Tagged: SARS

Featured image: Snakeflu?! An intriguing source suggested for new Chinese coronavirus

Snakeflu?! An intriguing source suggested for new Chinese coronavirus - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • Jan 23, 2020 •

Update 27/01/2020: Soon after the “snakeflu” paper was released, scientists took to social media expressing doubts, raising the fact that it’s pretty rare for the codon usage of a virus to closely match its reservoir host. Others criticised the way the authors prepared their codon usage tables. Kristian Andersen made some better codon usage tables and then calculated … Read More

Featured image: The Chinese coronavirus outbreak: what are the options for vaccines and treatments?

The Chinese coronavirus outbreak: what are the options for vaccines and treatments? - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • Jan 22, 2020 •

By now you’ve probably heard of the coronavirus outbreak that started in Wuhan City, China. The number of cases is rising, up to about 300 with six deaths. Cases have been reported in several more Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as in Japan, Thailand, and South Korea. There are also reports of a case in … Read More

Featured image: The emerging coronavirus outbreak in China

The emerging coronavirus outbreak in China - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • Jan 21, 2020 •

By now you’ve probably heard of the new virus causing an outbreak of severe pneumonia in China. The question on most people’s minds is, how worried should we be, especially as hundreds of millions of people will soon be travelling across China and beyond to visit family for the Lunar New Year holiday? The situation is changing daily, but … Read More

Featured image: Mystery China pneumonia outbreak likely caused by new human coronavirus

Mystery China pneumonia outbreak likely caused by new human coronavirus - Guest Work

Guest Author • Jan 14, 2020 •

Connor Bamford, Queen’s University Belfast Since December 2019, there has been a cluster of 59 cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, eastern China. The pneumonia is associated with a previously unidentified coronavirus related to the deadly SARS virus. Seven of those cases are thought to be serious, and one person – with serious pre-existing health problems – has died. The … Read More

Featured image: Improving New Zealand’s preparations for the next pandemic

Improving New Zealand’s preparations for the next pandemic - Public Health Expert

Public Health Expert • Feb 01, 2017 •

By Dr Julia Scott, Prof Nick Wilson, Prof Michael Baker.  In a globalised world an infectious disease outbreak anywhere is a potential threat to New Zealand. Recent such threats have included severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), pandemic influenza (2009), Ebola and Zika. In the context of an upcoming University of Otago, Wellington Public Health Summer School symposium on … Read More

Featured image: Infectious diseases in New Zealand

Infectious diseases in New Zealand - Guest Work

InfectedNZ • Nov 21, 2016 •

By Associate Professor Lance Jennings, as part of the #InfectedNZ online campaign to raise awareness about infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. In the context of World Antibiotic Awareness week (November 14-20) and efforts to raise the awareness of infectious diseases in New Zealand, it is useful to include a discussion on viruses.  Although few treatments and vaccines … Read More

Monday Micro – Is the new Saudi coronavirus a pandemic in waiting? - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • May 13, 2013 •

Between November 2002 and July 2003, a novel respiratory virus appeared in South China, spreading first to Hong Kong and going on to infect people in 37 countries around the world. As the virus spread, thousands were quarantined, schools were shut, and many airports implemented thermal screening programmes to stop potentially infected people from getting on planes. By the end … Read More