Search

Zika virus is endemic in several parts of the world. February 1, 2016 Zika virus was declared a public health emergency by the WHO. This declaration is mainly due to a convincing association between Zika virus infection during pregnancy and birth defects, like microcephaly, among some of the newborns. Imported cases of Zika virus infection to North America, Europe and Denmark have been described. The infection in itself is mild and self-limiting. The available diagnostic methods are under development, validation and evaluation. In Denmark, some promising diagnostics are available at Statens Serum Institut.

We report the first case of Sandfly virus meningitis in a Danish traveller returning from Tuscany. A 52 year-old man was admitted with headache, fever and photophobia. Spinal fluid showed evidence of aseptic meningitis. Indirect immuno-fluorescence assays showed presence of immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies reactive against Toscana virus, and Phlebovirus RNA was detected in blood by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The patient recovered spontaneously. Since Sandfly virus is a very common cause of meningitis in the Mediterranean countries, it is important to be aware of this disease in travellers returning from these areas.

Although the likelihood of a deliberate release is considered to be minor, smallpox virus poses a worldwide terrorism security risk because it (1) can easily be disseminated and transmitted from person to person; (2) results in high mortality rates and has the potential to create a major public health impact; (3) might cause public panic and social disruption; and (4) requires special action for public health preparedness. Consequently, Statens Serum Institute and the National Board of Health have developed a Danish smallpox preparedness plan. This article discusses critical aspects of the plan, including risk analysis and a multi-tiered action plan, vaccination, analysis of clinical specimens, the establishment of active surveillance teams and generic contingency elements.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is an acute respiratory illness caused by SARS coronavirus. This virus was possibly transmitted from an animal reservoir to humans, and from February 2003, the epidemic was spread internationally by further person-to-person transmission. The SARS epidemic was managed by well-known principles of infection control, including prompt diagnosis, isolation of patients, and quarantine of contacts. The successful control of the outbreak is a remarkable international achievement, though much about SARS remains poorly understood.

Genetic immunization is a new vaccine technology, where antigen encoding DNA plasmids are directly injected into muscle or skin with the purpose of eliciting an immune response to the gene product. The gene products are correctly glycosylated, folded and expressed by the host cell. This is an advantage when the antigens are difficult to obtain in the desired purity, amount or correctly glycosylated form or when only the genetic sequences are known e.g. HCV. The DNA plasmids are injected into muscles or delivered coated onto gold microparticles into the skin by a particle bombardment device, a "gene gun". Genetic immunization has demonstrated induction of both a specific humoral but also a more broadly reacting cellular immune response in animal models of cancer, mycoplasma, TB, malaria, and many virus infections including influenza and HIV. Thus, the DNA vaccine mimics a live vaccine without the biohazard. Many animal species have responded to genetic immunization and gene vaccine has also been used to induce a desired immuneresponse in patients with cancer and HIV. The technique was first described in 1992 but is developing fast. This review describes the history and principle of the technology, its advantages, problems and possible applications.

Most bacteria occur in the environment as sessile cells adhering to a surface, whereas a minority exists as free floating (planktonic) cells. Biofilms consist of microcolonies embedded in a polysaccharide matrix produced by the bacteria. This polysaccharide slime protects the bacteria against hostile environmental factors. Planktonic daughter cells are liberated from the surface of biofilms and may colonize new surfaces and subsequently produce new biofilms. Biofilms are often consortia of several different bacterial species. The normal microflora on the skin or on the mucous membranes in the human body occurs as a biofilm, which is removed by the shedding of old cells and by the excretion of mucus. Subsequently new cells and new mucus are colonized by biofilm forming bacteria without giving rise to any symptoms. When body surfaces with a normally occurring microflora (A) are connected by means of an implanted foreign body with body surfaces or tissue compartments without a microflora (B) e.g. bronchi, gall bladder, peritoneum, veins, then a translocation of the normal microflora from (A) to (B) may easily occur leading to acute infection, formation of new biofilms on the implanted foreign body and induction of inflammation in the environment of this biofilm. Chronic bacterial infections are frequently caused by biofilm producing bacteria and the pathogenesis of the tissue damage is dominated by a persistent immune complex mediated inflammation. Bacteria growing in biofilms cannot be eradicated by antibiotics and biofilms resist the immunological and non-specific defence mechanisms of the body.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)