The immune cells of half the population could one day help create a vaccine against the flu, 41,000 deaths a year are attributable to alcohol and two batches of Upfen drugs have been recalled due to a dosing error. Here are the three news of the day.
Flu: our immune cells could contribute to the creation of a universal vaccine
It would seem that Australian researchers have succeeded in identify immune cells that could help. As they explain in the review Nature Immunology, these “killer” immune cells would be present in half of the world’s population and effective against all types of influenza virus. Ideal therefore to create a universal vaccine, which would also act in people deprived of these “super” cells. “This is an extraordinary advance (…) which could lead to a vaccine that we would not have to modify every year”, declared the Australian team. More details in our article.
Alcohol is responsible for 41,000 deaths per year in France
According to a study carried out by Santé Publique France, the number of alcohol-related deaths is down slightly in France. While in 2009 there were 49,000, experts attribute 41,000 of the 580,000 deaths recorded in 2015 to alcohol consumption, or 7% of the deaths recorded that year. We tell you more here.
Two batches of Upfen 200mg recalled following a dosage error for children
A dosage error that could lead to an overdose has been identified in the instructions for certain boxes of Upfen 200mg, a drug containing ibuprofen, indicated for pain, fever and available without a prescription. This error specifically concerns children between 20 and 30 kg: the maximum daily dose indicated in mg (1200 mg) corresponds in fact to double what is normally authorized, namely 600 mg. More information in our article.
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