Lassa virus (LASV) genome sequences have revealed that the although the virus was only discovered in 1969, it originated more than a thousand years ago in present-day Nigeria and continues to undergo significant evolutionary change, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funded study yesterday in Cell.
Transmission in healthcare settings has medical officials bracing for more cases.
Researchers discussed unique opportunities to learn about the after-effects of Ebola and how to manage them, as well as knowledge gaps, study protocols, and how to build research capacity in outbreak nations.
Animal health officials in Ghana and Ivory Coast yesterday reported more highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in poultry, signaling a continuation of virus activity that reemerged late last year in Africa.
Experts are meeting this week to discuss survivor care, keeping clinical samples, and setting research priorities.
A trial to see if a lower dose of one of the leading Ebola vaccine candidates can reduce reactions such as arthritis and skin rashes found that the effects persisted and that decreasing the dose had a negative impact on immune response. An international research team based in Switzerland published their findings on the lower VSV-EBOV dose yesterday in an early online edition of Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The vaccine was 100% effective in those who received it soon after possible exposure, setting the scene for it quickly to become a useful response tool.
The WHO announces a unified program for health emergencies, vaccine support, and other reforms.
A Salmonella outbreak linked to stuffed, raw chicken entrees that might appear to be cooked has grown to nine cases, as new individual cases in Minnesota and Illinois push the number of affected states to four, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an update yesterday.
The agency reported seven outbreak cases on Jul 16.
With only 7 new cases, the countries recorded their lowest Ebola levels in more than a year.
