outbreak

Vaccine a success for human-to-human H5N1 case

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:59:59 -0400

A case of human-to-human transmission of bird flu has been confirmed in China, but authorities say it is another instance where the spread of the disease has been limited to a close blood relative. And in this case an experimental H5N1 vaccine demonstrated that it could possibly vanquish the lethal virus, which could have significant implications for the development of a pandemic vaccine.

A father caring for a sick son--who died--contracted the illness and was treated unsuccessfully with antivirals. Then he was given plasma drawn from a woman who had received an experimental bird flu vaccine that had been made from whole, killed H5N1. The vaccine was made by Sinovac from a 2004 Vietnamese strain of the disease. If researchers can show that the recovery was linked to the vaccine, the whole virus vaccine could prove a key to spurring immunity to a range of possible mutations of H5N1.

Late last year another bird flu patient in China recovered after being given plasma from a survivor of bird flu, pointing to the role that therapeutic antibodies could play in a fight against a potential pandemic.

- read the report in New Scientist
- check out the story in the Independent

ALSO: Indian officials are fighting a fresh outbreak of H5N1 in birds. Report

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Breakthrough in understanding mechanism of bird flu

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:59:59 -0500

Scientists at MIT are reporting that the shape of structures in the avian flu virus closely match sugars found in the respiratory tracts of birds. That key link has helped spread bird flu among animals, but also explains why it's so hard for the virus to spread in humans. If the viral structure does mutate to resemble sugars in the human respiratory tract, though, an outbreak among humans would swiftly follow. Their work makes it easier for drug developers to identify a therapy that could be used to counter bird flu and also allows researchers to monitor the viral mutations that are taking place so they can better alert health authorities about any sudden risk of a pandemic.

"We're like a sitting duck, waiting for an H5N1 virus that can attach to us," Richard Cummings, an Emory University biochemist, tells Wired. "This research moves us to the point where we can start anticipating what might happen."

- read the report from Wired

Related Article:
Scientists confirm human-to-human H5N1 case. Report
Avian flu: Research finds virus won't mutate easily. Report

Research lab blamed for foot-and-mouth outbreak

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:59:59 -0400

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK has been contained after a government report pinned the blame for the outbreak on leaky pipes at the Institute for Animal Health's Pirbright site. Officials had known for years that the drains under the lab were faulty, but they had never been fixed due to a dispute with the nearby Merial Animal Health lab over who was responsible for paying for the repairs. The virus probably leaked through the pipes and into the soil, and was then carried to the surface after the area was hit by heavy rains. Building contractors then unwittingly spread the virus to nearby farms, concludes the report. Merial has refused to accept any responsibility for the biosecurity breach and the issue is probably headed to court. Nevertheless, the scandal has focused a spotlight on security measures in the country's labs.

- see the final report on the findings

ALSO: The CDC won't lift an order for Texas A&M to suspend work at its biodefense lab until the university corrects several shortcomings. In the meantime, an activist group has unveiled new evidence of a researcher being accidentally infected and that a biodefense research building was flooded last February. Report

Related Article:
Foot-and-mouth outbreak linked to research lab. Report

Foot-and-mouth outbreak linked to research lab

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:59:59 -0400

A private laboratory in England is the prime suspect in the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. UK officials believe that a breakdown in procedures at Merial Animal Health--which is jointly led by Merck and Sanofi-Aventis--led to the infection of nearby animals. The strain of foot-and-mouth disease that was discovered is the same strain that is studied in the laboratory, which researches and manufactures new vaccines. The lab, meanwhile, insists that it has operated for years without any biosecurity breach. Government investigators are promising complete answers in 48 hours to help stem the crisis atmosphere in the country. On the one hand, a nearby lab breach would calm fears that the disease was being spread through herds in the country. The last outbreak cost the UK £7 billion. But a release of the disease from a lab would also likely heighten biosecurity efforts in the country.

- check out the article for more