Avian Bird Flu News

Monitoring For 'Pandemic' Mutations By Examining Bird Flu Infections

Scientists funded by the Wellcome Trust are to examine what is preventing the H5N1 avian influenza virus from causing a human pandemic and what mutations are required to realise its deadly potential. The research could hold the key to early identification of a potential influenza pandemic, and to developing drugs and a vaccine. Since its reappearance in 1997, the H5N1 influenza virus has caused disease and death in millions of birds around the

Discovery Offers Potential For Drugs To Fight Bird Flu, Other Influenza Epidemics

Researchers at Rutgers University and The University of Texas at Austin have reported a discovery that could help scientists develop drugs to fight the much-feared bird flu and other virulent strains of

Pitt Scientists Receive $3.6 Million To Test Vaccine Against Deadliest Strain Of Avian Flu

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research have been awarded $3.6 million from the National Institutes of Health to conduct animal studies of vaccines designed to protect against the most common and deadliest strain of avian flu, H5N1. Recent outbreaks of H5N1 have prompted health officials to warn of its continued threat to global health and potential to trigger an avian flu

Flu Antibodies Recovered From 1918 Pandemic Survivors

Scientists in the US recovered antibodies to the 1918 flu virus from elderly survivors of the pandemic, used them to create cell lines of monoclonal antibodies and then showed they were still potent by injecting them into infected mice that survived, whereas the controls did

Bird Flu In Indonesia: Prevalence, Mortality, And Action

In order to help Indonesia improve its high human mortality due to bird flu (H5N1 influenza), more effective diagnostic methods must be used and improved case management must be implemented to achieve faster treatment with antivirals, according to the authors of an article released on August 14, 2008 in The Lancet. Most of us are familiar with the flu, which seasonally affects many

Canopus Biopharma And Leading Chinese Researcher Team Up To Treat Avian Influenza, To Prevent Possible Pandemic

An internationally renowned avian influenza expert hailed "encouraging and exciting" results from experiments conducted by his research team. This study demonstrated impressive efficacy of a novel statin/caffeine combination, StatC™ in the treatment and prevention of H5N1, H1N1 and H3N2 in a mouse model.

Experts Closing In On Avian Flu Breakthrough

Groundbreaking research to enable rapid diagnosis of bird flu - including the deadly H5N1 strain which can be fatal if passed on to humans - is being developed with the help of Nottingham Trent University. Experts from the university's School of Science and Technology are playing a key role in a European project to create portable machines capable of identifying the disease instantly, potentially saving the lives of countless humans and

New Bird Flu Strain Detected In Nigeria - FAO Calls For Increased Surveillance

A strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza previously not recorded in sub-Saharan Africa has been detected in Nigeria for the first time, FAO said recently. Nigeria has recently reported two new Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks in the states of Katsina and

Pandemic Research Receives $1.6M Funding Boost

Densely populated cities and increased air travel can be factors which create and spread pandemic disease. But a McMaster University researcher is working with isolated Hutterite communities to understand the transmission of pandemic diseases like influenza. Dr. Mark Loeb and his research team have received

More Investment In International Surveillance Of Infectious Diseases Vital To Prevent Future Pandemics - Lords Committee, UK

An influential Lords Committee have today reported that a new and potentially deadly infectious disease emerges somewhere in the world every year and it is vital that there is more investment in international surveillance if pandemics are to be

Inovio Biomedical's First Proprietary DNA Vaccine Achieves 100% Protection Against Avian Flu In Pre-Clinical Testing

Inovio Biomedical Corporation (AMEX:INO), a leader in enabling the development of DNA vaccines using a proprietary electroporation-based DNA delivery platform, announced recently pre-clinical results from two proprietary plasmid DNA-based universal influenza vaccine candidates using the company's proprietary electroporation delivery technology and, specifically, a new intradermal

Vical Announces Breakthrough For Pandemic Influenza DNA Vaccines With Preliminary Human Data

Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq: VICL) announced a breakthrough with preliminary clinical trial data demonstrating that DNA vaccines can safely achieve significant immune responses against H5N1 pandemic influenza in

Indiana Health Officials Examine State's Pandemic Influenza Ethics Planning

Information relevant to Indiana's current pandemic influenza preparedness plan was presented July 16 during a symposium convened by the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana University Center for Bioethics, "The Ethics of Pandemic Influenza Planning in Indiana: What Have We Done and

Possible Future Avian Influenza Pandemic May Be Eased By Booster Vaccination

New evidence suggests that a booster vaccination against H5N1 avian influenza given years after initial vaccination with a different strain may prove useful in controlling a potential future pandemic. The study is published in the August 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. H5N1 continues to pose a major health risk to birds and

Newly Described "Dragon" Protein Could Be Key To Bird Flu Cure

Scientists and researchers have taken a big step closer to a cure for the most common strain of avian influenza, or "bird flu," the potential pandemic that has claimed more than 200 lives and infected nearly 400 people in 14 countries since it was identified in 2003. Researchers at the

Vical To Present Phase 1 Data For Vaxfectin(R)-Formulated Pandemic Influenza DNA Vaccines

Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq: VICL) announced the scheduled presentation of preliminary human safety and immunogenicity data from a Phase 1 trial of the company's Vaxfectin(R)-formulated H5N1 pandemic influenza DNA vaccines on Thursday, July 17, at the IBC Life Sciences Next Generation Vaccines conference (National Harbor, MD - July 17-18). Vical's Vice President of Vaccine Research, Larry R. Smith,

Report Offers Resources For Home Health Care Response During A Flu Pandemic

Home Health Care During an Influenza Pandemic: Issues and Resources, a report identifying home health care as a critical component in providing care during a pandemic influenza event and offering resources to home health care providers and community planners to prepare for such an event, was released today by the

Pandemic Planning Complicated By Political Borders, Health-Care Issues

Panic, staffing issues and geographic boundaries are some of the challenges that public health experts need to address as they plan for a possible influenza pandemic, according to a new report from Purdue

Potential New Drug Candidates To Combat 'Bird Flu' Identified By UC San Diego Researchers

As the specter of a worldwide outbreak of avian or "bird flu" lingers, health officials recognize that new drugs are desperately needed since some strains of the virus already have developed resistance to the current roster of anti-flu

Animal Study Identifies New DNA Weapon Against Avian Flu

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a potential new way to vaccinate against avian flu. By delivering vaccine via DNA constructed to build antigens against flu, along with a minute electric pulse, researchers have immunized experimental animals against various strains of the virus. This approach could allow for the build up of vaccine reserves that could be easily and effectively dispensed in case of an

Sinovac Initiates Phase II Volunteer Enrollment For Split Viron Pandemic Influenza (H5N1) Vaccine

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (Amex: SVA), a leading provider of vaccines in China, announced the initiation of volunteer enrollment in its Phase II clinical trial for its split pandemic influenza vaccine. The preliminary results from this study are expected to be available in early

ECRI Institute And IAHSS Offer Guidance On Preparing For Pandemic Flu - July 17 Web Conference

Plans for appropriate respiratory protection are a major part of healthcare facilities' pandemic preparation. To assist hospitals with the complex task of protecting frontline staff in the event of an outbreak, ECRI Institute and the International Association for Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS) present

West Nile Virus Threat Reduced By Diversity Among Bird Populations In Surrounding Area

A more diverse bird population can help lower the incidence of West Nile virus in the surrounding human population, in a process called the "dilution effect," according to an article released in the open access journal PLoS ONE on June 25, 2008. West Nile Virus, usually infecting birds but also affecting humans, is often passed through

Biotech Experts Available To Discuss The Critical Role Of Vaccine Adjuvants In Treating Pandemic Bird Flu

The likelihood of an influenza pandemic caused by an avian influenza (Bird Flu) virus is an increasing concern to the World Health Organization (WHO) and others. Recent breakthroughs on promising cell-based vaccines are encouraging, but manufacturing, stockpiling and distributing enough vaccine to treat victims on a massive scale remain a challenge that needs

New Study Demonstrates That Lack Of Pandemic Planning Will Affect Bottom Line

The Schulich School of Business released the first study to assess the impact of an influenza pandemic on individual companies. Presented today at the World Conference on Disaster Management, the study - Making a case for investing in pandemic preparedness - focuses on how companies can justify investing in pandemic planning using standard business performance

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