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BC Centre for Disease Control launches influenza genome sequencing project

The BC Centre for Disease Control has launched an influenza genome sequencing project to better understand how the pandemic H1N1 flu virus has evolved in British Columbia, and may continue to evolve in the coming months.

22 Jan 2010

Ordinary face masks and hand hygiene can reduce transmission of influenza-like illness

Ordinary face masks and hand hygiene can effectively reduce the transmission of influenza-like illness during flu season. The finding comes from a new study, now available online (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/650396), published in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

22 Jan 2010

Health care companies assess where they stand on health reform after election

The Wall Street Journal reports that several firms reiterated support for a health care reform bill Wednesday, a day after the overhaul's viability was called into question by the victory of Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown in Massachusetts. "PhRMA, the drug industry association, as well as companies including Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, WellPoint Inc. and Humana Inc., voiced support for an overhaul of some kind, despite objections among insurers about the efforts to date."

21 Jan 2010

Meridian Bioscience announces record first-quarter net sales of $42.5M

Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 were $42,457,000 as compared to $34,293,000 for the same period of the prior fiscal year, an increase of 24%. Net earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 were $8,921,000 or $0.22 per diluted share, both increases of 10% over the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Diluted common shares outstanding for fiscal 2010 and 2009 were 41,185,000 and 41,125,000, respectively.

21 Jan 2010

ETMC Athens effectively handles record number of H1N1 cases

Throughout the month of September, East Texas Medical Center Athens (ETMC Athens) has seen a 42% average increase in number of patients per day and is taking it in stride. Improved efficiencies in the Emergency Department facilitated by a process improvement firm, Compirion Healthcare, have allowed the hospital to absorb the volume and see an improvement in quality.

21 Jan 2010

Sinovac Biotech announces financial update, new joint ventures and developments

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (SVA) ("Sinovac" or the "Company"), a leading China-based vaccine manufacturer, today announced the following recent developments.

21 Jan 2010

UCI finding could complicate quest to eradicate deadly disease in humans

Chimpanzees were known to carry the parasite Plasmodium reichenowi, but most scientists assumed the two parasites had existed separately in humans and chimpanzees for the last 5 million years.

20 Jan 2010

WHO, CDC issue H1N1 updates

Though H1N1 (swine flu) activity worldwide has slowed, the potential of a new wave of infections in the northern hemisphere in late winter or early spring remains viable, Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's top flu expert, said Monday at the start of the WHO's weeklong executive board meeting, Reuters reports.

19 Jan 2010

New study indicates appendicitis may be caused by viral infection

The researchers evaluated data over a 36-year period from the National Hospital Discharge Survey and concluded in a paper appearing in the January issue of Archives of Surgery that appendicitis may be caused by undetermined viral infection or infections, said Dr. Edward Livingston, chief of GI/endocrine surgery at UT Southwestern and senior author of the report.

19 Jan 2010

Mutagenic drugs designed to kill viruses may make them stronger, says research

As the flu season continues in full-swing, most people can appreciate the need for drugs that stop viruses after they take hold in the body. Despite this serious need for new drugs, a team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin raise serious concerns about an emerging strategy for stopping viral infections.

18 Jan 2010

Health personalities: Nelson, Landrieu, Melancon, Regina Benjamin

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18 Jan 2010

Margaret A. Hamburg thanks America's health care professionals on H1N1 vaccine safety

FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg today sent a letter to America's health care professionals thanking them for their efforts during the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak and providing information on safety monitoring of the 2009 H1N1 vaccines.

18 Jan 2010

Safety concerns of acetaminophen

The pain reliever acetaminophen is one of the safest and most effective drugs on the market. It's often recommended instead of aspirin as a day-to-day pain reliever because it's much easier on the stomach than other over-the-counter options and is considered safe when taken properly.

18 Jan 2010

Scientists develop alternative method for producing active ingredient in Tamiflu

Scientists have developed an alternative method for producing the active ingredient in Tamiflu-, the mainstay for fighting H1N1 and other forms of influenza. The new process could expand availability of the drug by reducing its cost, which now retails for as about $8 per dose.

18 Jan 2010

WHO official rejects claims agency overhyped threat of H1N1

Keiji Fukuda, the special adviser to the WHO director general on pandemic influenza, on Thursday dismissed allegations that the agency exaggerated the threat of the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic and has been influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, the Washington Post reports.

18 Jan 2010

New genetic evidence can improve avian influenza surveillance programs

Genetic analyses of avian influenza in wild birds can help pinpoint likely carrier species and geographic hot spots where Eurasian viruses would be most likely to enter North America, according to new U.S. Geological Survey research.

13 Jan 2010

Record-breaking 8,300 health care professionals participate in online H1N1 vaccination education program

A record-breaking 8,300 front-line health care professionals participated in an accredited, online education program about H1N1 vaccination in November 2009 alone.

13 Jan 2010

Send Word Now to provide emergency voice and text communication services to Unity Health System's hospitals

Send Word Now, the leading provider of emergency notification and on-demand alerting and response services, announced today that Unity Health System, a 681-bed health-care network based out of Rochester, New York, has selected Send Word Now to provide emergency voice and text communication services to its hospitals.

13 Jan 2010

moksha8 receives approval to import and use peramivir in patients with H1N1 influenza A in Mexico

moksha8 and BioCryst today announced that moksha8 has been granted approval from COFEPRIS (The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk) in Mexico for the importation and use of peramivir in patients with influenza associated with the 2009 H1N1 influenza A strain.

13 Jan 2010

ETMC Athens gears up for next flu pandemic

Throughout the month of September, East Texas Medical Center, Athens (ETMC Athens) saw a 42% average surge in number of patients per day due to publicity of the H1N1 virus and took it in stride. Improved efficiencies in the Emergency Department facilitated by a process improvement firm, Compirion Healthcare, allowed the hospital to absorb the volume and still see an improvement in quality.

13 Jan 2010