Infectious diseases
WHO successfully completes largest-ever yellow fever vaccination effort
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday confirmed that a major part of the largest emergency vaccination campaign against yellow fever attempted in Africa has been completed. The campaign successfully vaccinated 7.7 million people in less than two weeks targeting the population of... Read More »
HHS awards $19.8 million for development of Zika virus vaccine
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently provided Takeda Vaccines, Inc., with a grant to develop a Zika virus vaccine. The grant, worth $19.8 million, will be spaced out over the course of the next 18... Read More »
Johns Hopkins researchers identify three promising drugs in fight against Zika virus
A collaborative research effort by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health and Florida State University recently revealed two classes of compounds already in use in the pharmaceutical industry that might prove useful in the fight against Zika virus.... Read More »
NCATS research team identifies compounds for potential treatment against Zika virus
A research team at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) recently identified compounds that could be used to inhibit the replication of Zika virus and reduce its ability to kill brain cells. The research team identified two classes of compounds effective against Zika... Read More »
NIAID researchers develop system to replicate norovirus in intestinal cells
Researchers supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently developed a novel system to grow norovirus in intestinal cells, which could bring about new therapeutic drugs and vaccines to combat the virus. Intestinal cells are the natural site of norovirus... Read More »
Oakland County urges residents take caution against spread of West Nile virus
The Oakland County Health Division urged residents on Wednesday to protect themselves against mosquito bites and the threat of West Nile virus during upcoming summer events, including the Woodward Dream Cruise, Arts Beats & Eats, and other outdoor activities. The recommendation comes after... Read More »
NIAID researchers explore link between Ebola virus survival and malaria-causing parasite
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), released a study on Tuesday with evidence showing that people who were infected with the Ebola virus were 20 percent more likely to survive the virus if they were co-infected with the... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic details advances in first half of 2016
Bavarian Nordic A/S released a summary of its progress for the first half of 2016 on Wednesday. “I am very pleased with the progress of the company this year,” Paul Chaplin, president and chief executive officer of Bavarian Nordic, said. “We have successfully built on our relationships... Read More »Hologic receives $4.1 million from HHS for the development of a Zika virus blood screening test
Hologic, Inc., entered into an agreement on Tuesday worth $4.1 million with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistance Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to advance the development of a blood screening test that will detect Zika virus. The one... Read More »Pennsylvania county reports positive West Nile virus samples, urges caution for local residents
The Cumberland County Vector Control Office received confirmation from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Thursday of positive samples for the West Nile virus (WNV) collected in Cumberland County. Nine samples tested positive for the virus. Counties with positive... Read More »
Rubio renews push to protect military members from Zika virus
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) renewed his push on Thursday to reintroduce legislation that would provide additional protections from the Zika virus to U.S. military men and women, including those serving in high-risk areas. “At the start of June, I introduced an amendment to the 2017 National... Read More »
NIH begins Zika virus vaccine clinical trial in humans
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched a clinical trial this week for an experimental vaccine to prevent Zika virus infections, an effort that comes after local transmission of the virus hit a neighborhood in Florida. “Given the Zika situation internationally and in the United... Read More »
International partnership to combat antimicrobial resistance launches
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Wellcome Trust of London, the AMR Centre of Alderley Park and Boston University released plans on Thursday to create one of the world’s largest public-private partnerships centered on the preclinical discovery and development of new... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic announces Phase 1 trial for yellow fever vaccine
Bavarian Nordic A/S initiated its Phase 1 clinical trial of MVA-BN YF on Tuesday to protect against yellow fever virus. The vaccine is primarily based off of Bavarian Nordic’s proprietary MVA-BN platform. The study was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases... Read More »