Recent News

By Region: Europe

Don’t let fear of bioweapons kill off science

(NewScientist) IT IS autumn in the northern hemisphere. Somewhere in Asia, a winter flu virus is evolving that will make millions miserable in a few months. Other microbial threats are less predictable: a deadly new virus called MERS, two kinds of emerging bird flu, and a planetful of other evolving infections. We have a fighting Read More »

October 10, 2013
| Filed under Europe, North America, and Research
Share

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update

(WHO) WHO has been informed of an additional six laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia. The six new patients are from Riyadh region with ages from 14 to 79 years old, of which three are women and three men. The dates of onset of the patients range from Read More »

October 7, 2013
| Filed under Europe, Middle East, North America, and Public Health
Share

Flu Researcher Ron Fouchier Loses Legal Fight Over H5N1 Studies

(ScienceInsider) Virologist Ron Fouchier has suffered a loss in a legal battle with the Dutch government over the publication of his controversial H5N1 influenza research. On Friday, a Dutch district court ruled that the government was right to ask Fouchier to obtain an export license before sending two hotly debated papers out for publication. The Read More »

October 7, 2013
| Filed under Europe, North America, and Research
Share

Facebook and Twitter may yield clues to preventing the spread of disease

(ScienceDaily) Facebook and Twitter could provide vital clues to control infectious diseases by using mathematical models to understand how we respond socially to biological contagions. Cold and flu season prompts society to find ways to prevent the spread of disease though measures like vaccination all the way through to covering our mouths when we cough Read More »

October 7, 2013
| Filed under Europe, North America, and Research
Share

Scientists closer to universal flu vaccine after pandemic ‘natural experiment’

(ScienceDaily) Scientists have moved closer to developing a universal flu vaccine after using the 2009 pandemic as a natural experiment to study why some people seem to resist severe illness. Researchers at Imperial College London asked volunteers to donate blood samples just as the swine flu pandemic was getting underway and report any symptoms they Read More »