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Clinical Alert: Immunizations Are Discontinued in Two HIV Vaccine Trials
An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) met this week to review interim data from a large, international HIV vaccine clinical trial known as the STEP study — also referred to as the HVTN 502 or Merck V520-023 study. The clinical trial, which began enrolling volunteers in December 2004, is co-sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. Inc., which also developed and supplied the candidate vaccine. Based on a review of interim data, the DSMB concluded that the vaccine cannot be shown in this trial to prevent HIV infection or affect the course of the disease in those who become infected with HIV (the vaccine itself cannot cause HIV infection because it contains only synthetically produced snippets of viral material). Therefore, Merck and NIAID instructed all study sites to cease administering the investigational vaccine but continue scheduled follow-up visits with all volunteers until the data can be more thoroughly evaluated and a course of action is developed. The same Merck candidate HIV vaccine is also being tested in South Africa by the HVTN and the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative in a separate NIAID-sponsored clinical trial known as HVTN 503 or the “Phambili” study. This study was initiated in February 2007 and has enrolled 799 individuals. Immunizations and enrollment in the Phambili study have now been paused.
Contraband toys as a public health risk
The recent recall of Mattel toys due to high lead content has garnered a lot of public attention, to be sure — but recalls are impossible in cases where the toys themselves are smuggled, pirated or contraband. A recent article from Inter Press News Service cites business estimates and studies suggesting that over half of the toys on the market in Mexico are contraband or illegal copies, a figure the article sets at 25% for Brazil and in a similar range for other countries across Latin America. Even as Latin American countries try to set higher standards for quality and safety for imported products such as toys, they acknowledge that the possible safety threat posed by contraband items is difficult for them to address. Read the story from Tierramérica in English or in Spanish.
Corpus Christi struggles with public water safety
This article from Sunday’s Corpus Christi Caller-Times provides a good summary of the month-long struggle that city has had with problems in the public water system, which culminated last week with the announcement that samples had tested positive for E. coli, followed by a citywide boil-water notice and the abrupt resignation of the city’s water director.
COWs in Rural Hospitals
Computers on Wheels or COWs are being used at Delhi Hospital in Louisana. “The computers can be easily transported to patients’ rooms for faster access of information. The Delhi facility is the first rural Louisiana hospital to become part of the Rural Hospital Coalition, a file database linked to LSU hospitals.” To read more about the COWs, click on the link below.
Current health news source: MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is an excellent resource for consumer health education, but did you know that it is also a great source of current and comprehensive health news? The “Health News” section of MedlinePlus is updated every weekday, and Reuters and HealthDay news stories remain on the site for 90 days. A direct link to the complete list of Health News items is available from the main MedlinePlus page, and each health topic also includes a link to “latest news” in the Basics section of the main health topic page. You can even get the latest health news on specific topics by email if you subscribe to a free service that alerts you when new information is available and set up your personal profile.
