February 8, 2021 – PharmaTimes

Feb82021 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Public Alert No:002/2021 – Recall Of Sportmix Pet Food By Midwestern Pet Food Due To Potentially Fatal Level Of Aflatoxin

NEWS

Public Alert No:002/2021 – Recall Of Sportmix Pet Food By Midwestern Pet Food Due To Potentially Fatal Level Of Aflatoxin The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been informed that USFDA is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about certain Sport mix pet food products manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. in their Oklahoma plant that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins. Report reveals that more than 70 pets have died and more than 80 pets that are sick after eating Sport mix pet food. Aflatoxins are produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxins can cause illness and death in pets. Pets exper

Feb82021 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

COVID: South Africa Halts AstraZeneca Vaccine Rollout over New Variant

NEWS

South Africa has put its rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on hold after a study showed "disappointing" results against its new Covid variant. Scientists say the variant accounts for 90% of new Covid cases in South Africa. The trial, involving some 2,000 people, found that the vaccine offered "minimal protection" against mild and moderate cases. But experts are hopeful that the vaccine will still be effective at preventing severe cases. South Africa has recorded more than 1.4 million coronavirus cases and 46,000 deaths since the pandemic began, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University. The country has received one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab and was due to start vaccinating people in the coming days. South African Health Mi...

Feb82021 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

427,072 New COVID-19 Cases, 11,728 Deaths Recorded Globally in 24-hours

NEWS

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,310,234 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Sunday. At least 105,750,940 cases of coronavirus have been registered. Of these, at least 64,417,600 are now considered recovered. These figures are based on daily tolls provided by health authorities in each country and exclude later re-evaluations by statistical organisations, as has happened in Russia, Spain and Britain. On Saturday, 11,728 new deaths and 427,072 new cases were recorded worldwide. Based on the latest reports, the countries with the highest figures for new deaths were the United States with 2,862 new deaths, followed by Mexico with 1,496 and Brazil with 978. ...

Feb82021 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Concerns Grow over AstraZeneca Vaccine

NEWS

South Africa suspended the start of its AstraZeneca inoculation programme over concerns the shot does not work on a new variant, with WHO experts due to meet Monday to discuss the vaccine already facing questions about its efficacy for over-65s. A trial showed the vaccine provides only “minimal” protection against mild to moderate Covid-19 caused by the variant first detected in South Africa, a setback to the global fight against the pandemic as many poorer nations are relying on the logistical advantages offered by the AstraZeneca shot. Africa’s hardest-hit nation was due to start its campaign in the coming days with a million AstraZeneca doses but the government decided to hold off in light of the results from the trial conducted by the University of Witwatersrand in

Feb82021 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

Expired Products: NAFDAC Shuts Lagos Food Company

NEWS

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Sunday announced the shutting down of a food manufacturing company over revalidation of expired Curry and Thyme spices. The agency said the decision was taken in its renewed efforts to rid Nigeria of unwholesome foods and other consumables to safeguard the health of the populace. A statement by the Resident Media Consultant of NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola, said its Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has expressed her abhorrence of the act. According to her, the company “would be heavily sanctioned for endangering public health.” The statement read, “Following a tip-off, operatives of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC swooped on the main warehouse and factory of Ever

Feb82021 by PharmaTimesNo Comments

70% Global Population must be Vaccinated to Bring COVID-19 Under Control -Tomori

NEWS

Renowned professor of virology, Oyewole Tomori, says in order to bring the COVID-19 global pandemic under control, immunity must be built up all the time by increasing the number of protected persons. He said it was the reason the world may need to vaccinate about 70 to 90 percent of its population to bring the contagion under control. He noted that the more people receive the vaccine, the better chances the world has at curbing the spread of the contagion, saying it will provide herd immunity. The World Health Organisation described herd immunity, also known as ‘population immunity’, as the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection. The agency