Get blood tests, Oshawa tattoo shop's clients told

Public health officials in Durham Region are trying to contact as many as 2,000 people they fear may have been exposed to unsanitary equipment at an Oshawa tattoo parlour.

They are asking clients of the recently closed Longhorn Custom Body Art parlour to get tested for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.read more

Durham investigating possible health hazard at body art shop

A health department spokesperson said use of non-sterile equipment could lead to transmission of diseases such as Hepatitis B, C and HIV.

The business has been closed by Durham's health department. About 1,500 to 2,000 people visited the establishment in the close to nine-month period.While there is a low risk of infection, the health department recommended anyone that received service from the body art shop to avoid sharing clippers, razors, toothbrushes and other personal items.read more

Hepatitis C Threat Through Sex Seen

Hepatitis C, a virus that attacks the liver, is known to be transmitted through needle-sharing by drug injectors. AIDS groups have generally said that the risk of sexual transmission is low, but some recent European studies have documented sexual transmission among groups of gay men who do not inject drugs.
Most of the hepatitis C infections found in those studies are among gay men who are also infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but some research suggests that sexual transmission of hepatitis C is happening among gay men who are not HIV-positiveread more

New immunization laws in effect

Instead of pencils and pens, local health departments say the number one back-to-school need this year should be vaccines. Sixth and tenth graders are now required to be vaccinated for pertussis (whooping cough) and kindergarten students will need two chicken pox shots this year instead of one.The law also changes the way chicken pox cases are reported. Lab tests or a doctor note are now needed as proof that a child has had the illness.

The health department are also strongly recommending vaccinations for Meningitis and Hepatitis B for college students, particularly those who will be living in dormitories.
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Scientists Turns Mouse Into Factory For Human Liver Cells

Science Daily — Oregon Health & Science University researchers have figured out how to turn a mouse into a factory for human liver cells that can be used to test how pharmaceuticals are metabolized.The technique, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, could soon become the gold standard not only for examining drug metabolism in the liver, which helps scientists determine a drug's toxicity. But it also can be used as a platform for testing new therapies against infectious diseases that attack the liver, such as hepatitis C and malaria.read more

National Immunization Awareness Month

That message is what officials at the Mercer County Health Department are trying to get across the area residents.

August is National Immunization Awareness month
The goal is to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span, from infants to the elderly.

Judy Bolton with the Mercer County Health Department says there are many new immunizations that people don't know about but should get.
Vaccines offer safe and effective protection from infectious diseases.
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Pharmasset 3Q Loss Widens

PRINCETON, N.J. - Drug developer Pharmasset Inc. said Thursday its fiscal 2007 third-quarter loss widened on higher expenses.

The company lost $7.1 million, or 40 cents per share, compared with a loss of $4.4 million, or 42 cents per share. Revenue fell to $464,291 from $513,784
Expenses rose to $7.1 million from $5 million, primarily from clinical trial expenses for the company's hepatitis B treatment candidate clevudine, which is in a Phase III clinical trial.read more