Predicting a Pandemic Feb 24, 2008
Researchers say these regions are highly susceptible to new emerging diseases ... "This is a seminal moment in how we study emerging diseases," says Professor John Gittleman, dean in the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology ... "Peter worked on emerging diseases of wildlife, and we were interested in figuring out how to predict which wildlife species would be more at risk of emerging diseases," Jones recalled. (U.S. News & World Report)
Major disease outbreaks around world more common Feb 24, 2008
Researchers from the Zoological Society of London, the Wildlife Trust in the UK and Columbia University in the United States analysed databases of outbreaks and found 335 cases of emerging diseases between 1940 and 2004. Of these, 60. (Hindu)
Engineerings greatest challenge: Our survival Feb 16, 2008
Engineering better medicines: How do you find new treatments for age-old scourges as well as newly emerging diseases. Reverse-engineering the brain: How do you unlock the secrets of brain function, to heal human diseases and advance the field of artificial intelligence. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Schafer outlines Bush’s ag budget for 2009 Feb 8, 2008
Research also supports key initiatives for food and agriculture defense, and emerging diseases in crops and livestock. Finally, the budget includes funding needed to complete the 2007 Census of Agriculture. (Agri-View, WI)
Black Death Selective In Its Wrath: Plague Targeted The Weak, Frail Feb 5, 2008
"Studying the Black Death is relevant today in that it gives us some insight into who might be at highest risk for new, emerging diseases like SARS and Ebola," said DeWitte, assistant professor of anthropology at UAlbany. Key findings of the report include. (Science Daily)
Clues to Black plague's fury in 650-year-old skeletons Jan 31, 2008
The Black Death, she continued, is comparable in some ways to various emerging diseases of today like Ebola or SARS, and studying it "gives us some insight into who might be at highest risk for these new diseases.". The authors acknowledge that their findings are not conclusive. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Q&A: Larry Brilliant Jan 24, 2008
org, the dotcom giant's philanthropic arm, which plans to tackle emerging diseases, climate change and poverty. Declan Butler talks to him about his diseases strategy. (Nature News Service)
Did Columbus Bring Syphilis to Europe? Jan 16, 2008
It could be argued that syphilis is one of the most important early examples of globalization and disease, and globalization remains an important factor in emerging diseases. " Discuss this Article NOTE: You will be asked to sign in or register as a SciAm.com Community member upon submission of this article comment. Enter Your Comment Here. 1000 characters remaining 2 Comments | "The hypothesis that syphilisor some progenitorcame from the New World is one thing. (Scientific American)
Simple Online Methods Increase Physician Disease Reporting Jan 16, 2008
15, 2008) With emerging diseases like the West Nile Virus, and re-emerging diseases such as the pandemic flu and drug-resistant tuberculosis, it s increasingly important to promptly detect a potential infectious outbreak within a community. But public health officials can t act quickly unless physicians report the diseases. (Science Daily)
Study suggests Columbus brought syphilis to Europe Jan 15, 2008
"It could be argued that syphilis is one of the important early examples of globalization and disease, and globalization remains an important factor in emerging diseases," he notes. Syphilis became the sexual scourge of the 19th century, and is believed to have killed composer Robert Schumann, painters Paul Gauguin and Edouard Manet, as well as thousands of others. (CTV.ca)
Syphilis First Emerged in Europe Spread by Returning New World Explorers Jan 15, 2008
It could be argued that syphilis is one of the important early examples of globalization and disease, and globalization remains an important factor in emerging diseases. . (Bloomberg -- Europe)
National Academies updates book on evolution Jan 10, 2008
The Institute of Medicine also weighed in as a co-sponsor of the book, citing the importance of evolution for understanding infectious and emerging diseases today. See Editorial. (Nature News Service)
DID MOSQUITOES KILL THE DINOSAURS? Jan 7, 2008
But emerging diseases spread by biting insects, combined with the spread of flowering plants, and competition with insects for plant resources, was "perfectly compatible" with a lengthy process of extinction. Scroll down for more. (The Drudge Report)
French foreign minister in India Dec 20, 2007
The visit will also "intensify our dialogue with India on global challenges, especially the environment and the fight against global warming, public health and the fight against emerging diseases," the French embassy said. Copyright. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Free thinkersThree heavyweights consider the pros and cons of free speech Dec 10, 2007
" Risk of fear The media can play a unique role in that global problem solving. When I gave the Reith Lectures, I knew that the lectures could, at least potentially, reach hundreds of millions of people. There was simply no better venue for a global discussion than the BBC World Service. And indeed from African villages, to passport counters and airport check-ins, to corridors of power, I met people in all parts of the world that were tuned into the Reith lectures and were debating them within... (BBC News)
Indigenous Water Frogs In Europe Under Threat Dec 7, 2007
5, 2004) In studying the dramatic recent global decline of frog and salamander populations, researchers increasingly cite emerging diseases as major causes. Among these, one particularly mysterious new. (Science Daily)
Meeting on bird flu held in Indian capital Dec 4, 2007
About 100 countries will attend the meeting which is aimed at putting animal health in focus as emerging diseases like avian flu and mad cow disease. Participants will be asked to ensure bio security in the poultry sector so that the infection cannot move from poultry to humans. (Xinhuanet, China)
Breeding Heat Tolerant Beans To Withstand Warmer World Dec 1, 2007
Producers will also be better positioned to respond to possible challenges in the future from emerging diseases and climate change. Adapted from materials provided by. (Science Daily)
Ebola and other tropical viruses Nov 30, 2007
Some scientists say that the growing number of so-called emerging diseases are due to increasing forays by humans into the tropical forests. This brings them into contact with new creatures - and new infections - making it possible there could be even more powerful viruses waiting to play havoc in the human body. (BBC News -- Health)
Poorest 'in climate front line' Nov 28, 2007
hundreds of millions of people at increased risk from emerging diseases, such as malaria. The authors called on nations to adopt a "twin track" approach with measures to mitigate future warming while helping at risk nations to adapt to human-induced climatic shifts. (BBC News -- Science)
Improved epidemic modeling Nov 22, 2007
The global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic has clearly shown the importance of considering the long-range transportation networks in the understanding of emerging diseases outbreaks ... This computational strategy can be therefore considered as a general tool in the analysis and forecast of the global spreading of emerging diseases and in the definition of containment policies aimed at reducing the effects of potentially catastrophic outbreaks. (BioMed Central)
SARS: a model disease Nov 21, 2007
A new model to predict the spread of emerging diseases has been developed by researchers in the US, Italy, and France ... Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spread rapidly in 2002-2003, revealing just how vulnerable we might be to emerging diseases and how global transportation is critical to the spread of an epidemic ... Now, Vittoria Colizza and Alessandro Vespignani of Indiana University, Bloomington, USA and the Institute for Scientific Interchange Foundation, in Turin, Italy, and... (EurekAlert!)
Veterinarians unhappy with predicament Nov 17, 2007
Dr Darkwa, however, noted with concern the upsurge of rabies as well as other zoonotic diseases (diseases that spread from animals to humans) and emerging diseases like avian influenza and tuberculosis, which needed to be addressed. He therefore called on government to restore the rabies campaign that was previously organised by the service. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Preparing 3-D Images Of World's Most Deadly Infectious Diseases Nov 2, 2007
" The proteins in his lab, by the way, are not capable of triggering an infectious disease. "You need the actual virus or bacteria for that," Anderson said. Eventually Anderson's gallery will be filled with the not-so-pretty genetic portraits of proteins from the plague, cholera, rabies, West Nile virus, viral encephalitis and Ebola, just to name a few. He'll also be looking at newly emerging diseases and drug resistant infections. His team -- which includes researchers at seven other... (Science Daily)
Successful Malaria Vaccine Also Proves Effective in Infants Oct 20, 2007
"The vaccine does not seem to protect specifically against certain parasites," says molecular biologist Joe Cohen, vice president of research and development for emerging diseases, HIV and vaccines at GSK Biologicals. But "this is a question that we will need to continue to address in further studies and even probably after the vaccine has been implemented," which could come as soon as 2011 if all trials go well. (Scientific American)
Homeland Security Presidential Directive Oct 19, 2007
That system must be sufficiently enabled to identify specific disease incidence and prevalence in heterogeneous populations and environments and must possess sufficient flexibility to tailor analyses to new syndromes and emerging diseases. State and local government health officials, public and private sector health care institutions, and practicing clinicians must be involved in system design, and the overall system must be constructed with the principal objective of establishing or enhancing... (White House News Releases)
DATCP Board Sends Letter to Legislature Oct 19, 2007
Animal Health Division s daily responsibilities include monitoring livestock for diseases such as Tuberculosis, Avian Influenza, BSE (Mad Cow surveillance testing -100,000 tests completed last year) and emerging diseases like VHS in fish. Even with their limited resources the Animal Health staff quickly contained a pseudorabies outbreak early this spring in Clark County. (Agri-View, WI)
Grid computing offers new hope in race against bird flu Oct 6, 2007
Asian flu remains a threat to world health and we are well aware that any pandemic could quickly spread throughout Europe" said Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media. "I am pleased that the European project EGEE has found such an important application for computer grid technology as speeding-up drug discovery against neglected and emerging diseases. Collaboration between Europe and Asia is essential if we are to address world wide threats to public health. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
K-State Researchers Bringing Expertise to Kansas City Symposium on Disease and National Security Sep 13, 2007
Rowland presentation at 9:40 a.m., "Emerging Diseases in Swine," will be on how the rapid emergence, widespread distribution and evolution of infectious diseases affects the modern swine operation, as well as the challenges posed by the zoonotic potential of new and re-emerging viruses. At 11:05 a.m., Ganta will present "Zoonotic Infections by Tick-Transmitted Rickettsiales of the Genera Ehrlichia and Anaplasma: Challenges and Opportunities." Ganta's specialty is in tick-borne rickettsial... (PR Newswire)
WHO blames human behavior for new ills Aug 24, 2007
GENEVA - A ballooning world population, intensive farming practices and changes in sexual behavior have provided a breeding ground for an unprecedented number of emerging diseases, the U.N. health agency said Thursday. AIDS and 38 other new pathogens are afflicting mankind that were unknown a generation ago, the World Health Organization said. (MSNBC -- Health)
Africa: Marburg is a Global Threat, Says WHO Aug 22, 2007
"Since the 1970s, newly emerging diseases have been identified at the unprecedented rate of one or more per year. There are now nearly 40 diseases that were unknown a generation ago and in the last five years, WHO has verified more than 1,100 epidemic events worldwide," the report says. It says Cholera and yellow fever have made a come back in the last quarter of the 20th century while Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and avian Influenza in humans still remain a big concern to the... (AllAfrica.com)
Wildlife And Emerging Disease Markets Aug 18, 2007
"The wildlife trade, and markets in particular, serve as very dirty mixing bowls for diseases. We can significantly reduce the threat of avian flu and other emerging diseases by decreasing contact among different animal species in markets and thus giving pathogens fewer opportunities to mutate and spread.". In the paper, Karesh and his co-authors point out birds and other animals moving through wildlife markets give pathogens a chance to jump into new species and geographic regions via the... (Science Daily)
Emerging (disease) markets Aug 16, 2007
We can significantly reduce the threat of avian flu and other emerging diseases by decreasing contact among different animal species in markets and thus giving pathogens fewer opportunities to mutate and spread. . (EurekAlert!)
Mercy will host Infectious Disease Symposium Aug 13, 2007
One of the feature presentations during the daylong symposium will examine "Pandemic Influenza (and Other Diseases Affecting Iowa)." Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, state epidemiologist with the Iowa Department of Public Health, will discuss how health-care professionals can more effectively deal with emerging diseases by improving their preparedness. She will also talk about the use of antivirals and vaccine during a pandemic. (Sioux City Journal)
How Would The Avian Influenza Virus Be Transmitted In Human Households? Jul 28, 2007
Recent outbreaks of emerging diseases such as SARS and H5N1 avian influenza have underlined the fact that animal pathogens may acquire the ability to spread efficiently in humans -- but as yet have not. Monitoring the transmissibility of pathogens from animals in humans is therefore key for early detection of epidemic spread, and for effective control. (Science Daily)
Virologists hold conference at OSU Jul 13, 2007
The virologists will share findings and information regarding the development of new drugs and vaccines, counter-measures for biological threats and understanding emerging diseases, Hruby said. Vaccines against pandemic flu and drugs to prevent HIV infections will be among the hot topics. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
Kevin Rudd's speech Jun 29, 2007
It is not picking up the emerging diseases afflicting our population and imposing costs on the budget. And the effectiveness of the health system as a whole is diminished by duplication, cost-shifting and buck-passing in other words, a new modern effective health care system is being stalled by the blame game. (The Australian)
As I see it:Danger from disease only part of story Jun 21, 2007
A strong public health infrastructure is necessary, if we are to reduce the harm caused by avian flu, tuberculosis and other emerging diseases in Benton County. In Oregon, this occurs at a time when funds for local public health services are being reduced. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
WHO's new health regulations to come into force Jun 15, 2007
He said as the world was witnessing new and emerging diseases that challenge public health and international health security, the scope of IHR has been expanded from just reporting on selected diseases to all events impacting public health emergency of international concern. RATE THIS ARTICLE. (Economic Times)
GAO faults translation contract Jun 13, 2007
The company said its system is suited to enable quick response to emerging diseases that affect large swaths of the population, such as a pandemic flu or SARS.. GenVault raises $1. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Snip, Snip: Parties trim city spending Jun 8, 2007
"In the past 20 years, there have been at least 30 new emerging diseases," McBride said. "The only way to keep up is to find out what's happening at these conferences.". (Milford Mirror, CT)
Vical Introduces RapidResponse(TM) DNA Vaccine Cell-Free Platform Designed to Accelerate Vaccine Production During Infectious Disease Outbreaks Jun 3, 2007
This platform is intended to significantly reduce the time required to develop, manufacture and deploy vaccines against emerging diseases during the early stages of an infectious outbreak ... Vical's patent coverage includes delivery of linear DNA as well as plasmid DNA. "The RapidResponse(TM) DNA vaccine platform may be applicable to a broad range of emerging diseases, and would be of greatest value in rapidly developing vaccines against previously uncharacterized pathogens capable of causing... (PR Newswire)
WHO: Chinese bird flu samples have arrived in US May 27, 2007
China has in the past been slow to share animal samples, and international health experts have repeatedly complained about Chinese foot-dragging in cooperating on investigating emerging diseases like bird flu and pneumonia from SARS, or secure acute respiratory syndrome. Beijing has since vowed an aggressive fight against H5N1, launching a massive vaccination program and reporting improved surveillance systems. (International Herald Tribune)
West Nile Virus Threatens Backyard Birds May 18, 2007
Mary Pearl, President of Wildlife Trust added, This is exactly the sort of problem that our new field of Conservation Medicine addresses the number of emerging diseases that affect both wildlife and people has risen dramatically in recent times. Our work shows that we have the tools to understand their spread and impact and the challenge now is to cut back their impact and prevent the next ones before they emerge. (Science Daily)
Australia warned on aquaculture disease risk May 16, 2007
"There's no doubt about it, that as aquaculture production increases, we will get new and emerging diseases occurring and that's happened overseas and Australia's not going to be any different.". ABC Top Stories. (ABC News Online, Australia -- Health)
UN Given Roadmap to Meet Climate Challenge May 13, 2007
"We can manage water better, bolster disaster preparedness, increase surveillance for emerging diseases . . . and enhance local capacity to cope with a suite of expected changes.". The full report can be found. (Yahoo News -- United Nations)
Sars patients can provide therapy May 13, 2007
It may provide a fast method to combat emerging diseases, and, perhaps, biological attacks. The research is published in the journal Nature Medicine. (Yahoo News -- SARS)
Scientists: Lagoon dolphins are getting sicker May 13, 2007
An increasing percentage of dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon are showing signs of illness from human activity and emerging diseases, according to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution ... The dolphins of the Indian River Lagoon are sick and getting sicker, and not just from such human destruction, but also from a plethora of emerging diseases that have yet to be explained ... Two emerging diseases, a chronic fungal skin disease of "epidemic" proportions and oral and genital tumors, are most... (Vero Beach Press Journal)
Keep pets, wildlife separate, scientists urge May 12, 2007
SAN PASQUAL VALLEY -- Keeping pets and wildlife separate can slow the spread of emerging diseases, scientists and veterinarians said at a conference at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park's research center Friday ... Emerging diseases usually aren't "new," but they can be newly recognized or have recently jumped from a previously known geographic area or animal to a new one, said Nicholas Lerche, a primate specialist from UC Davis. (North County Times)
S'pore, RI team up for bird flu pilot project May 10, 2007
While the U.S. did not sign the MoU, the executive chairman of the National Commission for Avian Influenza and Pandemic Preparedness, Bayu Krisnamurthi, said the U.S. would be involved in the project through the Regional Emerging Diseases Interventions (REDI) Center, the United States Agency for International Development and the United States Department of Agriculture. Aburizal said the project would integrate multi-sector stakeholders, including the Tangerang municipal administration, the... (Jakarta Post, Indonesia)
Budget funds CSIRO-led climate change adaptation body May 8, 2007
It will be used to improve diagnostic testing of new and emerging diseases. The Minister says it will also allow the implementation of new security, engineering, maintenance and occupational health and safety measures that will maintain AAHL's standing as a world class facility. (ABC News Online, Australia -- Politics)
WEN-TSANG CHENG: Wall of obstructionism Apr 27, 2007
The world's experience with the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic in 2003 reminded the world that emerging diseases can cross national boundaries and spread to any corner of the planet within a matter of hours. Creating a seamless global epidemic prevention system is therefore critical to the wellbeing of people everywhere. (Washington Times)
Report: China to send WHO virus samples Apr 24, 2007
International health experts have complained in the past about Chinese foot-dragging in cooperating with investigations of emerging diseases like bird flu and SARS.. The Health Ministry "will send two recent samples of the virus and one from a Beijing patient who was infected in 2003," the China Daily newspaper said, citing a ministry official identified only by the surname Ma. (Herald Online, SC -- Health)
Report: China is preparing to send human bird flu samples to WHO Apr 21, 2007
In the past, China has been slow to share animal samples and international health experts have repeatedly complained about Chinese foot-dragging in cooperating on investigating emerging diseases like bird flu and the SARS pneumonia. But Beijing has vowed an aggressive fight against the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has infected nearly 300 people worldwide, killing more than half of them. (International Herald Tribune)
WHO's tracking global health Apr 2, 2007
These include emerging diseases such as SARS and avian influence, economic stability, international crises and humanitarian emergencies, chemical, radioactive and biological terror threats, environmental change, HIV/AIDS, building health security and strengthening health systems, according to the news release. Wilburn, however, remains hopeful in continuing advances made in medical technology. (East Tennessean, TN)
Author of 'Guns, Germs and Steel' - Eco-suicide is the new danger; writer finds a warning in failures of past civilizations Mar 14, 2007
We can also be sent bad things:-like AIDS, cholera and emerging diseases. In the past, small areas collapsed one by one; today, with fewer fire walls separating societies, all areas are interconnected. (Madison Eagle, NJ)
Focus Diagnostics Receives FDA Clearance to Market Plexus HerpeSelect Mar 6, 2007
" Just half a dozen years ago, genital herpes infections were increasing dramatically with no reliable means for detecting the viral infection. Transmission occurs 70% of the time in the absence of symptoms, and symptoms are often misdiagnosed. Perhaps most disturbing is the increased risk of acquiring HIV for individuals infected with HSV-2, and the risk to neonates if the mother is shedding virus during vaginal birth. Today more than 50 million individuals in the U.S. are infected and 90% are... (PR Newswire)
Experts Creating Bird Flu Pandemic Model Mar 2, 2007
It will use the nonprofit Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases as its backbone, and will be funded by the nonprofit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Larry has a group of about 40,000 people from around the world that all receive e-mails about events related to emerging infectious diseases," Polgreen said. (Dog Flu Diet and Diseases)
New market-based system aims to predict bird flu Mar 2, 2007
To do this, the team is using the nonprofit Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases, or ProMED, an online global reporting system run by the International Society for Infectious Diseases. ProMED, founded by Dr. Lawrence Madoff of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, uses the Internet and e-mail to track disease outbreaks. (AlertNet)
UN Given Roadmap to Meet Climate Challenge Feb 28, 2007
"We can manage water better, bolster disaster preparedness, increase surveillance for emerging diseases . . . and enhance local capacity to cope with a suite of expected changes.". The full report can be found. (Yahoo News -- United Nations)
EU says disease control needs better information Feb 24, 2007
VIENNA, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Health officials monitoring emerging diseases and pandemic outbreaks are so flooded with information that they risk missing the really important news, a senior European Union health official said on Friday. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said ahead of a conference in Vienna that news media and the Internet had often been the first sources reporting outbreaks of diseases such as the SARS virus or bird flu. (Reuters AlertNet)
A New Problem for Farmers: Few Veterinarians Feb 7, 2007
Of all the emerging diseases in people in the last 25 years, 75 percent of those were transmitted from animals,; Dr. Mahr said. Veterinarians are the ones to identify those diseases in animals first. (Foster's Daily Democrat)
Farmers struggling to find vet care Feb 7, 2007
"Of all the emerging diseases in people in the last 25 years, 75 percent of those were transmitted from animals," Mahr told The Times. "Veterinarians are the ones to identify those diseases in animals first.". (Washington Times)
Tamiflu expiring in some Asian countries: Can they afford to toss and buy more? Feb 4, 2007
Even if a repeat never occurs, they say their efforts will have strengthened health systems to handle other emerging diseases. "The possibility is there. We have to be prepared," said Ramlee Rahmat, Malaysia's deputy director-general of public health. (North County Times)
Jetsetters 00000FE8are key clues to epidemics Jan 31, 2007
But although the disease might then be entered into a surveillance network like the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMed) or GeoSentinel, that information is not systematically shared with the developing nations where the disease came from, says Stephen Morse, an epidemiologist at Columbia University in New York. An added difficulty, notes Morse, is that not all travellers who get a nasty disease are diagnosed properly. (Nature News Service)
