Hope for HIV Vaccine; Ebola Strikes in Uganda

HIV/AIDS Vaccine Shows Promise
A new HIV/AIDS vaccine may be in the works as research at an Oregon University has shown to prevent virus replication in monkeys.

Louis Picker, a researcher at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), specifically in the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) has been working on developing a HIV/AIDS vaccine from genetically modified cytomegalovirus (CMV).  CMV is a member of the Herpesviridae family and is most commonly associated with salivary glands in the body. CMV was used in this vaccine development because most people are already infected with CMV, although they show little to no symptoms. In addition, once an individual is infected with CMV they carry the virus for the rest of the life.

This new vaccine was tested on rhesus macaque monkeys at Oregon National Primate Research Center in Beaverton, Oregon. All of the moneys were infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), the monkey form of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This vaccine prevented infection in thirteen of the twenty-four monkeys who were originally infected with SIV for more than one year. These thirteen monkeys’ bodies controlled the replication of SIV to the point that highly sensitive tests could not find any traces of the virus.

These results are extremely promising and hopeful for developing a vaccine for humans. The next step for Dr. Picker and his team will be to develop the current vaccine for human testing.  If successful, this vaccine could prevent thousands of people in the United States from being infected each year.

Ebola Hits Uganda
Last week, a twelve-year old girl from Luwero died in the Bombo Military Hospital about 60 kilometers outside of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, from the deadly Ebola virus. Ebola was confirmed only after the girl’s blood sample tested positive for Ebola at the CDC in Atlanta.

Ebola virus is a viral genus in the Filoviridae family that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever, which presents itself in patients by sudden symptoms of fever, malaise, muscle pain, headache, and pharynx inflammation. Rashes, red eyes, hiccups, and internal and external bleeding are also common in those suffering from Ebola.  There are four types that affect humans: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast and Ebola-Bundibugyo virus. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Ebola and the fatality rate is about 85%.

Uganda’s last outbreak of Ebola occurred in 2007, but wasn’t officially declared until February 20, 2008. There were 148 people ill and 37 of them died. In hopes of preventing a similar situation, nearly 40 people who may have been exposed to the young girl who died have been quarantined and monitored for any early Ebola symptoms. Government officials have said visitors to Uganda do not need to worry about possible contact with the virus since these people were quarantined early.

Undiagnosed Illness in Uganda, Measles in Argentina, and HealthMap at the ISDS Conference

Scientists work to identify the illness that has killed 38 people in northern Uganda. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hgmieXl3QCUDRkdH0Z12UD704bFg?docId=CNG.6a0a014a69f4ce1afd31a8eefff9f2b8.441

Possible pneumonic plague in Northern Uganda Leaves 38 Dead

Last week, we reported that a mysterious illness had left 13 dead in northern Uganda. This week, the death toll has risen to 38 with dozens hospitalized, yet officials are still uncertain as to the cause, although tentative testing have confirmed it as pneumonic plague. Ebola, typhoid and several other diseases have been ruled out. The first case was identified in early November and since, over 90 people have been treated.  Symptoms include severe headaches and dizziness and eventually bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Officials say the disease has been detected in five districts in the northern part of the country. However, with vast impoverishment and inadequate health facilities, it may take weeks before response teams arrive and implement control efforts.

Alert for Measles in Buenos Aires

After 12 years without a registered case of measles in Buenos Aires, 17 cases have been reported since August.  The minister of health has helped initiate a national vaccination campaign in hopes of preventing the further spread of this disease. The province of Buenos Aires expects to be rid of the virus soon.

HealthMap at the 9th Annual ISDS Conference

Several HealthMap team members gave oral presentations at the International Society for Disease Surveillance’s 9th annual conference in Park City, Utah last week. In addition, HealthMap had a table where conference attendees could learn more about the system and sign-up to receive our free daily email alerts. The following oral presentations were given by members of our group (please email us for more information about any of these abstracts, or if interested in receiving our customizable email alerts):

Emily Chan - - Forecasting High Priority Surveillance Regions: a Socioeconomic Model
Annie Gatewood-Hoen - - Effect of Expanded Recommendations for Pediatric Seasonal Influenza Vaccination: An International Comparison
Sumiko Mekaru - - Anticipatory Surveillance for Mass Gatherings: A Novel Application of Mass Media Surveillance
Rumi Chunara - - OutbreakMD: Tracking and Identifying Disease Outbreaks in Post-earthquake Haiti

The Return of Polio

The Amuru district of Uganda is now treating its first case of polio in 12 years, a 16 month old baby boy from the Awer camp for displaced persons. The African Regional Reference Laboratory in South Africa confirmed the case to be positive with wild polio virus type one. In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared Uganda free of Polio. A country is declared free of polio when there are no cases of the disease for 10 years.

Uganda has struggled to keep polio from re-entering the country. In 2008, Uganda’s Ministry of Health warned that it was under threat of importing the wild polio virus from neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan. Both neighboring countries had previously confirmed cases, which led to the launch of polio immunization programs in Uganda’s bordering districts.

With the now confirmed re-entry of polio, an emergency vaccination program has begun for all children under 5 years of age (the main group affected by polio). With even one child infected with polio, all children are at risk of contracting the disease, as it is capable of rapid person-to-person spread among unimmunized populations.

The wild polio virus is a highly infectious disease with no cure. It invades nerve cells of the brain or spinal cord, and can cause total paralysis within hours. Among those that become paralyzed, 5-10% die when the muscles that control breathing become immobilized. The WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative, launched in 1988, works worldwide on efforts to prevent this debilitating disease.

Related articles (additional articles available at www.HealthMap.org):

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/672540

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/26/content_10904426.htm

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