The oral poliovirus vaccine strains (OPV) developed by Albert Sabin were licensed in the United States in 1962, and over the next 37 years immunization with these vaccines lead to the eradication of poliomyelitis in this country. During that period, the vaccine was responsible for 5-10 cases of poliomyelitis each year, either in recipients of …
The World Health Organization’s global polio eradication effort uses the live, attenuated poliovirus vaccines developed by Albert Sabin. When the eradication program was announced in 1988, the goal was to eliminate global poliomyelitis, then cease immunization with poliovirus at some point in the future. In 2002 an outbreak of polio in the Dominican Republic sent …
In my recent post about why I blog and podcast, I discussed how these activities allow me to think more about virology and to teach far more people than I ever could in a laboratory or classroom. Is there even more value in the web for scientists? There are three different web activities, besides blogging …
Guan Yi, an expert on H5N1 influenza virus, is quoted in China Daily as saying that “The virus is definitely mutating”. Yi’s comments were in reference to the continuing pandemic of H5N1 influenza in poultry farms. He indicates that some farms are using a vaccine against an American H5N2 strain, which is not likely to …
H5N1 expert says ‘The virus is definitely mutating’ Read More »
A few days ago I wrote about my particular reasons for maintaining a science blog. This issue resonates among scientists, as I received many comments from my colleagues, and discovered their writings on the topic. But those who read science blogs have a view too, and I came across a particularly illuminating one today, from …
My colleagues (generally the older ones) often ask me why I blog or podcast. They believe that I am wasting my time. After all, I am a scientist, and it is my job to carry out research. In order to do this I must publish papers and obtain grants. The grant funds are used to …
