23 September 2013 Current Affairs
Universal Flu Vaccine 'Blueprint' Discovered
A team led by a scientist of Indian origin has made a "blueprint" for a universal flu vaccine. The influenza virus that causes flu is known to be one of the world's most rapidly changing organisms. Flu vaccines become redundant after every season and aren't effective against every strain causing cough, cold and other complications. So, scientists have to create new vaccines with new strains of the virus each year. A team led by professor Ajit Lalvani from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London used a 2009 pandemic virus strain to analyse why some people appear to resist severe illness, to create the world's first universal flu vaccine. The volunteers were asked to donate blood samples just as the swine flu pandemic was in progress so that their response could be analysed over the next two flu seasons.
Colombian Writer Alvaro Mutis Jaramillo Died
Prolific Colombian writer and poet Alvaro Mutis Jaramillo died in Mexico's capital on 23 September.Alvaro Mutis, who was 90, won the prestigious Principe de Asturias award in 1997 and the Cervantes award in 2001, two of the top Spanish language literature prizes.Alvaro Mutis's best known works include Diary of Lecumberri (1959) about his time in prison; The Araucaima Mansion (1973), The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll (1986); and The last stop of the Tramp Steamer (1990).