Terry Etherton’s Blog on Hormones, Biotechnology, and Food Safety

A ProMED-mail post (June 19, 2009)

Whether speaking of a 58-year-old man or a 38-year-old woman, or a little boy of 9, officials announcing swine flu deaths are almost always quick to note “underlying health  conditions” may have contributed to the fatal outcome. Asthma, heart disease, diabetes, maybe even obesity are among the conditions used to help explain why swine flu infection is hospitalizing and killing younger people, people who would be expected to make a full recovery from seasonal flu. Read the rest of this entry »

Background: Common to all fields of science and engaged scientists is their willingness to participate in the free exchange of ideas. This blog often posts such ideas in the form of existing citable scientific contributions and news items. In recent conversations among like-minded individuals regarding contemporary topics in livestock production agriculture and biotechnology, the issue of U.S. animal disease research was raised. No factor in livestock production can impact production efficiency and profitability more than a disease issue. And, in the case of a highly contagious foreign animal disease (FAD) where the U.S. would change from disease-free status to one of a FAD positive diagnosis, livestock production could be decimated in quick order. Read the rest of this entry »

A ProMED-mail post (May 28, 2009)

The following is [1] a statement of the research program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and [2] the outcome of a study of the cross-reactivity of serum samples from US pigs against the new swine origin 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (S/O H1N1). The results of this analysis indicate that pre-existing immunity induced by swine influenza viruses circulating in the US may not protect pigs against the new S/O H1N1 influenza virus presently circulating in people.

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Martin Enserink and Jocelyn Kaiser
Published in SCIENCE:  VOLUME 324:703-705,2009

If and when a pandemic of H1N1 swine flu hits, vaccines might be the world’s best hope for softening the blow. But major uncertainties cloud the prospects for vaccines against the new  strain. No pandemic vaccine yet exists, and it is unclear how much vaccine would have to be available, and by what time, to have any impact. Should manufacturers halt the production of seasonal influenza vaccine to focus on a pandemic version, and if so, when? And is there any way to ensure that people around the world have an equal chance to get the new vaccine? Read the rest of this entry »