Pandemic News and Research

RSS

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.

Historic agreement sets national standard for containing the spread of H1N1

In a dramatic settlement seen as a novel pattern for the nation, the nation's largest nurses union and professional association, and one of the country's biggest hospital systems today announced a landmark agreement that sets a national standard on containing the spread of pandemics such as H1N1 "swine flu."

2 Nov 2009

NIAID awards Pulmatrix $2.2M grant for developing novel influenza therapeutics

Pulmatrix, a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing a new class of therapies for the treatment and prevention of infectious and progressive respiratory diseases, today announced that it has been awarded a grant for $2.2 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aimed at advancing the development of novel influenza therapeutics for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza.

2 Nov 2009

RESPOND program to improve global perspective on emerging diseases

Experts from the University of Minnesota will soon be on the frontlines working to help developing countries better respond to emerging animal diseases that pose a threat to human health.

31 Oct 2009

GAA welcomes Obama's announcement to lift HIV travel ban

The Global AIDS Alliance welcomes President Obama's announcement today to lift the 22 year-old U.S. travel and immigration ban on those living with HIV/AIDS. GAA Executive Director Paul Zeitz said "We congratulate President Obama on his decision to end this unfounded and discriminatory policy. This is an important sign of U.S. leadership and commitment."

31 Oct 2009

Canada's doctors thank government for easing sick note requirements during H1N1 pandemic

Canadian Medical Association President Dr. Anne Doig commended the federal government today for easing its requirements for sick notes during the H1N1 pandemic.

31 Oct 2009

MMR Information Systems offers free guide to Personal Health Records

MMR Information Systems, Inc. announced today that it is offering a free guide to Personal Health Records ("PHRs") by Dr. Arnold W. Klein, a world-renowned Beverly Hills Dermatologist, through its MyMedicalRecords PHR website www.mymedicalrecords.com. The Company made the announcement in response to the White House declaring the H1N1 "Swine Flu" virus a National Emergency.

31 Oct 2009

MedImpact to provide a suite of free, online flu self-assessment tools

MedImpact has collaborated with the American Medical Association (AMA) and other health care organizations to provide a suite of free, online flu self-assessment tools to MedImpact clients and to the 32 million individual members they serve.

31 Oct 2009

Tufts University receives $185M grant as part of the USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats program

Tufts University has been tapped by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of a multidisciplinary team that will receive a grant of up to $185-million to create better synergies among veterinarians, doctors, and public health officials in responding to emerging infectious diseases.

31 Oct 2009

New York Times examines efforts underway to prevent spread of H1N1 during Hajj

The New York Times examines how Saudi Arabia is preparing for the upcoming annual pilgrimage of some "2.5 million people from 160 countries" to Mecca, some who "will be bringing the swine flu. The Saudi authorities, fearing that the hajj could turn their holy city into a petri dish for viral mutations and a hub for spreading a new pandemic wave around the world, are working hard to head that off," the newspaper writes.

31 Oct 2009

Public concern can undermine flu vaccination campaigns

The effectiveness of pandemic flu vaccination campaigns - like that now underway for H1N1 - could be undermined by the public incorrectly associating coincidental and unrelated health events with the vaccines.

31 Oct 2009

CDC study finds swine flu may have infected as many as 5.7 million Americans

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new swine flue estimates that suggest the number of people affected by the disease is much greater than the 43,677 cases confirmed earlier.

30 Oct 2009

sanofi-aventis reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

In the third quarter of 2009, sanofi-aventis generated net sales of euro 7,400 million, up 8.0% on a reported basis. Exchange rate movements had a favorable effect of 2.0 percentage points, with the appreciation of the U.S. dollar (and to a lesser extent the yen) against the euro more than offsetting the unfavorable effects of some other currencies.

30 Oct 2009

Health officials stress the need for continued prevention efforts in view of H1N1 vaccine delay

Responding to delays in the nationwide distribution H1N1 flu vaccine, Department of Health officials today urged Pennsylvanians to continue to take steps to prevent the spread of illness.

30 Oct 2009

Scientists present new perspective on antigenic drift of flu viruses

Influenza viruses evade infection-fighting antibodies by constantly changing the shape of their major surface protein. This shape-shifting, called antigenic drift, is why influenza vaccines-which are designed to elicit antibodies matched to each year's circulating virus strains-must be reformulated annually.

30 Oct 2009

Risk of serious flu-related sickness far outpaces risk of injectable vaccine in pregnant women

Pregnant women who catch the flu are at serious risk for flu-related complications, including death, and that risk far outweighs the risk of possible side effects from injectable vaccines containing killed virus, according to an extensive review of published research and data from previous flu seasons.

30 Oct 2009

Mintel predicts increased sales of OTC drugs in upcoming months

Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere and with shades of yellow and orange comes a less-welcome visitor: cold and flu season. Made worse this year by the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, people around the world are flocking to drugstores and supermarkets to stock up on over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, says market research firm Mintel.

30 Oct 2009

FluGen's CHO-cell-based production system generates egg-free, 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine virus

FluGen Inc., an emerging leader in the development, production and delivery of influenza vaccines, today announced that its proprietary CHO-cell-based production system has generated novel 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine virus without the use of eggs during any step of production.

30 Oct 2009