Sanofi Pasteur starts vaccine research against Zika virus

After the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the Zika virus as an international public health emergency and highlight the importance of a vaccine for the disease, the laboratory French Sanofi Pasteur announced that it will initiate research to create an immunization against the virus, which is related to the birth of children with microcephaly.

Sanofi Pasteur is responsible for vaccines against Zika-like viruses such as yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and dengue. Like dengue, Zika is also a Flavivirus and is spread by the same mosquito, so they believe this prior knowledge will be of great value to the creation of this vaccine.

According to the pronouncement of Margaret Chan, Director General WHO, at the 138th meeting of the Executive Committee, the organization is deeply concerned, mainly due to the relationship between infection in pregnancy and microcephaly. In addition, because it is transmitted by Aedes aegypti, there is a very high potential for spread of the disease in the Americas, and there are no vaccines, specific treatments or rapid diagnostic tests for the disease.

Occasional smokers 9 times more likely to die from cancer

Occasional smoking or only one cigarette per day are also at an increased risk of premature death compared to those who have never smoked. The study, conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute of the United States (NCI), examined the health of 290,000 Americans aged 59-82 over the course of their lives.

(Health)

Cigarette attacks the vocal cords, leaving the voice thicker

The negative effects of the cigarette on the voice and on the health of the larynx as a whole are undeniable. Smoking is associated with changes in vocal quality, laryngeal irritations, cancer, and other tissue changes. Despite the increase in public policies aimed at combating smoking, cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable deaths throughout the world.

(Health)