Take matter on priority basis: SHC

Sindh High Court on Wednesday issued notices to provincial Health Secretary, IG Prisons and others on a petition pertaining to the medical treatment of prisoners suffering from Hepatitis B & C at Khairpur prison.

The court also directed IG Prisons and Jail Superintendent to take the matter on priority basis and initiate practical steps to control the spread of the disease.

SHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Faisal Arab, expressed dissatisfaction over the existing health facilities in jails, also sought positive proposals from the enlightened members of civil society for providing better health facilities to prisoners suffering from Hepatitis B & C as well as controlling other fatal diseases. read more

Human Genome Sciences Completes Enrollment of First Phase III Albuferon Trial

Human Genome Sciences announced that it has completed enrollment and initial dosing ahead of schedule in ACHIEVE 1, the first of two pivotal Phase III trials of Albuferon in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Human Genome Sciences and Novartis are codeveloping Albuferon (albinterferon alfa-2b) under an exclusive worldwide agreement made in June 2006.

According to Human Genome Sciences, 1,331 patients at 150 clinical sites in 12 countries have been enrolled and randomized in ACHIEVE 1. ACHIEVE 2/3 was initiated in February, and will enroll and randomize a minimum of 918 patients with genotypes 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C, the company added. read more

Vietnam:Korean Hepatitis B vaccines killed three childern

Additionally, deputy health minister Cao Minh Quang recently said that Korean Hepatitis B vaccines suspected to have killed three children in April and May were found to be safe by both French and Vietnamese labs.

Since May, the ministry has suspended the use of the vaccines supplied by Korean LG Life Company throughout Vietnam.read more

Growth in Cuban Biotechnology

The Cuban biotechnology sector has seen growth totalling 162 million Cuban pesos over the past two years, 75 million in 2005 and 87 million in 2006.
One of the leading products is the Hepatitis B vaccine. 170 million doses have been produced to date, and the Cuban product has been used in many WHO campaigns.
The sector produces numerous drugs which not only serve public health in Cuba, but also constitute the country's second largest export area.read more

Hospital launches infection investigation

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a gynaecologist who was a carrier of the hepatitis C virus operated on patients working at Boston's Pilgrim Hospital.
The hospital refused to name the surgeon, but revealed the period of the suspected risk ran from early 2000 to July 2007.
Of the 62 women possibly affected, 53 have so far been tracked down and tested.
In a statement released this morning (Thursday) the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "This gynaecologist who was a carrier of the hepatitis C virus has previously passed on this infection to a small number of patients, one of whom went on to develop liver disease and tragically died.
read more

Possibly 500 Dutch patients infected with HIV, hepatitis B or C

Amsterdam - Some 500 patients of hospitals in Oss and Veghel in the southern Netherlands have possibly been infected with the HIV virus or hepatitis B or C, Dutch press reports said Friday city hospital and health authorities.

On Thursday the regional daily newspaper Brabants Dagblad reported the possible infection took place due to inadequate disinfection machines.

Both hospitals were the first in the Netherlands to purchase a new type of washing machine used to disinfect medical equipment. read more