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.

VAERS calls for reporting of GBS cases following 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) are requesting neurologists to report any possible new cases of Guillain-Barr- syndrome (GBS) following 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination using the CDC and U. S. Food and Drug Administration Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

1 Sep 2009

H1N1 cases on decline in Southern Hemisphere, WHO says

The number of H1N1 (swine) flu cases are steadily declining in the Southern Hemisphere as the region's flu season comes to an end, the WHO said Friday, the Associated Press reports (Engeler, 8/29).

1 Sep 2009

ViraCor-IBT Laboratories launches new influenza and respiratory virus testing service

ViraCor-IBT Laboratories today launched a new, comprehensive influenza and respiratory virus testing service that will assist physicians in detecting a range of respiratory viruses including 2009 Influenza A H1N1, or “swine flu,” as well as other influenza subtypes and common respiratory viruses such as rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

31 Aug 2009

Stanford University starts recruiting participants for swine flu vaccine clinical trial

The Stanford University School of Medicine is recruiting participants for a clinical trial to determine the safety of an experimental vaccine against the new H1N1 strain of influenza when the vaccine is combined with an immune-stimulating substance called an adjuvant. The trial will also examine whether use of the adjuvant improves the immune response to the vaccine.

31 Aug 2009

Sinovac to supply its Anflu seasonal flu vaccine to the Beijing Public Health Bureau

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NYSE: SVA), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today that the Beijing Public Health Bureau has selected Sinovac as one of the four manufacturers to supply Anflu(R), Sinovac's seasonal influenza vaccine, for the benefit of the citizens of Beijing. The Beijing Public Health Bureau completed the bidding process for the purchase of flu vaccines and corresponding services for 2009 on August 26, 2009. The agreement will be executed after the public notice period.

28 Aug 2009

Online resource created to help parents, teachers, and school officials to cope with swine flu

Parents, teachers, and school officials are anxiously awaiting the expected return this fall of the H1N1 virus, known as Swine Flu. Declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the virus may prove a significant problem to schools and families across the country.

28 Aug 2009

H1N1 virus detected in turkeys

The detection of an H1N1 virus in turkeys in Chile raises concern that poultry farms elsewhere in the world could also become infected with the pandemic flu virus currently circulating in humans, FAO said today.

27 Aug 2009

Majority of Americans are ready to get vaccinated against H1N1 flu virus

A recent poll on the H1N1 flu conducted by the American Red Cross found that more Americans are taking or planning on taking extra measures to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissue (78%) or wash their hands more carefully (76%) to avoid getting the flu.

27 Aug 2009

Lakewood-Amedex to speed up development of its broad spectrum anti-influenza product into clinical studies

Lakewood-Amedex Inc., (L-A), the anti-infectives biopharmaceutical company developing a unique portfolio of anti-bacterial and anti-viral products including NuBiotics, a novel family of synthetic anti-bacterial compounds, and anti-viral products against hepatitis, HIV and influenza, announced today that it is accelerating development of its broad spectrum anti-influenza product into clinical studies.

27 Aug 2009

CDC report predicts that forty percent of Americans may be affected by the H1N1 flu

From summer camps to summer travel, the H1N1 influenza has taken a toll worldwide this season, and experts say the new flu strain is expected to be back in force this fall. Forty percent of Americans could end up being affected by the H1N1 flu, the CDC reported last month.

27 Aug 2009

Rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA with the Nanogap Sensor Array

A novel electronic sensor array for more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA for disease diagnosis and biological research has been developed by scientists at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN).

27 Aug 2009

Asia will experience H1N1 vaccine shortage, WHO says

A spokesperson for the WHO said on Tuesday that Asia will not have enough H1N1 vaccines for swine flu when cold weather hits, Reuters reports.

26 Aug 2009

Quality test for Guardian Technologies International's Signature Mapping TBDx system completed

Guardian Technologies International, Inc. (OTCBB: GDTI) today announced that its Software Quality Assurance Team has completed all unit, component, integration, and systems tests of Signature Mapping TBDx™ (TBDx™) in preparation for September clinical trials in South Africa.

26 Aug 2009

Patient health and safety survey reveals that healthcare facilities are not ready to combat swine flu pandemic

A patient health and safety survey of 190 American hospitals from coast to coast compiled by registered nurses in eight different states finds that a disturbing number of our nation's healthcare facilities are not prepared for the coming H1N1/swine flu pandemic, according to results released today by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

26 Aug 2009

DAS181 inhibits H5N1 Influenza lung virus infection of human lung tissues

NexBio, Inc. announced today the publication "DAS181 Inhibits H5N1 Influenza Lung Virus Infection of Human Lung Tissues" in the September, 2009 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (AAC).

26 Aug 2009

MRSA Survivors Network founder organizes the first Inaugural World MRSA Day

MRSA Survivors Network founder, Jeanine Thomas has organized the first Inaugural World MRSA Day Kick-off event on October 1st in Chicago at Loyola University. Other events will be held across the globe and in the U.S. on October 2nd and throughout the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month.

26 Aug 2009

The University of Nottingham scientists conduct research on swine flu virus

Scientists at The University of Nottingham and Health Protection Agency East Midlands are carrying out urgent research into the swine flu virus after being commissioned as part of the government's response to the pandemic.

26 Aug 2009

Aastra's CC:LifeLine provides virtual call center for pandemic response planning

Aastra, a leading provider of IP-Telephony and Contact Center solutions, offers a solution for contact centers needing an alternative for premises-based agents if it is necessary to close the call center due to a disaster or flu epidemic. Aastra’s CC:LifeLine™ (www.aastraondemand.com/solutions-cclifeline2.asp) provides a virtual call center environment ensuring that agents can serve customers even if the physical call center is inaccessible.

25 Aug 2009

Free webinar for business travel industry on swine flu pandemic

"Business as usual” won’t be this flu season, with the effects of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic expected to include quarantines, travel restrictions and school and office closings. Businesses that rely on travel need to make preparations now to mitigate the impact.

25 Aug 2009

WHO appeals for donated, low-cost H1N1 vaccines

The WHO's flu chief Keiji Fukuda on Saturday called upon wealthy nations and vaccine manufacturers to donate H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines to developing countries, the Associated Press reports.

24 Aug 2009

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

VAERS calls for reporting of GBS cases following 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination

H1N1 cases on decline in Southern Hemisphere, WHO says

ViraCor-IBT Laboratories launches new influenza and respiratory virus testing service

Stanford University starts recruiting participants for swine flu vaccine clinical trial

Sinovac to supply its Anflu seasonal flu vaccine to the Beijing Public Health Bureau

Online resource created to help parents, teachers, and school officials to cope with swine flu

H1N1 virus detected in turkeys

Majority of Americans are ready to get vaccinated against H1N1 flu virus

Lakewood-Amedex to speed up development of its broad spectrum anti-influenza product into clinical studies

CDC report predicts that forty percent of Americans may be affected by the H1N1 flu

Rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA with the Nanogap Sensor Array

Asia will experience H1N1 vaccine shortage, WHO says

Quality test for Guardian Technologies International's Signature Mapping TBDx system completed

Patient health and safety survey reveals that healthcare facilities are not ready to combat swine flu pandemic

DAS181 inhibits H5N1 Influenza lung virus infection of human lung tissues

MRSA Survivors Network founder organizes the first Inaugural World MRSA Day

The University of Nottingham scientists conduct research on swine flu virus

Aastra's CC:LifeLine provides virtual call center for pandemic response planning

Free webinar for business travel industry on swine flu pandemic

WHO appeals for donated, low-cost H1N1 vaccines

Best practices - optimize qPCR processes for pathogen detection eBook

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

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