Recent News

By Region: Asia/Pacific

Possible Pandemic: Is MERS the New SARS?

(NationalGeographic) A 65-year-old man infected with a new SARS-like virus died of multiple organ failure on Monday in France. He was the first French patient to die from the condition, which is known as Middle East Respiratory Symptom Coronavirus, or MERS-CoV. As of Wednesday, 49 people have been infected with the virus since September; of Read More »

May 31, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Middle East, North America, Agents & Toxins, International, and Public Health
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Experts Call For Increased Monitoring Of Drug Resistant Bird Flu

(MedicalNewsToday) Drug resistance was detected in more than half of human H5N1 viruses in a new study published in the journal Antiviral Research, causing experts to call for increased monitoring of the bird flu. Highly pathogenic influenza viruses (H5N1) mostly impact birds but can sometimes cross the species barrier and infect people. H5N1 flu outbreaks Read More »

May 30, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, Agents & Toxins, International, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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New H7N9 bird flu virus easily develops drug resistance

(CBC News) Resistance to the main flu drug Tamiflu seems to develop with some ease in infections with the new H7N9 bird flu, a concerning new study says. The work, published in the journal The Lancet, suggests that if this virus were to become easily transmitted among people, there might be minimal tools with which Read More »

May 29, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, Agents & Toxins, International, Public Health, and Research
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Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly closes with concern over new global health threat

(WHO) After seven days of intense discussions, the 66th World Health Assembly (WHA) concluded with agreement on a range of new public health measures and recommendations aimed at securing greater health benefits for all people, everywhere. In all, 24 resolutions and 5 decisions were adopted by the nearly 2000 delegates representing the World Health Organization’s Read More »

May 28, 2013
| Filed under Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, International, Public Health, and Research
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New Tools to Hunt New Viruses

(TheNewYorkTimes) A new flu, H7N9, has killed 36 people since it was first found in China two months ago. A new virus from the SARS family has killed 22 people since it was found on the Arabian Peninsula last summer. In past years, this might have been occasion for panic. Yet chicken and pork sales Read More »