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05-22-2005, 01:45 PM
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Cancer
Psychiatry
May 22, 2005, 12:33
The reserve plan is twofold: WHO will build its strategic stockpile of smallpox vaccine in Geneva; and, countries are invited to donate and maintain additional stocks pledged to WHO which would be dispatched to where they are most needed in the event of an emergency.
By WHO, Smallpox, a highly infectious disease which kills about a quarter of the people it infects, was declared eradicated in 1980. The only known samples of the virus are stored in two secure laboratories approved by WHO (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA and Vector, Kostsovo, Russian Federation). However, the World Health Assembly has recognized the possibility that smallpox could be reintroduced, and since 1996 has had ongoing discussions about measures to prepare for a smallpox emergency.
Today, countries welcomed progress on WHO's work to establish a global smallpox vaccine reserve. This reserve would be used in the event of a smallpox emergency, particularly for those countries that don't have the resources to create their own stockpile.
The reserve plan is twofold: WHO will build its strategic stockpile of smallpox vaccine in Geneva; and, countries are invited to donate and maintain additional stocks pledged to WHO which would be dispatched to where they are most needed in the event of an emergency. Progress on this reserve has already begun, with 2.5 million doses in Geneva, and an additional 31 million doses donated by countries, including 20 million doses from the United States and five million from France.
The World Health Assembly also noted a report which detailed several recommendations for research on the smallpox virus. This research was recommended by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research in November 2004, and is intended to develop better medicines, vaccines and diagnostics for smallpox.
During the World Health Assembly discussions, Member States noted the Director-General's report which contains a recommendation for the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research to reconsider its recommendation to allow smallpox virus genes to be implanted into other less virulent types of orthopox viruses.
The Advisory Committee had also recommended a type of research which assists in swift screening of results, and increased safety for the researcher. The recommendation to insert a green florescent marker protein in variola virus helps to ensure more rapid screening of antiviral drugs to determine whether they are effective. This is a common method of screening antiviral drugs in research involving a range of viruses. In the process, the virus glows green when exposed to an ineffective drug, thus allowing rapid distinction between ineffective and potentially effective drugs against smallpox.
WHO will ensure that any research will only be conducted after detailed proposals have been thoroughly examined on a case-by-case basis by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, paying particular attention to biosafety and biosecurity issues.
Background on smallpox virus research
In 1996, the World Health Assembly recommended that all remaining stocks of smallpox (variola) virus be destroyed. In May 1999, the World Health Assembly reaffirmed the decision to destroy all stocks of variola virus, but authorized temporary retention of stocks for research purposes. At that time, the World Health Assembly also established an external advisory panel, the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, to develop and oversee a research plan for priority public health-related research using the smallpox virus.
Temporary retention of variola virus stocks was authorized by the World Health Assembly in 2002, on the understanding that steps should be taken to ensure that all approved research would remain outcome-oriented and time-limited and kept under review. The destruction of variola virus stocks was reaffirmed as the agreed goal.
The WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus research has continued to oversee and report on the research plan. At its most recent meeting, held in November 2004, the Committee considered the safety and scientific value of proposed experiments that might expedite the development of new antiviral drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests. The Committee proposed that research in these areas could be permitted provided special conditions and approvals needed to ensure safe research practices were met.
These recommendations were discussed at this World Health Assembly.
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Webpage: http://www.rxpgnews.com/medicalnews/health...
Cancer
Psychiatry
May 22, 2005, 12:33
The reserve plan is twofold: WHO will build its strategic stockpile of smallpox vaccine in Geneva; and, countries are invited to donate and maintain additional stocks pledged to WHO which would be dispatched to where they are most needed in the event of an emergency.
By WHO, Smallpox, a highly infectious disease which kills about a quarter of the people it infects, was declared eradicated in 1980. The only known samples of the virus are stored in two secure laboratories approved by WHO (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA and Vector, Kostsovo, Russian Federation). However, the World Health Assembly has recognized the possibility that smallpox could be reintroduced, and since 1996 has had ongoing discussions about measures to prepare for a smallpox emergency.
Today, countries welcomed progress on WHO's work to establish a global smallpox vaccine reserve. This reserve would be used in the event of a smallpox emergency, particularly for those countries that don't have the resources to create their own stockpile.
The reserve plan is twofold: WHO will build its strategic stockpile of smallpox vaccine in Geneva; and, countries are invited to donate and maintain additional stocks pledged to WHO which would be dispatched to where they are most needed in the event of an emergency. Progress on this reserve has already begun, with 2.5 million doses in Geneva, and an additional 31 million doses donated by countries, including 20 million doses from the United States and five million from France.
The World Health Assembly also noted a report which detailed several recommendations for research on the smallpox virus. This research was recommended by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research in November 2004, and is intended to develop better medicines, vaccines and diagnostics for smallpox.
During the World Health Assembly discussions, Member States noted the Director-General's report which contains a recommendation for the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research to reconsider its recommendation to allow smallpox virus genes to be implanted into other less virulent types of orthopox viruses.
The Advisory Committee had also recommended a type of research which assists in swift screening of results, and increased safety for the researcher. The recommendation to insert a green florescent marker protein in variola virus helps to ensure more rapid screening of antiviral drugs to determine whether they are effective. This is a common method of screening antiviral drugs in research involving a range of viruses. In the process, the virus glows green when exposed to an ineffective drug, thus allowing rapid distinction between ineffective and potentially effective drugs against smallpox.
WHO will ensure that any research will only be conducted after detailed proposals have been thoroughly examined on a case-by-case basis by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, paying particular attention to biosafety and biosecurity issues.
Background on smallpox virus research
In 1996, the World Health Assembly recommended that all remaining stocks of smallpox (variola) virus be destroyed. In May 1999, the World Health Assembly reaffirmed the decision to destroy all stocks of variola virus, but authorized temporary retention of stocks for research purposes. At that time, the World Health Assembly also established an external advisory panel, the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, to develop and oversee a research plan for priority public health-related research using the smallpox virus.
Temporary retention of variola virus stocks was authorized by the World Health Assembly in 2002, on the understanding that steps should be taken to ensure that all approved research would remain outcome-oriented and time-limited and kept under review. The destruction of variola virus stocks was reaffirmed as the agreed goal.
The WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus research has continued to oversee and report on the research plan. At its most recent meeting, held in November 2004, the Committee considered the safety and scientific value of proposed experiments that might expedite the development of new antiviral drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests. The Committee proposed that research in these areas could be permitted provided special conditions and approvals needed to ensure safe research practices were met.
These recommendations were discussed at this World Health Assembly.
Subscribe to Healthcare Newsletter E-mail Address:
Related Healthcare News
WHO establishing smallpox vaccine reserve Patricia Hewitt calls for improved family health services New global partnership to focus on health information systems America's Diabetes Health is in Jeopardy Royal College of Psychiatrists welcomes the inclusion of mental health bill in Queen's speech Heart patients getting faster treatment in UK Newly diagnosed HIV infections: review in UK and Ireland UK in Grip of Nationwide Mumps Epidemic Balancing Antiretroviral Therapy in Children Past outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis in SEA Region - a brief overview Meningococcal disease in India - Update Professor Lincoln Chen appointed as Special Envoy for World Health Organization New update on food products contaminated with Para Red May - the Peak Month for British suicides Palliative Care Requires Holistic Approach Overview of Meningitis Outbreak in Delhi More Cases of Meningococcemia Reported Mandatory CWD Testing Approved for Deer Social Value Judgements Guidelines Consultation by NICE Food Products Withdrawn Due to Illegal Para Red 12 More Products Contain Para Red Illegal Dye Para Red in More Food Products It is Your Hormones And You're Not Mad! WHO's HIV Initiative at Risk of Failing 1.2 Million Children Immunized in West Bank and Gaza strip Road Map to Intensify Action Against TB in Africa Alliance to Create a Healthier Generation Burden Of Malaria Still Worst In Africa India teams with UN to fight spread of HIV/AIDS Hospital-Acquired Infections Grow, Prove Costly Asian cultural awareness programme for mental health professionals Emergency Regulations in Response to Discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease GenoMed CEO Invited to Speak at World DNA Day in China Lower vaccination rates put children at risk CORE Comments on Designer Baby Ruling New Repellent Guidance for Upcoming Mosquito Season Health inequalities in Britain continue to Widen Millions of Employed Americans Unable to Get Medical Care New Royal College Recommendations for Treatment in Dementia New Report on Smoke-Free Public Places BMA calls for UK-wide ban on Smoking Initiative to Recruit more International Medical Graduates into Canada's Health Care System New Antidepressant Warnings by Europe Who needs health care--the well or the sick? Canada investigating additional distribution of H2N2 virus Secular Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors CDC Efforts to Reduce or Prevent Obesity Canada approved Cannabis extract Based Drug Health System Review Must Be Based on the Medical Model, Not the Economic Model Launch of Dundee Diabetes Research Centre Human Resource crisis in HIV/AIDS RCGP makes quality general practice tool available Patients Concerned at Hidden Waiting Lists Cost-effectiveness of drugs may vary across borders MRSA: Political point-scoring over hospital cleanliness Charing Cross Hospital Closure Rumours Untrue 10,000 children in developing countries to receive AIDS treatment New York Labs Destroyed all H2N2 strain test kits Soup -- er way to raise awareness of Dementia India launched National Rural Health Mission "People's health in People's hand" Cipla to provide ART to Clinton Foundation Health Resources Must Go To Patients AMA Calls for Transparency of Mental Health Services in Australia's Detention Centres General Practice Nurses Make Perfect Sense AMA Proposes Better Health Care for Refugees Unprecedented National Program to Help Millions of Uninsured Americans Get the Prescription Medicines Labour's approach to Healthcare in UK Doctors Lack Suffiecient Knowledge of Parkinson's Disease NIH Statement on the IOM Study of the HIVNET 012 Perinatal HIV Prevention Trial Are the Capital's cars belchers? Govt should follow DHB lead on open source software The National Polio Eradication Awareness Week 'New approach to healthcare is needed' World Health Report Presented to Indian PM India to raise health expenditure to two to three per cent of GDP India to launch a revamped Reproductive and Child Health programme 10.6 million children die before age five Prestigious Awards announced at RCGP Spring Conference RCP launches General Election manifesto Orthopaedic patients get faster treatment #20m investment in osteoporosis services Free Oral Cancer Screenings Multi-Million Contract to Develop Influenza Vaccine Older people to be offered Jab UK leads Europe in Gene Therapy trials Prisons transfer health services to local PCTs No School Meal Nutritional Standards in UK 26,984 Americans received an Organ Transplant in 2004 AIDS Cases Increase in Rural America NHS Staff congratulated for providing better A&E services Appointment of new chair for the food standards agency New action begins to tackle racism in Mental Health Services Bristol-Myers Squibb Extends Assistance To State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs Wellcome Trust support for Drinkable Typhoid Vaccine Programme Tackling alcohol misuse -- What works best? Dementia Patients and Carers set NICE a challenge Fertility professionals' response to Science and Technology Committee's report on Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law Medicare Managed Care Plan Offered in Most of New York City Demonstration to work towards assuring accurate Medicare Payments
Webpage: http://www.rxpgnews.com/medicalnews/health...