Infectious Diseases

Studies: Current hepatitis C treatments can't be used by more than half of patients; others lose opportunity for treatment
More than half of chronic hepatitis C patients studied in a new research project led by Henry Ford Hospital were not treated for the potentially fatal disease, either because they couldn't withstand current therapies or because they, or their doctors, were waiting for new treatments. Eurekalert!

Bats confirmed as SARS origin
The SARS-CoV pandemic killed 774 people of the 8094 people infected, a case fatality ratio of almost 10 per cent. With cases diagnosed across the world, the pandemic had an impact on international travel and trade.

The research team, led by Professor Shi Zhengli from Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and including CSIRO and Duke-NUS scientist Professor Linfa Wang, have just had their breakthrough results published in the prestigious journal Nature. CSIRO

Imported Spices Commonly Tainted with Salmonella, Filth
Salmonella was present in 6.6% of imported spice shipments to the U.S. from 2007 to 2009, according to an FDA report. This prevalence was nearly twice the average for other FDA-regulated foods. Journal Watch

Malaria cases in U.S. reach 40-year high - Press Release
In 2011, 1,925 malaria cases were reported in the United States, according to data published in a supplement of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This number is the highest since 1971, more than 40 years ago, and represents a 14% increase since 2010. Five people in the U.S. died from malaria or associated complications. CDC