Influenza AH1N1, Venezuela and the Tamiflu Controversy

Carlos Torres-Viera2016-10-17T16:53:04-04:00 The flu season started in Latin America this year and has hit a number of countries with epidemic numbers. The majority of them are responding to this epidemic course with logic and responsibility, regardless of the limitations that each of their respective health sectors may have. As far as we are concerned, the sad exception is Venezuela, where the Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud (MPPS – Ministry of Health) has not only responded so clumsy but also,...

El Nuevo Visitante

Carlos Torres-Viera2016-10-17T16:53:04-04:00 Los virus conocidos como coronavirus (COVs) pertenecen a la familia Coronaviridae. Son virus cuyo acido nucleico es compuesto de una sola molécula de ARN en orientación positiva que afectan y causan enfermedad en un numero importante de animales (pollos y otra aves de corral, perros, gatos, ratas, cochinos, etc.). De hecho, constituyen un importante grupo de virus de importancia veterinaria produciendo enfermedades respiratorias, gastrointestinales, del sistema nervioso central , renal y hepático. Este tipo de virus fue descubierto en...

The New Kid on the Block

Carlos Torres-Viera2016-10-17T16:53:35-04:00The viruses known as coronavirus (Cov) belong to the Coronaviridae family. These are viruses which nucleic acid is composed of a single positive sense RNA molecule. They were discovered in the 1960’s and their name is due to the crown- type projections on the virus surface. They are found in a wide range of animals species including chicken and other poultry, dog, cats, rat, pig, cattle, whale. In fact, they constitute a significant group of viruses of veterinary importance producing...