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CDC expected to revise H1N1 mortality figures

The New York Times: "About 4,000 Americans - rather than about 1,200 - have died of swine flu since the disease emerged in April, according to new figures being calculated by [CDC] epidemiologists" - an estimate that combines the number of "deaths from laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu and deaths that appear to be brought on by flu, even though the patient may have ultimately died of bacterial pneumonia, other infections or organ failure."

12 Nov 2009

Meridian Bioscience announces fiscal 2009 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 were $42,461,000 as compared to $36,475,000 for the same period of the prior fiscal year, an increase of 16%. Net earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 were $8,930,000, or $ 0.22 per diluted share, up 16% over the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

12 Nov 2009

AVMA confirms that a household cat in Iowa showed signs of H1N1 influenza

Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. reported that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently confirmed that a household cat in Iowa developed signs of respiratory infection caused by H1N1 influenza virus.

12 Nov 2009

FDA approves CSL Biotherapies' seasonal flu vaccine, Afluria for children

CSL Biotherapies, a subsidiary of CSL Limited, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of influenza vaccine, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s application for accelerated approval of its seasonal flu vaccine, Afluria® (Influenza Virus Vaccine) for use in the pediatric population aged 6 months and older.

12 Nov 2009

Oregon state officials confirm that three more ferrets have tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 virus

Three more ferrets in Oregon have tested positive for the 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 virus, state officials confirmed this afternoon, bringing the total number of cases affecting ferrets in the state to four.

12 Nov 2009

EMS Solutions provides free resources to help companies tackle this year's H1N1 flu pandemic

Emergency Management & Safety Solutions (EMS Solutions), the crisis planner for many Fortune 100 companies, international government agencies and large non-profit organizations, is providing free resources to help companies better prepare for and prevent transmission of this year's H1N1 flu pandemic. Today, over 180 countries have experienced the H1N1 virus outbreak and approximately 6,500 people have died -- including over 1,500 in North America, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

12 Nov 2009

New website on healthy lifestyle and its issues launched by Healthy Life Network

HealthyLifeNetwork.com is officially online and making its healthful presence known on the world-wide web. The new site has been in development for sometime but overall the time to market from concept to publish was fast-tracked by a Chicago-based team of writers, editors, designers and marketing wizards.

12 Nov 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

"Traditional" infectious diseases — those, like flu and tuberculosis, that are caused by viruses or bacteria — are not the only aspects of health that can spread from one person to another. Taking up smoking is contagious; so is quitting. Obesity is contagious. So is happiness (Olivia Judson, 11/10).

12 Nov 2009

Lawmakers call for emergency sick-leave requirement

Lawmakers are calling for new legislation that would require businesses to provide paid emergency sick-leave because of the swine flu pandemic.

12 Nov 2009

UK research funders announce support for a series of H1N1 2009 research projects

Leading UK research funders today announce -7.5 million of funding for a series of projects aimed at understanding the development and spread of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 - or 'swine flu'. The research will look at every aspect of the virus, on pig farms, in pig and human populations, and in hospital intensive care units.

11 Nov 2009

Congress urged to consider alternative approaches to workplace leave policies

In testimony today before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families, Elissa O'Brien, SPHR, vice president of human resources for Wingate Healthcare, urged Congress to consider alternative approaches to policies governing workplace leave that reflect the needs of today's workforce.

11 Nov 2009

Hand washing: Best method for killing germs and protecting oneself from flu

Fears of contracting the H1N1 virus this flu season have people steering clear of strangers with coughs and scolding friends who don't sneeze into their crooked elbows. With everyone trying to stay germ free, hand sanitizer has become a popular means of protection. But although a quick pump from a Purell dispenser is the most convenient form of hand cleaning, is it the best?

11 Nov 2009

Lower socioeconomic status linked with inability to fight H1N1

People who did not earn a high school diploma could be more likely to get H1N1 and the vaccine might be less effective in them compared to those who earned a diploma, new research shows.

11 Nov 2009

Majority of pharmacists say patients should use OTC drugs at the first sign of cold and flu symptoms

A recent national survey of 505 pharmacists found that nine out of 10 pharmacists believe it is important for a patient to seek treatment early to help shorten the duration and severity of a cold.

11 Nov 2009

New visitation guidelines to prevent novel flu spread

The New Jersey Hospital Association has issued new visitation guidelines for the state's hospitals to help them protect patients, staff and visitors from H1N1 influenza.

11 Nov 2009

Negative and positive emotions have a direct impact on pain, says new study

Getting a flu shot this fall? Canadians scientists have found that focusing on a pretty image could alleviate the sting of that vaccine. According to a new Universit- de Montr-al study, published in the latest edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), negative and positive emotions have a direct impact on pain.

11 Nov 2009

GSK to donate 50M H1N1 vaccine doses to WHO in coming months

Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline announced plans on Tuesday to donate 50 million doses of its H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine to the WHO for use in developing countries within the next few months, Reuters reports. "We expect to start receiving [the first of the H1N1 doses] at the end of the month or early December and that the full 50 million will come by the end of spring," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said, adding, "We hope it is the first of many donations."

10 Nov 2009

HHS Secretary to visit Bradenton Healthcare Center to discuss the importance of H1N1 vaccinations

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will visit the East Manatee Family Healthcare Center in Bradenton, Fla. on Tuesday, November 10.

10 Nov 2009

Fun and creativity with Sick Day Survival Kit

Flu season officially begins this month, and many kids are already sneezing and coughing their way home from school early. While health officials can guide parents about how to care for their sick children, they cannot help with another pressing issue on most parents’ minds – “how am I going to entertain my sick child for an entire week at home?”

10 Nov 2009

New N95 respirator from Safe Life

Safe Life Corp., an innovative antimicrobial company dedicated to developing novel technologies that prevent the spread of infection and disease, announced today the availability of the Safe Life A400 Series N95 Respirator with Antimicrobial Protection.

10 Nov 2009