Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Molecular Standard Now Available!

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We are pleased to announce the release of our new product, the G-Sphere® Eastern Equine Encephalitis Molecular Standard! This is our fourth RNA virus molecular standard. Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEE) is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and is present in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

EEE season has already begun in 2013, with two human cases and six equine cases already reported in Florida. This unusually early appearance of the virus is mostly likely due to the mild winter we had this past year, and may be indicative of a higher number of expected cases as we move into the summer months. Read more…

Virginia and Louisiana are urging horse owners to vaccinate for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis as the mosquito populations begin to reemerge. This is especially important since the virus has been found in a mosquito population in Louisiana already this year. Read more…

Because of the high level of safety required with native Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus, control material can be difficult to obtain. Our product is a synthetic, safe, and abundant source of positive control material for reverse transcription PCR and other molecular applications. The standard is compatible with almost every CDC recommended assay, as well as commercial assays.

For orders or inquiries, call us at (434) 293-8180 or e-mail order@phthisisdiagnostics.com.

And don’t forget – you can order a custom DNA or RNA Molecular Standard for virtually any organism and any assay from Phthisis Diagnostics.

West Nile Virus Molecular Standard Now Available!

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We are pleased to announce the release of our new product, the G-Sphere® West Nile Virus  Molecular Standard! This is our third RNA virus molecular standard. West Nile Virus is an endemic pathogen in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. 2012 was one of the worst years for West Nile Virus cases on record in the United States, and many states are increasing their surveillance of the mosquito populations in anticipation of any 2013 outbreaks.

Because of the high level of safety required with native West Nile Virus, control material can be difficult to obtain. Our product is a synthetic, safe, and abundant source of positive control material for reverse transcription PCR and other molecular applications. The standard is compatible with almost every CDC recommended assay, as well as commercial assays.

For orders or inquiries, call us at (434) 293-8180 or e-mail order@phthisisdiagnostics.com.

And coming soon – the G-Sphere® Eastern Equine Encephalitis Molecular Standard will be available later this year.

Happy DNA Day!

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In commemoration of the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003, and the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure in 1953, tomorrow April 25th is National DNA Day!

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) will partner with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History to celebrate National DNA Day. The celebration will be a day when students and teachers can learn more about genetics and genomics, including a morning of scientific presentations and panel discussions with some of the nation’s leading historians, scientists, geneticists and physicians that will emphasize the wide breadth of careers within genetics and genomics. Read More…

Happy West Nile Virus Week!

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To mark the start of the warm weather mosquito season, the California State Legislature declared the week of April 21-27, 2013 as West Nile Virus and Mosquito & Vector Control Awareness Week! Like much of the United States, California was hit hard by the 2012 West Nile Virus season with 479 cases and 19 fatalities. Hopefully those numbers will drop now that awareness and screenings are being increased. Read more…

This also comes right behind the first West Nile Virus case of 2013 being confirmed in Mississippi. Mississippi has already begun spraying mosquitoes and treating standing water with tablets to kill larvae before they hatch. Remember – try to tip over any containers that might collect water to prevent potential breeding. Read more…

James Woods Stars in West Nile Virus

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Last year’s outbreak of West Nile Virus was the worst in a decade with 5,387 reported cases and 243 deaths. Due to the viruses unpredictability and the absence of a treatment or vaccine, many cities are already gearing up their response for 2013 by increasing their surveillance of this dangerous disease.

And it seems Hollywood has also taken notice of the spike! In 2013, a sci-fi thriller starring Oscar nominated James Woods titled West Nile Virus is being released. Woods plays a biology professor racing to stop a deadly outbreak of the virus in New Orleans before it spreads and eradicates mankind. Read more…

Luckily for us, only about one in 150 people infected with West Nile Virus in the real world develop severe symptoms!  Read more…

Gearing up for West Nile Virus Season!

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After the worst West Nile Virus season to date in 2012, many states are gearing up their preparation for the coming summer. Texas was especially hard hit with 1880 reported cases and 134 confirmed fatalities.

This year, many counties are expanding their West Nile Virus plan by doubling or even tripling the number of spray trucks and mosquito monitoring traps. This should speed up response times and increase awareness in the event of an outbreak. Read more…

Your best defense is to practice these habits, known as the “Four Ds”:

  1. Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
  2. Dress in long sleeves and long pants when you are outside.
  3. Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
  4. Drain standing water where mosquitoes breed. Common breeding sites include old tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters.

Norovirus GI Molecular Standard Now Available!

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We are pleased to announce the release of our new product, the G-Sphere® Norovirus GI  Molecular Standard! This is our second RNA virus molecular standard. Norovirus GI is the second most common human infectious genogroup of Norovirus, and accounts for thousands of gastroenteritis cases each year.

Because Norovirus GI cannot be cultured, control material can be difficult to obtain. Our product is a synthetic, safe, and abundant source of positive control material for reverse transcription PCR and other molecular applications. The standard is compatible with almost every CDC recommended assay, as well as commercial assays.

For orders or inquiries, call us at (434) 293-8180 or e-mail order@phthisisdiagnostics.com.

And coming soon – the G-Sphere® West Nile Virus Molecular Standard will be available later this year.

Norovirus GII Molecular Standard Now Available!

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We are pleased to announce the release of a new product, the G-Sphere® Norovirus GII Molecular Standard! Norovirus GII accounts for the majority of adult outbreaks of gastroenteritis and can often sweep around the globe, as we have seen with the numerous outbreaks this past winter. Read more…

Because Norovirus GII cannot be cultured, control material can be difficult to obtain. Our product is a synthetic, safe, and abundant source of positive control material for reverse transcription PCR and other molecular applications. The standard is compatible with almost every CDC recommended assay, as well as commercial assays.

For orders or inquiries, call us at (434) 293-8180 or e-mail order@phthisisdiagnostics.com.

And coming soon – the G-Sphere® Norovirus GI Molecular Standard will be available later this year.

New Strain of Whooping Cough Found in the United States

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This past year has been the worst for Whooping Cough in more than six decades, with 41,880 cases confirmed in 2012. This is a 1,400% increase from only two decades ago in 1991 when there were only 3,000 cases nationwide.

As scientists attempt to find more effective ways to prevent infection, they have also discovered a new strain in the United States that may not be prevented by the current vaccine.

While some of the increase is due to this new strain, many cases are also caused by the vaccine wearing off over time and leaving people unprotected. The current version of the vaccine is less effective than previous versions, but much safer in terms of side effects. However, it is also wearing off more quickly than older versions and scientists are still working to figure out how soon after vaccination it stops being effective.

These events have caused the CDC to change its guidelines regarding Whooping Cough booster shots for pregnant women. It now recommends one during each pregnancy to give babies protection at birth. Read more…

 

Norovirus in the UK

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Over the holiday season, Norovirus ran through the United Kingdom.  Norovirus, commonly known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’ to the UK, affected about 100,000 people, according to an article in The Guardian. Also, stated is that this was 72% higher incidence from last year.

“The dramatic rise was attributed in part to an early outbreak of the norovirus-caused illness, which closed dozens of hospital wards as it struck across Britain.

Laboratory-confirmed incidents of norovirus amounted to 3,877 cases recorded in England and Wales, a rise from the 2,255 tally of last year.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that for every reported case an estimated 288 were not flagged up, meaning that about 1.12 million people could have contracted the illness this season.” Read More…