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February 5, 2013 11:06

Released in 2011, the film starred Jude Law, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet

Steven Soderbergh's medical disaster movie Contagion could be made into a TV series.

Released in 2011, Contagion followed the progress of a flu-like fictional virus that spreads from continent to continent killing millions. It boasted an A-list ensemble cast including Jude Law, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet and Marion Cotillard.

The film performed well at the box office, grossing over $135 million (85 million) worldwide, prompting talk of a sequel at Warner Bros Pictures. However, screenwriter Scott Z Burns has now revealed that a follow-up could actually appear on the small screen.

He told ComingSoon.net: "We've been talking about turning it into a TV series and I think it may have a life there. It has some of the properties inherently like Homeland and 24 where you can really explore outbreaks and pandemics in interesting ways. Like this story, they take you to unexpected places, whether it's drug companies or governments or scientists or people with political agendas. All of these things, once theyre out there, can be co-opted from a lot of different angles."

Meanwhile, Burns, Soderbergh and Law have teamed up again for Side Effects, a psychological thriller about a woman who experiments with prescription drugs while waiting for her husband to get out of prison. The film, which also stars Rooney Mara and Channing Tatum, opens in UK cinemas on March 15. Scroll down and click 'play' to watch the trailer.

Video: Side Effects - Trailer

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Killer virus movie 'Contagion' could spawn TV series

Getting a blood transfusion in 1978 changed Carol Harmss life.

Donated blood wasnt screened for the hepatitis C virus when Harms, then 23, needed five units of blood during surgery. Thats because the virus hadnt even been identified or named at that time.

Blood banks didnt start routine screening for the deadly virus that attacks the liver until 1992, three years after a scientist had identified it and given it the name hepatitis C.

It wasnt until nearly two decades after her transfusion that Harms, who had been suffering such severe flu-like symptoms and exhaustion that it cut short her career with the FAA in Kansas City, learned that she had contracted hepatitis C through the transfusion.

Now as the Wichitan enters the end stage of her life after two rounds of treatment have failed, and her liver has succumbed to cirrhosis or scarring shes doing what she can to make people aware of the prevalence of the virus and treatment options and provide support for those who have the condition.

After I was diagnosed with cirrhosis (in July 2010), I knew Id be dying, so I decided with the rest of my time I want to speak up and help people who have it and educate others, said the 58-year-old Harms, who leads a monthly hepatitis C support group in Wichita. I feel God has a purpose for everyone, and if Im still here, I have a purpose.

Harms isnt alone in her concern that many people have the virus and dont even know it.

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a sweeping recommendation that anyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for the virus.

The CDC said baby boomers born during those two decades are five times more likely to have the virus, although its not completely understood why. About 75percent of the estimated 3.2million U.S. carriers of the virus are boomers, the CDC said it estimates that 1 in 30 baby boomers is infected. As many as 15,000 Americans die each year of cirrhosis, liver cancer or other diseases related to hepatitis C.

Its known as a silent killer because some people dont develop symptoms until its too late to treat, said Raghu Chaparala, a gastroenterologist with Midwest Gastroenterology Clinics in Wichita.

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Speaking out about a silent disease

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can avoid becoming cancer victims if they pay heed to the risk factors and lead healthier lifestyles, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Shirlin.

She cited activities like smoking, physical inactiveness and alcohol consumption as prime factors that lead to the deadly disease.

Infection by several types of viruses, such as human papiloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus can also cause cancer.

HPV infection is the main risk factor of cervical cancer and hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is one of the factors that cause liver cancer, said Rosnah in a statement here to mark World Cancer Day.

Rosnah said the theme of this year's event Cancer Did You Know? will focus on correcting misconceptions and improving people's knowledge about the dreaded disease.

She said over 12 million people worldwide will die from cancer by 2030 and all it takes for Malaysians to be free of the disease, the fourth biggest killer in the country, is awareness and early detection. Ministry statistics of that year showed lung cancer as being the biggest killer, accounting for 17.5% of cancer-related deaths. This was followed by breast cancer (10.2%) and colorectal cancer (8.5%).

Rosnah said a high percentage of cancer related deaths were attributed to late detection.

A third of all cancers are actually avoidable if detected early, she said, advising Malaysians to quit, or not to start smoking, maintain an ideal body weight, be physically active and reduce alcohol intake.

The percentage of cancer deaths in this country can be reduced if cancer is detected early and treatment immediately given, she said, calling on high-risk groups, such as people having a family member who had been diagnosed with cancer, to go for a screening.

Rosnah said breast cancer screening, through examination and mammograms, and cervical cancer screening, through pap smears, are available nationwide at all Health Ministry and National Population and Family Development health facilities.

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12. 'Lead healthier lifestyles'

London, Feb 3 (IANS) Tobacco may have been dubbed a killer, but a genetically altered version of the plant could provide a low cost cure for deadly rabies, says a study.

University of London scientists have developed an antibody from genetically engineered tobacco plants to prevent the virus from attaching to nerve endings around the bite site and from travelling to the brain.

"Rabies continues to kill many thousands of people throughout the developing world every year and can also affect international travellers," said Leonard Both, researcher and study co-author work from the Hotung Molecular Immunology Unit at St. George's, University of London, The FASEB Journal reports.

"An untreated rabies infection is nearly 100 percent fatal and is usually seen as a death sentence.

"Producing an inexpensive antibody in transgenic plants opens the prospect of adequate rabies prevention for low-income families in developing countries," said Both, according to a London statement.

Both and colleagues "humanized" the sequences for the antibody so people could tolerate it.

Then, the antibody was produced using transgenic tobacco plants as an inexpensive production platform.

The antibody was purified from the plant leaves and characterized regarding to its protein and sugar composition.

The antibody was also shown to be active in neutralizing a broad panel of rabies viruses, and the exact antibody docking site on the viral envelope was identified using certain chimeric rabies viruses.

"Although treatable by antibodies if caught in time, rabies is bad news," said Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal.

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Tobacco plant can cure rabies

British series Second Sight is getting a second launch - this time in the U.S.

CBS has ordered a pilot based on the series. The gothic psychological thriller follows a detective who is suddenly infected with an autoimmune virus that causes hallucinations that reflect his subconscious. He soon discovers that catching the killer depends on insight as much as eyesight.

Get the latest pilots news here

The U.S. adaptation comes from Homeland executive producer Michael Cuesta, who wrote the pilot along with his brother Gerald Cuesta. Both would also executive-produce, and Michael will direct the pilot. He has directed several episodes of Homeland, including the pilot and the Season 2 finale, as well as the pilots for Elementary, Blue Bloods and Dexter.

CSI executive producer Carol Mendelsohn will also serve as an executive producer, as will Julie Weitz, Nick Reed, Phil Goldfine and Paula Milne.

View original Pilot Season: CBS Orders Psychological Thriller From Homeland, CSI Executive Producers at TVGuide.com

Other Links From TVGuide.com CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMichael CuestaCarol MendelsohnDexterBlue BloodsHomelandElementaryJulie WeitzSecond Sight

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Today's News: Our Take - Pilot Season: CBS Orders Psychological Thriller From Homeland, CSI Executive Producers