher than official worldwide estimates

(Eurekalert) A research team consisting of more than 60 collaborators in 26 countries has estimated the global death toll from the 2009 outbreak of the H1N1 virus to be 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s count, which was based on laboratory-confirmed cases of this flu. The study, which appears online in PLOS Medicine, Read More »

November 27, 2013
| Filed under Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America, South Asia, International, and Public Health
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FDA approves first adjuvanted vaccine for prevention of H5N1 avian influenza

(MedicalNewsToday) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first adjuvanted vaccine for the prevention of H5N1 influenza, commonly known as avian or bird flu. The vaccine, Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Monovalent Vaccine, Adjuvanted, is for use in people 18 years of age and older who are at increased risk of exposure to the Read More »

November 26, 2013
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Polio in the Syrian Arab Republic – update

(WorldHealthOrganization) A total of 17 cases due to wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been confirmed in the Syrian Arab Republic. In addition to 15 cases confirmed in Deir Al Zour province, two additional cases have been confirmed, one each in rural Damascus and Aleppo, confirming widespread circulation of the virus. The case with most Read More »

November 26, 2013
| Filed under Middle East, North America, International, and Public Health
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Pentagon makes costly foray into biodefense drug business

(LosAngelesTimes) Despite intense pressure to hold down federal spending, the Defense Department is launching a high-priced effort to create its own production pipeline for vaccines and biodefense drugs — an initiative that defies the advice of government-hired experts and duplicates what another agency is doing.

November 25, 2013
| Filed under North America and Policy & Initiatives
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How flu evolves to escape immunity

(ScienceDaily) Scientists have identified a potential way to improve future flu vaccines after discovering that seasonal flu typically escapes immunity from vaccines with as little as a single amino acid substitution. Additionally, they found these single amino acid changes occur at only seven places on its surface — not the 130 places previously believed. The Read More »