Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Bird Flu / Avian Flu News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/birdflu/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155247.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155247.php Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) announced publication of the preclinical study results that supported the clinical development of the company's investigational VLP vaccine against the H3N2, H1N1 and B influenza strains. The study, which was conducted by scientists from the University of Pittsburgh, Center for Vaccine Research and Novavax, was published in the June 24, 2009 online issue of PLoS ONE. Swine Flu Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152754.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152754.php American Innovative Research (A.I.R.) cofounders, David Palmer and Judy Piscione, explain how the impact of the avian flu pandemic originally motivated their company's researching a home option of an isolation and containment unit. A.I.R. CEO Palmer states that he and Piscione leveraged decades of success in biomedical research and semiconductor clean-room technology to found American Innovative Research Corp. Palmer defines A.I.R. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152723.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152723.php An international symposium to be held in Vienna next week will focus on the use of nuclear technologies to enhance animal nutrition and reproduction strategies and to detect and control animal-origin diseases that can be transmitted to humans, such as swine and avian influenza. Around 500 animal production and health experts from over 100 countries will present up-to-date findings for solving or alleviating factors affecting animal production. Swine Flu Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152473.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152473.php New data on the persistence of avian influenza viruses in the environment has allowed a team of University of Georgia researchers to create the first model that takes into account both direct and indirect transmission of the viruses among birds. The model, which is detailed in the early online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has the potential to shed new light on how outbreaks begin in wild bird populations. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152163.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152163.php Bird flu virus remains infectious up to 600 days in municipal landfills Amid concerns about a pandemic of swine flu, researchers from Nebraska report for the first time that poultry carcasses infected with another threat - the "bird flu" virus - can remain infectious in municipal landfills for almost 2 years. Their report is scheduled for the June 15 issue of ACS' semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology. Shannon L. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Sun, 31 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151946.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151946.php Amid concerns about a pandemic of swine flu, researchers from Nebraska report for the first time that poultry carcasses infected with another threat - the "bird flu" virus - can remain infectious in municipal landfills for almost 2 years. Their report is scheduled for the June 15 issue of ACS' semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology. Shannon L. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Mon, 25 May 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151245.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151245.php The latest special issue of Science in China Series C: Life Sciences focuses on the recent progress in the H5N1-related research field. Early 2009, eight human infection cases of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, with 5 death cases, were reported in China. This again made the world alert on a possible pandemic worldwide, probably caused by avian-origin influenza virus. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151249.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151249.php The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that there is a "global need for more systemic surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs", during a press briefing where they explained the findings of a recent study on the genetic and antigenetic properties of the new 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus. Swine Flu Wed, 20 May 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150804.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150804.php What happens if the next big influenza mutation proves resistant to the available anti-viral drugs? This question is presenting itself right now to scientists and health officials this week at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, as they continue to do battle with H1N1, the so-called swine flu, and prepare for the next iteration of the ever-changing flu virus. Swine Flu Tue, 19 May 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150601.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150601.php A novel vaccine strategy using virus-like particles (VLPs) could provide stronger and longer-lasting influenza vaccines with a significantly shorter development and production time than current ones, allowing public health authorities to react more quickly in the event of a potential pandemic. Ted Ross, Ph.D. Swine Flu Wed, 13 May 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149887.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149887.php Human monoclonal antibodies effective against bird and seasonal flu viruses Dr. Robert Liddington and colleagues, working with researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported the identification of human monoclonal antibodies that neutralize an unprecedented range of influenza A viruses, including avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, previous pandemic influenza viruses and some seasonal influenza viruses. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Mon, 11 May 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149555.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149555.php A study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America shows that Aflunov®, the Novartis investigational pre-pandemic avian influenza vaccine formulated with Novartis' proprietary MF59® adjuvant, can elicit a broadly cross-reactive immune response covering all known H5N1 antigenic variants, even when that booster dose is administered six years after the initial priming dose. Swine Flu Tue, 05 May 2009 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148896.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148896.php EFPIA is aware and concerned by the current outbreak of a novel influenza, which appears to have originated in Mexico. We note the WHO's decision to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 4 to phase 5. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, working with our colleagues at the International Federation of Pharmaceutical manufacturers and Associations. Flu / Cold / SARS Sat, 02 May 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148563.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148563.php A study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America shows that Aflunov®, the Novartis investigational pre-pandemic avian influenza vaccine formulated with Novartis' proprietary MF59® adjuvant, can elicit a broadly cross-reactive immune response covering all known H5N1 antigenic variants, even when that booster dose is administered six years after the initial priming dose. Swine Flu Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148214.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148214.php A new study by University of Maryland researchers suggests that the potential for an avian influenza virus to cause a human flu pandemic is greater than previously thought. Results also illustrate how the current swine flu outbreak likely came about. As of now, avian flu viruses can infect humans who have contact with birds, but these viruses tend not to transmit easily between humans. Swine Flu Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148003.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148003.php After human cases of a new H1N1 swine influenza A virus were first reported in Mexico and then quickly spread around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level from phase 3 to phase 4, on April 27. The virus is a fusion of human, pig and avian influenza. There was growing international concern a week ago, after outbreaks of illnesses similar to influenza were reported in Mexico and in other countries. Swine Flu Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148015.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148015.php As countries around the world ready themselves for the possibility of a global pandemic in the wake of increasing numbers of confirmed cases of people infected with a new strain of A/H1N1 influenza virus that is being described as swine flu, investigations digging deeper into the history and evidence surrounding the outbreak are coming up with more questions than answers. Swine Flu Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147950.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147950.php NanoViricides, Inc. (OTC BB: NNVC.OB) (the "Company"), announced that it is developing FluCide(™), its flagship anti-influenza drug candidate, to work against all influenza types and subtypes. FluCide has been shown to be effective against both common influenza subtype H1N1, as well as two different variants of bird flu subtype H5N1. Swine Flu Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147892.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147892.php New research published April 27 from the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust warns of a six-month time lag before effective vaccines can be manufactured in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. By that time, the first wave of pandemic flu may be over before people are vaccinated, says Dr Iain Stephenson, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Leicester. Swine Flu Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147808.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147808.php New research published from the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust warns of a six-month time lag before effective vaccines can be manufactured in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. By that time, the first wave of pandemic flu may be over before people are vaccinated, says Dr Iain Stephenson, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Leicester. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147758.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147758.php Global progress toward a malaria vaccine is among the key topics to be presented at the 12th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research (ACVR), sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) April 27-29, 2009 in Baltimore. The ACVR is the world's largest scientific meeting devoted exclusively to research on vaccines and related technologies for disease prevention and treatment. Immune System / Vaccines Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147327.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147327.php An in-depth analysis of blood from patients recovering from the H5N1 avian influenza virus has provided important insights into how to combat the potentially lethal virus. The findings by U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists and collaborators better explain what part of the "bird flu" virus is seen by the immune system once a person becomes infected. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146693.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146693.php In research published in PLoS Medicine, Hana Golding of the US Food and Drug Administration and colleagues have identified the regions (epitopes) of influenza virus that are recognized by antibodies in the blood of people who have recovered from H5N1 avian influenza infection. H5N1 has caused about 400 confirmed cases of human influenza and more than 250 deaths in the past decade. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146006.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146006.php Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) reported preclinical study results showing that an investigational H1N1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine based on the 1918 Spanish influenza strain protected against both the Spanish flu and a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145978.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145978.php Arbor Vita Corporation (AVC), a biopharmaceutical company developing both diagnostics and therapeutics, announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its AVantage(TM) A/H5N1 Flu Test. This is a non-invasive rapid diagnostic device for the specific detection of the avian influenza A/H5N1 virus in humans. Bird Flu / Avian Flu