0000000000455620
AUTHOR
Thomas R. Kreil
Impact of vCJD on blood supply.
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is an at present inevitably lethal neurodegenerative disease which can only be diagnosed definitely post mortem. The majority of the approximately 200 victims to date have resided in the UK where most contaminated beef materials entered the food chain. Three cases in the UK demonstrated that vCJD can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Since BSE and vCJD have spread to several countries outside the UK, it appears advisable that specific risk assessments be carried out in different countries and geographic areas. This review explains the approach adopted by Germany in assessing the risk and considering precautionary measures. A fundamental premise is…
Safety and Immunogenicity of a Vero Cell Culture-Derived Whole-Virus Influenza A(H5N1) Vaccine in a Pediatric Population
BACKGROUND: Children are highly vulnerable to infection with novel influenza viruses. It is essential to develop candidate pandemic influenza vaccines that are safe and effective in the pediatric population. METHODS: Infants and children aged 6-35 months and 3-8 years, respectively, were randomized to receive 2 immunizations with a 7.5-µg or 3.75-µg hemagglutinin (HA) dose of a nonadjuvanted whole-virus A/Vietnam(H5N1) vaccine; adolescents aged 9-17 years received a 7.5-µg dose only. A subset of participants received a booster immunization with an A/Indonesia(H5N1) vaccine approximately 1 year later. HA and neuraminidase antibody responses were assessed. RESULTS: Vaccination was safe and we…