Swine Flu News and Research

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Swine Flu or influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March and April, 2009. It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects and then touching your nose or mouth. Novel H1N1 infection has been reported to cause a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In addition, many people also have reported nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Shionogi files New Drug Application in Japan

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its partner, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has filed a New Drug Application (NDA) in Japan to seek regulatory approval for intravenous (i.v.) peramivir to treat patients with influenza. As a consequence of this filing, BioCryst will receive a regulatory milestone payment of $7 million under its agreement with Shionogi.

4 Nov 2009

Fear of flu pandemic triggers fear of unrelated health hazards: Study

The swine flu (H1N1) pandemic has received extensive media coverage this year. The World Health Organization, in addition to providing frequent updates about cases of infection and death tolls, recommends hyper vigilance in daily hygiene such as frequent hand washing or sneezing into the crook of our arms. News reports at all levels, from local school closures to airport screenings and global disease surveillance, continue to remind us of the high risk.

4 Nov 2009

H1N1 has increased focus on effect of hygiene on health

H1N1 has led to increased focus on how everyday hygiene affects our health. Not only is more attention given to managing personal hygiene, but a new cleaning logic is emerging, where wiping the door knob an extra time1 each day is considered more important than picking up the dust in the corner.

4 Nov 2009

Propylene glycol in e cigarettes might keep us healthy, says researchers

According to the Centers for Disease Control, during 2000-2004, "An estimated 443,000 persons in the United States died prematurely each year from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.

4 Nov 2009

U.S. clinical trials show single dose of H1N1 vaccine protects pregnant women, children under 10 need two doses

U.S. government data released on Monday confirmed that a single dose of the vaccine protects pregnant women from the virus, while children under the age of 10 years need two doses of the vaccine, the Washington Post reports. The findings came the same day that a team of experts tasked with monitoring the national H1N1 vaccine campaign for any adverse side effects met for the first time.

4 Nov 2009

Specimen Collection Kit to help medical personnel combat H1N1 and RSV

As the outbreak of H1N1 (Swine Flu) intensifies, there is a growing need for greater speed and accuracy in collecting specimens from patients for testing to determine with what they've been infected.

4 Nov 2009

Louisiana struggles with Medicaid shortfall; Texas governor criticizes reform

Newspapers report on health issues at the state level, including Louisiana's struggles with a Medicaid shortfall and the Texas governor's criticism of congressional health care reform efforts.

3 Nov 2009

Triple-S Management reports consolidated revenues of $507.3M for the third quarter of 2009

Triple-S Management Corporation, the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $507.3 million and operating income of $15.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Net income of $18.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, includes an after tax net gain of $6.3 million, or $0.22 per share, in net realized and unrealized gains on investments and derivatives.

3 Nov 2009

Medco Health Solutions reports third-quarter total net revenues of $14.8 billion

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today reported record third-quarter 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.69, up 19.0 percent compared to $0.58 for the third quarter of 2008.

3 Nov 2009

Swine flu vaccine supply expected to increase 'in short order'

A senior adviser to President Barack Obama says the government "overpromised" with the swine flu vaccine but that the vaccine supply would catch up with the demand within a week. Meanwhile, a health group established to monitor the vaccine's safety will begin work this week.

3 Nov 2009

Deaths from H1N1 rise by 700 in one week, WHO reports

The number of deaths from H1N1 (swine flu) rose by 700 in a week, to top 5,700 since the virus was first identified in April, the WHO reported Friday, Agence France-Presse reports (10/30).

2 Nov 2009

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

First Edition: November 2, 2009

Today's headlines feature insights into President Obama's behind-the-scenes role in advancing the Democrats' health overhaul efforts in Congress, plus more analysis of the public insurance option.

2 Nov 2009

Rap video teaches kids how to avoid getting swine flu

"Blah, blah, H1N1 blah," is what many kids hear when their parents try to teach them how to avoid getting H1N1, or the swine flu. To cut through the blahs let DocRock and his H1N1 Rap teach your kids how to avoid catching H1N1 or the regular seasonal flu.

2 Nov 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

Women may need smaller dose of H1N1 vaccine

THE emergence of the H1N1 swine flu has added urgency to what has become an annual ritual for millions of Americans: getting a flu shot. The good news is that scientists have developed a vaccine against the H1N1 virus. But it is taking much longer than expected to produce the hundreds of millions of doses the government had planned to distribute. And it is still too soon to know how effective the vaccine will be in preventing swine flu.

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

Senate confirms Benjamin as surgeon general

The Senate confirmed Alabama doctor Regina Benjamin as surgeon general Thursday night. Her confirmation, which was approved with a voice vote, comes at a critical time as the nation deals with a swine flu emergency.

30 Oct 2009