Avian influenza situation in Egypt – a new case detected

A new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection is detected in Egypt. – The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has announced a new human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. The case is a 21-months old female from 6th October Governorate, Kerdasa District whose symptoms began on 9 January 2009.

Open plan office bad for health of workers

Why your office could be making you sick? – It’s a sneaking suspicion many of us have had at one time or another, and a new QUT study has confirmed it – working in open-plan offices is bad for our health.

Pk antigen in blood raises resistance to HIV

Researchers identify potential new weapon in battle against HIV infection – Researchers have discovered a potentially important new resistance factor in the battle against HIV: blood types. An international team of researchers from Canadian Blood Services, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Lund University in Sweden have discovered that certain blood types are more predisposed to contracting HIV, while others are more effective at fending it off.

Gardasil approval delayed for use in women ages 27 – 45

Merck & Co., Inc. Receives Complete Response Letter from the Food and Drug Administration for Use of GARDASIL? in Women Ages 27 through 45 – Merck & Co., Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a second complete response letter regarding the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for the use of GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] in women ages 27 though 45.

New case of human infection with avian influenza, Viet Nam

Avian influenza ? situation in Viet Nam. Vietnam reported a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus – The Ministry of Health in Viet Nam has reported a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case has been confirmed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).

New H5N1 bird flu cases in China, Vietnam

Chinese agriculture officials have issued an alert against bird flu after a 19-year-old woman died of the disease in Beijing. – New human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, involving a 19-year-old Chinese woman who died of her infection and an 8-year-old Vietnamese girl who is recovering, reported by public health officials in two countries – China and Vietnam.

Australia in the front line for outbreaks of diseases

Australian researchers have mapped potential zones that can trigger deadly outbreak of diseases like SARS, bird flu, Nipah virus, enterovirus 71 and chikungunya in Australia. – Australia is surrounded to its north by a ?ring of fire’ where new human and animal plagues are likely to erupt without warning, with potentially devastating consequences.

Brain cancer glioblastoma study possible with mouse model

Salk researchers develop novel brain cancer glioblastoma mouse model. – Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have developed a versatile mouse model of glioblastoma-the most common and deadly brain cancer in humans-that closely resembles the development and progression of human brain tumors that arise naturally.

Circumcision reduces HIV risk in US men

Circumcision Reduces the Risk of HIV Infection in Heterosexual US Men – A new U.S. study has found that being circumcised significantly reduced the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual African American men known to have been exposed to the virus.

Scientists isolate genes that made 1918 flu lethal

Researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus. – By mixing and matching a contemporary flu virus with the “Spanish flu” – a virus that killed between 20 and 50 million people 90 years ago in history’s most devastating outbreak of infectious disease – researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus.

Health Newstrack