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 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171090.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171090.php New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say. The researchers linked many powerful computer systems together to analyze enormous amounts of genetic data collected from all publicly available isolated strains of the H5N1 virus - the cause of avian flu. Swine Flu Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169400.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169400.php An article published Online First and in the December edition of The Lancet Infectious Diseases discusses the benefits and disadvantages of vaccination for children against seasonal flu. It reports that infection with "seasonal" influenza A could in fact benefit children by giving them improved immunity against pandemic strains such as the current swine flu H1N1 strain. Swine Flu Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168656.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168656.php Genes May Determine Susceptibility to H5N1 Avian Influenza A Virus Infection A new study found genetic variations in mice affect their susceptibility to and severity of H5N1 avian influenza A virus infection suggesting that humans who contract the virus may be genetically predisposed. The researchers from St. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168190.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168190.php Rice University scientists have won a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to scrutinize the influenza A virus for clues that could lead to more effective antiviral drugs. Strains of influenza A include this year's pandemic H1N1 variety, some seasonal varieties and the much-feared H5N1 bird flu. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167487.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167487.php University of California, Davis, researchers studying the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, formerly referred to as "swine flu," have identified a group of immunologically important sites on the virus that are also present in seasonal flu viruses that have been circulating for years. These molecular sites appear to result in some level of immunity to the new virus in people who were exposed to the earlier influenza viruses. Swine Flu Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167231.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167231.php ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.®, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR Biosciences Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: IRBS), announced that its lead anti-influenza drug, Homspera, will be tested for efficacy against highly lethal H5N1 Avian Influenza in the laboratories of a widely respected University scientist. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166766.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166766.php Avian influenza (H5N1), rabies, plague, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), and more recently swine flu (H1N1) are all examples of diseases that have made the leap from animals to humans. As the list continues to grow, experts at The University of Nottingham are to lead a project aimed at developing a state-of-the-art pan-European surveillance system to monitor emerging and re-emerging infections in wildlife. Swine Flu Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166360.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166360.php Early Releases: 1. Earlier H1N1 Vaccination Prevents More Deaths, Saves Health Care Costs A vaccine for H1N1 influenza is anticipated to become available this fall. With the amount and timing of vaccine release still in question, policy makers struggle to set priorities regarding who should be vaccinated when. Swine Flu Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165945.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165945.php Medicago Inc. (TSX-V: MDG) a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced that it has initiated a Phase I human clinical trial with its H5N1 Avian Influenza vaccine ("H5N1 vaccine"). Enrolment is ongoing and vaccination has commenced. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162157.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162157.php The detection of an H1N1 virus in turkeys in Chile raises concern that poultry farms elsewhere in the world could also become infected with the pandemic flu virus currently circulating in humans, FAO said today. Chilean authorities reported on 20 August that the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus was present in turkeys in two farms near the seaport of Valparaiso, Chile. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162152.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162152.php Lakewood-Amedex Inc., (L-A), the anti-infectives biopharmaceutical company developing a unique portfolio of anti-bacterial and anti-viral products including NuBiotics, a novel family of synthetic anti-bacterial compounds, and anti-viral products against hepatitis, HIV and influenza, announced today that it is accelerating development of its broad spectrum anti-influenza product into clinical studies. Swine Flu Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162091.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162091.php Current research suggests that viral polymerase may provide a new therapeutic target for host-adapted avian influenza. The related report by Gabriel et al, "Spread of Infection and Lymphocyte Depletion in Mice Depends on Polymerase of Influenza Virus" appears in the September 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a strain of the influenza virus that has adapted to infect birds. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161846.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161846.php NexBio, Inc. announced the publication "DAS181 Inhibits H5N1 Influenza Lung Virus Infection of Human Lung Tissues" in the September, 2009 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (AAC). DAS181 (Fludase((R))) is an investigational drug candidate in clinical development for Influenza-Like Illness. Unlike neuraminidase inhibitors (e.g. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161830.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161830.php Medicago Inc. (TSX VENTURE:MDG) a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), announced that it has received clearance from Health Canada to commence a Phase I human clinical trial with its H5N1 Avian Influenza vaccine ("H5N1 vaccine"). Enrollment of volunteers is now underway. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161763.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161763.php Organic and Natural Beef Cattle Production Systems Offer No Major Difference in Antibiotic Susceptibility of E. coli A new study suggests that when compared to conventionally raised beef cattle, organic and natural production systems do not impact antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160275.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160275.php At least one strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus leaves survivors at significantly increased risk for Parkinson's disease and possibly other neurological problems later in life, according to new research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160269.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160269.php Tokyo-based global pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo Limited announced today, Monday, that their new anti flu drug CS-8958 (generic name laninamivir) has shown "positive top line results" in a phase III trial that compared its safety and effectiveness with Tamiflu. Flu / Cold / SARS Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159935.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159935.php As the U.S. prepares for a resurgence of H1N1 influenza this fall, much can be learned from looking at a previous pandemic that had similar patterns. Swine Flu Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159872.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159872.php Avian influenza (AI) viruses are believed to be transmitted within aquatic bird populations through contaminated water. This study determined that filter-feeding clams can remove AI virus from water and reduce infectivity. Wood ducks were inoculated with a variety of treatments, and none of the ducks inoculated with virus-infected water that was filtered by clams or that were inoculated with or fed tissue from these clams exhibited signs of infection. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158284.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158284.php "Single-Shot" Vaccines May Protect Against H5N1 Influenza Virus Two newly developed "single-shot" H5N1 influenza vaccines protected ferrets against lethal infection with the H5N1 influenza virus and may allow for mass vaccination in humans in the event of a pandemic outbreak. The researchers from Australia report their findings in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Virology. Bird Flu / Avian Flu Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PST 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 PST 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 PST 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 PST 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 PST 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