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.

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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.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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“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…

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