SGS is conducting its first malaria human challenge trial
Melissa Fassbender
The malaria volunteer infection study begins this month and is being conducted at SGS’ 200-bed unit in Belgium. The contract research organization (CRO) is conducting the trial on behalf of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a not-for-profit public-private partnership. The experimental compound – a potential long-acting injectable chemoprotective drug – will be tested for its ability to kill malaria parasites in the liver before they reach the bloodstream.
Vietnam rolls out plan to prevent, ontrol bird flu for 2019-2025
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has unveiled a national plan on bird flu prevention and control for the 2019-2025 period, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday. The plan seeks to prevent and control bird flu outbreaks and help form disease-free poultry farming zones and chains, thus minimizing the disease's impact on Vietnam's public health, food safety, and trading activities.
New report shows global shift in use of antibiotics in animals
Figures released in a new report today by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) show positive global progress on the regulation and monitoring of antimicrobial use in animals. The report aims to build the capacity of all countries to collect critical data on the use of antimicrobials in animals.
Health Ministry: No approval for products claiming to cure dengue, Zika
Loh Foon Fong
The Drug Control Authority (DCA) has never approved any herbal products that claim to cure or prevent dengue, Zika or Chikungunya, says the Health Ministry. Its director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the ministry had received complaints about herbal products advertised on social media that claimed to be able to cure as well as prevent dengue fever.
Infectious diseases outbreak increasing threat to global public health: Speakers
Infectious diseases outbreak are an increasing threat to global public health, while the strengthened public laboratory sector plays a key role in managing health security, speakers said on Monday.
Healthcare co-payment plan opposed
Four major political parties have voiced disagreement over a co-payment proposal while stressing the Universal Healthcare Coverage (UC) scheme would be improved to ensure efficiency in and equal access to healthcare.
Investing in antibiotics critical to saving lives during pandemic influenza outbreaks
Via CIDRAP
There have been roughly three global pandemic influenza outbreaks each century for the past four hundred years, each of which have resulted in larger numbers of infections and deaths. Secondary bacterial infections have been responsible for a significant proportion of deaths in previous pandemics. Pandemic preparedness plans call for maintaining stocks of antivirals, antibiotics, and vaccines; however, the value of stockpiling or conserving the effectiveness of antibiotics remains unexplored despite the high morbidity of secondary bacterial infections and the growing ineffectiveness of antibiotics due to the emerging public health threat of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
Studying Malaria Transcriptomics Directly from Patients
A critical barrier to advancing malaria research has always been the difficulty in culturing the parasite in vitro. Thankfully, in the 1970s, researchers made some critical discoveries that allowed them to continually culture the most pathogenic strain of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, allowing for crucial discoveries that have helped prevent millions of new infections. However, difficulties remain as scientists have been unable to culture the most widespread malaria parasite, Plasmodium vivax.
Expert: Dengue patients should get tested for Chikungunya, too
People living in Chikungunya endemic areas should get themselves tested for the disease other than getting a standard dengue test, says Sungai Buloh Hospital Infectious Disease Unit head Datuk Dr Christopher Lee. While most joint pains from dengue or Chikungunya last up to seven days, some patients suffer for months, and about 10% of them reported joint pains lasting as long as three to five years, and they tend to occur among older patients, he said.
New tuberculosis drug may shorten treatment time for patients
The goal of TB drug development programs is to develop universal treatment regimens that will shorten and simplify TB treatment in patients, which typically takes at least six months, and sometimes more than a year.
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