Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever

Ticks are becoming a growing health risk in the UK – here's why

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

A British man is also said to have contracted alpha-gal syndrome after being bitten by a tick.

Key Points: 
  • A British man is also said to have contracted alpha-gal syndrome after being bitten by a tick.
  • But in light of these reports, many may be wondering whether ticks and tick-borne diseases are a growing risk in the UK.

Are tick numbers increasing?

    • Tick populations will also vary depending on the local populations of the animals they use as hosts (such as rodents and birds).
    • So given the sporadic data we have on tick density, it’s difficult to estimate how much tick populations have really increased, and whether this is part of a long-term trend.

Why are things changing?

    • This has been particularly noticeable in colder regions, such as in parts of Canada where ticks had not previously been recorded.
    • In the UK, recent milder winters mean ticks are being sighted earlier in the year than normal.
    • A push to build parks and green spaces, particularly in towns and cities, is another factor which can influence tick abundance.

What health risks do ticks carry?

    • The red sheep tick (Haemaphysalis punctata) and the newly established ornate dog tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) are also becoming more common.
    • The incidence of Lyme disease is fairly low in the UK (just under 3% of ticks carry it).
    • But in other parts of Europe, between 9-22% of ticks carry Lyme disease – and this number is rising.
    • Public health officials are particularly concerned about the spread of the lethal viral infection Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.
    • Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks, which are most common in the Mediterranean basin.

Protecting yourself

    • Avoid tall grasses and areas where ticks thrive (such as moorlands and woodlands), especially during the warmer months.
    • If you become unwell after being bitten by a tick, it’s important to visit a GP as soon as possible.

Global Biodefense Market Report to 2030 - Featuring Altimmune, Emergent BioSolutions, SIGA Technologies and Ichor Medical Systems Among Others - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 21, 2022

The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of investing in strong biodefense infrastructure, which is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Key Points: 
  • The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of investing in strong biodefense infrastructure, which is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.
  • Biodefense comprises medical countermeasures (MCM) and other actions taken to protect people from the effects of biological warfare agents or bioterrorism.
  • The global biodefense market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% during the period of 2021-2031.
  • For this report, the author has segmented the global biodefense market based on product type, application, end-use, and region:

GeoVax Presents Hemorrhagic Fever Vaccine Data at the World Vaccine & Immunotherapy Congress

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 3, 2021

ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOVX), a biotechnology company specializing in developing human vaccines and cancer immunotherapies, presented data from ongoing studies of its investigational vaccines against hemorrhagic fevers (Sudan, Ebola, & Marburg) at the recent World Vaccine & Immunotherapy Congress, held November 30 – December 2 in San Diego, California. The presentation, titled “Design and Evaluation of Vaccines Against Hemorrhagic Fevers using the MVA-VLP Platform”, was delivered by Mary Hauser, PhD, GeoVax Senior Scientist.

Key Points: 
  • The presentation, titled Design and Evaluation of Vaccines Against Hemorrhagic Fevers using the MVA-VLP Platform, was delivered by Mary Hauser, PhD, GeoVax Senior Scientist.
  • In her talk, Dr. Hauser discussed the preclinical efficacy of GeoVaxs vaccines against Sudan (SUDV) and Marburg (MARV) viruses, two highly virulent filovirus strains that cause hemorrhagic fever.
  • Recent studies in lethal challenge guinea pig models demonstrated that GeoVax vaccines MVA-VLP-SUDV and MVA-VLP-MARV conferred 100% protection from death.
  • GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious diseases and cancer using novel proprietary platforms.

Canadians donate over $2M to child and youth mental health

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 19, 2020

VAUGHAN, ON, Oct. 19, 2020 /CNW/ -Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations (CCHF) is proud to announce that the A Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative has raised over $2 million for mental health programs across Canada as part of its first fundraising campaign.

Key Points: 
  • VAUGHAN, ON, Oct. 19, 2020 /CNW/ -Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations (CCHF) is proud to announce that the A Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative has raised over $2 million for mental health programs across Canada as part of its first fundraising campaign.
  • A Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative is a long-term initiative generously supported by the Sobey Foundation and Sobeys Inc. in partnership with CCHF.
  • "When Canadians throw their support behind raising funds and awareness for such an important cause like child and youth mental health, it speaks volumes," said Mark Hierlihy, CEO of Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations.
  • 100 per cent of the funds raised in a community are being directed towards priority child and youth mental health programs at the local children's hospital.

CCHF Launches "Face Freedom" Campaign

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 24, 2020

As just one example of physical harm, CCHF points to the new evidence of oral deterioration .

Key Points: 
  • As just one example of physical harm, CCHF points to the new evidence of oral deterioration .
  • CCHF has worked for more than 20 years to protect health care choices, individualized patient care, and medical and genetic privacy rights.
  • In 2016, CCHF launched The Wedge of Health Freedom, an online directory of direct-pay practices ( JointheWedge.com ).
  • Twila Brase, RN, PHNhas been named by Modern Healthcare as one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Health Care."

Doctors Hampered from Saving Patients by Imposed Standard of Care Protocols

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 26, 2020

"Evidence-based medicine protocols can act like handcuffs, preventing the proper care of patients," said Twila Brase, president and co-founder of CCHF, and author of two reports on EBM.

Key Points: 
  • "Evidence-based medicine protocols can act like handcuffs, preventing the proper care of patients," said Twila Brase, president and co-founder of CCHF, and author of two reports on EBM.
  • "To save his patients from EBM protocols, New York City physician, Dr. Cameron Kyle-Sidell, made a public plea online for every hospital to change ventilator protocols because they were damaging lungs.
  • "Thankfully many doctors are throwing EBM to the wind to save their COVID-19 patients.
  • They're talking to each other cross-country by Zoom and ignoring prescriptive third-party protocols that don't work for patients.

New $22 Million Project Targets Deadly Viruses

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 4, 2019

The viruses are the tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and three hantaviruses, which are spread by rodents: Andes virus (ANDV), Sin Nombre virus (SNV), and Puumula virus (PUUV).

Key Points: 
  • The viruses are the tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) and three hantaviruses, which are spread by rodents: Andes virus (ANDV), Sin Nombre virus (SNV), and Puumula virus (PUUV).
  • The project, called the Prometheus Center for Excellence in Translational Research (Prometheus), focuses on viruses that spread from animals to people.
  • It builds on a 2017 study involvingebolaviruses, believed to spread to people from fruit bats or primates.
  • In 2018, Einstein received more than $172 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).