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February is again peak time for influenza across the nation

If you thought the regular seasonal flu has been late making its annual appearance, you might be surprised to learn that based on recent history, it's right on time.

15 Feb 2011

Rising number of livestock diseases threatens public health, food security in developing countries, report says

"A growing number of livestock, such as cows and pigs, are fuelling new animal epidemics worldwide and posing more severe problems in developing countries as it threatens their food security, according to a report [.pdf] released on Friday" during an international conference in New Delhi, India, on Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition & Health, Reuters reports (Lyn, 2/11).

14 Feb 2011

CHPA to lend its support for The Patients' Freedom to Choose Act

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association is pleased to lend its support for The Patients' Freedom to Choose Act, introduced today by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) and Representative Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) This important legislation would repeal a requirement enacted into law as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 that requires consumers to obtain a prescription in order to utilize their flexible spending arrangements and health savings accounts to purchase over-the-counter medications.

11 Feb 2011

Global Health Consortium to support development of vaccines to control dengue fever

The International Vaccine Institute today announced the launch of the Dengue Vaccine Initiative, in collaboration with the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the Johns Hopkins University, and the World Health Organization, to support development of vaccines to control dengue fever, a widespread and expanding hemorrhagic fever that is endemic in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

10 Feb 2011

BioCryst reports net loss of $9.1M for fourth quarter 2010 vs. $15.2M net income for fourth quarter 2009

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

10 Feb 2011

Avian flu vaccine stockpiled in 2004 still useful

A stockpiled vaccine designed to fight a strain of avian flu that circulated in 2004 can be combined with a vaccine that matches the current strain of bird flu to protect against a potential pandemic, researchers from Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development have found.

10 Feb 2011

Global Hygiene Council: Three simple steps to keep your family protected against infections

The Global Hygiene Council, a group of leading health and hygiene experts from around the world, convened in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss how proper hygiene plays a critical role in preventing the spread of illness and improving health around the world.

10 Feb 2011

OraSure registers $3.5 million net loss for full year 2010

OraSure Technologies, Inc., a market leader in oral fluid diagnostics, today announced revenues of $75.0 million and $18.8 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2010, respectively. This compares to revenues of $77.0 million and $20.9 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2009.

10 Feb 2011

Natco Pharma files ANDA with FDA for generic version of Tamiflu

Alvogen, the US-based pharmaceutical company, today announced that its India-based partner, Natco Pharma Limited, has filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the generic version of Tamiflu.

9 Feb 2011

Study: Financial incentives increased employee participation in health improvement programs

Fidelity Investments, a leading service provider of employer benefits, in conjunction with the National Business Group on Health, released a study today that found financial incentives have taken on greater importance in the drive to increase employee participation in health improvement programs.

9 Feb 2011

Medicago granted FDA clearance for clinical development of seasonal flu vaccine

Medicago Inc. a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced it has received Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") clearance for its phase I H1N1 influenza VLP vaccine candidate ("H1N1 vaccine") clinical trial in the United States.

9 Feb 2011

Total flu cover with one shot

In a medical breakthrough, English scientists have developed a so-called “universal” vaccine to influenza - one that protects against all strains of the potentially deadly illness. This would do away with the need for a new vaccine each flu season they say. Seasonal flu affects up to 20 percent of the population and kills an average of 24,600 people each year. This vaccine would act against swine flu as well assure researchers.

8 Feb 2011

Teva fourth quarter net sales increase 16% to record $4.4 billion

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today reported results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

8 Feb 2011

Anthem Blue Cross reminds seniors in Maine to get vaccinated against annual flu, pneumonia

While the seasonal flu can be very serious for patients of any age, senior citizens are particularly vulnerable. That's why Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is reminding seniors across the state to get their annual flu and pneumonia vaccinations.

8 Feb 2011

Stockpiling flu drugs, vaccines reduces impact of pandemic, but option out of reach for most countries, study finds

"Stockpiling antiviral flu drugs and vaccines saves lives and reduces disease in a flu pandemic," but the cost to maintain such a stockpile and deploy interventions in the event of an outbreak "is too expensive for around two thirds of the world's population, scientists said on Wednesday," Reuters reports.

3 Feb 2011

Limited school closures ineffective, strain hospital ICUs during epidemics

Selective schools closures has been considered as a means of reducing transmission between children and hence reducing the number of cases at the peak of an epidemic but new research led by researchers at the University of Warwick shows that limited school closures are ineffective and that only significant widespread school closures would have real effect on the spread of a epidemic and the strain placed on hospital intensive care units.

3 Feb 2011

Swine flu shots linked to narcolepsy: Investigation continues

The vaccine used against swine flu has been linked to a disorder called narcolepsy among those aged four to 19. Narcolepsy involves people falling asleep without warning or sleeping excessively in the daytime. A preliminary study also “observed [an] increase in incidence of narcolepsy” among those given the vaccine.

2 Feb 2011

CDH first hospital in New England to use Xenex PX-UV disinfection system

Cooley Dickinson Hospital (CDH) today announced it is the first hospital in New England to use the Xenex PX-UV disinfection system to disinfect its patient and operating rooms.

2 Feb 2011

Kinetic Concepts fourth quarter net earnings increase 12% to $74.0 million

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. today reported fourth quarter and full year 2010 total revenue of $527.5 million and $2.02 billion, respectively, compared to $526.8 million and $1.99 billion in the corresponding periods of the prior year.

1 Feb 2011

Covidien first-quarter net sales increase 5% to $2.77 billion

Covidien plc today reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 (October-December 2010). First-quarter net sales of $2.77 billion increased 5% from the $2.64 billion reported a year ago. Foreign exchange rate movement had no impact on the quarterly sales growth rate.

1 Feb 2011

Flu News and Research

February is again peak time for influenza across the nation

Rising number of livestock diseases threatens public health, food security in developing countries, report says

CHPA to lend its support for The Patients' Freedom to Choose Act

Global Health Consortium to support development of vaccines to control dengue fever

BioCryst reports net loss of $9.1M for fourth quarter 2010 vs. $15.2M net income for fourth quarter 2009

Avian flu vaccine stockpiled in 2004 still useful

Global Hygiene Council: Three simple steps to keep your family protected against infections

OraSure registers $3.5 million net loss for full year 2010

Natco Pharma files ANDA with FDA for generic version of Tamiflu

Study: Financial incentives increased employee participation in health improvement programs

Medicago granted FDA clearance for clinical development of seasonal flu vaccine

Total flu cover with one shot

Teva fourth quarter net sales increase 16% to record $4.4 billion

Anthem Blue Cross reminds seniors in Maine to get vaccinated against annual flu, pneumonia

Stockpiling flu drugs, vaccines reduces impact of pandemic, but option out of reach for most countries, study finds

Limited school closures ineffective, strain hospital ICUs during epidemics

Swine flu shots linked to narcolepsy: Investigation continues

CDH first hospital in New England to use Xenex PX-UV disinfection system

Kinetic Concepts fourth quarter net earnings increase 12% to $74.0 million

Covidien first-quarter net sales increase 5% to $2.77 billion

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