New H1N1 Strain Found

Brazilian scientists have identified a new strain of the H1N1 virus after examining samples from a patient in Sao Paulo, their institute said on Tuesday. The variant has been called A/Sao Paulo/1454/H1N1 by the Adolfo Lutz Bacteriological Institute, which compared it with samples of the A(H1N1) swine flu from California. The genetic sequence of the new sub-type of the H1N1 virus was isolated by a virology team lead by one of its researchers, Terezinha Maria de Paiva, the institute said in a statement. The mutation is comprised of alterations in the Hemagglutinin protein which allows the virus to infect new hosts, it said.

It was not yet known whether the new strain was more aggressive than the current A(H1N1) virus which has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organization. The genetic make-up of the H1N1 virus and its subvariants are important for scientists. Pharmaceutical companies are working to mass produce a vaccine against the current A(H1N1) flu. There are fears though that it could mutate into a deadly strain, much in the same way as the 1918 Spanish flu - also an A(H1N1) virus type - did when it killed tens of millions around the planet. According to the WHO, 36,000 people in 76 countries have been infected with the H1N1 virus, causing 163 deaths.

Source: AFP

Comments

Brentwood Police Department Announces Speed Citation Amnesty Program

Due to an error we are offering to void speed camera citations that were issued between June 24th thru July 13th, 2010. Please email your citation number to chiefbrentwoodpd@juno.com with Citation Amnesty Program written in the subject line. Any speed citations issued before or after the dates listed are not included in this amnesty program . This program does not include or involve speed camera citations that were issued by the City of Mount Rainier.

Community Shredding Day

Please mark you calendars for Saturday July 18th, 2009 for community shredding day. Priority One Shredding of Bowie, Maryland will provide free personal shredding services and secure document destruction from 8 am until 11am at the Bunker Hill Fire Station. Priority One Shredding is a leading provider of personal and business secure document destruction. Residents are welcome to watch their documents being destroyed, and once the shredding process is completed, the remains are locked in the mobile destruction unit until the paper is recycled. Priority One will also provide residents with a variety of identity theft prevention information free of charge. If you miss the community shredding day on July 18th, be sure to bring your bulk documents to National Night Out. Priority One will be onsite from 6-9 pm providing shredding services to residents again, free of charge .

Police Report: May 8-11

Friday May 8th : 3400 block of 11 Newton Street : At about 2 pm officers responded for the report of a woman who had been assaulted by her boyfriend. The boyfriend allegedly punched the woman in the mouth and choked her. She told the officers that she did not want any police assistance and refused to tell the officers what had occurred. She was referred to the District Court Commissioner if she decided to press charges at a later time. Saturday May 9th : Nothing significant to report. Sunday May 10th : 4500 block of Eastern Avenue (BP station) : At about 11 am officers responded for the report of a stolen auto. The officers met with the victim/owner who told them that he left the keys to his 2002 Lincoln on the front seat when he went inside to pay for gas. When he came out of the store he saw his Lincoln being driven up Eastern Avenue towards Rhode Island Avenue by a black male (no further description). A check of the area for the stolen car proved negative and a lookout for it was gi...

Retired MRPD Chief's Discussion

Search This Blog