Epidemics and pandemics

San Diego measles outbreak
A measles-infected seven-year old passenger on a plane from Switzerland infects other passengers; measles was widespread in the United States before a vaccine was developed in the early 1960s
- Read more
Cost to Irish economy from bird flu outbreak: €2 billion
Experts say that over a 15-week bird flu pandemic in Ireland, there would be a hospitalization rate of between 0.55 percent and 3.70 percent of the population, and among those hospitalized, a fatality rate of between 0.37 percent and 2.50 percent
- Read more

CDC says influenza B strain does not match vaccine
The U.S. flu season started out slowly, but activity has increased sharply, which is typically the case; the bad news is that most circulating influenza B viruses tested so far this season do not match this year’s vaccine, signaling that two of the three vaccine components are off-target
- Read more
New method for anthrax decontamination developed
Yellow Jackets, SMD researchers develop an X-rays and UV-C light-based method for anthrax decontamination; it is rapid and nondisruptive, and also less expensive than currently available decontamination methods; it kills anthrax spores — even those hidden in crevices and cracks — within two to three hours without any lingering effects
- Read more

New vaccine against deadliest strain of avian flu tested by scientists
University of Pittsburgh researchers test new H5N1 vaccine; unlike other avian flu vaccines, which are partially developed from live viruses, the new vaccine uses a virus-like particle which is recognized by the immune system as a real virus but lacks genetic information to reproduce, making it a potentially safer alternative for a human vaccine
- Read more
MSU lab develops early-warning for biological invaders
Montana State University lab creates a nationwide team of plant pest experts who work together to identify pests, teach each other from their personal fields of expertise, and track the development of threats to agriculture or, potentially, human health
- Read more

Breakthrough: Researchers identify weakness in anthrax bacteria
MIT researchers find that nitric oxide (NO) is a critical part of Bacillus anthracis’s defense against the human immune response launched by cells infected with the bacterium; anthrax bacteria that cannot produce NO succumb to the immune system’s attack
- Read more
GAO cites barriers to antiviral, vaccine roles in pandemic
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says that a pandemic vaccine might play little role in the early phases of a pandemic because it will take 20 to 23 weeks to develop and produce a targeted vaccine
- Read more

Plague: The new Black Death
Threat to humanity ignored, researchers warn
- Read more
Influenza pandemic could cost Canadian economy $9 billion
Over half of Canadian critical industry workers may not show up to work during a flu pandemic
- Read more

More headlines