The CDC identified and responded to West Nile Virus in New York City
In August 1999, an outbreak of encephalitis caused by West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in New York…
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Bill and Melinda Gates Announce a $100 Million Gift to Establish the Bill and Melinda Gates Children’s Vaccine Program
On Aug. 26, 1998, Bill and Melinda Gates announced the establishment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Children’s Vaccine…
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Dr. Patrick Lee developed a reovirus that can infect and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells
In 1998, University of Calgary’s Dr. Patrick Lee revealed that reovirus injected in mice shrank tumours from brain…
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The USDA began surveillance of Influenza virus in swine in the U.S.
In 1998, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began surveillance of swine for influenza virus in the U.S….
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Drs. John Harley and Judith James at the OMRF established a link between Epstein-Barr virus and lupus
On Dec. 15, 1997, scientists from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) announced that Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus)…
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Enterovirus 71 epidemic reported in Malaysia
In 1997, the first Enterovirus 71 (EV71) epidemic was reported in Malaysia. EV71 is an important emerging pathogen…
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Biotechnology | CDC | Infectious Disease | Polio | Vaccine
ACIP recommended adoption of a sequential series of two doses of IPV followed by two doses of OPV for all infants and children
In 1997, the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) recommended adoption of a sequential series of two doses of…
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Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Influenza | Vaccine | WHO
FluNet, a web-based flu surveillance tool, was launched by the WHO
In 1997, FluNet, a global web-based tool for influenza virological surveillance was launched. It is a critical tool…
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First human infection with an avian influenza A H5N1 virus was identified in Hong Kong
In 1997, the H5N1 bird flu incident in Hong Kong was the first known instance of a purely…
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Avian influenza H5N1 virus was first isolated from a farmed goose in China
In 1996, A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (H5N1), the precursor of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) was identified in…
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Researchers at Oxford University released a genetically engineered baculovirus, the world’s first release of a biotech-generated virus
In 1994, researchers at Oxford University conducted a field trial involving a genetically engineered baculovirus, specifically one modified…
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Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a causative agent for Kaposi’s sarcoma, was identified
In 1994, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a causative agent for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), was identified. HHV-8 is also…
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Infectious molecular clone of a human T-cell leukemia virus was developed at Washington University – St Louis
In 1994, Washington University – St. Louis reseacher Lee Ratern, MD and colleagues announced they had developed an…
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Biotechnology | Infectious Disease | Polio | Vaccine | WHO
The Global Polio Laboratory Network was established
In 1990, the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) was formally established by the World Health Organization (WHO), national…
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Lorne Tyrrell discovered the first antiviral drug to inhibit hepatitis B virus
In 1986, while teaching a graduate course at the University of Alberta, Dr. Tyrrell found clues that might…
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Dr. Robert C. Gallo reported the isolation of a new group of viruses found in the helper T-cells of patients with AIDS or pre-AIDS symptoms
On Apr. 23, 1984, a National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientist, Dr. Robert C. Gallo announced his team’s discovery of…
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Biotechnology | CDC | HIV
The CDC established the National AIDS Hotline to address the number of calls concerning the AIDS virus
In 1983, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the National AIDS Hotline (NAH) to…
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First human viral vaccine to prevent cancer (hepatitis B vaccine for liver cancer) was introduced
In 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine for human use….
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NCI scientists isolated human T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV-1)
In 1980, National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientists from the Gallo group isolated human T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV-1)….
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McGill University researcher Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie developed Ganciclovir to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus infections
In 1980, McGill University researcher Dr. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie developed Ganciclovir to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections….
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Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S.
On Jan. 3, 1978, the Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S. The Yellow…
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Biology | CDC | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Plague | Therapeutics | Vaccine
The CDC opened an expanded maximum containment lab (hot lab) for highly dangerous viruses
In 1978, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) completed construction of a new hot lab…
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Virus particle structure was determined
In 1977, Harvard Medical School researcher Stephen C. Harrison first determined the structure of an intact virus particle,…
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Interleukin-2 was discovered
In 1976, interleukin-2 was discovered and purified which allowed researchers to grow T-cells and study their immunology, which…
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David Baltimore, Renato Dulbecco, and Howard Martin Temin awarded the 1975 Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1975, Caltech President David Baltimore, former Caltech faculty member and Salk Institute researcher Renato Delbucco, and Caltech…
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Stanford Medicine researchers isolated the genome of a virus that causes hepatitis B and a common form of liver cancer
In 1974, Stanford Medicine researcher William S. Robinson successfully isolated the genome of the hepatitis B virus, which is…
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Measles and mumps virus vaccine, live (M-M-R II) was licensed to Merck
On Apr. 22, 1971, the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (M-M-R II) vaccine Live developed by Maurice Hilleman was…
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Testing of donated blood for Hepatitis B surface antigen began
In 1971, the testing of donated blood for Hepatitis B surface antigen began. The hepatitis B virus was…
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Paul Berg of Stanford University spliced the DNA of viruses into the first recombinant molecules
In 1971, Paul Berg of Stanford University spliced the DNA of viruses into the first recombinant molecules. Bergﾒs…
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The first oncogene termed src was discovered
In 1970, the first oncogene termed src was discovered in a chicken retrovirus. Dr. G. Steve Martin at…
