Health News

International virus sleuths expected to go to China soon: WHO

The World Health Organization said Monday it had received reassurances from Beijing that international experts would soon be able to travel to China to help investigate the animal origins of COVID-19. “We fully expect and have reassurances from our Chinese government colleagues that the trip to the field… will be facilitated, and as soon as […]

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How the flu virus spreads within cities

New insights into the local transmission of seasonal influenza may be valuable for planning interventions to combat the spread of respiratory diseases within cities, according to a study published November 19, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Nicola Müller and Tanja Stadler of ETH Zürich, and colleagues. As shown with the current severe […]

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France ‘still far’ from ending partial virus lockdown

French authorities are unlikely to lift a partial coronavirus lockdown any time soon, a government spokesman said Wednesday, even if some restrictions may be relaxed before Christmas. President Emmanuel Macron and top ministers discussed the crisis, including whether to ease some restrictions from December 1 “if conditions allow it,” spokesman Gabriel Attal said. But Attal […]

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Signs of hope in Germany, France but virus strains hospitals

The surge of new coronavirus cases appears to be slowing in Germany and France, generating hopes that the two European heavyweights are beginning to regain control over the pandemic. But authorities said Thursday that hospitals are crowded and are likely to face further strain in the coming weeks. Countries across Europe have implemented lockdown measures […]

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Wistar creates a new synthetic DNA vaccine against Powassan virus

Scientists at The Wistar Institute have designed and tested the first-of-its-kind synthetic DNA vaccine against Powassan virus (POWV), targeting portions of the virus envelope protein. A rapidly reemerging tick-borne disease, POWV has been reported to be fatal in 10% of infected people with detrimental neurological consequences including encephalitis and meningitis. This new POWV vaccine candidate, […]

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Anger over Italy virus rules as curfews enforced around Europe

Anger was growing in Italy Monday over harsh new coronavirus restrictions brought in to “save Christmas”, while other hard-hit countries enforced curfews in a bid to avoid fresh national lockdowns. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s decision to close restaurants and bars from 6:00 pm and shut all theatres, cinemas and gyms for a month was […]

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US regulators approve 1st treatment for Ebola virus

U.S. regulators Wednesday approved the first drug for the treatment of Ebola. The Food and Drug Administration OK’d the drug developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for treating adults and children with the Zaire Ebola virus strain, the most deadly of six known types. It typically kills 60% to 90% of patients. The drug was one of […]

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Spanish capital rejects lockdown as Europe faces virus surge

Madrid’s top court on Thursday struck down virus restrictions on millions in the Spanish capital, as European governments battle to control a sustained surge in virus cases. While people across France and Belgium face closed bars and cafes, countries including Austria and Poland are toughening their rules on mask wearing and other measures. Records for […]

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GSK and Vir step up virus antibody treatment trials

British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Californian laboratory Vir Biotechnology on Tuesday announced final stage testing of their potential coronavirus treatment. The phase-three trials will evaluate the effectiveness of their “fully human anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody” VIR-7831 in the early treatment of patients at high risk of hospitalisation. If successful, the companies believe it could increase […]