Scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed an inexpensive “gene chip” test based on a single influenza virus gene that could allow scientists to quickly identify flu viruses, including avian influenza H5N1.
Influenza vaccine is associated with a small but increased risk for hospitalization with the potentially debilitating neurological disorder known as Guillain-Barr? syndrome, although the absolute risk associated with the vaccine is very low, according to a report in the Nov. 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced that two-year data from three Phase III pivotal trials demonstrate the long-term efficacy of ORENCIA? (abatacept) in adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and TNF antagonists. The data also demonstrate that ORENCIA provided clinically meaningful improvements in multiple aspects of health-related quality of life and physical function, sustained improvements in pain and had a consistent safety and tolerability profile through two years of treatment. These data will be presented at the upcoming 2006 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting.
Experts believe the world is overdue for influenza pandemic. However, unless effective action against pandemic flu is taken now, we are in “dire straits,” according to a paper published in the November 10 issue of Science. The articled titled, “Next Flu Pandemic: What to Do Until the Vaccine Arrives?,” calls for research during the regular season flu season to better understand the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing, hand washing, face masks, and the like.
Dr Margaret Chan of China was nominated by the Executive Board of the World Health Organization for the post of Director-General. The Director-General is WHO’s chief technical and administrative officer. Dr Chan is a well-known public figure because of her record of leadership in fighting disease first in Hong Kong, and more recently at WHO.
Acetaminophen 500-milligram caplets made by the Perrigo Co. are being recalled because they could contain metal fragments. The move affects 11 million bottles sold under store brands by Wal-Mart, CVS, Safeway and more than 120 other major retailers. CVS Corp. and SuperValu Inc. have already begun taking out the pills from store shelves.
As the Northern Hemisphere braces for another flu season, researchers at Florida State University’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida are making strides toward better understanding the mechanics of the virus that causes it — a virus that kills between one-quarter and one-half million people each year.
An estimated 50 million people were affected by zoonotics diseases, including H5N1 (bird flu), SARS and Rabies, between 2000 and 2005 and up to 78,000 died. No effective vaccines exist for the most common diseases. And the Dengue virus, which caused about a third of the deaths is experiencing a global resurgence. Zoonotic diseases can become serious killers if they adapt to human to human transmission — HIV and Measles are two examples.
The cost of influenza-related hospitalizations in children may be considerably higher than previously estimated. An analysis of electronic billing data in the study, “Direct Medical Cost of Influenza-Related Hospitalizations in Children,” found that the mean total cost of hospitalizing a child for influenza-related illness is approximately $13,000 (approx. $7,000 for ward patients and $40,000 for ICU patients).
The Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau should make more use of information technology to speed up the exchange of data regarding pandemics, says Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow.