Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2017/04/news-scan-apr-25-2017
News Scan for Apr 25, 2017
H7N9 cases in China; New USDA secretary; Malaria immune response
Filed Under:
H7N9 Avian Influenza; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); Public Health; Malaria
[h=3]Officials report 29 more cases of H7N9 in China[/h] In its latest weekly influenza report, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today confirmed 29 new H7N9 avian flu cases in mainland China, the most since late February. There have now been 616 cases of H7N9 reported in China since October of last year, in what is the country's fifth wave of the disease, the CHP said.
Seven of the cases are in Beijing, with Hunan reporting 5 cases; Hebei, 4; Sichuan, 3; Shandong , 2; Zhejiang, 2; and Anhui, Gansu, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Jilin, and Liaoning with one each.
Eight of the patients died from avian flu complications, one is in critical condition, and the remaining reported severe pneumonia. Only two of the new cases were classified as mild. Eighteen of the patients were men, 11 were women, and the range of ages was 34 to 79 years.
Beijing, which had seen very few H7N9 cases previously, reported a spike last week. The CHP reported no new cases of H5N6 avian flu, which much less commonly infects humans.
Apr 25 CHP report
Apr 21 CIDRAP News story "China's H7N9 cases spike, led by infections in Beijing"
[h=3]Sonny Perdue confirmed as agriculture secretary[/h] Former governor of Georgia Sonny Perdue was confirmed to lead the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday afternoon in an 87-11 Senate vote.
The vote had been delayed several times, and Perdue was Trump's last cabinet pick, named days before the president's Jan 20 inauguration, according to a story yesterday in USA Today.
"I'm pleased that the U.S. Senate was able to work in a bipartisan fashion to confirm Governor Perdue," said Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., according to USA Today. "I have faith that Governor Perdue will put the needs of farmers and ranchers first, and I know that rural America is thankful to have such a qualified Agriculture Secretary on their side."
Perdue, 70, grew up on a dairy farm and received a doctorate in veterinary medicine before entering politics. The republican was supported my many farmers groups, but some democrats said he held dangerous views on immigration and small farm loans.
According to National Public Radio (NPR), Perdue's most important task, in addition to overseeing more than 100,000 employees, will be spearheading a new farm bill. The current bill expires next year.
Apr 24 USA Today story
Apr 25 NPR story
[h=3]Measuring immune response could help identify malaria infections[/h] Today, on World Malaria Day, researchers at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) meeting in Austria said that measuring a patient's immune response could help identify a malaria infection.
At least 200 million people around the world suffer from malaria symptoms, many of which are unspecific and often misdiagnosed as other illnesses, including influenza. Scientists from Stanford University said their research has identified a group of seven genes expressed in patients with malaria that could help practitioners get a clear diagnosis and proper treatment.
"This research suggests that it's possible to develop a fast and accurate blood test for malaria that could be used even in areas where medical facilities are very basic," said Purvesh Khatri, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of medicine at Stanford University, in an ECCMID press release. "And if that's the case, more patients can be given life-saving treatment straight away."
Khatari and his colleagues tested the theory on more than 900 samples of tropical diseases and correctly identified malaria 96% of the time through the gene expression analysis.
Apr 24 ECCMID press release
News Scan for Apr 25, 2017
H7N9 cases in China; New USDA secretary; Malaria immune response
Filed Under:
H7N9 Avian Influenza; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); Public Health; Malaria
[h=3]Officials report 29 more cases of H7N9 in China[/h] In its latest weekly influenza report, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today confirmed 29 new H7N9 avian flu cases in mainland China, the most since late February. There have now been 616 cases of H7N9 reported in China since October of last year, in what is the country's fifth wave of the disease, the CHP said.
Seven of the cases are in Beijing, with Hunan reporting 5 cases; Hebei, 4; Sichuan, 3; Shandong , 2; Zhejiang, 2; and Anhui, Gansu, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Jilin, and Liaoning with one each.
Eight of the patients died from avian flu complications, one is in critical condition, and the remaining reported severe pneumonia. Only two of the new cases were classified as mild. Eighteen of the patients were men, 11 were women, and the range of ages was 34 to 79 years.
Beijing, which had seen very few H7N9 cases previously, reported a spike last week. The CHP reported no new cases of H5N6 avian flu, which much less commonly infects humans.
Apr 25 CHP report
Apr 21 CIDRAP News story "China's H7N9 cases spike, led by infections in Beijing"
[h=3]Sonny Perdue confirmed as agriculture secretary[/h] Former governor of Georgia Sonny Perdue was confirmed to lead the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday afternoon in an 87-11 Senate vote.
The vote had been delayed several times, and Perdue was Trump's last cabinet pick, named days before the president's Jan 20 inauguration, according to a story yesterday in USA Today.
"I'm pleased that the U.S. Senate was able to work in a bipartisan fashion to confirm Governor Perdue," said Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., according to USA Today. "I have faith that Governor Perdue will put the needs of farmers and ranchers first, and I know that rural America is thankful to have such a qualified Agriculture Secretary on their side."
Perdue, 70, grew up on a dairy farm and received a doctorate in veterinary medicine before entering politics. The republican was supported my many farmers groups, but some democrats said he held dangerous views on immigration and small farm loans.
According to National Public Radio (NPR), Perdue's most important task, in addition to overseeing more than 100,000 employees, will be spearheading a new farm bill. The current bill expires next year.
Apr 24 USA Today story
Apr 25 NPR story
[h=3]Measuring immune response could help identify malaria infections[/h] Today, on World Malaria Day, researchers at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) meeting in Austria said that measuring a patient's immune response could help identify a malaria infection.
At least 200 million people around the world suffer from malaria symptoms, many of which are unspecific and often misdiagnosed as other illnesses, including influenza. Scientists from Stanford University said their research has identified a group of seven genes expressed in patients with malaria that could help practitioners get a clear diagnosis and proper treatment.
"This research suggests that it's possible to develop a fast and accurate blood test for malaria that could be used even in areas where medical facilities are very basic," said Purvesh Khatri, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of medicine at Stanford University, in an ECCMID press release. "And if that's the case, more patients can be given life-saving treatment straight away."
Khatari and his colleagues tested the theory on more than 900 samples of tropical diseases and correctly identified malaria 96% of the time through the gene expression analysis.
Apr 24 ECCMID press release