Time to rejoice - and reflect Dec 18, 2008
In 2003, it was amid the public health crisis of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) that the central government first raised the principle of "people first". People should be the purpose of all development. (Xinhuanet, China)
Feds seize artifacts from hit show 'Survivor' Dec 17, 2008
Civet cats are mongoose-like animals that are a delicacy in China and are suspected of spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome - SARS - to humans. Inspectors also found wooden statues with termites. (AZCentral -- News)
Blame Your Genes: Some People Eight Times More Likely To Suffer From Prolonged Illness With Infection Dec 10, 2008
In the case of a major pandemic such as SARS or bird flu, this vulnerable population might be given preference with any vaccine that becomes available. UNSW s Dr Ute Vollmer-Conna, the lead author of the paper and an expert in how the brain and immune system interact, said it was widely acknowledged that individuals differ a great deal in their acute sickness response to an infection. (Science Daily)
A Vaccine That Could Help Wipe Out Malaria Dec 9, 2008
That's what happened in 2002, when the SARS outbreak was contained after claiming thousands rather than millions of lives worldwide. That's what failed to happen in 1918, when a rare avian flu made the jump to humans and killed 50 million people before it was brought to heel. (Time.com)
Primate center unveils biosafety lab Dec 6, 2008
Scientists will study a variety of bacteria, viruses and biotoxins, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS, West Nile virus, tuberculosis, epidemic typhus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, Brucellosis and the plague. --- Biosafety level 3. (Nola.com -- Sports)
CIBC Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2008 Results Dec 4, 2008
Revenue of $234 million was up $87 million from the fourth quarter of 2007, primarily due to the net foreign exchange gain from the repatriation of capital and retained earnings during the fourth quarter of 2008, partially offset by lower revenue from hedges of share appreciation rights (SARs). Non-interest expenses of $276 million were up $161 million from the fourth quarter of 2007, primarily due to higher unallocated corporate support costs, including higher severance accruals, partially... (Canada Newswire)
Can the Qantas-BA deal fly? Dec 4, 2008
When Paul Keating was busy flaying the Libs in Federal Parliament in the mid-90s for "tugging the forelock'' to the Poms he was also, at one point, popping between meeting rooms teeing up the best bid for a cornerstone shareholding in the national carrier Qantas. In one parliament meeting room sat the Singaporeans, in another the Brits. Keating played them off and British Airways came away with a 25% stake in the 1994 float. Lately, along with what aviation sources describe as detailed... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Five ways to avoid germs while traveling Dec 2, 2008
In 2003, 22 people came down with SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, from a single fellow passenger who had SARS but didn't have any symptoms, according to another New England journal study. But the airplane isn't the only place along your travel route where germs thrive. (CNN -- Health)
Why Are So Many Infectious Diseases Jumping From Animals To Humans? Dec 2, 2008
2, 2004) With outbreaks of new and frightening infectious diseases such as SARS and monkey pox jumping from the animal kingdom to humans, tracking their spread is vital to public health efforts to contain. (Jan. (Science Daily)
DAI creates health unit Dec 2, 2008
He said that experience might include zoonotic diseases, or those that originated in the animal world and are transmissible to humans, like avian influenza and SARS.. The health team will work in areas complementary to its existing development programs, including animal health, food safety, and water and sanitation. (Washington Business Journal, DC)
* Make health a government priority Dec 1, 2008
After the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the recent increasing global expansion of dengue hemorrhagic fever aggravated by global warming, transnational efforts to prevent severe epidemics have become the top priority for global health. At a time when sea and air travel across the Strait are increasing, the public health professionalism and disease prevention efforts on both sides of the Strait will face tough challenges. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Nitto Denko Invests S$10 Million To Pioneer Organic Electronic Device Research In Singapore Dec 1, 2008
Said Principal Investigator Assoc Prof Tjin Swee Chuan, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University said, "Our project utilises Nitto Denko's polymer to create micron-sized optical waveguides using NTU's patented laser technique which is simpler and more cost effective. An optical waveguide is a physical structure that guides electromagnetic waves. The optical waveguides that we are researching can be used in biosensor for early detection of diseases such as... (JCN Network, Japan)
Common Cold Virus Came From Birds? Nov 30, 2008
Metapneumoviruses have high evolutionary rates, similar to those of other RNA viruses such as influenza, hepatitis C and SARS. By understanding the evolution and emergence of these viruses the scientists hope to develop ways of monitoring and predicting the emergence of new pathogenic viruses. "We investigated the evolutionary history of metapneumoviruses using genetic information available for numerous strains of HMPV and AMPV-C circulating in humans and birds," said Professor Dr Fouchier. (Science Daily)
Trapped crew 'in good health' Nov 28, 2008
Two Sars officials are also safe. On Thursday, SAA sent an aircraft to Mumbai to pick up its crew and the South Africans. (iAfrica.com)
Dixon hands in his wings Nov 28, 2008
In the next few years came the Bali bombings, SARs, bird flu and the Iraq War. "Geoff coined the phrase 'aviation constant shock syndrome'," Jackson remembers. (Melbourne Herald Sun)
Stranded tourists just want out Nov 27, 2008
8 million people and brings in 6 per cent of gross domestic product, has survived the SARS epidemic, the Asian tsunami, bird flu and a 2006 coup. But the long-running protests have hurt, with many big hotels losing conference business after a state of emergency was briefly declared in Bangkok in September. (Globe and Mail)
Deere Reports Earnings of $345 Million for Quarter and Record $2.05 Billion for Full Year Nov 26, 2008
05 Billion for Full Year. " Subject to the economic uncertainties noted, company equipment sales are projected to be about flat for the full year of 2009 and up about 7 percent for the first quarter. Included in the forecast is a negative currency-translation impact of about 6 percent for both the full year and first quarter. Deere's net income is forecast to be about $1.9 billion for 2009 and about $275 million for the first quarter. In spite of the present economic situation, Deere remains... (Canada Newswire)
U.S. researchers recreate SARS virus Nov 26, 2008
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Researchers at University of North Carolina and Vanderbilt University have synthetically reconstructed the bat variant of the SARS coronavirus (CoV) that caused the SARS epidemic in 2003. The scientists say designing and synthesizing the virus is a major step forward in their ability to find effective vaccines and treatments for any strain of SARS virus that might affect humans in the future ... "Only three other teams of researchers have synthetically... (Xinhuanet, China)
Synthetic virus supports a bat origin for SARS Nov 26, 2008
SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome alarmed the world five years ago as the first global pandemic of the 21st century. The coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that sickened more than 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 of them may have originated in bats, but the actual animal source is not known ... In an effort to understand how SARS-CoV may have jumped from bats to humans, a team of investigators from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has... (EurekAlert!)
Canadian Spirit Resources Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results Nov 25, 2008
An accrued liability of $246,000 at September 30, 2008 pursuant to share appreciation rights ("SARs") granted to key employees in 2003 has been recorded as a current liability since these rights were due to expire in January 2009, after having been extended from their previous expiry date of August 2008. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company offered to replace the outstanding SARs with stock options as a potential cash conservation measure ... The 600,000 outstanding SARs have... (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
TB expert takes your questions Nov 24, 2008
Dr. Gardam has acted as a consultant on infection control issues such as SARS, tuberculosis, pandemic influenza and C. difficile, at the provincial, national and international level. Within Ontario, he has helped a number of hospitals control outbreaks and develop their infection control programs. (Globe and Mail)
President Bush Attends APEC CEO Summit 2008 Nov 23, 2008
We've worked to prevent the spread of potential pandemic diseases like avian flu and SARS. We've worked to confront climate change and usher in a new age of clean energy. We're standing for a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons -- and with a Burma free of repression. (White House News Releases)
Study of ancient and modern plagues finds common features Nov 22, 2008
The phenomenon of widespread, socially disruptive disease outbreaks has a long history prior to HIV/AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H5N1 avian influenza and other emerging diseases of the modern era, note the authors ... One consequence of the increased mobility in the modern age can be seen in the 2003 outbreak of the novel illness SARS, which rapidly spread from Hong Kong to Toronto and elsewhere as infected passengers traveled by air. (EurekAlert!)
We should have spoken up on Listeria: food agency Nov 20, 2008
The invisibility of Evans and other CFIA officials during the outbreak was in stark contrast to the very public approach of officials during the SARS outbreak in Ontario when the late Dr. Sheela Basrur and her colleagues sat before reporters each day to update the government's concerns, actions and next steps. During the summer's meat outbreak, repeated requests for media interviews with the CFIA were delayed and often denied outright. (Hamilton Spectator)
Face Masks Analyzed As Aid in Flu Pandemic Nov 20, 2008
What little is known about masks and respiratory infections comes from research on tuberculosis and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), two infections that influenza may not mimic ... This strategy was used in Asia during the SARS outbreak of 2003. (Yahoo News -- Influenza)
Forum: UGA lab incidents problematic for believers of NBAF Nov 20, 2008
Considering AHRC's long-troubled history, should thousands of gallons of water mixed with animal waste flooding the floor, exploding sink drains and leaks into the basement of a building that could house future experiments with SARS, West Nile virus, tuberculosis and highly pathogenic avian flu be considered a minor incident. UGA officials remind us that the AHRC is still (luckily) in a "burn-in" phase. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Ask the Experts Nov 19, 2008
I therefore advise you to consult an exchange control specialist who will be able to act on your behalf in dealing with SARS, the SA Reserve Bank and to also facilitate the easiest and most practical method for you to transfer the net proceeds of the sale to you in Ireland. Most South African commercial banks have an exchange control department that you could contact. (iAfrica.com)
Antitrust Suit Proceeds Against Chinese Vitamin C Makers Nov 14, 2008
As the demand and price fluctuated (reaching a high of $15 per kilogram in April 2003 during the height of the SARS outbreak), defendants allegedly participated in various schemes that kept prices artificially high while the Chinese manufacturers enjoyed significantly lower costs of production. By 2006, their share of the market had reached 68 percent. (Law.com)
Sars patients can provide therapy Nov 14, 2008
Sars is caused by a coronavirus. People infected with the Sars virus can be treated by taking antibodies from others who have recovered from the disease, research shows ... Our approach produces protective antibodies that would provide immediate protection against the Sars virus. (Yahoo News -- SARS)
Africa: Google.org to Help Scientists Forecast Disease Outbreaks Nov 13, 2008
"Business as usual won't prevent the next AIDS or SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome]," Google. org Executive Director Dr. Larry Brilliant said in a prepared statement. (allAfrica.com)
Indian finds remedy for respiratory disease Nov 13, 2008
Washington: An Indian-origin researcher at Purdue University has developed a compound that can prevent the replication of the virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) ... "The outbreak of SARS in 2003 led to hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses, and there is currently no treatment. Although it is not currently a threat, there is the concern that SARS could return or be used as a biological weapon. It is important to develop a treatment as a safeguard," said Ghosh ... SARS... (Sify.com, India)
Global tourism feels the squeeze Nov 12, 2008
More importantly, people still want to travel, which sets the current downturn apart from previous crises the industry endured after 9/11 and the outbreak of the viral respiratory illness SARS in 2003. Cowed by the uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook, travelers are seeking more value for their money and are more likely to hold on to their cash for a bit longer than they usually might, industry analysts said. (CNN -- Travel)
Chinese Menus, Medicine Threatening Wildlife Nov 12, 2008
BEIJING - Wild animals are climbing back onto Chinese plates after the deadly SARS virus made some diners wary, and booming demand for traditional medicine is also threatening some plants, environmentalists said on Wednesday ... An outbreak of the deadly SARS virus six years ago resulted in a local gourmet favourite -- the civet -- being banished to the black market ... The racoon-like animal was blamed for spreading SARS, which infected 8,000 people globally and killed 800. (Planet Ark, United States)
UTMB Opens New Bio Lab Nov 12, 2008
The new lab will be used to do research studying infectious diseases like SARS, tuberculosis and the West Nile virus. The goal is to find ways to stop these diseases from spreading. (Click2Houston, TX)
'Superbugs' On The Rise In Canadian Hospitals, New Study Shows Nov 12, 2008
11, 2008) Although infection control has been substantially ramped up in Canadian hospitals since the SARS crisis of 2003, resistant bacterial infections post-SARS are multiplying even faster, a new Queen's University study shows ... Led by Queen's epidemiologist Dr. Dick Zoutman, the national survey is a six-year follow-up to a study that was undertaken in 1999, prior to the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) ... Both the 2003 outbreak of SARS in Ontario and the 2002-04 C.... (Science Daily)
Airport test to stop arrival of Sars and flu 'pointless' Nov 12, 2008
Airport test to stop arrival of Sars and flu 'pointless ... Screening for flu or Sars at UK airports to try to stop a pandemic taking hold in Britain will not work, warns an article in this week's British Medical Journal ... Many people could be incubating the infection when tested but not show positive results because flight times are not long enough to allow flu or Sars to develop to the point of detection. (Yahoo News -- SARS)
HK health chief resigns over Sars Nov 12, 2008
Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong was heavily criticised in a recent Sars report ... Dr Yeoh was among several officials criticised in a recent report on the handling of last year's Sars crisis ... He was accused of paying too little attention to Sars when it appeared in mainland China, and issuing misleading public statements. (Yahoo News -- SARS)
China Frees Dissident Physician Nov 12, 2008
BEIJING, July 20 -- China has released the dissident physician who became a national hero for exposing the government's coverup of the SARS epidemic, sending him home Monday night after 49 days of confinement aimed at pressuring him to disavow a letter in which he denounced the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre ... The decision to detain Jiang was a risky one because of the popular reputation for honesty and integrity he earned during the SARS coverup ... In 2003, two weeks after a letter he wrote... (Yahoo News -- SARS)
Smaller Mosquitoes Are More Likely To Be Infected With Viruses Causing Human Diseases Nov 10, 2008
8, 2006) An estimated 50 million people were affected by zoonotics diseases, including H5N1 (bird flu), SARS and Rabies, between 2000 and 2005 and up to 78,000 died. No effective vaccines exist for the most. (Science Daily)
Report: Hospital infections on the rise Nov 8, 2008
TORONTO Toronto's SARS crisis and Quebec's C. difficile nightmare drew political attention and additional funding to the problem of hospital-acquired infections ... Despite the two major communicable diseases SARS and C. difficile despite the emphasis by the Canadian Public Safety Institute on safer health care, despite all those things, our institutional approaches to infection control have changed remarkably little, said Dr. Andrew Simor, head of microbiology at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health... (Globe and Mail)
DNA-based Vaccine Against West Nile Virus Effective Even After Onset Of Disease Nov 7, 2008
SARS, avian flu, Ebola outbreaks of deadly viral infections are becoming increasingly frequent. And we still don t have vaccines for many of the pathogens responsible. (Science Daily)
Great Apes Debate Leads To EU Testing Ban Proposal Nov 6, 2008
Researchers argue that while they already try to avoid using primates, they are indispensable for work to find cures for diseases including HIV, Alzheimer's Disease, SARS, cancer, hepatitis, malaria, multiple sclerosis and tuberculosis. "The UK academic sector is concerned to ensure that any further restrictions on UK research resulting from the revised directive are based on firm evidence that better welfare will result," said Professor Max Headley, of Bristol university's pharmacology unit. (Planet Ark, United States)
'Sars will destroy me' Nov 5, 2008
Sars will destroy me ... King, who faces more than 300 charges including racketeering and money laundering, said Sars was using the charges as leverage to get as much money out of him as possible in a settlement for his alleged tax evasion ... Legal fees in the matter for both him and Sars have amounted to close R400-million, he said. (iAfrica.com)
Angle Announces 2008 Third Quarter Results Nov 5, 2008
The Company has a share appreciation rights plan, administered by the Board of Directors, which provides for the granting of share appreciation rights ("SARs") to employees, officers and directors of the Company. Under the plan, SARs vest equally one-third on the first, second and third anniversary dates from the SARs grants and expire in five years or immediately from the date from which the rightsholder ceases to be a director, officer or employee of the Company or six months after the... (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Media Affects Public Perception of Infectious Diseases Nov 4, 2008
Five of the diseases have received recent high-profile media coverage -- anthrax, SARS, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and avian flu -- while the other five haven't received much attention -- Tularemia, human babesiosis, yellow fever, Lassa fever and hantavirus. The researchers found "that a single incident reported in the media can cause great public concern if it is interpreted to mean that the potential risk is difficult to control, as with the possibility of a pandemic like in the case of... (MEDLINEplus)
Media Coverage Affects How People Perceive Threat Of Disease Nov 4, 2008
Five were medical disorders that have been highly prevalent in the recent print media anthrax, SARS, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and avian flu and five were medical disorders that have not often been present in current media: Tularemia, human babesiosis, yellow fever, Lassa fever and hantavirus. Two groups of students, undergraduate and medical students, were asked to rate how serious, how prevalent, and how "disease-like" various conditions were. (Science Daily)
Professor captures images of a cough Nov 4, 2008
By mapping the airflow of a cough, they hoped to better understand the way certain diseases spread, including influenza, SARS and tuberculosis. "That understanding will suggest ways to interfere with airflow caused by a cough or a sneeze, and perhaps ways to contain it," Settles said. (Daily Collegian, PA)
Flooding at UGA germ lab revealed Nov 3, 2008
Officials said future experiments at the center could include work on germs such as SARS, West Nile, tuberculosis and highly pathogenic avian flu. School officials acknowledged that any leak outside the secured biosafety lab represents a serious concern and could be hazardous to workers and the public if the leak contained dangerous germs or viruses. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Metro)
By Imaging Live Cells, Researchers Show How Hepatitis C Replicates Nov 1, 2008
18, 2008) Biologists report how they have used virus-infected cell cultures and developed a sophisticated method to preserve and visualize the fragile replication structures of SARS-coronavirus, both in whole ... The SARS virus is within the coronavirus. (Science Daily)
Newsweek: Virulent TB worse than SARS? Oct 31, 2008
It could become much worse than SARS. If it spreads, it could turn into a deadly pandemic. Raviglione: But the mortality rate isn't entirely known. (MSNBC -- Health)
Canadian Spirit Resources Inc. Announces Grant of Stock Options to Replace Stock Appreciation Rights Oct 31, 2008
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Oct. 30, 2008) - Canadian Spirit Resources Inc. ("CSRI" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: - ; PINK SHEETS: - ) announces that subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, the Board of Directors has approved a grant of 600,000 options to acquire shares in the Company to replace 600,000 currently outstanding stock appreciation rights ("SARs") ... The SARs were originally issued in 2003 to three founding employees as part of their employment arrangements ... The SARs... (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Threat From Infectious Diseases Growing Oct 30, 2008
Emerging diseases such as a potential bird flu outbreak or another new disease such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. (Washington Post)
Masks, Hand Washing, Prevent Spread Of Flu-like Symptoms By Up To 50 Percent Oct 29, 2008
2, 2007) Physical barriers, such as regular handwashing and wearing masks, gloves and gowns may be more effective than drugs to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like influenza and SARS, concludes a. . (Science Daily)
* CLSA staff asked to take pay cut Oct 29, 2008
The company implemented a similar scheme during the SARS crisis in 2003, when Hong Kongs economy was buffeted by worries over the deadly disease. Despite the salary reductions, Wheeler said staff morale was good. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Chinese scientific know-how increases Oct 29, 2008
"Other exemplary Science papers by Chinese authors have provided new insights to SARS and the rice genome," Alberts recalled. "Science magazine is very proud of these efforts, and pleased to see China-based scientists and engineers succeeding.". (Xinhuanet, China)
The Fives: Halloween treats -- the scariest movies of all time Oct 28, 2008
With the advent of diseases such as Ebola, SARS, monkey pox and a seemingly unending string of stronger, irrepressible diseases, the film continues to strike a nerve among audiences six years after its release. For my top two horror flicks, I maintain that nothing is scarier than the devil incarnate. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
The mysterious cough, caught on film Oct 28, 2008
In the world of gas dynamics, a cough is merely "a turbulent jet of air with density changes." Though coughs spread tuberculosis, SARS, influenza and other diseases, surprisingly little is known about them. "We don't have a good understanding of the air flow," Settles said. (International Herald Tribune)
CLSA Asks 500 Bankers, Executives to Accept Pay Cuts, Avoiding Job Losses Oct 27, 2008
The decline of global growth has a far greater impact on underlying business conditions than did SARS,'' he said. To contact the reporter on this story: in Hong Kong at. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
* Asian aviation suffers in midst of financial crisis Oct 27, 2008
We have not seen such a decline in passenger traffic since SARS in 2003, he added, referring to the health scare that grounded travelers in Asia. Analysts fear that unlike during the SARS period, which lasted for a few months, the current crisis will last for a year or more. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
* Ex-health minister berates DOH Oct 26, 2008
He used the SARS outbreak of 2003 as an example, saying that the situation would have been much less severe if China had allowed more transparency in its reporting on SARS.. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA This story has been viewed 433 times. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Air cargo and passenger traffic takes a nosedive Oct 25, 2008
9% year-on-year drop last month was the first decline recorded since the SARS epidemic in 2003, when the previously unknown respiratory ailment spread through air travel from Asia to Canada and elsewhere. Latin America was the only region that saw an increase in passenger traffic last month, with demand up 1. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Public Health: I opened the window, and in flew Enza Oct 24, 2008
Social restrictions, otherwise known as isolation and quarantine (I & Q) were key elements in controlling SARS a few years back. Canada provided the world with a very successful and hopeful example of enforcing this crucial component of public health response to serious threats. (Pembroke Mariner, MA)
Listeria agony described Oct 23, 2008
Five years after SARS we still have a provincial lab that wasn't setup to look for bacterial infections (a 4 week delay). What is going on here. (Toronto Star)
Evolution Of Genes That Trigger The Body's Immune Response To Viral Infection Oct 23, 2008
27, 2003) As health agencies around the world race to pinpoint the cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), researchers are reporting success in developing a new theoretical model that shows how the. (Aug. (Science Daily)
At Harvard, Ban calls for climate action Oct 22, 2008
Similarly, increased travel and migration has caused a "paradigm shift" in combating diseases such as HIV, avian flu, and SARS that demands a multinational approach. Global health problems are receiving unprecedented attention, Ban said, citing a UN anti- malaria campaign that is "within range of containing the disease.". (Boston Globe)
