Families USA's Global Health Initiative advocates for U.S. policies that advance global health research, with the goal of developing medical technologies to improve global health.
August 26, 2008
In This Issue:
Policy Updates
1. Congress in Recess
News and Reports
2. Bacteria Played a Role in 1918 Pandemic Flu Deaths, Scientists Say
3. HIV Expert: One Step Down, Two to Go in Quest to Cure AIDS
4. Africa Needs Research Universities to Fight Poverty
5. Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Found in California
6. The Mosquito Recession
7. Is There a Connection between AIDS Epidemic in Africa and Intestinal Worms?
Events
8. 2008 United States Conference on AIDS
9. Vaccine Day
Policy Updates
1. Congress in Recess
Congress is in recess and will return on Monday, September 8th. When they return, they will need to pass a continuing resolution (stop-gap budget) by the September 30th, which is the end of federal fiscal year 2008, in order to enable the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to operate until the final budget is agreed upon. We anticipate that a final fiscal year 2009 budget won't be available until the next president takes office.
News and Reports
2. Bacteria Played a Role in 1918 Pandemic Flu Deaths, Scientist Say
Bacteria Played a Role in 1918 Pandemic Flu Deaths, Scientists Say (LA Times, August 18, 2008)
“Most deaths in the 1918 influenza pandemic were due not to the virus alone but to common bacterial infections that took advantage of victims’ weakened immune systems, according to two new studies that could change the nation’s strategy against the next pandemic.”
To read the report, click here.
3. HIV Expert: One Step Down, Two to Go in Quest to Cure AIDS
HIV Expert: One Step Down, Two to Go in Quest to Cure AIDS (The JHU Gazette, August 18, 2008)
Infectious disease specialist, Robert Siliciano, spoke about HIV research and the progress that still needs to be made at the 17th International Conference on AIDS in Mexico City. He says, “We know now that HIV can be stopped.” Read more about the steps that need to be taken toward this goal.
To read the article, click here.
4. Africa Needs Research Universities to Fight Poverty
Africa Needs Research Universities to Fight Poverty (Science and Development Network, August 1, 2008)
“Neglect of science and technology in African universities has been compounded by a failure to focus research on the continent’s needs,” says Mammo Muchie, a South African national chair on innovation studies, at the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
To read the article, click here.
5. Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Found in California
Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Found in California (Science Daily, August 14, 2008)
California has the highest number of tuberculosis cases than any other U.S. state. In addition, a recent statewide study identified extensively drug-resistant strains of TB in California.
To read the article, click here.
6. The Mosquito Recession
The Mosquito Recession (iafrica.com, August 19, 2008)
Jason Urbach, a director of Africa Fighting Malaria, discusses challenges in controlling malaria, which include substandard drugs, failure to diagnose patients early enough, and a rise in drug resistance.
To read the article, click here.
7. Is There a Connection between AIDS Epidemic in Africa and Intestinal Worms?
Is There a Connection between AIDS Epidemic in Africa and Intestinal Worms? (Science Daily, August 7, 2008)
“Professor Zvi Bentwich, who heads the Center for Tropical Diseases and AIDS in Israel (CEMTA), believes there is a possible connection between the AIDS epidemic in Africa and intestinal worms, one of the many Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) which affect nearly one quarter of the world’s population.”
To read the article, click here.
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8. 2008 United States Conference on AIDS
Date: September 18-21, 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
For more information, click here.
9. Vaccine Day
Date: September 19, 2008
Location: Johns Hopkins University
Time: 12:30-5:30 PM
Keynote Speaker: David Heymann, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Security and the Environment, and Representative of the Director-General for Polio Eradication
For more information, click here.
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