Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

BMJ report questions WHO advisors' ties to pharmaceutical industry

"Key scientists behind World Health Organization advice on stockpiling of pandemic flu drugs had financial ties with companies which stood to profit," according to a joint investigation by BMJ in collaboration with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, BBC News reports (6/4).

5 Jun 2010

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to join with JFC to celebrate Children's Day

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation will join with Jewelers for Children and other charities on Sunday to celebrate JFC's Children's Day, which commemorates the jewelry industry's charitable efforts on behalf of children throughout the year. This second annual Children's Day concludes with JFC's 12th annual Facets of Hope dinner held in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the theme It's All About the Kids.

5 Jun 2010

Caltech biologists pinpoint molecular changes that help allow global spread of resistance to Tamiflu

Biologists at the California Institute of Technology have pinpointed molecular changes that helped allow the global spread of resistance to the antiviral medication Tamiflu (oseltamivir) among strains of the seasonal H1N1 flu virus.

4 Jun 2010

WHO says H1N1 remains pandemic

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan on Thursday announced the WHO still considers H1N1 (swine) flu a pandemic, despite the fact "its most intense activity has passed in many parts of the world," Reuters reports (Lynn, 6/3).

4 Jun 2010

Antiviral drug oseltamivir appears safe and effective for infants hospitalized with influenza: Study

Given promptly, the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) appears safe and effective for infants hospitalized with influenza, reports a study in the June issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

4 Jun 2010

Bangalore INDIA BIO 2010 inaugurated

Bangalore INDIA BIO 2010, India's premier Biotechnology event organized by the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Vision Group on Biotechnology and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Co was inaugurated today by Shri B.S. Yeddyurappa, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, and Shri Katta Subramanya Naidu - Hon'ble Minister for IT & BT, Information, Excise and BWSSB, Government of Karnataka.

2 Jun 2010

Barriers, misinformation still prevent many from seeking flu protection for their families: Canadian Flu Report

According to the Canadian Flu Report released today, 40 per cent of parents are now more interested in vaccinating themselves and their children against seasonal flu following last year's H1N1 outbreak. Yet, significant barriers and misinformation are still preventing many from actually seeking proper flu protection for their families.

2 Jun 2010

Opinions: Stopping active recruitment of developing country health care workers; MDGs at 10 years

In a Seattle Times opinion piece Amy Hagopian of the University of Washington, Eric Williams of Physicians for Human Rights and Emily deRiel of the Health Alliance International reflect on the recent adoption of a resolution "to prevent health-worker brain drain from developing countries" during the World Health Assembly last month.

2 Jun 2010

Research roundup: Reform's impact on health spending; Cultural/Racial differences in medicine; Swine flu lessons

The Impact Of Health Reform On Health Spending - This issue brief "projects the effect of national reform on total national health expenditures and the insurance premiums that American families would likely pay. We estimate that, on net, the combination of provisions in the new law will reduce health care spending by $590 billion over 2010-2019 and lower premiums by nearly $2,000 per family.

29 May 2010

Previous recommendations on H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand: SAGE

Previous recommendations on who should be vaccinated with the H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand according to the World WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, the principal advisory group to WHO for development of policy related to vaccines and immunization.

28 May 2010

Researchers study safety and immunogenicity of two H1N1 vaccines in UK children

The first head to head study of the two H1N1 vaccines used in the UK during the recent pandemic finds that the adjuvanted split virus vaccine induced higher immune response rates in young children, but was associated with more reactions than the whole virus vaccine.

28 May 2010

Fear of H1N1 appears to be the driving factor behind adoption of preventive behaviors: Study

Fear of the H1N1 virus appears to be the driving factor behind the adoption of preventive behaviors, according to a study published in the June issue of AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

27 May 2010

Influenza A(H1N1) appears milder than seasonal flu in tropical environment: Report

In a tropical environment, influenza A(H1N1) appeared milder than seasonal flu, was less likely to cause fever and upset stomach and more likely to infect younger individuals, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

25 May 2010

Pregnant women with H1N1 flu strain are at risk for obstetrical complications: Study

Pregnant women who contract the H1N1 flu strain are at risk for obstetrical complications including fetal distress, premature delivery, emergency cesarean delivery and fetal death, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

25 May 2010

Delegates at the World Health Assembly adopt resolutions on variety of global health issues

The 63rd World Health Assembly, which brought together Health Ministers and senior health officials from the World Health Organization's Member States, concluded business and closed Friday evening.

24 May 2010

Health leaders discuss polio, alcohol, childhood obesity at WHA

From the 63rd World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, the Associated Press reports on what some "describe as a new strategy to get rid of" polio that focuses on developing solutions to "problems in each country, provides more WHO monitoring, like more teleconferences, and holds governments more accountable." The plans also provide "[n]ew [polio] outbreak response plans," according to the AP.

24 May 2010

Influenza antiviral drugs not hoarded during recent H1N1 flu season, says Prime Therapeutics

Despite concerns from public health officials, influenza antiviral drugs were not hoarded during the recent H1N1 flu season, according to a new analysis presented recently at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 22nd Annual Meeting in San Diego by Prime Therapeutics (Prime), a thought leader in pharmacy benefit management.

21 May 2010

Clinical Infectious Diseases journal examines new scientific advances to curb HIV, TB epidemics

As US policymakers consider scaling back on its historic initiative to fight AIDS around the world and downsizing goals to combat tuberculosis, next-generation treatment and prevention strategies to significantly reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are now imminent. New science can dramatically change the trajectory of both deadly epidemics, according to a special new issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

21 May 2010

WHO Director-General pushes for sustained commitment to MDGs at World Health Assembly

During her opening address to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called for increased global efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports. Chan also set-up several global health challenges to be addressed during the five-day meeting, according to the news service.

19 May 2010

Opinions: Gender-based violence and HIV; AIDS vaccine; Global NTDs; Responses to NYT HIV/AIDS articles

"Gender-based violence is a world-wide pandemic and directly affects the spread of HIV/AIDS. Fear of violence limits the ability of women and girls to choose their partners; to find out about a partner's HIV status or disclose their own; and to get medical or counseling services," according to a U.S. government editorial in VOA News.

19 May 2010

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

BMJ report questions WHO advisors' ties to pharmaceutical industry

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to join with JFC to celebrate Children's Day

Caltech biologists pinpoint molecular changes that help allow global spread of resistance to Tamiflu

WHO says H1N1 remains pandemic

Antiviral drug oseltamivir appears safe and effective for infants hospitalized with influenza: Study

Bangalore INDIA BIO 2010 inaugurated

Barriers, misinformation still prevent many from seeking flu protection for their families: Canadian Flu Report

Opinions: Stopping active recruitment of developing country health care workers; MDGs at 10 years

Research roundup: Reform's impact on health spending; Cultural/Racial differences in medicine; Swine flu lessons

Previous recommendations on H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand: SAGE

Researchers study safety and immunogenicity of two H1N1 vaccines in UK children

Fear of H1N1 appears to be the driving factor behind adoption of preventive behaviors: Study

Influenza A(H1N1) appears milder than seasonal flu in tropical environment: Report

Pregnant women with H1N1 flu strain are at risk for obstetrical complications: Study

Delegates at the World Health Assembly adopt resolutions on variety of global health issues

Health leaders discuss polio, alcohol, childhood obesity at WHA

Influenza antiviral drugs not hoarded during recent H1N1 flu season, says Prime Therapeutics

Clinical Infectious Diseases journal examines new scientific advances to curb HIV, TB epidemics

WHO Director-General pushes for sustained commitment to MDGs at World Health Assembly

Opinions: Gender-based violence and HIV; AIDS vaccine; Global NTDs; Responses to NYT HIV/AIDS articles

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