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Authentium’s Industry-Leading Security Software Complements and Completes Abaca’s Anti-Spam and Anti-Phishing Solution

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Abaca Technology Corporation, an innovator in email protection and messaging security, announced today that it has partnered with Authentium, a leading developer of security software, to incorporate Command Antivirus into its Email Protection Gateway[TM]. The partnership enables Abaca to offer customers a complete email security package that includes anti-spam, anti-phishing, and anti-virus protection.

"Abaca provides the most accurate anti-spam solution available today, allowing us to guarantee 99 percent accuracy in filtering spam," said Bill Kasje, director of business development at Abaca Technology Corporation. "We wanted to provide anti-virus protection that would deliver that equivalent best-in-class value and reliability for our customers. We also needed a solution that would integrate seamlessly with our Email Protection Gateway. Authentium’s Command Antivirus met our requirements in every way."

Certified by Checkmark, West Coast Labs, and a winner of multiple Virus Bulletin awards, Authentium’s Command Antivirus uses the world’s largest database of virus definitions, and is one of the most widely deployed virus detection technologies in the industry. Authentium provides software development kits (SDKs) that enable ISPs, resellers and other business partners to easily integrate Command Antivirus and other security offerings into their product lines. Once installed, Authentium security software delivers industry-leading protection, along with automated updates to ensure continued effectiveness.

"Authentium’s Command Antivirus SDK is easy to use, and we had no integration issues at all," said Kasje. "Now we can offer customers zero-day virus protection that complements our own anti-spam solution — and requires very little ongoing support from us. It’s a win all the way around."

"Our goal is to equip our partners with robust malware prevention that is easy to implement and constantly updated, while empowering those partners to remain focused on their core businesses," said Corey O’Donnell, vice president of marketing for Authentium. "We’re proud to help Abaca provide this protection to its customers, and confident that Authentium’s industry-leading security software will be a great enhancement to an already superb Abaca solution."

The two companies, who first began partnering in 2005, plan to eventually integrate Authentium security software into future Abaca email security offerings.

"We’re excited to share our latest innovations with partners like Abaca," said O’Donnell. "Authentium is leading the security industry with an entirely new approach to session security, courtesy of our recently announced VERO toolkit, inline malware scanning that uses our fifth-generation Antivirus engine, and secure communications tools. We’re eager to explore the ways in which our technology can further serve the vision of forward-thinking partners like Abaca."

Availability and Pricing

Abaca offers Authentium Command Antivirus as part of its ReceiverNet[TM] Premium Service, which also includes anti-spam and anti-phishing protection. ReceiverNet Premium Service is available to Abaca customers who purchase either the hardware appliance-based Email Protection Gateway or the Virtual Email Protection Gateway.

Pricing for this premium service begins at $1.49 per licensed user/month. Additional equipment and support fees apply.

About Authentium

Authentium develops core operating system encapsulation, file and application defense, data interception and data analysis technologies for inclusion in its flagship Extensible Services Platform (ESP). Authentium is the leading licensor of security software development toolkits to independent software vendors, software publishers, and security appliance manufacturers, and one of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the security software industry, providing services to millions of end users in enterprise and government organizations, ISPs, and education institutions worldwide. For more information, visit www.authentium.com.

About Abaca Technology Corporation

Abaca Technology Corporation is an innovator in email protection and messaging security. Abaca’s patent-pending technology, ReceiverNet[TM], offers an advanced approach in the fight against spam — providing unprecedented levels of accuracy and guaranteeing 99 percent spam filtration. Abaca has created a portfolio of innovative products and services based upon this core technology, thereby assuring users unparalleled messaging protection from spam, as well as viruses and phishing attacks. Abaca is a privately held company headquartered in San Jose, California. For more information about Abaca, please visit www.abaca.com.

Abaca([R]), Email Protection Gateway[TM], Abaca([R]) Email Protection Gateway[TM], ReceiverNet[TM], and the Abaca logos are trademarks of Abaca Technology Corporation and may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks shown are the property of their respective owners.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

While most people associate viruses with human illness, a new study suggests that at least one virus might have cancer-fighting abilities that could be used to treat some metastatic cancers.

Reporting in the Nov. 7 issue of Journal of the National Cancer Institute , researchers explained that the virus, Seneca Valley Virus-001 (SVV-001), was effective in treating lines of cells from small-cell lung cancer and some pediatric cancers, as well as lung cancer and eye cancer in immune-deficient mice.

“In animal studies, we found complete eradication of small-cell lung cancer,” said the study’s lead author, Paul Hallenbeck, founder, president and chief scientific officer of Neotropix, in Malvern, Pa. “This is a promising new, yet old, approach to a very serious disease,” added Hallenbeck, noting that people first noticed that viruses had some effect on cancer as long as 100 years ago.

However, at least …

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

Integrated Solution Couples New Version of ESET NOD32 Antivirus With Antispyware, Antispam and Firewall Features to Deliver Unprecedented Speed and Accuracy

SAN DIEGO — ESET, the leader in proactive threat protection, today announced the introduction of ESET Smart Security, a new, integrated security solution for consumers and small-to-medium-sized businesses. It includes antivirus, antispyware, antispam and firewall features built on ESET’s award-winning advanced heuristic ThreatSense[R] detection system and the ESET NOD32 scanning engine. ESET Smart Security combines speed, accuracy and minimal computer system impact to deliver a significant improvement over traditional solutions in the marketplace today. It provides the industry’s highest level of accuracy and fewest false-positives through ESET NOD32 Antivirus1. With significantly lower performance overhead compared to the competition, ESET Smart Security uses only 40MB of disk space and scans systems up to 30-times faster than other products.

"Threats no longer appear in the form of pure viruses or spam or phishing. They now come as ‘blended’ threats which require an integration and intelligence among individual security features. Smart computer users are looking for the best level of integrated protection with the minimal amount of inconvenience," said Phil Hochmuth, senior analyst at the Yankee Group. "This drives users to look for malware solutions that provide great protection, are easy to install, don’t slow down their computers and work completely behind the scenes."

Unlike security suites which combine standalone products, ESET Smart Security tightly integrates the antispyware, antispam and firewall features with the new version of ESET’s flagship ESET NOD32 Antivirus scanning engine. This tight integration allows each module to share information with the other to evaluate and classify every threat appropriately.

ESET’s ThreatSense technology provides the industry’s highest level of accuracy. It is the only antivirus technology that has not missed an in-the-wild-virus in Virus Bulletin VB 100 testing over the past nine years, while producing only one false-positive during that time. It has also received more Advanced+ awards from AV-Comparatives.org for proactive protection than any other product.

"Our research indicates that consumers and businesses are looking for maximum protection, low system requirements, accurate results and fast scanning speeds–in that order. They are tired of solutions that slow down their computers and interfere with other applications," said Anton Zajac, CEO of ESET, LLC. "ESET set out to build a solution that addressed these concerns while offering the best level of protection available. With ESET Smart Security, we’ve surpassed our goal and savvy computer users will be amazed by its ease of use, intelligent lightweight design and near-zero impact on system performance."

Unique to ESET Smart Security and ESET NOD32 Antivirus V3.0:

* Hands-on service - All ESET customers receive the same level of excellent technical support service, whether an individual computer user or an SMB.

* Ease of installation - ESET Smart Security and ESET NOD32 Antivirus V3.0 scanning engines are quick and easy to install, no matter what solution is currently running.

* Advanced threat protection network - ESET solutions are backed by ThreatSense.Net, a global early warning system built into the products. ThreatSense.Net extends the power of ThreatSense’s powerful analytics by automatically submitting samples of and information about new malware to ESET researchers for analysis, thus helping to close the window of vulnerability opened by new threats.

ESET’s new solutions are ideal for the small-to-medium size business environment. By incorporating ESET’s Remote Administrator, both ESET Smart Security and the new version of ESET NOD32 Antivirus can be deployed and managed remotely from a central location.

Availability

ESET Smart Security and ESET NOD32 Antivirus V3.0 will be available for purchase at www.eset.com as well as various Micro Center retail stores throughout the country on November 5, 2007 (for the consumer edition) and November 26, 2007 (for the business edition).

The suggested retail price for ESET Smart Security is USD 59.99 for individual users which includes a one year subscription to all updates to the product, including new versions. ESET Smart Security Business Edition is available for a suggested retail price of USD 40.99 (5-10 seats, per seat).

ESET NOD32 Antivirus V3.0 is USD 39.99 for individual users which includes a one year subscription to all updates to the product, including new versions. ESET NOD32 Antivirus V3.0 Business Edition is available for a suggested retail price of USD 32.99 (5-10 seats, per seat).

About ThreatSense

ESET solutions are built on ESET’s one-of-a-kind ThreatSense technology. This advanced heuristics engine enables proactive detection of malware not covered by even the most frequently updated signature-based products by decoding and analyzing executable code in real time, using an emulated environment. By allowing malware to execute in a secure virtual world, ESET is able to clearly differentiate between benign files and even the most sophisticated and cleverly-disguised malware. ESET Smart Security takes this advanced methodology to the next level by applying it to the integrated solution as a whole, passing evaluation information between its integrated features for the most accurate protection possible.

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

One Salt Lake County senior citizen died from West Nile virus complications in 2007. A story Thursday incorrectly reported no deaths.

Copyright C 2007 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

LYON, France — Flamel Technologies (NASDAQ:FLML) today announced positive preliminary data from a trial comparing the safety, tolerability, and long-acting activity of IFN-alpha-XL versus ViraferonPeg[TM], marketed in the U.S. as PegIntron[TM], in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Results from the trial show:

* A marked reduction in side effects for patients given IFN-alpha-XL compared with those who received PegIntron;

* A statistically significant reduction in viral load for the group of patients infected with the Genotype 1 strain of HCV (comprising non-responder patients, relapsed patients and patients who are naive to standard Peg Interferon/ribavirin treatment) who received 27 MIU of IFN-alpha-XL compared with similar patients who received PegIntron; and

* A marked reduction in viral load for "non-responder" genotype 1 patients who received IFN-alpha-XL compared with similar patients who received PegIntron.

Flamel plans to present the full data from this clinical trial at a medical conference and is seeking a licensing partner for this product.

The lead investigator of the study, Professor Christian Trepo (Hotel Dieu Hospital - Lyon), remarked, "The results of this study are especially encouraging given the favorable responses in genotype 1 patients, a population that is typically the most difficult to treat. In this study, a statistically significant reduction in viral load was observed in patients who received 27 MIU of Interferon-alpha XL compared with patients administered the standard dose of Peg-Intron. Moreover, the trend we observed in the study suggests that the advantages of Interferon-alpha XL with respect to viral load reduction are cumulative and may become more pronounced during longer treatment regimens."

Dr. Trepo continued, "I also am very encouraged that the benefit in viral load reduction in patients receiving Interferon-alpha-XL was achieved with fewer adverse events compared with PegIntron. Side effects associated with interferon treatment are frequently debilitating and treatment limiting. These side effects often necessitate dose reduction, which negatively affects treatment outcome. Many patients even choose to discontinue therapy. These data suggest that IFN-alpha-XL may provide patients with a more tolerable regimen that has potentially better efficacy compared with existing interferon-alpha based therapies. This would be a significant advance in the treatment of a disease that has reached pandemic proportions in the United States and around the world."

Stephen Willard, Flamel’s chief executive officer, said: "We are very pleased with the results of this second trial. They confirm the results of our earlier trial with respect to reduced side effects as compared with currently marketed products. The viral load results compared head to head against the pegylated product suggest exciting potential benefits in efficacy. A top priority for Flamel will be to engage the right partner to work with in taking this product forward."

Trial Design

Patients enrolled in the open-label, multi-center trial were randomized into three groups of 12 to 14 patients and received treatment consisting of:

1) IFN-alpha XL 18 MIU, dosed twice at 7 day interval; or

2) IFN-alpha XL 27 MIU, dosed twice at 7 day interval; or

3) Peg-Intron 1.5 micrograms / kg, dosed twice at 7 day interval.

Viral load was measured regularly until 7 days after the second injection. Adverse events observed in all three arms included fever, flu-like symptoms, headache, white blood count abnormalities, as well as other adverse events. Local tolerance was also assessed. No serious adverse events were reported and no patients withdrew from the study due to adverse events.

About IFN-alpha-XL

IFN-alpha-XL is a new formulation of recombinant Interferon alpha-2b based on Flamel’s proprietary Medusa[R] nanoparticle delivery system. Medusa[R] is a versatile protein carrier for the development of a wide range of novel and second-generation long-acting native protein and peptide products. IFN-alpha-XL is designed to provide patients with a longer acting and more tolerable approach to interferon therapy compared with approved interferon regimens.

About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne pathogen that causes inflammation of the liver. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 75 percent of people infected with HCV will develop chronic infections; and 60 to 70 percent of these people will subsequently develop chronic hepatitis. HCV infection is the most common blood-borne viral infection in the United States. Approximately 4 million people in the United States are infected with HCV and the World Health Organization estimates that 170 million people worldwide - 3 percent of the world’s population - are infected with HCV.

Current treatment regimens require frequent administration of Interferon-alpha for periods of up to a year or longer. Weekly dosing of Pegylated Interferon-alpha is considered necessary for sustained efficacy and is expected to remain an important component of the standard of care for the foreseeable future. Treatment with Interferon-alpha is associated with dose-dependent adverse events that can be classified as either acute or of later onset. The typical acute toxicity profile tends to occur after every injection and thus causes difficulties for repeated administration. Current interferon alpha treatment regimens are limited by side effects, especially long-term side effects such as psychological depression and myelosuppression, and efficacy. Addressing these limitations is essential to improving the treatment of HCV.

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

PC Magazine Editor’s Choice Award Winner Expands to Include Self-Configuring Firewall; Ease of Use to Improve Security

BOULDER, Colo. — Webroot Software, Inc., a leading provider of Internet security software for the consumer, enterprise and SMB markets, today unveiled Webroot[R] AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall, an enhanced and rebranded version of the current Webroot Spy Sweeper[R] with AntiVirus 5.5 solution, a recent winner of the PC Magazine Editor’s Choice award. Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall offers the most complete security protection against viruses, spyware, data theft and hackers through an integrated combination of anti-malware shields and behavioral technology, as well as a two-way desktop firewall with multi-layer intrusion prevention software. The firewall is also available online as a standalone solution called Webroot Desktop Firewall.

"A large percentage of the users we speak to tell us that they aren’t using their firewalls because they are too hard to configure. The intelligent Webroot Desktop Firewall solution monitors and learns what user behavior is ‘normal’ for that PC and creates rules based on it. It even allows users to redefine rules as new programs are added or as their security needs change," said Mike Irwin, COO, Webroot Software. "Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall marks our evolution into providing broader, easier to use security solutions to protect our customers while enjoying the Internet."

The award-winning antivirus and antispyware protection in Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall helps protect home users against identity and data theft, hackers and other types of unauthorized access to their PC. This protection now also includes two-way firewall technology with system anomaly, email anomaly, and process monitoring layers to detect and block intrusion attempts and suspicious behavior. This multi-layered approach helps secure system vulnerabilities against cyber criminals that try to exploit them in order to gain unauthorized access to PCs and steal private information.

New and enhanced features of Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall include:

Windows Vista Compatibility.

Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall is fully compatible with the Windows Vista operating system. The solution provides superior protection to the basic security features found in the operating system without causing conflict. In addition, Webroot’s firewall technology is fully integrated with the Windows Security Center for added convenience;

Inbound and Outbound Email Security.

Monitors your inbound and outbound email to ensure it has not been "hijacked" by cyber criminals and that email attachments are free of malicious programs;

Email attachment scanning capabilities.

Scans inbound and outbound email attachments and automatically quarantines any documents containing harmful malware threats, allowing users to safely send and receive documents via email;

Advanced Traffic Filtering.

Features a Layer-3, two-way firewall which uses a unique packet inspection technology to detect and block unauthorized access to systems;

Malicious Process Blocking.

Tracks all trusted processes and provides alerts when a potentially malicious process attempts to run. This makes Webroot Desktop Firewall a perfect compliment to Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware for added protection;

Firewall System Intelligence.

Speeds set-up by automatically developing a baseline profile of normal PC usage and generates alerts as unusual activity is detected;

Port Monitoring and Blocking.

Monitors all ports to prohibit unauthorized scanning or system intrusion;

Proactive behavioral protection against all threats.

Incorporates behavioral genotyping that provides zero day protection against known and unknown threats before they reach a user’s computer;

Enhanced real-time threat protection.

Monitors system behavior and proactively blocks potentially damaging malware in real-time, offering the most advanced threat protection;

Advanced rootkit protection.

Finds and destroys these programs with robust rootkit discovery methods, a feature many other security solutions lack.

Webroot’s Spy Sweeper technology is an eight-time winner of PC Magazine’s "Editors’ Choice" award. In June, the Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5 solution, now rebranded as Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall, was certified by Virus Bulletin 100, a leading independent antivirus research company, as well as ICSA Labs[R], the security industry’s central antivirus product testing and certification facility, placing it in the top tier of antivirus protection providers.

The Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall solution is backed by free online and U.S.-based telephone support and free product updates for the duration of a subscription.

Pricing and Availability

The Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall solution is available at major retail outlets and through the company’s website at www.webroot.com for $39.95. Current Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5 subscribers will be automatically upgraded to the Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall solution for free. In addition, through an introductory promotion, a standalone version of Webroot Desktop Firewall is also offered free of charge on the company’s website.

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

So, which is it? Are the alarm bells being
sounded by Internet security experts about the flood of malware
overwhelming antivirus
companies just a bunch of marketing hype? Or is the real truth closer to
something like The Matrix, i.e., a seemingly calm world which is in reality
just a pseudo-world which hides the real truth. Panda Security’s new
Malware Radar scanning technology is beginning to shed some light on what
the actual current state-of-affairs really is in the world of Internet
security.

Malware Radar was recently used on a government agency’s network –
almost 655 pcs. This network had quite a bit of security measures in place
– including updated resident software, multiple firewalls, limited user
privileges and did regular anti-spyware scans with a program that was
specialized for this.

Despite this high level protection, dangerous, active malware was found to
be residing on the system — such as keyloggers, screenloggers, rootkits
and downloader Trojans. They were also saturated with a high danger level
adware that made their network vulnerable to additional malware downloads. Almost 100
workstations out of the 655 scanned were infected.

While the Malware Radar audit was being performed, the network was hit by a
massive spam attack. The email offered a free Microsoft product download.
About a quarter of their 6000 pcs received the spam. The resident antivirus software installed on
the network workstations did not detect that there was a Trojan embedded in
a link in the email. The Trojan embedded is one that is known to download
additional malware, often a keylogger.

How can a major well-known antivirus software package miss this kind of
malicious code?

It’s in the architectural design of the application. Sometimes older
signatures have to be purged to make room for newer signatures. Due to the
increasingly vast volume of malicious code that’s now in the wild many of
the antivirus labs are overwhelmed and do not have the manpower to process
and create vaccines for all the variations. As a result, there are times
when malware never gets analyzed — thus no vaccines are created to detect
or disinfect them.

Current certification programs of antivirus software test the
effectiveness of the software against a “wild list” of known viruses. The
testing is rigorous. However, the certification only requires that the
software is able to detect and clean a limited number of malware samples.

Malware Radar, using its global collective intelligence security model has
collected millions of viral and other malware signatures.

So, is the Internet really being taken over by cyber-criminals and malware?

Clearly, there is an element on the Internet which feels that warnings
about “Silent Epidemics” and high percentages of computers being infected
with hidden malware is all just a bunch of “marketing hype.”

The mainstream view, even in casual conversation amongst one’s peers, is
that we are all very well protected by existing antivirus and security
programs, and that “all is quiet on the Western front” in terms of any
battles with malware.

According to the experts, however, these warnings about what is really
going on with Internet security is definitely not hype. In fact, if
anything, the message is not getting out there fast enough, and as a
result, anyone and everyone with a computer — from individuals to the
largest of corporations and even the government — are suffering from not
knowing the real situation. Research indicates that the cyber-world is a
lot like The Matrix, and not hype.

Cyber-criminals and hackers have now developed super-sophisticated secret
malware that can now slip past firewalls and antivirus programs and lurk
undetected on computer systems and networks. With few exceptions, it
doesn’t matter how much you spend, what brand of antivirus software you
use, what security program you have in place — if your choice of
protection doesn’t have the technology to detect these little buggers, it
cannot detect that they are there.

Panda Security’s Malware Radar was specifically designed to “detect the
undetectable.” Panda Security ( www.pandasecurity.com ) receives more than
3000 unique suspicious samples every day. Using a proprietary computerized
malware processing system, Panda Security is one of the few — if not the
only — company in the industry that has the ability to keep up-to-date and
current with potential malware attacks.

Malware Radar does not replace the current antivirus or security solution
that a network has in place. Instead, it works as a perfect complement to
existing security solutions, helping existing software detect and remove
what it cannot currently see. Because it operates totally online with
total administrative control, Malware Radar is able to do its job, issue
full reports, and then disappear without a trace (with the option of
removing detected malware if so desired).

What Malware Radar shows is that the current epidemic of silent malware
invading “protected” networks isn’t hype. It’s a real situation. And, the
best way to find out for yourself is to go to www.malwareradar.com and run
a scan on your own system.

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

TELECOMWORLDWIRE-19 October 2007-Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0 For Windows Servers Enterprise Edition launches(C)1994-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Kaspersky Lab, a provider of Internet security software solutions, announced on Thursday (18 October) the release of Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0 for Windows Server Enterprise Edition.

According to the company, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0 for Windows Server Enterprise Edition enables corporations to effectively protect their information infrastructure, including remote and local administration functionality via the Microsoft Management Console (MMC), operation on a cluster of servers, full-scale customisation of administrator privileges, customised settings for specific areas and configuration templates.

The solution is reportedly capable of running Microsoft Terminal Server, Citrix Metaframe XPe FR 3, Citrix Presentation Server 3.0, Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 and Citrix Presentation Server 4.5, and supports the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which is used by system administrators for monitoring anti-virus activity and the status of the anti-virus protection.

No pricing details were disclosed.

((Comments on this story may be sent to tww.feedback@m2.com))

COPYRIGHT 2007 M2 Communications Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale Group

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

This report summarizes 2007 West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data reported to CDC through ArboNET as of 3 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, October 16, 2007. A total of 42 states have reported 3,022 cases of human WNV illness to CDC (Table, Figure). A total of 1,646 (55%) cases for which such data were available occurred in males; median age of patients was 51 years (range: 15 months-97 years). Dates of illness onset ranged from January 8 to October 9; a total of 76 cases were fatal.

A total of 265 presumptive West Nile viremic blood donors (PVDs) have been reported to ArboNET during 2007. Of these, 46 were reported from California; 37 from Texas; 24 from North Dakota; 21 from South Dakota; 20 from Colorado; 17 from Minnesota; 16 from Oklahoma; 13 from Montana; 12 from Mississippi; 11 from Missouri; seven from Arizona; six from Ohio; five each from Iowa and Utah; four each from Kentucky and New Mexico; three each from Puerto Rico and Wyoming; two each from Indiana and Pennsylvania; and one each from Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Of the 265 PVDs, two persons (median age: 66 years [range: 60-71 years]) subsequently had neuroinvasive illness, and 52 persons (median age: 48 years [range: 18-79 years]) subsequently had West Nile fever.

[FIGURE OMITTED]

In addition, 1,489 dead corvids and 435 other dead birds with WNV infection have been reported in 34 states and New York City during 2007. WNV infections have been reported in horses in 31 states, in three canines in Idaho and Oregon, in 26 squirrels in California and Oregon, and in three unidentified animal species in Idaho and Montana. WNV seroconversions have been reported in 637 sentinel chicken flocks in 11 states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, and Virginia) and Puerto Rico. A total of 7,208 WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported from 36 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City.

Additional information about national WNV activity is available from CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/ wesmile/index.htm and at http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov.

Information provided by: Findarticles.com

In 1995, highly effective inactivated hepatitis A vaccines were first licensed in the United States for preexposure prophylaxis against hepatitis A virus (HAV) among persons aged [greater than or equal to] 2 years. In 2005, vaccine manufacturers received Food and Drug Administration approval for use of the vaccines in children aged 12-23 months (1).

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued recommendations for preexposure use of hepatitis A vaccine in 1996, 1999, and 2006 (1). Currently, ACIP recommends hepatitis A vaccination of all children at age 12-23 months, catch-up vaccination of older children in selected areas, and vaccination of persons at increased risk for hepatitis A (e.g., travelers to endemic areas, users of illicit drugs, or men who have sex with men) (1).

For decades, immune globulin (IG) has been recommended for prophylaxis after exposure to HAV (1). IG also has been recommended in addition to hepatitis A vaccine for preexposure prophylaxis for travelers to countries with high or intermediate hepatitis A endemicity who are scheduled to depart <4 weeks after receiving the initial vaccine dose. This report details updated recommendations, made by ACIP in June 2007, for prevention of hepatitis A after exposure to HAV and in departing international travelers (Box) and incorporates existing ACIP recommendations for prevention of hepatitis A (1).

BOX. Summary of updated recommendations for prevention
of hepatitis A after exposure to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and in
departing international travelers

Postexposure prophylaxis

Persons who recently have been exposed to HAV and
who previously have not received hepatitis A vaccine should
be administered a single dose of single-antigen hepatitis A
vaccine or immune globulin (IG) (0.02 mL/kg) as soon
as possible.

* For healthy persons aged 12 months-40 years, single-antigen
hepatitis A vaccine at the age-appropriate dose
is preferred.

* For persons aged >40 years, IG is preferred; vaccine can
be used if IG cannot be obtained.

* For children aged < 12 months, immunocompromised
persons, persons who have had chronic liver disease
diagnosed, and persons for whom vaccine is contraindicated,
IG should be used.

International travel

All susceptible persons traveling to or working in countries
that have high or intermediate hepatitis A endemicity
should be vaccinated or receive IG before departure.
Hepatitis A vaccine at the age-appropriate dose is preferred
to IG. The first dose of hepatitis A vaccine should
be administered as soon as travel is considered.

* One dose of single-antigen hepatitis A vaccine administered
at any time before departure can provide adequate
protection for most healthy persons.

* Older adults, immunocompromised persons, and persons
with chronic liver disease or other chronic medical
conditions planning to depart to an area in [less than or equal
to] 2 weeks should receive the initial dose of vaccine and also
simultaneously can be administered IG (0.02 mL/kg) at a
separate anatomic injection site.

* Travelers who elect not to receive vaccine, are aged
<12 months, or are allergic to a vaccine component
should receive a single dose of IG (0.02 mL/kg), which
provides effective protection for up to 3 months.

NOTE: Previous recommendations remain unchanged regarding 1) settings
in which postexposure prophylaxis is indicated, and 2) timing of
administration of postexposure prophylaxis.

Rationale and Methods for Updated Recommendations

When administered within 2 weeks of last exposure, IG is 80%-90% effective in preventing clinical hepatitis A. Despite previously available limited data suggesting that hepatitis A vaccine might be efficacious when administered after exposure (2), in the absence of an appropriately designed clinical trial comparing the postexposure efficacy of vaccine with that of IG, ACIP continued to recommend IG exclusively for postexposure use (1). Hepatitis A vaccine, if recommended for other reasons, could be given at the same time. ACIP was prompted to revisit these recommendations when findings became available from a randomized, double-blind noninferiority clinical trial comparing the efficacy of hepatitis A vaccine and IG after exposure to HAV (3).

The results of this clinical trial were presented to ACIP at its February 2007 meeting. During April-May 2007, the ACIP Hepatitis Vaccines Workgroup considered these results in a series of teleconferences. During these teleconferences, the workgroup also considered the experiences of other countries (e.g., Canada and the United Kingdom) where hepatitis A vaccine has been recommended for postexposure use for >5 years and reviewed data on the immunogenicity of hepatitis A vaccine, the risk for HAV transmission in various settings, and factors known to affect the severity of hepatitis A. Additionally, the workgroup took into account potential advantages of vaccine, recognized disadvantages of IG, and relevance of these data to existing recommendations for use of hepatitis A vaccine and IG in international travelers departing <4 weeks after receiving the first dose of hepatitis A vaccine. The workgroup also considered the likelihood that no additional postexposure efficacy data would become available, because of the difficulties of conducting postexposure efficacy studies of IG and vaccine.

Information provided by: Findarticles.com