October 2009
AIDS crisis in Pakistan
The estimated number of HIV patients in Pakistan is ~80,000 that is about 0.1% of the adult population of the country. Although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS seems to be low but still the country is at high risk as the potential for a widespread epidemic is high due to contamination risk factors common in this country like other countries with high HIV prevalence. These risk factors include, low...
October 2009
The first isolation of chikungunya virus from non-human primates in Malaysia
Chikungunya is a mosquito borne disease caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The virus is transmitted to human by Aedes genus mosquitoes. Transmission cycles of CHIKV can be man - mosquito - man (urban cycle) or animal - mosquito - man (sylvatic cycle). Sylvatic transmission cycle of CHIKV has been described in Africa and may play a role in re-emergence of CHIKV infection. In Malaysia, CHIKV- neutralizing...
