Biotechs laud $2B funds hike Aug 29, 2010
The plan, rolled out in mid-August by the , will foster the production of medications, vaccines, medical equipment and supplies needed for a health emergency, pandemic or bioterrorist attack, also known as medical countermeasures. The plan is especially attractive to some Maryland biotech companies that specialize in making vaccines and other biopharmaceuticals. (Baltimore Business Journal, MD)
Was H1N1 flu scare a costly 'hoax'? (38) Aug 29, 2010
The chief investigator for the Council of Europe, Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg, wrote a scathing report on how the World Health Organization and individual governments handled the pandemic. His exact quote is the H1N1 pandemic ... Recommendations based on an earlier report (2004) elevated this flu to the highest level of danger a level 6 pandemic. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
CDC Backs away from Decades-Old Flu Death Estimate Aug 28, 2010
The estimates do not take into account the H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009, but they do suggest that some flu strains are more deadly than others. The long-held 36,000 estimate was based on data from the 1990s when H3N2 viruses were prominent, the CDC said. (MEDLINEplus)
Researchers Closer to Development of Drug to Prevent Deadly Immune Response Aug 28, 2010
28, 2006) The H1N1 influenza strain that caused the 1918 flu pandemic causes a severe immune-system response that likely is what makes the virus so deadly to a host animal or person, according to a new study. (Jan. (Science Daily)
Flu Vaccination Can't Start Too Soon, Doctor Says Aug 28, 2010
Webster said the immune system forms a "memorization: against the virus, and it'll continue to be on the lookout for it throughout the winter."The chances are if you get it now, you will be protected in February," Webster said.Kohll's pharmacist Marty Feltner said he's seeing a number of patients ready for the shot."I think one reason we're starting so much earlier than last year is last year we started in September and we had great results with vaccinating as many people we could," Feltner... (7 KETV Omaha)
Flu death figures prove deceptive, CDC says Aug 27, 2010
The period covered in the analysis goes up to 2007 and does not include last year's H1N1 pandemic. "There is no average flu season," lead author Dr. David Shay of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases said in a news conference. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Science)
Official's AIDS stance condemned Aug 27, 2010
"Government wishes to reaffirm to the nation that the HIV and AIDS pandemic is still a national emergency, as declared some years ago by His Majesty," the king's office said in a statement to CNN.. Swaziland has a 26 percent prevalence rate, one of the world's highest, according to the United Nations. (CNN -- World)
Estimates of US flu hazard were inflated, CDC finds Aug 27, 2010
The 36,000 figure, cited by thousands of media stories during last year s swine flu pandemic, was based on a 2003 report that examined data from the 1990s ... Swine flu was the first pandemic in 40 years, infecting 1 in 5 Americans and sweeping the globe at an unprecedented rate ... Because the virus strain targets young people, comparisons of deaths to seasonal flu obscure the full impact of the pandemic, according to the CDC.. (Boston Globe)
Theater review: 'Don't Ask' falls short of hype Aug 26, 2010
More sobering, you may wonder if, after the eras of coming-out and AIDS pandemic plays, we're going to enter a retro period looking back to the days when gay characters must be really sick. Not, I'm sure, that any of those were among the playwright's intents. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Death to Humans! Visions of the Apocalypse in Movies and Literature Aug 26, 2010
I Am Legend ( 1954, films 1964 (), 1971 (), 2007 ()) One lone man is immune to a pandemic virus that ravages humanity. He struggles to develop a treatment to save the infected. (Scientific American)
Closeted Calamity: The Hidden HIV Epidemic of Men Who Have Sex with Men Aug 26, 2010
The HIV pandemic has historically been thought of as either concentrated in specific populations such as gay men, injection drug users, sex workers or generalized across the entire population in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean ... Even in Africa, at the heart of the pandemic, in Malawi, 21 percent of MSM are infected with the virus compared with 11 percent of the general population, whereas Zambia's rates are 33 percent versus 15 percent, respectively, says , director of the Johns Hopkins... (Scientific American)
Organizations Learn More from Failure Than Success, Study Finds; Knowledge Gained from Failure Lasts Longer Aug 24, 2010
14, 2010) The rapid and widespread entry of the pandemic H1N1 infection that led to a large number of infected cases in Australia suggested a public health management failure in containing the pandemic when it. (Nov. (Science Daily)
1 Is Technology Causing Humans to Mutate? Aug 23, 2010
But the pandemic experts predicted in 1998 never materialized. We've mutated instead. (Datamation)
Swine flu continues to spread in NZ Aug 23, 2010
Swine flu was continuing to spread in New Zealand, health officials said on Monday as the death toll rose to 10 and some areas reported more people in hospital than during last year's pandemic. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the global pandemic over, H1N1 "is the most common strain of influenza circulating" in New Zealand, director of public health Mark Jacobs said ... Although the WHO has said the swine flu pandemic has "largely run its course" it did acknowledge that... (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Avian Influenza Virus May Persist on Feathers Fallen from Domestic Ducks Aug 23, 2010
1, 2008) Scientists are looking at a novel strategy to prevent the spread of pandemic avian influenza ... (May 31, 2007) Veterinarians who work with birds are at increased risk for infection with avian influenza virus and should be among those with priority access to pandemic influenza vaccines and antivirals. (Science Daily)
The Natural Way Killing virus can be cured Aug 22, 2010
Lets say that no one, absolutely no one, had escaped the worlds worst pandemic. Men, women and children. (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
UN urges enhanced, better coordinated fight against AIDS Aug 22, 2010
"Despite some notable achievements, the response to the AIDS epidemic to date has been nowhere near adequate," said the report prepared by UNAIDS, the UN agency that coordinates the global campaign against the pandemic. The study came out on the eve of a high-level meeting of the UNGeneral Assembly on the deadly disease. (Xinhuanet, China -- World)
Pakistan floods the harbinger of a raw, new reality Aug 21, 2010
Where climate change coincides with other transnational challenges to security, such as terrorism or pandemic diseases, or adds to pre-existing ethnic and social tensions, then the impact will be magnified. Pakistan fits all the flashpoint criteria. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
U.S. Tries to Fix Slow Response to Outbreaks Aug 21, 2010
By the time companies were able to make a vaccine against the H1N1 swine flu virus last year, the pandemic had already peaked twice. "We can use existing tools to cut days, weeks or even a month or two out of our current vaccine production methods," said Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (MEDLINEplus)
Africa: WHO Declares End of H1n1 Pandemic Aug 20, 2010
WHO Declares End of H1n1 Pandemic ... "World Health Organisation Director-General Margaret Chan announced Tuesday the end of the [H1N1] swine flu pandemic, more than a year after it was declared," say reports ... "The world is no longer in phase 6 of influenza pandemic alert. We are now moving into the post-pandemic period," Chan said during a virtual press conference from Hong Kong, according to a WHO press release. (allAfrica.com)
Religious Leaders Make a Flawed Case for Mass Immigration Aug 20, 2010
MOST of America is understandably righteously indignant about ILLEGAL aliens invading America, pervading and permeating pandemic social pathologies (violent crimes, gangs, drugs, illegitimacy's, dropouts, barrio blight, social service enervation, willful cultural disparateness). Per TIME magazine, fully 89% of Americans think that ILLEGAL immigration is a SERIOUS problem --> 30% "extremely serious," 33% "very serious," and 26% "somewhat serious.". (Townhall.com)
A Cure for HIV Could Be All in the 'Mix' Aug 20, 2010
Dr Loyter said: "Whilst this research is promising, a major caveat with these studies is that they are preliminary. So far these experiments have only been shown to 'cure' HIV from small dishes of cultured cells in the authors' laboratory, but the findings are an exciting development in the quest to eradicate this devastating global pandemic.". Email or share this story. (Science Daily)
All the way down Aug 19, 2010
There are those who think that this historical record-stuff is just old history, now rendered meaningless in an age of monumentally stupid governmental deficit-spending, pandemic crushing debt, and a despicable Federal Reserve always, always, always creating yet more, staggeringly more, tragically more, catastrophically more excess money, which is what caused the problems in the first place. On the other hand, there are those who do NOT regard the lessons of a couple of centuries of P/E ratios... (Asia Times Online)
BioCryst flu drug wins approval for use in Korea Aug 17, 2010
The Birmingham-based drug company (Nasdaq: BCRX) announced Monday that its partner, , received marketing and manufacturing approval from the Korean Food & Drug Administration for intravenous peramivir to treat patients with influenza viruses, including pandemic H1N1 and avian influenza. Green Cross Corp. intends to launch peramivir under the commercial name PeramiFlu in South Korea, BioCryst said in a press release. (Birmingham Business Journal, AL)
Experts Predict 'Normal' H1N1 Flu Season This Year Aug 17, 2010
Just this week, the World Health Organization officially noted that the 2009 worldwide pandemic was over. H1N1 is likely lurking in some animal reservoir right now. (MEDLINEplus)
New rule at UC Hospital denies younger visitors entry Aug 16, 2010
Not already a member. A trip to the hospital is never a good thing. (UCD Advocate, CO)
Health officials plan for next flu season with H1N1 history Aug 16, 2010
Global health officials declared the swine flu pandemic officially over last week ... Epidemiologists said the swine flu pandemic was a good dress rehearsal for future pandemics, involving deadlier influenza strains and a need for a quick, efficient public health response ... "It was wonderful practice for the pandemic that's going to be more severe. And we have to believe something more severe is coming down the road," said Dr. Larry Drew, head of the UCSF virology lab, which tests virus... (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Hardcover: UK: Displaced in the aftermath of World War II Aug 15, 2010
In the months after the end of World War I, some 40 million people died amid a worldwide flu pandemic. Three million perished from typhus; 5 million Ukrainians starved to death. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
The vaccine that protects profits Aug 15, 2010
After that, some startling revelations about the H1N1 pandemic. Charles Barta retired to Green Valley after 10 years as a medical director for several health care insurers. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Emergent to buy Trubion Pharmaceuticals Aug 13, 2010
Also this week, Emergent (NYSE: EBS) said it has entered into an agreement with Temasek Life Science Ventures Pte Ltd. to develop a broad pandemic flu vaccine. Most Read Stories. (Washington Business Journal, DC)
Swine flu pandemic declared over - 18,449 dead Aug 12, 2010
The World Health Organization acknowledged Tuesday that the swine flu pandemic is finally over, long after many national authorities started canceling vaccine orders and shutting down telephone hot lines as the disease ebbed from the headlines ... "This pandemic has turned out to be much more fortunate than what we feared a little over a year ago," Chan said ... While the Hong Kong-born U.N. health chief put this down to good preparation and luck - the virus didn't mutate as some feared - the... (San Francisco Chronicle)
New enzyme makes bacteria resistant to almost all antibiotics Aug 12, 2010
Scientists now worry about the possibility of a global pandemic of drug-resistant infections. Thirty-seven cases have already been reported in Britain, many of whom were "medical tourists," who traveled to India for discounted surgical procedures. (Salon)
WHO says swine flu pandemic is over Aug 12, 2010
GENEVA The World Health Organization declared the swine flu pandemic officially over Tuesday, months after many national authorities started canceling vaccine orders and shutting down telephone hot lines as the disease ebbed from the headlines ... WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the organization's emergency committee of top flu experts advised her that the pandemic had "largely run its course" and the world is no longer in phase six the highest influenza alert level ... The virus has now... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Swine flu over, 58 deaths in New Mexico Aug 12, 2010
Pandemics, like the viruses that cause them, are unpredictable, WHO officials said in a news release. Continued vigilance is extremely important and it is likely the virus will continue to cause serious disease in younger groups and pregnant women, at least in the immediate, post-pandemic period ... The only impact of the announcement that the pandemic is over will be cessation of weekly reports. (New Mexico Business Weekly, NM)
- Chang Gung Hospital to pay fine for overcharging Aug 12, 2010
E It was declared a pandemic by the WHO in June last year. E It had caused 17,000 deaths worldwide by the start of this year. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Swine flu cases in NZ Aug 11, 2010
New Zealand is still experiencing a significant level of swine flu, health authorities said on Wednesday, despite the World Health Organisation's declaration that the global pandemic was over ... "The pandemic influenza strain is the predominant strain circulating this winter," he said ... " WHO Director General Margaret Chan told a telephone news conference from Geneva that H1N1 had "largely run its course". "The world is no longer in phase six of the pandemic alert. (iAfrica.com)
H1N1 Not a Top Concern for Universities Aug 11, 2010
" In calls to other colleges and universities around the country, the sentiment is much the same. The college is continuing to be cautious, Caroline J. Hanna, director of media relations at Amherst College in Massachusetts told FoxNews.com. I don t think we have changed much since the last wave went through. We have hand sanitizers in the dorms and a plan for kids who fall ill. Meredith Bonham, executive assistant to the president at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., said they have the same... (Fox News)
H1N1 pandemic is officially over but far from gone Aug 11, 2010
By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY The World Health Organization on Tuesday declared the H1N1 flu pandemic over, a little more than a year after a spring flood of cases prompted a global effort to curb its wildfire transmission ... "Based on experience with past pandemics, we expect the H1N1 virus to take on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come," Chan said in a statement. (USA Today)
Respiratory Symptoms More Reliable Indicator of H1N1, Not Fever Alone Aug 10, 2010
For example, during a pandemic, standard screening at airports relies on body temperature scanners to detect the presence of fever ... A team led by Sang Won Park, MD, professor at the Seoul National University, investigated confirmed cases of H1N1 who were hospitalized and quarantined during the early stages of the pandemic in 2009 ... 19, 2009) A new study on pediatric H1N1 influenza admissions has found that asthma is a significant risk factor for severe disease in children with pandemic H1N1... (Science Daily)
Ekka recovers from flu blues Aug 9, 2010
Last year's flu season marred the Ekka, with crowds waning amid the swine flu pandemic ... At the same time last year there had been 14,687 reported cases of flu at the height of the pandemic. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Portsmouth plans to evacuate, treat, or bury Seacoast residents Aug 9, 2010
"Charting Seacoastevacuation routesThrough a separate $248,000 grant, fire officials are planning evacuation routes for residents of the entire Seacoast who live between the Massachusetts and Maine borders. Evacuation plans also include Dover, Durham, Madbury, Exeter, Newfields, Stratham, Kensington and Newmarket."New Hampshire has never identified evacuation routes," said Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles. "Chief LeClaire was thinking ahead by working with the state to secure the grant. "Two... (Seacoast New Hampshire)
"The Colony": "Survivor" meets the apocalypse Aug 8, 2010
We're talking about the fallout of a global pandemic and the end of life on Earth as we know it -- so where are all the laughs. And unlike other reality shows, no one mouths off or cheers each other on or sings moving renditions of "And I Am Telling You," or even solves gigantic puzzles. (Salon)
Clue Found to Why Swine Flu Spread in People Aug 7, 2010
HONG KONG (Reuters) - The H1N1 swine flu virus underwent a mutation and used a new trick to spread efficiently in people, another signal to help experts predict whether a flu virus can cause a pandemic, researchers said Friday ... "This pandemic H1N1 (virus) has this mutation and is why it can replicate so well in humans," wrote Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Tokyo, who co-authored the paper ... "This gives us... (MEDLINEplus)
Cardinal ups outlook after 4Q profit drop Aug 6, 2010
The segment s performance in the first quarter of 2011 is expected to drop from a year earlier because of unusual income last year, including $14 million recognized early from the CareFusion spin-off and $6 million attributed to supplies for the pandemic flu. For the year, increases in oil, latex and other commodity prices are expected to deliver a $40 million hit. (Columbus Business First, OH)
Overpaid lackeys Aug 6, 2010
" in fear and despair. So you can see how someone like me can be depressed and snotty with his wife, and kids, and bosses, and co-workers, and neighbors, and people around me who do anything stupid, like when they are driving their cars and who deserve much, much more than a severe, obscenity-laced tongue-lashing from me, Mister Safe-Driving Judge And Jury, but not, alas, executioner. Yet. The only thing that keeps me even halfway sane is knowing that, for the meantime at least, I can still buy... (Asia Times Online)
H1N1 Flu Virus Used New Biochemical Trick to Cause Pandemic Aug 6, 2010
Now, in a report in the Aug. 5 issue of Public Library of Science Pathogens, an international team of scientists shows that the recent pandemic-causing H1N1 flu virus used a new biochemical trick to spread efficiently in humans ... The discovery not only yields new insight into the subtle biology of flu, but also reveals another genetic marker public health officials can use to presage pandemics ... "We have found why the pandemic H1N1 virus replicated so well in humans," says Yoshihiro Kawaoka,... (Science Daily)
Uganda: Pepfar Makes U-Turn Aug 6, 2010
As a Senator and Presidential candidate, President Obama promised publicly and in writing to spend at least $50 billion fighting AIDS over 5 years, as the U.S. 'fair share' response to the pandemic ... "Moreover it will simply postpone-and likely increase-ballooning treatment costs, because people will present later, when they are seriously ill and already requiring complex care. An urgent course correction is needed-so that communities benefit fully from the direct and indirect benefits of HIV... (allAfrica.com)
Social Ecology: Lost and Found in Psychological Science Aug 6, 2010
Using math and computer science, engineers created a model to forecast the progression of a future pandemic. They looked at the way diseases spread. (Science Daily)
Africa: Obama Says Current Approach to HIV/Aids is 'Untenable' Aug 6, 2010
The Aids pandemic has swept through Africa to devastating effect; snatching bread-winners and skilled, productive workers while generating orphans and other dependants ... The country became a global poster for success against HIV/Aids, attracting huge funds from the Presidential Emergency Plan for Aids Relief and Global Fund yet mixed messages, one emphasising abstinence for sexually-active citizens, have confused official response to the pandemic first causing stagnation and lately, experts... (allAfrica.com)
West Hancock nurse honored for H1N1 reporting Aug 5, 2010
A West Hancock school nurse has been recognized by the Iowa Department of Public Health for outstanding reporting of H1N1 cases during the 2009 flu pandemic ... During Iowa's 2009 H1N1 Influenza response, the data reported from hospitals, clinics, laboratories and schools was critical in assessing how the pandemic was affecting the health of Iowans, the IDPH reported ... These data were used to tailor public health messages and responses throughout the pandemic. (Forest City Summit, IO)
Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. Reports Results for Second Quarter 2010 Aug 4, 2010
The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, or otherwise, from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, (i) a reduction in consumer and/or business spending in one or more of the Companys markets due to business layoffs, budget reductions, or negative consumer sentiment, (ii) risks relating to the... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Viral Infection Predicts Heart Transplant Loss in Children Aug 4, 2010
23, 2009) This year, the novel 2009 H1N1 influenza, previously called swine flu, has reached pandemic status. Since this is a viral infection of the respiratory tract, there are additional challenges for. (Science Daily)
H1N1 Protection in Coming Season's Flu Vaccines: FDA Aug 3, 2010
FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- The flu vaccines approved for the 2010-11 season protect against three strains of influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic swine flu strain, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday ... A/California/7/09 (H1N1)-like virus (pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus). (MEDLINEplus)
Companies start shipping US flu vaccines Aug 1, 2010
But last year the new pandemic of H1N1 swine flu replaced virtually all other flu strains. It was about as deadly as seasonal flu but instead of hitting the elderly, the most severely ill were younger adults, children and pregnant women. (Business Report, South Africa)
Vaccine Scares May Do More Harm Than Previously Believed to a Population's 'Herd Immunity' Jul 30, 2010
(May 1, 2009) New research warns of a six-month time lag before effective vaccines can be manufactured in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. By that time, the first wave of pandemic flu may be over before. (Science Daily)
Health Ministry administers almost 400,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine Jul 29, 2010
She also said that the public could also obtain the seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine 2010 containing the H1N1 pandemic strain at hospitals and clinics. - Bernama. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
SLU names School of Public Health dean Jul 29, 2010
Last year, Trevathan led the planning for CDC s response to protect the health of children during the H1N1 pandemic. Trevathan has lived in St. Louis before. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards pandemic influenza among cases, close contacts, and healthcare workers in tropical Singapore: a cross-sectional survey Jul 28, 2010
Effective influenza pandemic management requires understanding of the factors influencing behavioral changes ... Knowledge is a significant influence on attitudes and practices in a pandemic, and personal experience influences practice behaviors ... Efforts should be targeted at educating the general population to improve practices in the current pandemic, as well as for future epidemics. (BioMed Central)
Can You Ask a Pig If His Glass Is Half Full? Jul 28, 2010
Can you ask a pig if his glass is half full. Can You Ask a Pig If His Glass Is Half Full. (Science Daily)
Afghan War Funding Jul 28, 2010
$45 million for "Global Health and Child Survival" for pandemic preparedness. $212 million for Haitian debt relief. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
30 years with HIV: 3 men reflect Jul 27, 2010
Phill Wilson has devoted his life to stopping the AIDS pandemic in the black community. His diagnosis in 1985 spurred him to help found a number of AIDS service organizations. (CNN -- US)
Local pastor takes religious mission to Kenya Jul 25, 2010
The church is also opening orphanages to house and feed children who lost parents from the AIDS pandemic. One pastor shared his story of giving over half his income, which isn t much, to the orphans around him, Hyde said. (Brenham Banner, TX)
Experts give low marks for AIDS prevention efforts Jul 24, 2010
4 million people around the world and has killed 25 million since the pandemic began in the 1980s. There is no cure and no vaccine but drugs can keep patients healthy. (AlertNet)
Obama, Clinton pledge US support for AIDS fight Jul 24, 2010
"Ending this pandemic won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight," Obama told delegates gathered in the Austrian capital. "But thanks to you, we've come a long way and the United States is committed to continuing that progress.". (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
ASEAN urges WHO to review pandemic alert levels Jul 22, 2010
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