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tb gold test :: Article Creator Scientists Develop A TB Test & Find A Genetic Vulnerability In Resistant Strains A rapid diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) has been approved for the first time by the World Health Organization (WHO). The assay can identify the tuberculosis-causing pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples within a few hours. Tuberculosis is a primary cause of death by infectious disease worldwide. The disease is estimated to kill over one million people every year, and is a huge socio-economic burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. "High-quality diagnostic tests are the cornerstone of effective TB care and prevention," said Dr. Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification. "Prequalification paves the way for equitable access to cutting-edge technologies, empowering countries to address the dual burden of TB and drug-resistant TB."  M. Tuberculosis c...
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“Plague Inc. is getting a new mode that lets you fight pandemics - PCGamesN” plus 2 more

“Plague Inc. is getting a new mode that lets you fight pandemics - PCGamesN” plus 2 more

Plague Inc. is getting a new mode that lets you fight pandemics - PCGamesN

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:49 AM PDT

It's a strange time to be Ndemic Creations, the developer behind Plague Inc. The studio has gone on the record to say Plague Inc. is "not a scientific model" as players flocked to the game in the wake of the current coronavirus outbreak. Now, Ndemic is working on a brand new mode for Plague Inc. that allows players to switch roles: instead of creating a killer plague, your job will be to stop one.

The new mode comes alongside Ndemic's donation of $250,000 USD (£200,700) to help fight the COVID-19 epidemic around the world. The studio split its donation between the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

"Eight years ago, I never imagined the real world would come to resemble a game of Plague Inc., or that so many players would be using Plague Inc. to help them get through an actual pandemic," said Plague Inc. creator James Vaughan. "We are proud to be able to help support the vital work of the WHO and CEPI as they work towards finding a vaccine for COVID-19."

Ndemic says that while the studio was arranging its donations, it routinely fielded questions about a new game mode that let players fight back against an epidemic. As a result, the developers decided to ramp up production on the new mode, and it'll be free to Plague Inc. players during the course of the coronavirus outbreak.

The new mode will involve the same kinds of decisions governments are making in response to the outbreak now: managing its spread, ramping up healthcare facilities and staff, and making decisions about triage and quarantine. You'll also be able to put policies like social distancing into effect to see how they impact the disease's proliferation.

It's unclear whether the new mode will be available for all versions of Plague Inc., including Plague Inc. Evolved on PC, or only for the original mobile version. Ndemic says it will provide more information as soon as possible. In the meantime, the studio says, "look after yourselves, your families, and everyone else."

Other software developers have sprung into action in the face of the outbreak as well. Check out how the games industry is fighting back against the coronavirus crisis.

Coronavirus: Plague Inc. game banned in China - BBC News

Posted: 28 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST

Screenshot from Plague IncImage copyright Plague Inc
Image caption The game has been praised for helping users understand public health issues

A game which challenges players to spread a deadly virus around the world has been banned in China, its makers have said.

Plague Inc. has been pulled from the Chinese app store for including "illegal content", British-based developer Ndemic Creations said.

It added that it is working "very hard" to find a way to reverse the ban.

The bans comes as China continues to battle the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, Ndemic Creations said: "We have some very sad news to share with our China-based players. We've just been informed that Plague Inc. 'includes content that is illegal in China as determined by the Cyberspace Administration of China' and has been removed from the China App Store. This situation is completely out of our control.

"It's not clear to us if this removal is linked to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak that China is facing. However, Plague Inc.'s educational importance has been repeatedly recognised by organisations like the CDC [Centre for Disease Control and Prevention] and we are currently working with major global health organisations to determine how we can best support their efforts to contain and control Covid-19."

It said that it was "devastated" for its Chinese players, adding that the game "encourages players to think and learn more about serious public health issues".

Plague Inc. has become a huge hit since it was launched eight years ago. It now has 130 million players worldwide and soared in popularity in China amid the coronavirus outbreak, becoming the bestselling app in the country in January.

Some players suggested they were downloading the game as a way to cope with fears surrounding the virus.

Plague Inc. announces new mode where players save the world from a deadly disease - PC Gamer

Posted: 24 Mar 2020 08:49 AM PDT

The creators of Plague, Inc. have announced they are working on a new mode for the pandemic strategy sim "which lets players save the world from a deadly disease outbreak." The mode is being developed "with the help of experts from the World Health Organisation, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and more." 

The new mode will be free for all players, though a release date hasn't yet been announced.
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