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By Category: Public Health

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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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 »

November 22, 2013
| Filed under North America, Public Health, and Research
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Sudan: Yellow Fever Reported in Sudan Close to South Sudan Border

(AllAfrica) Partners in South Sudan were concerned about recent cases of yellow fever in parts of Sudan bordering South Sudan. Between 3 October and 17 November, 40 suspected cases of yellow fever and 10 associated deaths were reported in South and West Kordofan states. The case fatality rate is 25 per cent.

November 22, 2013
| Filed under Africa, North America, International, and Public Health
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Bat Population Covering Central Africa is Carrier of 2 Deadly Viruses

(GlobalBiodefense) A population of fruit bats which is found across much of continental Africa is widely infected with two deadly viruses that could spread to humans, new research reveals. The study, conducted jointly by the University of Cambridge and the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology and published this week in the journal Nature Read More »

November 21, 2013
| Filed under Africa, North America, International, Public Health, and Research
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FDA Signs CRADA with Vivione Biosciences for Food Pathogen Detection System

(GlobalBiodefense) Vivione Biosciences Corporation this week announced a new three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR). The focus of the CRADA is to expand the capability of Vivione’s RAPID-B diagnostic system. The Vivione system detects bacterial pathogens by looking individually at each Read More »