To the tune of CopacabanaIts name was boca, it was a parvoNo membrane just a shell, a tiny genome n� there as wellIt was found worldwide, but first in SwedenAnd while it might yet be a star, its role remains unclear by far Around a crowded globe, its mode of spread unknownIt was newly found and yet endemicPCR helped show Call it boca, the bocavirusQuite close to a dog and cow virusCall it boca, the...
FluTrackers needs your help....HELP THEM!!
I've written before about how much we smaller bloggers and interested other parties rely on FluTrackers to be the rock on which we can rely. Have a quick read of that post here.FluTrackers are a bunch of volunteers who self-fund the computer infrastructure that houses and serves us with the carefully agglomerated rantings of a seemingly endless stream of information sources on all manner of infectious...
Randall the red-nosed toddler...
To the tune of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeerRandall the red-nosed toddlerHad a very runny nose Asthma exacerbation Fever adding to his woes All of the other toddlers Didn't have immunity They all came down with symptoms Differing in severity Then one group of researchers Virus-hunting was their game Swabbed, extracted, amplifiedA rhino POS of course was...
More confirmation that rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) should be used in context
The Texas Department of State Health Services have a useful couple of paragraphs from an Influenza Health Alert that puts into context reliance on the convenient and rapid, but ultimately intensive rapid influenza tests.Rapid Lab Tests: Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests (RIDTs) can be useful to identify influenza virus infection, but false negative test results are common during influenza season....
Texan flu step: flu-like illness outbreak in Montgomery County [UPDATE #2]
Click image to enlarge.County of Montgomery highlighted in red.From WikipediaWhile 1,920 influenza-like illnesses (briefly that's measurable fever plus one or more particular symptom usually; includes sore throat, fatigue, body aches and complications including pneumonia) have occurred in this county...
Influenza A (H10N8) virus, the new kid on the block...
Click on image to enlarge.Step by step we seem to be getting familiar with the entire influenza spectrum of naming combinations and permutations. When you consider that even 2 influenza viruses with the same common naming scheme (like H7N9) may have completely different evolutionary histories and...
A new rhino type is coming to town...[corrected]
To the tune of Santa Claus is coming to townYou better watch outNo need to tryTaking antibioticsI'm telling you whyNew rhino types have come in to town (Don't gather 'round)It's making a listNot sickening you twiceWill get to you if you're naughty or nice New rhino types have come in to town Infects you when you're sleepingInfects if you're awakeCan make you crook and wheeze a lot Not so...
