MedWorm: Measles Vaccine

Measles mumps and rubella virus vaccine: Pityriasis rubra pilaris (first report) in an infant: case report

Reactions — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:29:54 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Global Measles Control - What Happened to the Progress?

About.com Pediatrics — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The CDC has released a new report on the "Progress in Global Measles Control, 2000-2010." First the good news. Annual measles deaths dropped from 733,000 in 2000 to 164,000 in 2008, which are greatly below the 2.6 million deaths that occurred each year before widespread global use of the measles vaccine in 1980....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

The Risk of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura After Vaccination in Children and Adolescents

PEDIATRICS — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: ITP is unlikely after early childhood vaccines other than MMR. Because of the small number of exposed cases and potential confounding, the possible association of ITP with hepatitis A, varicella, and tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccines in older children requires further investigation. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

Improving the Quality of Immunization Delivery to an At-Risk Population: A Comprehensive Approach

PEDIATRICS — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: We were able to implement a comprehensive immunization QI program that was sustainable over time. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

Vaccination coverage among medical residents in Paris, France

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMedical residents are particularly exposed to the risk of occupational infection. We aimed to determine the vaccination coverage in residents with an anonymous self‐reporting electronic questionnaire. A total of 250 residents entered this survey. Vaccination rates were particularly high for mandatory vaccinations (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis). Regarding recommended vaccinations (influenza 45.6%, pertussis 65.2%, measles 62.8%, varicella 62.8%), rates were insufficient to prevent hospital epidemics, but higher than those reported in other healthcare workers. Further immunization programmes should target residents, and not only senior healthcare workers, with a critical role for occupational medicine departments. (Source: Clinical Microbio...

Molecular Relationship between Field and Vaccine Strain of Measles Virus and its Persistence in Pakistan

Genetic Vaccines and Therapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Seroconversion and seroprevalence study of the vaccine and field strain of measles virus is needed to confirm whether its failure is due to service unavailability or vaccine in-affectivity.Key words: Measles, EPI, Outbreaks, Immunization, vaccines, Pakistan. (Source: Genetic Vaccines and Therapy)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Ghana: Children to Have a Second Dose of Measles Vaccination

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:13:27 +0100

Public Agenda (Accra)-The Ghana Health Service is set to add a second dose of measles vaccine to the number of vaccines children receive at child welfare clinics to protect them from childhood diseases after recording zero percent in measles-related deaths for the past eight years. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Improved equity in measles vaccination from integrating insecticide‐treated bednets in a vaccination campaign, Madagascar

Tropical Medicine and International Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:08:32 +0100

Conclusion Integration of ITN distribution with a vaccination campaign might improve measles vaccination coverage among the poor, thus providing protection for the most vulnerable and difficult to reach children. (Source: Tropical Medicine and International Health)

Progress towards measles and rubella elimination in Tuscany, Italy: the role of population seroepidemiological profile

The European Journal of Public Health — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Additional catch-up vaccination strategies targeting the adult population (particularly fertile women) are strongly needed to eliminate the risk of measles and congenital rubella syndrome for future generations. (Source: The European Journal of Public Health)

Consistency of HLA associations between two independent measles vaccine cohorts: A replication study.

Vaccine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study emphasizes the importance of replicating HLA associations with measles vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immune responses and increases confidence in the results. These data will inform strategies for functional studies and novel vaccine development, including epitope-based measles vaccines. This is the first HLA association replication study with measles vaccine-specific immune responses to date. PMID: 22285888 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

The Blame Frame: Media Attribution of Culpability About the MMR-Autism Vaccination Scare. - Holton A, Weberling B, Clarke CE, Smith MJ.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:05:52 +0100

This study analyzed 281 newspaper articles about a controversial medical study linking the measles, m... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Hospital-associated measles outbreak - pennsylvania, march-april 2009.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract Although endemic measles transmission has been interrupted in the United States, importations of this highly infectious virus continue. On March 28, 2009, a physician notified the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) of a measles case involving an unvaccinated child. Within 5 days, four additional cases were reported to PADOH and the Allegheny County Health Department. All five infected persons had been in the same hospital emergency department (ED) on March 10; one of them was a physician who worked in the ED. To find the source patient, PADOH reviewed electronic records of patients evaluated in the ED on March 10 for fever and rash. This identified a child who arrived recently from India, was treated for viral exanthema, and discharged. On April 3, PADOH ...

MSF closing its largest medical centres in Mogadishu after killings

MSF News — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:08:00 +0100

Following the tragic killings of two MSF field staff, Philippe Havet and physician Karel Keiluhu in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Dec. 29, 2011, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) sees itself forced to end all activities in the Hodan district of the capital, including the closure of two separate 120-bed medical facilities for the treatment of malnutrition, measles and the treatment of cholera. The closure of activities in this district reduces by half the assistance MSF is providing in Mogadishu. For now, MSF projects will continue to provide medical care in the other districts of the capital, as well as in 10 locations in the rest of Somalia. Somalia © Yann Libessart/MSF Mothers and children in MSF’s intensive therapeutic feeding centre in the Hodan district of Mogadishu in 2011. Since Au...

MSF Closes Two Large Medical Centers in Mogadishu after Killings of Staff

MSF News — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:36:00 +0100

Somalia 2011 © Martina Bacigalupo Houses lie in ruin in Mogadishu's Hodan district, where MSF has been forced to end activities. January 19, 2012 - Following the tragic killings of Philippe Havet and Dr. Karel Keiluhu, staff members of the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Mogadishu, Somalia, on December 29, 2011, MSF has been forced to end all activities in the Hodan district of the capital, including the closure of two separate 120-bed medical facilities for the treatment of malnutrition, measles, and cholera. The closure of activities in the Hodan district reduces by half the assistance MSF is providing in Mogadishu. The facilities were MSF’s largest in the city. For now, MSF pr...

Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak

About.com Pediatrics — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:00:24 +0100

The CDC reports on a 2009 hospital-associated measles outbreak today. Of the five cases, there was: a 10-year-old who had recently moved to Pennsylvania from India (unknown vaccination status) and was seen in the ER for evaluation of fever and rash (the source patient) an 11-month-old (too young to routinely be vaccinated against measles) who had been in the ER at the same time as the source patient and subsequently developed symptoms of measles a 23-month-old and 4-year-old, both intentionally unvaccinated, and their partially vaccinated father, all of whom developed symptoms of measles after being exposed to the source patient in the ER the vaccinated ER physician who evaluated and treated the source patient ...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Associations Between Demographic Variables and Multiple Measles-Specific Innate and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses After Measles Vaccination

Viral Immunology — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:14:10 +0100

Viral Immunology , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Viral Immunology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Multigenic control of measles vaccine immunity mediated by polymorphisms in measles receptor, innate pathway, and cytokine genes.

Vaccine — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kennedy RB, Ovsyannikova IG, Haralambieva IH, O'Byrne M, Jacobson RM, Pankratz VS, Poland GA Abstract Measles infection and vaccine response are complex biological processes that involve both viral and host genetic factors. We have previously investigated the influence of genetic polymorphisms on vaccine immune response, including measles vaccines, and have shown that polymorphisms in HLA, cytokine, cytokine receptor, and innate immune response genes are associated with variation in vaccine response but do not account for all of the inter-individual variance seen in vaccinated populations. In the current study we report the findings of a multigenic analysis of measles vaccine immunity, indicating a role for the measles virus receptor CD46, innate pattern-recognition recept...

[Assessment of primary care physicians' adherence to the national childhood vaccination schedule.]

Archives de Pediatrie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: The level of physicians' knowledge about the vaccination schedule in children was insufficient in northern France, especially for pertussis and measles. This can decrease vaccination coverage levels as well as its beneficial effects for children. PMID: 22264997 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives de Pediatrie)

[Outbreak of measles in the population of Spanish origin in North Madrid.]

Anales de Pediatria — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We describe the cases diagnosed in the north of Madrid between January and June 2011. A total of 22 cases are reported, 18 of them grouped in 2 outbreaks (2 nurseries). The primary attack rate was 29% in the main outbreak. All cases were in unvaccinated patients (median = 14 months). Genotype D4 was predominant (95%). There was a 45% complication rate and 45% were admitted to hospitals. The Public Health Service recommended isolating cases and vaccinating susceptible contacts in advance. Health Centres established a specific protocol to respond to suspected cases. The Measles vaccination has been brought forward from 15 to 12 months in Madrid. Measles is a re-emerging disease in Europe. The coordinated management between public health and health facilities is essential to limiting outbreak...

Case‐control study of risk factors for spasmodic dysphonia: A comparison with other voice disorders

The Laryngoscope — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions:SD is likely multifactorial and associated with several endogenous and exogenous factors. Certain viral exposures, voice use patterns, and familial neurological conditions may contribute to the onset of SD later in life. (Source: The Laryngoscope)

[Seminar] Measles

LANCET — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryMeasles is a highly contagious disease caused by measles virus and is one of the most devastating infectious diseases of man—measles was responsible for millions of deaths annually worldwide before the introduction of the measles vaccines. Remarkable progress in reducing the number of people dying from measles has been made through measles vaccination, with an estimated 164 000 deaths attributed to measles in 2008. This achievement attests to the enormous importance of measles vaccination to public health. (Source: LANCET)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Associations Between Demographic Variables and Multiple Measles-Specific Innate and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses After Measles Vaccination

Viral Immunology — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:17:37 +0100

Viral Immunology , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Viral Immunology)

Scientific misconduct: Latest MMR 'dispute' is a straw man

Nature — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Nature 481, 7380 (2012). doi:10.1038/481145d Author: Brian Deer Journalists have for years manufactured baseless controversy over the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The latest example is Eugenie Samuel Reich's report 'Fresh dispute about MMR 'fraud'' (Nature479, 157–158; 201110.1038/479157a). Truly a classic of the genre. (Source: Nature)

Development of a bead-based multiplex immunoassay for the simultaneously quantitative detection of IgG serum antibodies against Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella Zoster.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, the MMRV multiplex assay is a good alternative for the conventional ELISAs and suitable for use in serosurveillance and vaccine studies. PMID: 22237896 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical and Vaccine Immunology)

Infant feeding practices in Bhaktapur, Nepal: A cross-sectional, health facility based survey

International Breastfeeding Journal — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Despite the high proportion of mothers who initiated breastfeeding immediately after birth, continuation of exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months was not common. Very few mothers received any information on breastfeeding during the antenatal visit, indicating a need for counseling on exclusive breastfeeding. Possible options for this counseling could be during antenatal visits and at regular clinic visits for vaccination. (Source: International Breastfeeding Journal)

Increased Transmission and Outbreaks of MeaslesIncreased Transmission and Outbreaks of Measles

Medscape Today Headlines — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0100

What accounts for the rise in measles cases in Europe, and how can public health professionals and other clinicians intervene to educate the public about the importance of vaccination? Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

[Correspondence] The new decade of vaccines

LANCET — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Richard Moxon and colleagues' call for action for the new decade of vaccines (July 23, p 298) indicates that measles vaccine “does not provide protection among infants aged 4–9 months” but suggests that an “inhalable measles vaccine might provide protection for this vulnerable group”. This statement is surprising, since the authors of the review to which they refer concluded that, in all four comparative studies, seroconversion rates were lower with aerosolised than with subcutaneous vaccine in children younger than 10 months, and that in two of these studies the difference was unlikely to be due to chance. (Source: LANCET)

[Correspondence] The new decade of vaccines – Authors' reply

LANCET — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Peter Aaby and colleagues raise an issue about vaccination early in life with the Edmonston-Zagreb (EZ) measles strain. Our statement that measles vaccine “does not provide protection among infants aged 4–9 months” should have been qualified by the adjective “complete”. However, we agree that measles vaccine might be effective early in life, but caution must be exercised in recommending vaccination at 4–5 months. Aside from the issue of safety, further evidence is needed to support the claim that EZ is better than other strains, although some evidence supports this assertion. (Source: LANCET)

UK parents' decision-making about measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine 10 years after the MMR-autism controversy: A qualitative analysis.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: This study corroborated some previous qualitative work but indicated that the shrinking group of parents now rejecting MMR comprises mainly those with more extreme and complex anti-immunisation views, whilst parents opting for single vaccines may use second-hand information about the controversy. In response, policymakers and practitioners should revise their expectations of today's MMR decision-makers, and their methods for supporting them. PMID: 22230590 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Measles control in Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa as a case study.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity in measles vaccination coverage across SA districts challenges the goal of measles elimination in SA and SSA. The reduction in routine immunization coverage associated with the occurrence of SIAs raises the legitimate concern that SIAs may negatively impact health systems' functioning. PMID: 22230581 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Andrew Wakefield sues BMJ for claiming MMR study was fraudulent

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:17:42 +0100

BMJ and investigative journalist stand by allegations in articles about research linking MMR vaccine to autismAndrew Wakefield, the doctor who was struck off the medical register after triggering a health scare linking autism to the MMR vaccine, is suing the editor-in-chief of the British Medical Journal for defamation.In a complaint filed to a district court in Texas, lawyers acting for Wakefield claim that articles, editorials and other statements that appeared in the BMJ were "false and make defamatory allegations" about the doctor.The lawsuit names Fiona Godlee, the BMJ's editor-in-chief, and the British investigative journalist Brian Deer, who has covered the controversy over the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which led to a drop in MMR vaccination rates to dangerous levels.Docum...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

[Relationship between precariousness, social coverage, and vaccine coverage: Survey among children consulting in pediatric emergency departments in France.]

Archives de Pediatrie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Poor children living in southern France had significant delays in their routine immunizations, resulting in gaps in their protection. Every medical visit, even those conducted in an emergency ward, should identify children with immunization delays and offer a catch-up schedule if necessary. PMID: 22226013 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives de Pediatrie)

Vaccination coverage in Haiti: Results from the 2009 National Survey.

Vaccine — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Coverage for early-infant vaccines was high; however, most children did not complete their full vaccination series, and many children received vaccinations later than recommended. Efforts to improve the vaccination program should include increasing the frequency of outreach services, training for vaccination staff to minimize missed opportunities, and better communicating the timing of vaccinations to encourage caregivers to bring their children for vaccinations at the recommended age. Efforts to promote the benefits of vaccination and card retention are also needed. PMID: 22227146 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Mumps vaccine effectiveness against orchitis.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hahné S, Whelan J, van Binnendijk R, Swaan C, Fanoy E, Boot H, de Melker H Abstract TO THE EDITOR: Yung et al. reported in the April 2011 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the epidemiologic characteristics of the nationwide mumps outbreak in England and Wales in 2004-2005 (1). The associated effect of disease was considerable, with >43,000 reported cases and >2,600 hospitalizations. Compared with the prevaccine era, the average age of infection was higher, with infection occurring mostly in older teenagers and young adults (2). Older age at infection is associated with a higher risk of certain complications, particularly orchitis (3). Yung et al. reported that among cases of mumps, previous mumps measles rubella (MMR) vaccination offered considerable protecti...

Relation between Measles Incidence and Population Size under the Advanced Vaccine Program.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Yoshikura H PMID: 22274166 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases)

An investigation into a measles outbreak in southeast iran.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Izadi S, Zahraie SM, Sartipi M Abstract In 2009 and 2010, a series of measles outbreaks, involving different age groups, occurred in rural areas of the Chabahar district in southeast Iran. These outbreaks raised questions regarding the effectiveness of immunization programs in these areas. To determine the most important factors leading to these outbreaks, and to determine the effectiveness of the measles vaccination program, the present study analyzed surveillance data and performed a case-control study. The total number of reported cases during the study period was 126. The estimated vaccine effectiveness, based on the adjusted odds ratio of the case-control study, was 74.2% (95% CI, 10.2-92.6). On two occasions, both primary and secondary cases of the outbreaks were vac...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Gambia: National Immunisation Campaign Against Measles

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:13:14 +0100

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with development partners have just concluded a nationwide Measles Vaccination Campaign targeting children between one to five years. This exercise is aimed at curtailing the spread of the deadly disease which hitherto devastated the lives of many people, especially children. However, the Gambia has been doing extremely well in the fight against the disease because besides periodical national vaccination campaigns, inoculating our children against (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

How Do You Aspire to Change the World in 2012?

Red Cross Chat — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:08:34 +0100

Editor’s note: This post is a response to Craig Newmark’s Social Good Blog Series call for posts on the topic, “How Will You Change the World in 2012?”. Gail McGovern talks to Adebayo Oguntayo at an aid station during her visit to the tornado hit areas in Joplin, MO on May 28, 2011. From the tornadoes in Joplin, Miss., to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, this past year has been marked by devastating and deadly disasters that have killed thousands of people, destroyed whole communities and changed lives forever. It was one of the worst years for disasters, but it brought out the best in millions of people who gave generously to support their neighbors down the street, across the country and around the world. When people talk about changing the world, many will sa...

Doh! Top Science Journal Retractions of 2011

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0100

Bad science papers can have lasting effects. Consider the 1998 paper in the journal The Lancet that linked autism to the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. That paper was fully retracted in 2010 upon evidence that senior author Andrew Wakefield had manipulated data and breached several proper ethical codes of conduct. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Control of a measles outbreak by prohibiting non-vaccinated susceptible students from attending school in Akita Prefecture, Japan.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:27:37 +0100

Authors: Takimoto N, Takahashi Y, Ishiyama A, Kishimoto K, Iwama R, Nakano M Abstract In 2007-2008, a measles outbreak occurred among children above the age of 10 years in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan (population, approximately 1,120,000 at the time). Our group controlled the outbreak by (i) implementing a publically financed urgent vaccination program and (ii) prohibiting non-vaccinated and non-infected students from attending school as per regulations of the school public health law. We encouraged high-risk students to undergo a vaccination program, which resulted in the successful containment of the outbreak without the development of any severe cases. After the outbreak, the Akita Prefectural Government began an annual"Akita measles elimination month" every April, and n...

Emergencies unfolding one after the other

MSF News — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:14:00 +0100

Six months after the birth of South Sudan as the world’s newest independent country, a series of emergencies are unfolding that require urgent humanitarian responses. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has scaled up into full emergency mode in Upper Nile State to respond to the sudden influx of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring Sudan. Around the town of Agok in Northern Bahr al Ghazal State, MSF is facing the spectre of a food shortage and has launched a preventive supplementary feeding program for children who risk becoming malnourished in the months ahead. The 22-year war that ended in 2005 left South Sudan’s healthcare provision in a perilous state that could be described as an emergency in its own right. Now, in the contested area of Abyei between the two Sud...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Two cases of mild IgM-negative measles in previously vaccinated adults, the Netherlands, April and July 2011.

Euro Surveill — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:30:02 +0100

Authors: van den Hoek A, Sonder G, Scholing M, Gijselaar D, van Binnendijk R PMID: 22172302 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Euro Surveill)

Similarity of parents and physicians in the decision to vaccinate children against measles, mumps and rubella

International Journal of Public Health — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:47:56 +0100

Conclusions Efforts to improve the number of parental decisions for vaccination should focus on the educational level of the parents as well as homophily of parents and physicians. Notably, homogeneity of parents and providers concerning age changes decisions in favor of vaccinating. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00038-011-0326-9Authors P. Kriwy, Economic Sociology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Findelgasse 7-9, 90402 Nuremberg, Germany Journal International Journal of Public HealthOnline ISSN 1661-8564Print ISSN 1661-8556 (Source: International Journal of Public Health)

Updated Case Counts

About.com Pediatrics — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:44:55 +0100

Some updated case counts of vaccine-preventable diseases (not all pediatric) include: at least 223 reported cases of measles for the year, the most since 1996 120 pediatric flu deaths from the 2010-2011 flu season, an increase from the previous total of 118 deaths to include two deaths that were recently reported to the CDC 7 cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 168 cases of invasive meningococcal disease types A, C, Y, and W-135 1,078 cases of hepatitis A 2,315 cases of hepatitis B 13,188 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) ...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Shop ‘Til You Drop

Red Cross Chat — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:36:23 +0100

Have you finished your holiday shopping? If not, don’t fret – you’ve come to the right place! (I finished my holiday shopping about a month ago, which is why I have time to write this post. I tell you this not to brag, but more to confess how ridiculously obsessive I am. I’m pretty sure my husband and kids would like me to just RELAX a little, but alas, of that I am not capable.) First stop, the American Red Cross Store. Here are my five favorite items for sale at this online shop: - Solarlink F360 Eton Emergency Radio (ON SALE for $53.96) The Red Cross sells a number of emergency radios, but this one is my favorite. I love the color (I’m partial to anything red), the four power sources, the auxiliary output, and the USB compatibility. - 2012 One Red Cross Calendar ($9.95) What b...

Serious reactions to MMR vaccine rare, study finds

CTV Health — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:32:52 +0100

Reactions to the first shot of combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are fairly common among young children, but serious reactions are actually rare, a new study looking at data from Ontario suggests. (Source: CTV Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Outbreaks Spur Measles Vaccine Studies [Medical News & Perspectives]

JAMA — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Refugee numbers grow

MSF News — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:53:00 +0100

The registered number of refugees gathering at the tiny village of Doro, in South Sudan, as of Dec. 7, was 21,500 and increasing daily. Anywhere from 500 to 1,000 newcomers are registering every day. The walk from their homelands in Blue Nile State, Sudan, took anywhere from one week to one month. Although the work to set up a properly organized refugee camp is under way, no family groups arriving at the gathering point at Doro have yet been allocated a plot. So the reality for most is still to find a small tree or bush under which to spread the belongings they were able to carry. South Sudan © Jean-Marc Jacobs/MSFRefugees fleeing from Blue Nile State in Sudan have been arriving in Doro, South Sudan since mid-November. The refugees say they have fled war in Blue Nile State in neighbour...

Shedding Light on Measles

This Week in Science — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:03:49 +0100

Seasonal epidemics of measles in West Africa are a major vaccine-preventable cause of childhood mortality, but it has been difficult to measure key parameters needed for epidemiological assessment, including population … [Read more] (Source: This Week in Science)

Satellite images of city lights used to track measles

New Scientist - Health — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:05:30 +0100

Measles strikes where people crowd together – using satellites to track them by the glow of their lights could indicate where to aim vaccination (Source: New Scientist - Health)

Effect of Apheresis for ABO and HLA Desensitization on Anti-Measles Antibody Titers in Renal Transplantation

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:08:51 +0100

Desensitization strategies for ABO-incompatible renal transplants with plasma exchange (PE) or specific immunoadsorption (IA) decrease immunoglobulin levels. After recent measles outbreak and decreasing vaccination rates, we studied the impact of apheresis on anti-measles antibodies. Anti-measles antibodies were measured before desensitization, before transplantation and during followup in 12 patients with ABO incompatibility (2x PE only, 8x IA only, and 2x IA and PE) and 3 patients with donor-specific HLA antibodies (all PE). Patients received rituximab, IVIG, and standard immunosuppressive therapy. All patients had detectable anti-measles antibodies before desensitization (mean 3238 mU/l, range 560–8100). After 3–6 PE sessions, titers decreased significantly to 1710&#x...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Concomitant MMRV, Prevnar Safe for Healthy InfantsConcomitant MMRV, Prevnar Safe for Healthy Infants

Medscape Pediatrics Headlines — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:52:35 +0100

Administering a child's first dose of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine together with the pneumococcal vaccine is "highly immunogenic and generally well tolerated." Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Pediatrics Headlines)

Concomitant MMRV, Prevnar safe for healthy infants

Modern Medicine — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Administering a child's first dose of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine together with the pneumococcal vaccine is "highly immunogenic and generally well tolerated," a new study shows. (Source: Modern Medicine)

A case study of measles vaccination for university students during the measles outbreak in Tokyo, Japan, 2007

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:46:07 +0100

Abstract In April 2007, seven students belonging to the same class at Teikyo University developed measles. To prevent the spread of infection, 27 of 106 students in the same class who had low anti-measles antibody titers as measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay were vaccinated. After the outbreak had subsided, the HI values were investigated in 103 students, and they answered questionnaires about their health condition during the period of the outbreak and their previous clinical histories of measles, including vaccination records. There was no new case of measles after introduction of the vaccination program. However, the HI titers of 42% of the students who were not vaccinated in this program were significantly elevated. Fever and catarrhal signs occurred in...

Increased transmission and outbreaks of measles - European region, 2011.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract During 2003-2009, substantial progress was made toward the previous goal of measles elimination in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region (EUR) by 2010. However, since late 2009, measles virus transmission has increased, and outbreaks have become widespread. In 2011, measles outbreaks have been reported in 36 of 53 EUR member states; a total of 26,074 measles cases had been reported regionwide as of October 26. France reported the largest number of cases (approximately 14,000), predominantly among older children and young adults who had not been vaccinated or whose vaccination history was unknown. Overall, the primary reason for the increased transmission and outbreaks of measles in EUR is failure to vaccinate susceptible populations. Eliminating me...

Measles outbreaks on the rise across Europe

USATODAY.com Health — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:39:32 +0100

A new report says measles is on the rise in Europe after years of decline.Health officials blame the epidemic primarily on low vaccination ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Measles mumps and rubella virus vaccine: AHEI in an infant: case report

Reactions — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:29:01 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Immunogenicity and Safety of MMRV and PCV-7 Administered Concomitantly in Healthy Children

PEDIATRICS — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant administration of the MMRV and PCV-7 is highly immunogenic and generally well tolerated. Similar immune responses between the groups support concomitant administration of the MMRV and PCV-7 to healthy children 12 to 15 months of age. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

Type 1 diabetes and measles, mumps and rubella childhood infections within the Italian Insulin‐dependent Diabetes Registry

Diabetic Medicine — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: According our findings, mumps and rubella viral infections are associated with the onset of Type 1 diabetes. The statistical significance observed after exclusion of the Sardinian data suggests that other environmental factors may operate over populations with different genetic susceptibility.© 2011 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine© 2011 Diabetes UK (Source: Diabetic Medicine)

Vaccination Campaigns in Postsocialist Ukraine: Health Care Providers Navigating Uncertainty

Medical Anthropology Quarterly — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Vaccination anxieties grew into a public health issue during the 2008 failed measles and rubella immunization campaign in Ukraine. Here I explore how health care providers bend official immunization policies as they navigate media scares about vaccines, parents’ anxieties, public health officials’ insistence on the need for vaccination, and their own sense of expertise and authority. New hierarchies are currently being renegotiated, and I follow health care providers as they attempt to parcel out their new position in the Ukrainian society and beyond. Public health control is reframed in a postsocialist context as a condition of acceptance into the European community as a sanitary democracy, and a contestation point between citizens and state. I untangle how relationships between citiz...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

East African immigrant children in Australia have poor immunisation coverage

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Paediatric East African immigrants in Victoria are very likely to be inadequately immunised and parent‐reported vaccination status does not predict serological immunity. Full catch‐up immunisation is recommended where immunisation status is unknown and written records are unavailable. Consideration should be given to policy and program development to provide timely and complete immunisation coverage in this group after arrival in Australia. (Source: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health)

A Review of Measles.

The Journal of School Nursing — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Dardis MR Abstract Measles, once a common childhood illness that many older school nurses could recognize without difficulty, needs review again after reemerging from Europe and other continents. A highly contagious disease, which has been referenced since the seventh century, the virus can cause serious illness and death, despite the fact that it is vaccine preventable. School nurses are wise to review the pathogenesis, occurrences, incubation, and communicability as well as methods to diagnose and treat measles in order to prevent an outbreak. PMID: 22140138 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Journal of School Nursing)

Towards universal health coverage: the role of within-country wealth-related inequality in 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Bulletin of the World Health Organization — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: The contribution of wealth-related inequality to the child and maternal health service coverage gap differs by country and type of health service, warranting case-specific interventions. Targeted policies are most appropriate where high within-country wealth-related inequality exists, and whole-population approaches, where the health-service coverage gap is high in all quintiles. PMID: 22271945 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization)

Modelling of infectious diseases for providing signal of epidemics: a measles case study in Bangladesh.

Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The objective of this study was to provide an early signal of infectious disease epidemics by analyzing the disease dynamics. A two-stage monitoring system was applied, which consists of univariate Box-Jenkins model or autoregressive integrated moving average model and subsequent tracking signals from several statistical process-control charts. The analyses were illustrated on January 2000-August 2009 national measles data reported monthly to the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Bangladesh. The results of this empirical study revealed that the most adequate model for the occurrences of measles in Bangladesh was the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (3, 1, 0) (0, 1, 1)12 model, and the statistical process-control charts detected no measles epidemics during Septemb...

Two cases of mild IgM-negative measles in previously vaccinated adults, the Netherlands, April and July 2011

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Oncolytic Measles Virus Retargeting by Ligand Display

Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Despite significant advances in recent years, treatment of metastatic malignancies remains a significant challenge. There is an urgent need for development of novel therapeutic approaches. Virotherapy approaches have considerable potential, and among them measles virus (MV) vaccine strains have emerged as a promising oncolytic platform. Retargeted MV strains deriving from the Edmonston vaccine lineage (MV-Edm) have shown comparable antitumor efficacy to unmodified strains against receptor expressing tumor cells with improved therapeutic index. Here, we describe the construction, rescue, amplification, and titration of fully retargeted MV-Edm derivatives displaying tumor specific receptor binding ligands on the viral surface in combination with H protein CD46 and SLAM entry ablating mutatio...

Evaluation of the mass measles vaccination campaign in Guangdong Province, China

International Journal of Infectious Diseases — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Summary: Objective: To evaluate the mass measles vaccination campaign of 2009 in Guangdong Province, China.Methods: Data on the campaign implementation, measles surveillance, and serological surveillance were reviewed and analyzed by statistical methods.Results: Rapid coverage surveys showed that 98.09% of children were vaccinated during the campaign. The coverage of migrant children increased significantly from 67.10% to 97.32% (p (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)

Hospital at full capacity

MSF News — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:43:00 +0100

In the second half of 2011, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) witnessed increased insecurity in the camps located near Dadaab, Kenya. The kidnapping of two MSF international staff members in October forced the organization to halt activities in Ifo camp and to temporarily reduce services in Dagahaley camp to lifesaving activities in the hospital only. Despite the situation, MSF medical teams never stopped providing medical care in the biggest refugee camp in the world, and MSF has now resumed all medical activities in Dagahaley. Kenya © Brendan BannonA young Somali boy who fled with his family from Mogadishu is examined by MSF staff in the MSF hospital in Dagahaley camp in Dadaab. MSF teams are working to ensure quality medical care for the refugees. The 300-bed hospital in Dagahaley ...

Condition still critical

MSF News — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:33:00 +0100

Decades of conflict and a lack of government investment have made it hard for people in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to access basic healthcare. Epidemics have spread unchecked and treatment of deadly diseases has been neglected. Eastern DRC is still volatile, marked by shifting alliances between armed groups, ongoing military operations, instability, insecurity, banditry and violence. Attacks against civilians and aid organizations are rising, making both the population and humanitarian aid workers increasingly vulnerable. Rape, murder, kidnapping and random acts of violence are daily occurrences for millions of people. The instability continues to push people from their homes and at times limits MSF’s ability to provide free, lifesaving healthcare. Lack of investment in th...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Measles in Kansas City

About.com Pediatrics — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:11:45 +0100

Even as we are entering cold and flu season, it seems like this year's large number of measles's cases just won't stop. The latest confirmed case is a young child in the Kansas City metropolitan area who was not up to date on vaccines....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Measles outbreak blamed on lower vaccination rate

Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

No one would blame you if you wanted to call those vaccine-hesitant parents and say, “I told you so.” So far this year, the United States has seen 212 cases of measles, the largest number of cases in 15 years, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Of those infected, 99% were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown. You probably can guess what group of children was most endangered by the lack of herd immunity. (Source: Modern Medicine Contemporary Pediatrics)

People caught between epidemics, malnutrition and conflict

MSF News — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:40:00 +0100

Even for the long-suffering Somali people, the events of the past year have been challenging. The conflict that began two decades ago continues, and its consequences are exacerbated by drought, one of the worst on record in the country. Thousands of people have been forced to flee Somalia and are seeking humanitarian aid in refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. A measles epidemic is spreading. Lack of infrastructure and services are increasing the population’s vulnerability. In recent weeks, civilians have endured new military offensives launched in southern Somalia and the capital Mogadishu. Somalia © Yann Libessart/MSFA doctor treats a sick child in one of MSF's four inpatient therapeutic feeding centres in Mogadishu. It is in this context that Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has, ...

Leaving health to luck?

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:24:05 +0100

Claire McCarthy, MD Avoiding the chickenpox vaccine has been in the news recently, with the story of a company offering lollipops licked by kids with chickenpox as a way to give your child the illness. Some parents, apparently, would rather use those lollipops, or take their child to a chickenpox party to play with infected kids, than give their child the vaccine. It got me thinking about my mother and her quest to give me chickenpox when I was a child. She would have drawn the line at the lollipops (which is a ludicrous idea—not only is it incredibly unlikely to work, but who knows what other germs were in that kid’s mouth), but she would have taken me to the parties in a heartbeat. She did her own version: she took me to play with neighborhood kids when they got chickenpox. My mot...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Vaccine-preventable Diseases: an Examination of Measles and Poilo In Nigeria (Michael Olusegun Afolabi B.MLS, AMLSCN, C.C.E, Dipl. Med. Soc.)

Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Family Medicine Digital Resources Library (FMDRL) Recently Uploaded)

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Champions Vaccines

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

During her years in the Georgia governor's mansion, and again in the White House, Carter helped lead efforts to pass state laws requiring children be immunized before entering school...Now, as the USA grapples with its largest measles outbreak in 15 years, she says parents need to take up the banner. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Dismay at Measles Outbreaks

About.com Pediatrics — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

With at least 220 cases of measles in the United States this year, the most since 1996, many parents, pediatricians, and other health experts are dismayed at the rise in this vaccine preventable disease....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Visual impairment in children in middle- and lower-income countries

Archives of Disease in Childhood — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Reducing visual impairment and blindness in children in resource-poor countries is one of the key components of the major global prevention of blindness initiative, VISION 2020 the Right to Sight. Although visual impairment and blindness among children is much less common than among adults, the potential lifespan of a child means that the lifelong impact of such impairment is very large. Over 10 years ago, it was estimated that, globally, 1.4 million children were blind. Much has changed in the past 10–20 years and there is a need to reassess both the magnitude and causes of global childhood blindness and visual impairment. While the widespread implementation of vitamin A supplementation and measles immunisation programmes have led to a reduction in vitamin A deficiency-related blind...

Global routine vaccination coverage, 2010.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This report summarizes the status of vaccination coverage globally and regionally in 2010 and progress toward meeting the GIVS goal. In 2010, 130 (67%) countries had achieved 90% DTP3 coverage, and an estimated 85% of infants worldwide had received at least 3 doses of DTP vaccine. However, 19.3 million children were not fully vaccinated and remained at risk for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis and other vaccine-preventable causes of morbidity and mortality; approximately 50% of these children live in India, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the overall improvement in vaccination coverage during the past 37 years, routine vaccination programs need to be strengthened globally, especially in countries with the greatest numbers of unvaccinated children. PMID: 2207159...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

The Association of CD46, SLAM and CD209 Cellular Receptor Gene SNPs with Variations in Measles Vaccine-Induced Immune Responses: A Replication Study and Examination of Novel Polymorphisms

Human Heredity — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Hum Hered 2011;72:206–223 (DOI:10.1159/000331585) (Source: Human Heredity)

Discredited Vaccine-Autism Researcher Defended by Whistleblower Group

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:47:00 +0100

It is one of the most serious allegations that could be made about a doctor: manipulating patients' histories to make money. So it is no wonder that the charges, levied by editors of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in January against medical researcher Andrew Wakefield, are still getting close scrutiny. Now an American whistleblower advocacy group has joined the fray over Wakefield, who in 1998 hypothesized a link, now scientifically disproven, between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) and autism. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Polio Progress

About.com Pediatrics — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:39:17 +0100

With all of the talk about vaccine refusers, measles outbreaks, and new cases of mumps, etc., you hardly expect to hear any good news about vaccine preventable diseases. Fortunately, there is some good news. The CDC reports on the recent progress toward polio eradication in India. This is big news, as India has been one of few countries, in addition to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, where transmission of indigenous wild poliovirus has not been interrupted....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Surge in Somali refugees demands increased capacity

MSF News — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:46:00 +0100

Unless the capacity to deliver aid is rapidly increased, there will be significant problems in meeting the needs of Somalis fleeing to Ethiopia, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today. Malnutrition and mortality rates have only just been brought below crisis level in the refugee camps in southern Ethiopia. “At the moment, the capacity to receive more people and provide the necessary food, nutritional care, medical care, drinking water, sanitation and more is grossly insufficient,” said Wojciech Asztabski, MSF project coordinator for the Dollo Ado intervention. Photo: Sisay Zerihun, MSF | Somali refugees in the transit camp in Liben, Ethiopia. Many have to make their own shelters out of branches and bits of cloth. Overcrowding at the camp exacerbates hygiene and sanitation probl...

Ethiopia: Surge of Somali Refugees Demands Increased Aid Capacity

MSF News — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:35:00 +0100

DOLLO ADO, ETHIOPIA, NOVEMBER 2, 2011 -- Unless the capacity to deliver aid is rapidly increased, there will be significant challenges in meeting the needs of Somalis fleeing to Ethiopia, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today. Refugee camps in Ethiopia are currently home to roughly 130,000 refugees from Somalia, the majority of whom have fled an ongoing food crisis and conflict. In recent weeks the number of people crossing the border into Ethiopia has increased to approximately 300 per day, up from 90 per day in September and October. “At the moment, the capacity to receive more people and provide the necessary food, nutritional care, medical care, drinking water, sanitation and more, i...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

[Pityriasis rubra pilaris after vaccination].

Annales de Dermatologie et de Cenereologie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Questioning about recent vaccination during history taking appears necessary to assess the importance of this trigger factor as well as the mechanism responsible for the onset of PRP. PMID: 22078037 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annales de Dermatologie et de Cenereologie)

2012 Red Book dedicated to Dr. Katz, measles vaccine co-developer [FELLOWS IN THE NEWS]

AAP News — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Source: AAP News)

Recent publications in medical microbiology and immunology: a retrospective

Medical Microbiology and Immunology — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:49:41 +0100

Abstract A look back is done to some clinical and basic research activities recently published in medical microbiology and immunology. The review covers clinical experiences and in vitro experiments to understand the emergency, pathogenicity, epidemic spread, and vaccine-based prevention of avian and swine-origin flu. Some new developments and concepts in diagnosis, (molecular) epidemiology, and therapy of AIDS, viral hepatitis C, and herpesvirus-associated diseases are outlined. Regulation of immune system has been discussed in a special issue 2010 including some aspects of CNS affections (measles). Mycobacterial infection and its prevention by modern recombinant vaccines have reached new interest, as well as new concepts of vaccination and prophylaxis against several oth...

Vaccination campaign suspended due to fighting in Dayniile

MSF News — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:50:00 +0100

After heavy fighting erupted on Oct. 20 in Dayniile, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was forced to suspend its measles vaccination campaign in the area. The campaign had been scheduled to last three weeks and to reach 35,000 children. Measles is currently wreaking havoc in Somalia. Some 60,000 have been already vaccinated against measles over the last t months. "Combined with malnutrition, measles is now the main killer of children in Somalia,” says Duncan McLean, head of MSF programs in Somalia. “Only vaccination can stop the spread of the epidemic.” Somalia © Yann Libessart / MSFMSF staff with Somali families in the Rajo displaced persons camp in Mogadishu. During the first five days of the campaign, 4,831 children between six months and 15...

IDSA: Outbreak of Measles Raises Vaccine Questions (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:01:00 +0100

BOSTON (MedPage Today) -- A large measles outbreak in the Canadian province of Quebec is raising questions about vaccine effectiveness, researchers said here. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Estimating the effectiveness of vaccination programs

EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Public Library of Science) In this week's PLoS Medicine, Justin Lessler of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA, and colleagues describe a method that estimates the fraction of a population accessible to vaccination activities, and apply it to measles vaccination in three African countries: Ghana, Madagascar and Sierra Leone. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)

Measuring the Performance of Vaccination Programs Using Cross-Sectional Surveys: A Likelihood Framework and Retrospective Analysis

PLoS Medicine — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Combining administrative data with survey data substantially improves estimates of vaccination coverage. Estimates of the inefficiency of past vaccination activities and the proportion not covered by any activity allow us to more accurately predict the results of future activities and provide insight into the ways in which vaccination programs are failing to meet their goals. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary (Source: PLoS Medicine)

Somalia: vaccination campaign suspended due to fighting

MSF News — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:30:27 +0100

After heavy fighting erupted on 20th October in Dayniile, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, MSF was forced to suspend its measles vaccination campaign in the area. (Source: MSF News)

Longitudinal analysis of antibody response to immunization in paediatric survivors after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

British Journal of Haematology — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

SummaryThe long‐term antibody responses to re‐immunization in recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) have not been well studied. We prospectively and longitudinally evaluated the antibody responses to eight vaccine antigens (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and poliovirus) and assessed the factors associated with negative titres in 210 allo‐HSCT recipients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Antibody responses lasting for more than 5 years after immunization were observed in most patients for tetanus (95·7%), rubella (92·3%), poliovirus (97·9%), and, in diphtheria‐tetanus‐acellular pertussis (DTaP) recipients, diphtheria (100%). However, responses to pertussis (25·0%), measles (66·7%), mu...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Measles Update

About.com Pediatrics — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

A lot is being made of the news that the largest measles outbreak in the United States since 1996, which is now up to 214 cases, has likely been driven by unvaccinated children and adults traveling out of the country and spreading the vaccine-preventable disease among small groups back home....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Unvaccinated People Affected By Largest Measles Outbreak In Years, USA

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:00:00 +0100

2011 has seen a considerable increase in reported measles cases in Canada and the USA - the vast majority of people who became ill were not vaccinated, informs James M. Hughes, MD, President of the Infectious Disease Society of America. Measles had been declared 'eliminated' in the USA thanks to a high rate of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations among infants. "Eliminated" means a disease has not been spreading continuously - which in this case meant since 2000... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

What’s Behind the Latest Measles Outbreaks?

WebMD Health — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:07:03 +0100

Concerns about a possible link between the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine helped fuel a measles outbreak this year in Minnesota, the country’s largest since 1996, according to research to be presented Saturday at an infectious diseases meeting. (Source: WebMD Health)

Measles: What Parents Need to Know

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:22:46 +0100

The MMR vaccine is the most efficient protection against measles For years, measles has been rare in the United States, thanks to immunization. But recently, that has changed. This year we’ve seen lots of outbreaks, mostly started by unimmunized people going to or coming from countries that have lots of measles—and then giving the infection to unimmunized people here. In Massachusetts we have had 24 cases of measles this year—19 since May! What is measles? Measles, also called rubeola, is a very contagious respiratory illness. What causes it? Measles is caused by a virus. It is spread through the air when people with the illness cough, sneeze, or simply breathe near someone else. It lives in the mucus of infected people, so if an infected person has mucus on their hands (f...

Unvaccinated Kids Behind Largest U.S. Measles Outbreak in Years: Study

The Doctors Lounge - Infections — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0100

Vaccination and quick public health response are limiting these outbreaks, experts say (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Infections)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Measles among vaccinated kids raises questions

CTV Health — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:59:29 +0100

An unusual observation from a large outbreak of measles in Quebec may raise some alarm among those who attend the the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America this weekend. (Source: CTV Health)

Malaria vaccine could save millions of children's lives

Guardian Unlimited Science — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:31:00 +0100

Researchers 'on the cusp' of a vaccine after widescale African trial shows the risk of malaria cut in halfMillions of children's lives could be saved by a new vaccine shown to halve the risk of malaria in the first large-scale trials across seven African countries.The long-awaited results of the largest-ever malaria vaccine study, involving 15,460 babies and small children, show that it could massively reduce the impact of the much-feared killer disease. Malaria takes nearly 800,000 lives a year – mostly children under five. It damages many more.The vaccine has been in development for two decades – the brainchild of scientists at the UK drug company GlaxoSmithKline, which has promised to sell it at no more than a fraction over cost-price, with the excess being ploughed back into furthe...

Angola: Over 200,000 Children Immunised Against Polio

AllAfrica News: Polio — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:03:53 +0100

At least 234,164 children under five years of age were vaccinated against measles and poliomyelitis on October 09-10, in southern Namibe province, as part of the vaccination campaign called "Viva a vida com Saúde" (enjoy a healthy life), ANGOP learned on Monday. (Source: AllAfrica News: Polio)

A Mid-Term Assessment of Progress towards the Immunisation Coverage Goal of the Global Immunisation Vision and Strategy (GIVS)

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Progress towards GIVS goals highlights improvements in routine immunization coverage, yet it is troubling to observe priority countries with little or no progress during the past five years. These results highlight that further efforts are needed to achieve and maintain the global immunization coverage goals. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

Listen up: The high volume of hearing loss

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:40:04 +0100

Kids and teens regularly exposed to second-hand smoke are almost twice as likely to develop hearing loss than children who aren’t usually around it, according to a recent study by the Archives of Otolaryngology. And if something as seemingly unrelated as second-hand smoke contributes to hearing loss in kids, what else can erode a child’s hearing? Brian Fligor, ScD, director of Diagnostic Audiology at Children’s Hospital Boston, says everyday things that seem harmless are actually degrading our hearing without us realizing it. “Unfortunately, hearing loss is something that affects a lot of people, but it’s also something we can’t see,” he says. “It’s kind of a sinister thing.” Fligor explains that “overworking” the ears can lead to hearing loss; and that overworking...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Measles Cases Abroad Linked to Increase of Disease in USMeasles Cases Abroad Linked to Increase of Disease in US

Medscape Today Headlines — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:02:21 +0100

What accounts for some of the newer cases of measles in this country, and are enough people still being vaccinated against the disease? The Nation's Health (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Quality Improvement Report: Improving MMR vaccination rates

NeLM - News — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: BMJ Area: News In the UK, there are recommendations for at least 95% of children to receive a first vaccination with the MMR vaccine before age 2 years and a booster before age 5 years to achieve herd immunity and prevent outbreaks. Though the reported vaccination rates for England have improved since a low level in 2003-4, the reported rates of uptake of all childhood vaccinations in London remain below those for England. The year 2008 saw the highest number of recorded confirmed cases of measles (1370) in England and Wales since the introduction of disease monitoring in 1995, most of which were concentrated in London. Between 2006 and 2008 the London borough of Tower Hamlets had the highest rates of confirmed measles, with 24.6 cases per 100,000 (46 confirmed cases) compared wit...

The economic disease burden of measles in Japan and a benefit cost analysis of vaccination, a retrospective study

BMC Health Services Research — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Although the model has some limitations, we conclude that the policy of immunizing infants soon after their one-year birthday is economically effective. (Source: BMC Health Services Research)

History of Vaccine Preventable Diseases and MMWR

About.com Pediatrics — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:57:25 +0100

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the CDC is a great service. From health information related to food contamination outbreaks (Listeria outbreak from Jensen Farms cantaloupes) and measles outbreaks to the recent report about an increase in ER visits for concussions, the MMWR is the go to place to get "timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations."...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Give Something That Means Something

Red Cross Chat — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:18:35 +0100

This post written by American Red Cross CEO and President Gail McGovern This is a picture of my daughter, Annie and me. Now Annie is 21 years old, and in college, and last year for Hanukkah, we lit candles together via Skype. In addition to her presents, I gave her a gift each of the eight nights of Hanukkah from the American Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog. She was delighted that a blanket, comfort kit, a measles vaccine, and other gifts were given in her name to people in need. And I was delighted to give them because if there’s one thing we don’t need in our house, it’s more stuff. We buy a lot of stuff during the holidays. A lot of meaningless stuff. Is it just me, or does it bother you, too? In August, I was privileged to travel with President Obama to Patterson, New Jersey, to ...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Do European doctors support measles, mumps, rubella vaccination programmes enough?

Euro Surveill — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:45:03 +0100

Authors: Lopalco P, Sprenger M PMID: 21968421 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Euro Surveill)

Mumps Outbreak in California

About.com Pediatrics — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:17:48 +0100

There is a report of a mumps outbreak on the campus of Berkeley in California, with two confirmed cases and another suspected case of the vaccine preventable disease. Although we have been hearing a lot more about the measles outbreaks lately, there have actually been two very large mumps outbreaks fairly recently:...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

Improving MMR vaccination rates: herd immunity is a realistic goal

BMJ Online First — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Problem As measles is a highly infectious disease, the United Kingdom recommendation is for at least 95% of children to receive a first vaccination with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Doctors' MMR Support Key to Halting Measles in EUDoctors' MMR Support Key to Halting Measles in EU

Medscape Infectious Diseases Headlines — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:28:16 +0100

With almost 30,000 cases of measles and eight deaths from the disease recorded in the European Union so far this year, a leading health official is urging doctors to do more to ensure parents have their children vaccinated with MMR. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Infectious Diseases Headlines)

Doctors Inc.: Small Fixes: How a Failure With Measles Helped to Eradicate Smallpox

NYT Health — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:00:32 +0100

Medicine might never have achieved its greatest triumph to date — eradicating smallpox — if small errors had not been made in a measles immunization program. (Source: NYT Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

The vaccine-autism connection: a public health crisis caused by unethical medical practices and fraudulent science.

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Flaherty DK Abstract In 1998, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a British gastroenterologist, described a new autism phenotype called the regressive autism-enterocolitis syndrome triggered by environmental factors such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination. The speculative vaccination-autism connection decreased parental confidence in public health vaccination programs and created a public health crisis in England and questions about vaccine safety in North America. After 10 years of controversy and investigation, Dr. Wakefield was found guilty of ethical, medical, and scientific misconduct in the publication of the autism paper. Additional studies showed that the data presented were fraudulent. The alleged autism-vaccine connection is, perhaps, the most damaging medical ho...

Crowded camps, ongoing crisis make fighting measles difficult

MSF News — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:26:00 +0100

Measles. It starts with a fever, runny nose and a cough. Then a rash. For children who are not immunized this often spells disaster. Today in Somalia measles is among the biggest threats to the survival of tens of thousands of vulnerable malnourished children when the disease sweeps quickly through overcrowded displacement camps where malnutrition levels are high and immunity low. Vicious circle In Somalia, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) operates 13 medical nutritional programs. Around 5,500 malnourished children are receiving therapeutic feeding while nearly 500 children suffering medical complications on top of severe malnutrition are being nursed back to health in eight intensive therapeutic feeding centres. Somalia © Feisal OmarAn MSF mobile team doing measles vaccination in c...

Doctors' support for MMR key to halting measles in EU

Reuters: Health — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:44:40 +0100

LONDON (Reuters) - With almost 30,000 cases of measles and eight deaths from the disease recorded in the European Union so far this year, a leading health official is urging doctors to do more to ensure parents have their children vaccinated with MMR. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Progress in implementing measles mortality reduction strategies --- India, 2010--2011.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This report provides an update on MCV1 coverage, progress in implementing MCV2, and measles outbreak surveillance activities conducted in eight states during 2006--2010. India has initiated implementation of a measles mortality reduction strategy, but the pace of implementation is variable across states. Strong national and state leadership and commitment to rapid reduction of measles mortality are essential to achieve the full benefits of this strategy. PMID: 21956408 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

Doctors' MMR support key to halting measles in EU

Modern Medicine — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Numbers receiving MMR jab equal to 1990s

Nursing Times Breaking News — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:09:00 +0100

The combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccination is being administered to an increasing number of children in England, official figures show. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Do European doctors support measles, mumps, rubella vaccination programmes enough?

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

NHS immunisation statistics for England for 2010-11 published

NeLM - News — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Source: NHS Information Centre Area: News NHS Networks has published immunisation statistics for England for the period 2010-2011. The following key results have been identified (taken directly from source): . Reported coverage figures for all routine childhood vaccinations reported through the Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly (COVER) programme in 2010-11 showed an increase at national level. Most regions also reported increases in coverage for routine childhood vaccinations. Although London reported increases, coverage figures for this Strategic Health Authority (SHA) remain lower than for other regions. . For children reaching their second birthday, coverage of Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio, Pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib) in 2010-11 wa...

Measles-Mumps-Rubella Revaccination; 18 Months vs. 4-6 Years of Age: Potential Impacts of Schedule Changes

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: This study showed that the majority of younger children were susceptible to MMR infection before revaccination. Earlier age policy provides more protection against MMR in preschool-aged children. Rubella strain seems to be less potent than reported. (Source: Journal of Tropical Pediatrics)

The Doctor’s World: Small Fixes: How a Failure With Measles Helped to Eradicate Smallpox

NYT Health — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:14:52 +0100

Medicine might never have achieved its greatest triumph to date — eradicating smallpox — if small errors had not been made in a measles immunization program. (Source: NYT Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

The Clinical Epidemiology of Pediatric Patients With Measles From 2000 to 2009 in Shanghai, China

Clinical Pediatrics — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Measles remains a leading vaccine-preventable cause of child mortality worldwide. The incidence has increased recently in some areas. The authors retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 2473 measles patients in Shanghai from 2000 to 2009. There were 1909 measles cases during 2005-2009 (group II), whereas only 564 cases were reported during 2000-2004 (group I). In total, 60.87% patients in group II were younger than 9 months, which was significantly higher than that in group I (35.28%; P < .001). More complications, death cases, and less atypical rashes were found in recent years. In addition, 2181 of all the 2473 patients (88.19%) and 1112 of 1328 hospitalized children (83.73%) had not been vaccinated; most of them were immigrants. The results indica...

Measles vaccination in humanitarian emergencies: a review of recent practice

Conflict and Health — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Measles outbreaks continue to occur in humanitarian emergencies due to low levels of pre-existing population immunity. According to available published information, cases continue to occur in children over age 5. Preventing cases in older age groups may prevent younger children from becoming infected and reduce mortality in both younger and older age groups. (Source: Conflict and Health)

Decoding Vaccination; Researchers Reveal Genetic Underpinnings Of Response To Measles Vaccine

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Researchers at Mayo Clinic are hacking the genetic code that controls the human response to disease vaccination, and they are using this new cipher to answer many of the deep-seated questions that plague vaccinology, including why patients respond so differently to identical vaccines and how to minimize the side effects to vaccination. Led by Gregory Poland, M.D., researchers in Mayo's Vaccine Research Group are publishing results of two genetic studies that identify mutations linked to immune response to the measles vaccine. They appear in the journal Vaccine... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Toll-like receptor 7 and 8 polymorphisms: associations with functional effects and cellular and antibody responses to measles virus and vaccine

Immunogenetics — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:46:02 +0100

In conclusion, we report gender-specific associations with TLR7 and TLR8 polymorphisms and TNF-α cellular responses to its ligand. However, we found no evidence of any functional effects of TLR7 or TLR8 polymorphisms on receptor expression, measles-specific cellular responses or measles vaccine antibody responses. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperPages 1-10DOI 10.1007/s00251-011-0574-0Authors Holly D. Clifford, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, AustraliaStephanie T. Yerkovich, Queensland Centre for Pulmonary Transplantation and Vascular Disease, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSiew-Kim Khoo, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, W...

Notes from the field: measles among u.s.-Bound refugees from malaysia --- california, Maryland, north Carolina, and wisconsin, august--september 2011.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract On August 26, 2011, California public health officials notified CDC of a suspected measles case in an unvaccinated male refugee aged 15 years from Burma (the index patient), who had lived in an urban area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is experiencing ongoing measles outbreaks. Currently, approximately 92,000 such refugees are living in urban communities in Malaysia. Resettlement programs in the United States and other countries are ongoing. The health and vaccination status of urban refugees are largely unknown. PMID: 21937975 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Decoding Vaccination: Mayo Researchers Reveal Genetic Underpinnings of Response to Measles Vaccine

Mayo Clinic Research News — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:43:33 +0100

Decoding vaccination: Researchers reveal genetic underpinnings of response to measles vaccine

ScienceDaily Headlines — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:45:45 +0100

Researchers are hacking the genetic code that controls the human response to disease vaccination, and they are using this new cipher to answer many of the deep-seated questions that plague vaccinology, including why patients respond so differently to identical vaccines and how to minimize the side effects to vaccination. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Decoding vaccination: Mayo researchers reveal genetic underpinnings of response to measles vaccine

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

(Mayo Clinic) Researchers at Mayo Clinic are hacking the genetic code that controls the human response to disease vaccination, and they are using this new cipher to answer many of the deep-seated questions that plague vaccinology, including why patients respond so differently to identical vaccines and how to minimize the side effects to vaccination. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Fear of student measles outbreak

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:30:54 +0100

Students are being urged to make sure they have been vaccinated against measles, as health experts fear an outbreak of the disease in England and Wales. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Development of a measles vaccine production process in MRC-5 cells grown on Cytodex1 microcarriers and in a stirred bioreactor.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Trabelsi K, Majoul S, Rourou S, Kallel H Abstract Measles vaccination remains the most efficient way to control the spread of the virus. This work focuses on the production of a measles vaccine using stirred conditions as an advanced option for process scale up. Non-porous Cytodex 1 microcarriers were used to support MRC-5 cell growth in suspension cultures. Virus replication was first optimized in spinner flasks, and the effects of various operational parameters were investigated. Cell infection with AIK-C measles strain at an MOI (multiplicity of infection) of 0.005, without glucose regulation and in M199 medium, resulted in a virus titer of 10(6.25) TCID(50) (median tissue culture infective dose)/ml. To optimize the production process in a 7-l bioreactor, we carried out...

Antibody persistence for 3 years following two doses of tetravalent measles–mumps–rubella–varicella vaccine in healthy children

European Journal of Pediatrics — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:46:10 +0100

Conclusion: Immunogenicity of the combined MMRV vaccine was sustained 3 years post-vaccination. (208136/041/NCT00406211). Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperPages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00431-011-1569-4Authors Markus Knuf, Children’s Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyFred Zepp, Children’s Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101 Mainz, GermanyKlaus Helm, Pediatric Office, Detmold, GermanyHartwig Maurer, Pediatric Office, Salzburg, AustriaAlbrecht Prieler, Pediatric Office, Salzburg, AustriaDorothee Kieninger-Baum, Children’s Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg-...

New Developments on European Measles Outbreaks

About.com Pediatrics — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:33:33 +0100

As we deal with the most cases in the United States since 1996, it is important to realize that relatively high vaccination rates and quick responses from local health departments have kept our measles outbreaks...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

As students return to university HPA reminds of meningitis and measles risk

Health Protection Agency — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:36:21 +0100

The Health Protection Agency is reminding students about the importance of receiving the MMR and Men C vaccinations before they return to university campus, where outbreaks can occur. In a leaflet available on the HPA website, students are also advised on how to spot the early signs of these serious infections. (Source: Health Protection Agency)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Development and evaluation of an automatable focus reduction neutralisation test for the detection of measles virus antibodies using imaging analysis.

Journal of Virological Methods — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, an alternative simplified automatable focus reduction neutralisation test (AFRNT) based on the classical PRNT was developed. The AFRNT uses the conventional Edmonston strain of measles, immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies, and automated plaque counts performed with AID ViruSpot software. The assay is performed in 96-well plates, requires 2 days, and is fully automatable. The AFRNT was evaluated in comparison with PRNT and Enzygnost anti-measles enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A total of 130 samples, which included two available WHO international anti-measles standards, sera from 90 patients, and 38 different lots of immunoglobulin products, were tested. Overall, good agreement was observed between EIA and both neutralisation tests; however, the EIA values for the ...

Uphill battle to fight cholera and measles outbreaks in Marere

MSF News — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:10:00 +0100

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is currently battling outbreaks of cholera and measles in and around the town of Marere in southern Somalia. Marere and the surrounding villages of Jilib, Keytoy and Osman Moto are host to around 5,000 displaced Somalis, who have fled conflict and drought elsewhere in the country. However, just like in all other places where it is active in Somalia, the organization finds itself limited in its intervention methods and freedom to operate, and fighting the outbreaks is proving to be an uphill battle. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis have been on the move within the country and across borders, fleeing the humanitarian crisis that started earlier this year. Civil war, violence, lack of development, lack of relief assistance, and the current drought have made t...

Families prepare to sue law firm over handling of cases against MMR vaccine manufacturers

BMJ Online First — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Families who claim that their children developed encephalitis from an early type of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine but that their cases were wrongly lumped together with more than 1000... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Angola: Over 50.000 Children Immunized Against Polio and Measles

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:37:35 +0100

Fifty thousand and 298 children from zero to five years old received vaccines against poliomyelitis and measles in province of Kwanza Sul, in the first days of the immunization campaign dubbed "Viva a vida com saúde", happening in every part of the country from 9 to 22 September. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

The Vaccine-Autism Connection: A Public Health Crisis Caused by Unethical Medical Practices and Fraudulent Science (October).

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

As the Number of Measles Epidemics Skyrocket, Global Response Lags

MSF News — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:44:00 +0100

Paris/New York, September 12, 2011 – On September 13-14, 2011, the Measles Initiative will meet in Washington, D.C., bringing together organizations seeking to eliminate measles worldwide. Given the troubling resurgence of measles epidemics over the last three years, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is calling for an effective outbreak response mechanism to be established immediately, with secure financial and technical resources. "We know for a fact that there will be additional epidemics in the near future," said Florence Fermon, MSF's vaccination coordinator. "It would simply not be right to wait for them to occur. We need an effective system to anticipate and prepare for the coming outbreaks." For more information, s...

Angola: Vaccination Campaign to Cover Over 70,000 Children

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:24:29 +0100

At least 70,177 children aged from zero to five years old will be vaccinated against poliomyelitis and measles in Bengo province, during the vaccination campaign being carried out from this Friday to Sunday all over the country. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Kenya: Mombasa Infants Get Measles Jabs

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:49:09 +0100

More than 2,500 children between the age of six months and five years in Mombasa were yesterday vaccinated against measles after the Public Health ministry issued an alert on Wednesday. "We are happy the women have responded to our call. This place alone is like a chief's baraza," said Changamwe district public health officer John Ndung'u in Jomvu, the most affected area. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

PROQUAD (Measles, Mumps, Rubella And Varicella Virus Vaccine Live) Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Suspension [Merck Sharp Dohme Corp.]

DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Updated Date: Sep 9, 2011 EST (Source: DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST))