A mood of deep pessimism has spread among the international community of AIDS scientists after the failure of a trial of a promising vaccine at the end of last year.
A woman whose husband died after receiving a liver transplant infected with a rodent virus is suing PetSmart claiming the chain should have warned customers that hamsters can carry lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.
As of 28 March, 2008, the Brazilian health authorities have reported a national total of 120,570 cases of dengue including 647 dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases, with 48 deaths.
Officials are deeply concerned that the high level of virus circulation in birds in the country could create conditions for the virus to mutate and to finally cause a human influenza pandemic.
US researchers have discovered a promising new drug for schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm disease that affects more than 200 million people in 70 countries.
An experimental, combination vaccine against Ebola and Marburg viruses using virus-like particles (VLPs) provides complete protection against infection in monkeys.
The 1918 influenza strain developed two mutations in the hemagglutinin which allowed it to bind tightly to receptors in the human upper respiratory tract.
Scientists are no further forward in developing a vaccine against HIV after more than 20 years of research says Nobel Prize-winning biologist David Baltimore.
Ciguatera poisoning is caused by the consumption of tropical reef fish that have assimilated ciguatoxins through the marine food chain from toxic microscopic algae.
The Ministry of Health, Brazil has reported a total of 48 cases of yellow fever including 13 deaths. This outbreak of yellow fever follows an epizootic outbreak in monkeys that started in April 2007 and has since spread to 80 municipalities.
Scientists announce that they had been able to pass on human rhinovirus to a special strain of genetically modified mice – the first time a non-primate has caught a cold.
There is seemingly consistent and compelling evidence that there is no association between breastfeeding and breast cancer. We challenge the assumption follows that milk borne viruses cannot be associated with human breast cancer.
Yoghurt health drinks are at the centre of safety fears after 24 patients died during clinical trials of probiotics, the dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria.
Due to widespread resistance of bacteria to the available drugs, the discovery of new antibiotics is urgently needed, and naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising candidates for future therapeutic use. Amphibian skin is one of the r
This study shows that Campylobacter bacteriophage can easily be isolated from free-range chickens and form part of the normal microbiological biota of environmentally exposed birds.
Drug companies control or shape multiple steps in the research, analysis, writing, and publication of a large proportion of the medical literature, and they do so behind the scenes.
The highly contagious Norovirus can be passed from one person to another through contact with commonly shared items such as computer keyboards and computer mice, U.S. health officials report.
A single vaccine based on the M2 protein that could give lifelong protection against all types of influenza A has produced promising results in human trials.
A new, low-cost screening strategy could make it easier for poor countries to target and treat Chagas disease, a deadly parasite-borne condition found mainly in Latin America.
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis releases a molecule that prevents a type of white blood cell from killing E. coli, which is known to be present within Crohn's disease tissue in increased numbers.
Pseudomonas bacteria which are normally found in soil and ground water and rarely affect healthy people, but are most likely to affect those who are already very sick.
While individual prizes can encourage research in specific areas, they cannot address the wider problem of high drug prices. The cost of new medicines has skyrocketed in the past 20 years
In a 13-month period in the UK there were six deaths and 112 cases of severe complications among children. Vaccinating all children is the only way to prevent severe illness and death from chickenpox.
The latest UK MRSA blood poisoning figures show a 10% decrease in the last complete year, with 6,381 cases of MRSA reported in England between April 2006 and March 2007, compared to 7096 between April 2005 and March 2006. Latest annual cases of C. diffici
South Africa is in danger of losing the battle against HIV/AIDS, Unicef has warned. If present trends continue there could be five million orphans in South Africa by 2015 and the country is one of just nine countries worldwide where infant mortality is ri
The finding that mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) can replicate and spread in human cells adds weight to the theory that MMTV might be involved in causing human breast cancer.
Dengue fever is reaching epidemic levels in the Caribbean and Latin America. Changing weather patterns and increased tourism and migration have raised the prevalence of the disease.
Sewage systems do not break down Tamiflu, which means the main weapon against bird flu could seep into natural waters and make certain viruses resistant to the drug during a pandemic.
A vaccine against Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is being used to stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. Initial tests show the vaccine has produced promising results.
A hunt is on for 2 patients with a deadly form of tuberculosis who disappeared after the Cape High Court ordered they return to a South African hospital. The pair, diagnosed with extremely drug resistant (XDR) tuberculosis, are presumed to be in hiding.
A US meat company has issued a nationwide recall for 21.7 million pounds (9843 tons) of ground beef products after reports of up to 25 cases of illness caused by suspected E. coli [O157:H7] in 8 states, including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
A mumps outbreak has been identified among university students in Adelaide. The highly infectious disease has been diagnosed in at least 8 students in the past 2 weeks, with more cases likely.
New research in the USA has concluded there is not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of immunising older people against influenza. The findings echo a controversial 2006 British Medical Journal study.
In light of increased media and public interest in ESBL-producing E. coli, the HPA provides some background about these infections and the work that is being carried out in this area.
University of Leicester scientists have made a discovery which could make probiotic yoghurts healthier. Dr Primrose Freestone has discovered that a natural food supplement could help make the bacteria in the yoghurts more effective. A fruit extract enabl
An outbreak of Q Fever is being investigated in the Cheltenham area. A total of 28 cases have been identified among local people, most requiring hospital treatment.
Games based learning may provide an innovative approach to the control of health care associated infections in hospitals. Learning consultants are using video games to encourage improved infection control awareness and adherence to procedures.