A single vaccine based on the M2 protein that could give lifelong protection against all types of influenza A has produced promising results in human trials.
A new, low-cost screening strategy could make it easier for poor countries to target and treat Chagas disease, a deadly parasite-borne condition found mainly in Latin America.
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis releases a molecule that prevents a type of white blood cell from killing E. coli, which is known to be present within Crohn's disease tissue in increased numbers.
Scientists at the University of Calgary have developed a way of fertilizing the bacteria that exist in heavy oil reservoirs in order to improve recovery of hard-to-develop energy.
Pseudomonas bacteria which are normally found in soil and ground water and rarely affect healthy people, but are most likely to affect those who are already very sick.
In a 13-month period in the UK there were six deaths and 112 cases of severe complications among children. Vaccinating all children is the only way to prevent severe illness and death from chickenpox.
The National Farmers Union is responding to the need for farmers to keep up to date on the latest FMD and Bluetongue outbreaks using text messaging. The NFU is encouraging its members to register their mobile phone number to ensure they receive the latest
The endangered red squirrel population of Angleseys Newborough Forest is facing a new killer virus. One animal is known to have died from the deadly red squirrel adenovirus.
The latest UK MRSA blood poisoning figures show a 10% decrease in the last complete year, with 6,381 cases of MRSA reported in England between April 2006 and March 2007, compared to 7096 between April 2005 and March 2006. Latest annual cases of C. diffici
More than 3000 people who volunteered to receive an experimental AIDS vaccine are being told to come back and get extra tests because the jab may raise the risk of infection.
South Africa is in danger of losing the battle against HIV/AIDS, Unicef has warned. If present trends continue there could be five million orphans in South Africa by 2015 and the country is one of just nine countries worldwide where infant mortality is ri
The UK bluetongue outbreak has jumped species, having been found in sheep after first infecting cattle. The virus has infected at least 60 sheep and cattle, spreading to 36 farms in Suffolk and neighboring Essex.
DEFRA has confirmed that foot and mouth disease movement restrictions will be lifted outside the Risk Area on Wednesday 15 October in parallel with the lifting of the foot and mouth protection zone in Surrey.
Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their digestive system, but people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure.
Defra today announced that the existing Bluetongue Control and Protection Zones are being extended following confirmation of further cases of Bluetongue in Essex.
The finding that mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) can replicate and spread in human cells adds weight to the theory that MMTV might be involved in causing human breast cancer.
Dengue fever is reaching epidemic levels in the Caribbean and Latin America. Changing weather patterns and increased tourism and migration have raised the prevalence of the disease.
Sewage systems do not break down Tamiflu, which means the main weapon against bird flu could seep into natural waters and make certain viruses resistant to the drug during a pandemic.
A vaccine against Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is being used to stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. Initial tests show the vaccine has produced promising results.
A hunt is on for 2 patients with a deadly form of tuberculosis who disappeared after the Cape High Court ordered they return to a South African hospital. The pair, diagnosed with extremely drug resistant (XDR) tuberculosis, are presumed to be in hiding.
A US meat company has issued a nationwide recall for 21.7 million pounds (9843 tons) of ground beef products after reports of up to 25 cases of illness caused by suspected E. coli [O157:H7] in 8 states, including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
A mumps outbreak has been identified among university students in Adelaide. The highly infectious disease has been diagnosed in at least 8 students in the past 2 weeks, with more cases likely.
New research in the USA has concluded there is not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of immunising older people against influenza. The findings echo a controversial 2006 British Medical Journal study.
In light of increased media and public interest in ESBL-producing E. coli, the HPA provides some background about these infections and the work that is being carried out in this area.
University of Leicester scientists have made a discovery which could make probiotic yoghurts healthier. Dr Primrose Freestone has discovered that a natural food supplement could help make the bacteria in the yoghurts more effective. A fruit extract enabl
An outbreak of Q Fever is being investigated in the Cheltenham area. A total of 28 cases have been identified among local people, most requiring hospital treatment.
The Government chief vet has ruled out vaccination against foot and mouth despite confirmation the virus had been found on another farm in Surrey, the third this month.
Games based learning may provide an innovative approach to the control of health care associated infections in hospitals. Learning consultants are using video games to encourage improved infection control awareness and adherence to procedures.
The World Health Organization expanded its medical team fighting Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where at least 166 people have died from the virus and an associated outbreak of dysentery.
A cheetah at a zoo in Nuremberg has died after contracting an illness similar to mad cow disease, becoming the 1st confirmed case in Germany of so called feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE).
The government has set up a 10km (6.2 mile) control zone centred on the affected site near Egham, Surrey, and a pre-emptive slaughter has been ordered.
Thousands of interesting new compounds have been discovered inside the bodies of marine sponges according to scientists speaking at the Society for General Microbiology’s 161st Meeting at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Parents are being urged to protect their children against measles by getting them immunised with two doses of MMR before they return to school this September, following an increase in cases of measles over recent weeks.
It may seem remarkable that, 23 years after the identification of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there is still denial that the virus is the cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
All horse movement across the Australian state of New South Wales has been halted indefinitely, following an outbreak of equine flu, throwing its racing and breeding industry into turmoil.
Health officials say 2 recent incidents in which swimmers in Maryland were attacked by a rabid beaver should remind people that those "no swimming" signs are there for a reason. One rabid beaver, now dead, was responsible for an attack on a swimmer on Sun
A three-in-one AIDS pill for children has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in a global U.S. AIDS relief program. The generic pill made by India's Cipla Ltd combines the generic HIV-fighting drugs lamivudine, stavudine and nevi
A 66-year-old disabled woman has died and two other people are seriously ill following an outbreak of the E. coli O157 infection in the Paisley area of Scotland.
The vast majority of women do not know that most cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted infection. In a survey of 1,600 women only 2.5% cited human papillomavirus as a risk factor for cervical cancer.
US President George Bush was treated for what his doctors described as early, localized Lyme disease after developing a characteristic rash. Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection that, if left untreated, can cause arthritis and other problems. Symptoms c
For the second time in a month Thiruvanathapuram Zoo in Kerala is battling the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease. After one wild boar died of foot and mouth the zoo authorities decided to cull 19 others on Sunday but still don't know how many of th
Government officials believe human error at the private pharmaceutical firm Merial Animal Health is the most likely source for the return of foot and mouth disease. Senior officials believe the virus may have been transported by an individual or by a car
The strain of foot-and-mouth disease found at a Surrey farm has been identified, Defra has said. The strain in infected cattle (an O1 BFS67-like virus, isolated in the 1967 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Great Britain) is identical to that used for va
An outbreak of measles has struck up to 21 children across South Yorkshire. All those affected are children aged between just three months and 12 years who have not had the MMR inoculation.
The public is being asked to help monitor Northern Ireland seal colonies following an outbreak of a deadly virus. Phocine distemper virus (PDV) wiped out half of northern Europe's seal population in 1998.
For the average person, popping vitamin C pills is unlikely to ward off the common cold or shorten its length or severity. However, for people exposed to short bouts of extreme physical exercise or cold temperatures, vitamin C may markedly reduce their ri
Diagnoses of new sex infections rose by 2% to 376,508 from 2005 to 2006, largely among young people and gay men, the UK Health Protection Agency repoerts.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved BinaxNOW as the first malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) authorized for use in the United States. Malaria RDTs, which detect circulating malaria-specific antigens, already are available in other countries