Mouse study reveals potential drug target for arthritis caused by chikungunya virus
(PLOS) An immune system proteinase called granzyme A appears to promote arthritic inflammation in mice infected with chikungunya virus, scientists report in a new PLOS Pathogens study. The study also suggested that granzyme A could serve as a potential target for new drugs to treat chikungunya and related viral arthritides in people. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 16, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Abbott wins FDA nod for whole-blood molecular test for Zika
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) said today that the FDA approved its RealTime ZIKA test to detect Zika virus in whole blood for emergency use. This is the 1st molecular test made by a commercial manufacturer that the federal watchdog has authorized to detect Zika in whole blood samples, the company touted.
Research suggests that Zika virus can be detected in whole blood for a longer period of time and at higher levels compared to serum and urine sample types, according to Abbott.
The company’s RealTime ZIKA test was developed to be used with its m2000 RealTime molecular diagnostics instrument. The automated test yields results in ...
Source: Mass Device - February 2, 2017 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Sarah Faulkner Tags: Diagnostics Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Regulatory/Clearance Abbott Source Type: news
Repurposed Drugs May Treat Chikungunya Symptoms Repurposed Drugs May Treat Chikungunya Symptoms
Established autoimmune drugs that target T cells appeared to reduce virus-induced joint pathology, including inflammation in mouse models.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - February 2, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news
Drug combination effective against chikungunya arthritis in mice
Chikungunya virus causes a painful, debilitating arthritis for which there is currently no treatment. A new study has found that combining a drug for rheumatoid arthritis with one that targets the chikungunya virus can eliminate the signs of chikungunya arthritis in mice in the earliest stage of the disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - February 1, 2017 Category: Science Source Type: news
Drug combination effective against chikungunya arthritis in mice
(Washington University School of Medicine) Chikungunya virus causes a painful, debilitating arthritis for which there is currently no treatment. A new study has found that combining a drug for rheumatoid arthritis with one that targets the chikungunya virus can eliminate the signs of chikungunya arthritis in mice in the earliest stage of the disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 1, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Researchers identify mechanism in chikungunya virus that controls infection and severity
(Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health) Researchers led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a mechanism by which the chikungunya virus infects healthy cells and controls how severe the disease it causes will be, a mechanism they believe can be found in a number of other related viruses for which there are no treatments or licensed vaccines. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - January 30, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Global Vector Control Response
World Health Organization. 12/05/2016 This five-page report describes the vector-borne diseases that pose a major threat to the health of societies around the world, including malaria, dengue, Zika virus, chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis. It details the draft Global Vector Control Response 2017-2030, which aims to support countries in mounting coherent and coordinated efforts to counter the increasing burden and threat of vector-borne diseases. (PDF) (Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health)
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - January 26, 2017 Category: Global & Universal Authors: The U.S. National Library of Medicine Source Type: news
Yellow Fever Outbreak In Brazil Could Become An Epidemic, Officials Fear
Public health officials in Brazil suspect that a small yellow fever outbreak in Minas Gerais, a populous landlocked state adjacent to São Paulo state, has infected 110 people and killed 30, according to a Friday report.
There is a vaccine for yellow fever, but because the outbreak is taking hold in areas with low vaccination rates, officials are concerned that the disease could continue to spread beyond the state’s borders and cause a larger epidemic, according to the World Health Organization. Yellow fever is spread by the same mosquito that spreads Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya.&nbs...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - January 16, 2017 Category: Science Source Type: news
Yellow Fever Outbreak In Brazil Could Become An Epidemic, Officials Fear
Public health officials in Brazil suspect that a small yellow fever outbreak in Minas Gerais, a populous landlocked state adjacent to São Paulo state, has infected 110 people and killed 30, according to a Friday report.
There is a vaccine for yellow fever, but because the outbreak is taking hold in areas with low vaccination rates, officials are concerned that the disease could continue to spread beyond the state’s borders and cause a larger epidemic, according to the World Health Organization. Yellow fever is spread by the same mosquito that spreads Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya.&nbs...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - January 16, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
5 Ways The Zika Virus Is Here To Stay
Zika virus’ status as a global health threat may officially be over, but the disease’s impact is far from contained.
The World Health Organization decided in November to end its designation of Zika virus as a public health emergency, but that doesn’t mean that Zika virus has disappeared, explained Dr. Carlos Pardo-Villamizar, a clinical neurologist with an expertise in infectious disorders at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Alongside pressing concerns about how to prevent a resurgence of the disease, health care systems in Brazil and other countries that saw births of babies infected with the disease in ute...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - January 4, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
5 Ways The Zika Virus Is Here To Stay
Zika virus’ status as a global health threat may officially be over, but the disease’s impact is far from contained.
The World Health Organization decided in November to end its designation of Zika virus as a public health emergency, but that doesn’t mean that Zika virus has disappeared, explained Dr. Carlos Pardo-Villamizar, a clinical neurologist with an expertise in infectious disorders at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Alongside pressing concerns about how to prevent a resurgence of the disease, health care systems in Brazil and other countries that saw births of babies infected with the disease in ute...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - January 4, 2017 Category: Science Source Type: news
Vectors: Aedes Albopictus
European Union, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. 12/20/2016 This resource provides information about the Aedes albopictus mosquito, a known vector of chikungunya virus, dengue virus, and dirofilariasis, and a potential vector of Zika virus. It discusses the hazard associated with the mosquito species, geographical distribution, entomology, epidemiology and transmission of pathogens, public health (control/intervention), and key areas of uncertainty. (Text) (Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health)
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - January 4, 2017 Category: Global & Universal Authors: The U.S. National Library of Medicine Source Type: news
Zika Virus (ZIKV) Outbreak: Overview of Relevant Research, Projects and Expertise
Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness. 02/03/2016 This 20-page report discusses a number of issues arising with regard to diagnostics, clinical characterization, and potential treatment interventions for the Zika virus. The key research questions that are emerging are the relationship between Zika virus, microcephaly, and other neurological abnormalities; clinical characterization for the differential diagnosis of Dengue and Chikungunya; rapid diagnostics that are specific to Zika; and potential intervention-convalescent plasma or other potential treatments. (PDF) (Source: Disaster Lit: Resource...
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - January 4, 2017 Category: Global & Universal Authors: The U.S. National Library of Medicine Source Type: news
Can tiny bacteria help stop the spread of disease?
Mosquitoes kill an estimated 700 000 people a year by transmitting viruses that cause diseases like chikungunya, dengue and Zika. With the help of WHO, researchers have discovered that mosquitoes artificially infected with a bacterium called Wolbachia do not transmit these diseases as easily. Wolbachia bacteria exist naturally, and it may be possible to create populations of mosquitoes that cannot transmit deadly viruses by breeding mosquitoes infected with the bacteria. (Source: WHO Feature Stories)
Source: WHO Feature Stories - December 28, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Tags: zika [subject] Source Type: news
Combatting Zika in Texas
“Photo” by SilasCamargo is licensed under CC0.
Texas recently saw its first case of locally transmitted Zika, meaning it was spread through infected mosquitos. Texas was generally always considered a location to watch for the spread of locally transmitted Zika because in the past, the state has seen mosquitos carrying dengue fever and chikungunya virus.
The Texas Department of State Health Services first started recommended testing for Zika in the Rio Grande Valley back in October, and the area saw its first local case at the end of November. Since this first confirmation, the state has seen several more locally trans...
Source: Network News - December 22, 2016 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: NN/LM South Central Region Tags: Public Health Source Type: news
