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MDVIP's medical director suggests preventive measures for flu

Dr. Bernard Kaminetsky, the medical director of MDVIP, a national network of affiliated primary care doctors focused on preventive care, recommends, “Talk to your primary care physician now about the flu, both seasonal and H1N1 flu. Your primary care doctor is the one who can best prepare you for the upcoming season with vaccinations as well as information specific to you.”

16 Sep 2009

Urgent vaccine requirements for treating epidemic diseases voiced at ECI 2009

As a result of dominant media coverage of new epidemic threats such as swine influenza, other infection risks receive less public attention than they deserve. "We would like to bring to everybody's attention that the infectious diseases with the most severe consequences continue to be old acquaintances such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and hepatitis C. About six million people worldwide die of these diseases every year," says Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Stefan H. E. Kaufmann, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, at the 2nd European Congress of Immunology ECI 2009.

16 Sep 2009

WHO says 3b people worldwide could receive H1N1 vaccine

Recent findings that a single dose of an H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine offers protection against the virus and anticipation of vaccination programs starting earlier than predicted will increase the number of people worldwide with access to the vaccine and the likelihood health officials may be able to control the spread of the virus, Bloomberg reports.

16 Sep 2009

Four H1N1 vaccines approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccines will be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available, which is expected within the next four weeks.

16 Sep 2009

Members of BCBSF to receive coverage for the administration of the H1N1 vaccine

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. (BCBSF) announces today its plans to offer coverage for the administration of the H1N1 vaccine to all members when it becomes commercially available to the public. The vaccine administration will be covered for members whose health care plans cover vaccines, as well as for those members whose plans currently do not include immunizations.

15 Sep 2009

H1N1 flu preparedness guide for small industries

Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the availability of a preparedness guide designed to assist small businesses in planning for the possibility of an H1N1 flu outbreak this fall.

15 Sep 2009

NSF International certification for COLD-FX(R)

Afexa Life Sciences Inc. ("Afexa") (TSX:FXA) today announced that COLD-FX(R) has received the highest sports certification in North America from the leading product safety and banned substances testing body for elite athletes.

15 Sep 2009

Possible link between El Ni-o and flu pandemic

Research conducted at Texas A&M University casts doubts on the notion that El Ni-o has been getting stronger because of global warming and raises interesting questions about the relationship between El Ni-o and a severe flu pandemic 91 years ago. The findings are based on analysis of the 1918 El Ni-o, which the new research shows to be one of the strongest of the 20th century.

15 Sep 2009

Environmental Solutions International introduces unique, alcohol-free, moisturizing hand sanitizers

With health officials nationwide already preparing for the upcoming cold and flu season, Environmental Solutions International (ESI) introduces Smart & Silky and Kids Smart & Silky Foaming Hand Sanitizers as another weapon in the illness-prevention arsenal. These unique, alcohol-free, moisturizing hand sanitizers are available at retailers nationwide (visit www.smartandsilky.com for more details).

15 Sep 2009

IBC offers coverage for H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines

In an effort to help keep members healthy and flu-free this year, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) will offer coverage for the administration costs of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine when it becomes available. In addition, IBC will continue to cover seasonal flu vaccine.

15 Sep 2009

Emergency Medical Associates to track swine flu movement with SAP business intelligence solutions

As families return from summer travels and children head back to school, Emergency Medical Associates (EMA) is preparing for a potential resurgence in the swine flu virus (H1N1) this fall. By using business intelligence (BI) solutions from SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), EMA will continue to pinpoint the movement of swine flu and alert federal organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as 21 different emergency medical departments to patterns of outbreak.

14 Sep 2009

H1N1 vaccine to be available in U.S. earlier than anticipated

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Sunday that the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will be available in the U.S. earlier than previously anticipated, the Wall Street Journal reports. "We are on track to have an ample supply rolling out by mid-October, but we may have some early vaccine as early as the first full week in October. And we plan to get the vaccine rolling out the door as fast as it hits the production line," Sebelius said (Davis, 9/13).

14 Sep 2009

Wash and dry hands to fight against H1N1

Countries around the world are trying to tackle the escalating H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in different ways. Advice from all authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), remains the same: good hand hygiene, particularly in public places. Despite this, there are still too few people who know how to wash and dry their hands in the most hygienic way.

14 Sep 2009

VBI's flu vaccine offers protection against H1N1

Variation Biotechnologies, Inc. (VBI), an emerging leader in the discovery and development of novel vaccines to fight infectious diseases, today reported that the company’s proprietary influenza vaccine triggered a robust immune response and provided protection against the H1N1 strain of influenza.

14 Sep 2009

Multi-topic, hour-long series hosted by a cardiac surgeon premiers today

"The Dr. Oz Show," a high octane, multi-topic hour-long series hosted by trusted health expert, best-selling author, and world-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, premieres in syndication today (check local listings). Episodes airing during its premiere week feature two of the recently announced "Core Team Oz" guest contributors, fashion and style expert Tim Gunn ("Project Runway") and fitness specialist Bob Harper ("The Biggest Loser"). Also debuting this week as a member of Core Team Oz is "America's vet," Dr. Marty Becker, the popular author and regular veterinary contributor on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America."

14 Sep 2009

Eat healthy foods to prevent flu

As flu season grips the nation with heightened awareness of hand washing and cough covering, healthy eating is a potent prevention method getting left out in the cold.

14 Sep 2009

Influenza patients treated with Tamiflu has higher survival rates

Roche announced today that two new observational studies concluded that influenza patients treated with Tamiflu(R) (oseltamivir phosphate) had significantly higher survival rates than untreated patients.

14 Sep 2009

Clinical study results of DAS181 against H1N1 influenza presented

NexBio, Inc. announced today the presentation of two studies of DAS181 activity against H1N1 influenza and NAI-resistant influenza at the 2009 Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2009, in San Francisco, CA.

14 Sep 2009

Reme-Flu secured as trade name for Nuvilex's homeopathic flu remedy

Nuvilex, Inc., announced today that Legacy Biotechnologies, Inc., its joint venture partner, has informed the company that Reme-Flu has been secured as the trade name for its homeopathic remedy for helping to prevent and treat flu-like symptoms resulting from influenza, including swine flu.

14 Sep 2009

Practical tips for parents on H1N1 and seasonal flu infections

With the early onset of flu season coinciding with the start of school this year, concern about the flu, and in particular the H1N1 strain of the flu, is growing among parents. Experts from The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo., can offer a pediatric perspective on all types of flu, including H1N1, also known as swine flu.

14 Sep 2009