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.
Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, says WHO. – The Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared on 25 December an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Mweka District, Kasai Occidental province based on laboratory results from the Centre International de Recherches M?dicales de Franceville (CIRMF) in Gabon.
Flour batch believed linked to Salmonella outbreak in New Zealand, reported by New Zealand Food Safety Authority. – Investigations into the outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 42 have found one detection of the bacteria in samples of flour taken from the home of one of the affected people.
Measures imposed to reduce exposure to nuts are often based on irrational fears of nut allergies and are becoming increasingly sensationalist, according to a doctor on bmj.com – Measures to control nuts are instead making things worse in a cycle of over-reaction and increasing sensitisation, to the point where the responses bear many of the hallmarks of mass psychogenic illness.
Search engine company Google launched a new health tool that will help U.S. federal health experts track the annual flu epidemic or influenza cases. – By tracking the popularity of certain Google search queries, Google’s engineers have discovered that they can accurately estimate the level of flu in each state, in near real time.
Stress may activate immune cells in the skin, resulting in inflammatory skin disease. – Current research suggests that stress may activate immune cells in your skin, resulting in inflammatory skin disease. The related report by Joachim et al., “Stress-induced Neurogenic Inflammation in Murine Skin Skews Dendritic Cells towards Maturation and Migration: Key role of ICAM-1/LFA-1 interactions,” appears in the November issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
‘Deadly dozen’ reports diseases worsened by climate change – Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society. – Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society released a report that lists 12 pathogens that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change, with potential impacts to both human and wildlife health and global economies.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is taking precautionary actions to prevent the implicated source of the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak in the United States (U.S.) from entering Canada. – In keeping with the Government’s commitment to food safety, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is taking precautionary actions to prevent the implicated source of the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak in the United States (U.S.) from entering Canada.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers that jalape?o and Serrano peppers grown in the United States are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak. – Jalapeno and Serrano peppers grown in the United States are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, informed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Canada has reported a case of a Salmonella Saintpaul infection that matches those associated with the outbreak in the United States. – Public Health officials in Canada have reported a case of a Salmonella Saintpaul infection that matches those associated with the outbreak in the United States. The individual involved has indicated that he recently travelled to the United States. Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) officials will continue to work with their colleagues in Canada and the U.S. to monitor the situation and assess further cases.
