PEDIATRIC BULLETIN: MMR AND AUTISM: SUSPECT OR SUPERSTITION?

Recent studies have found no evidence to support a correlation between autism and MMR immunization.

Infect Med 18(4):183, 2001

http://id.medscape.com/38205.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

MULTIVALENT PEPTIDE VACCINE AGAINST GROUP A STREP M PROTEINS LOOKS PROMISING

Most group A streptococcal infections may become a thing of the past as progress continues in the development of a multiantigenic peptide vaccine against the M virulence protein, report investigators from the CDC.

http://id.medscape.com/38122.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

UK BIOTECH FIRM TARGETS WEST NILE VIRUS

Human trials to test a vaccine against the West Nile virus that has spread to the US could begin early next year, according to the head of a small British firm enlisted to help fight the disease.

http://id.medscape.com/38262.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

POLIO VACCINE SWITCH HAS LOWERED RATE OF VACCINE-ASSOCIATED PARALYTIC DISEASE

The incidence of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis has decreased since the September 1996 recommendation that inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IVP) should replace oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) for the first two doses, according to an analysis of data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

http://id.medscape.com/38064.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

BULGARIA CONFIRMS TWO POLIO CASES

Bulgaria’s Health Ministry said on Friday it had registered its first two cases of polio since 1991 and that it had begun an immunization campaign in response.

http://id.medscape.com/38085.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

HONG KONG EXTERMINATES POULTRY AFTER INFLUENZA DETECTION

Hong Kong authorities swept through local poultry farms on Monday to kill some 1.2 million birds in an attempt to stop the spread of an avian influenza virus.

http://id.medscape.com/38098.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

BSE FEARS PROMPT STRICTER DONOR RESTRICTIONS BY AMERICAN RED CROSS

The American Red Cross said on Monday it will tighten restrictions, beginning in September, on blood donations from people who have spent time in Europe over concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

http://id.medscape.com/38103.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

CATTLE CULL COULD PRESENT NEW RISK OF VARIANT CREUTZFELDT JAKOB DISEASE

The remains of some of the 469,000 cattle culled in the British fight against foot-and-mouth disease are likely to carry bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and could spread the infection via soil and ground water, the government’s scientific advisors warned on Thursday.

http://id.medscape.com/38286.rhtml?srcmp=id-052501

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.