Scientists develop potential new drug treatment to tackle viruses

(Phys.org) —An international team of scientists have successfully developed a novel compound which early signs suggest might prevent a range of viruses from infecting humans.  Researchers from Oxford, Beijing, Leeds and Innsbruck collaborated on the new inhibitor.  It targets a group of viruses responsible for hand, foot and mouth disease, especially the EV71 virus. This viral group causes numerous epidemics in children, mainly in Asia, with roughly 10 million cases reported every year in China alone.  Symptoms are usually mild but in some cases the disease can prove fatal - the Chinese government reported over 900 deaths in 2010. The disease is currently untreatable and is a major global threat to public health.

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