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.

CDC study finds swine flu may have infected as many as 5.7 million Americans

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new swine flue estimates that suggest the number of people affected by the disease is much greater than the 43,677 cases confirmed earlier.

30 Oct 2009

Patients on immunosuppressant medication can receive H1N1 vaccine in the form of shots

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have classified all children, 6-months to 24-years, one of the high risk groups for contracting the H1N1 (swine) flu, and recommend this population receive the H1N1 vaccine for immunity against the disease.

30 Oct 2009

Mintel predicts increased sales of OTC drugs in upcoming months

Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere and with shades of yellow and orange comes a less-welcome visitor: cold and flu season. Made worse this year by the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, people around the world are flocking to drugstores and supermarkets to stock up on over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, says market research firm Mintel.

30 Oct 2009

Leading gynecologist recommends flu shots for pregnant women

Randy A. Fink, MD says pregnant women ought to be shot – with a flu vaccination needle. “A flu shot offers double protection to both mother and baby,” says Dr. Fink, a Miami board certified specialist who was recently named one of “America's Top Obstetrician/Gynecologists” by the Consumer Research Council.

30 Oct 2009

TGen to secure emergency FDA approval for 2009 H1N1 flu test

The Phoenix-based non-profit Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) announced today that, along with a business collaborator, it will submit a request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use of a new test to diagnose the 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus.

30 Oct 2009

U.S. won't donate H1N1 vaccine to developing countries until 'at-risk' Americans receive vaccine

The U.S. will hold off on donating H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine stockpiles to developing countries until "at-risk Americans" receive the vaccine, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reports

30 Oct 2009

Obama administration hits reset button in wake of flu vaccine shortage

Obama administration officials are working to control the H1N1 flu message after shortages have forced many to wait for the swine flu vaccine.

29 Oct 2009

Insurers brace for increase in COBRA claims

The nation's ailing economy continues to affect insurance companies, which could also face a wave of costly COBRA claims as policyholders rush to get treatment before government subsidies expire.

29 Oct 2009

Corinne McCormack acquired by FGX International

FGX International, a leading designer and marketer of non-prescription reading glasses and sunglasses, today announced that it has acquired Corinne McCormack, Inc. (CMI), a privately held company located in New York City.

29 Oct 2009

Record third-quarter fiscal 2009 results announced by Nu Skin Enterprises

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. today announced record third-quarter revenue of $334.2 million, an 8 percent improvement over the prior-year period. Revenue in the period benefited 1 percent from foreign currency fluctuations. Earnings per share for the quarter were $0.40, a 54 percent improvement over the same quarter of 2008. Earnings per share, excluding restructuring charges of $0.01, were $0.41, a 58 percent improvement over the prior-year period.

29 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 29, 2009

Today's headlines are all about the unveiling of the House health bill -- expected later this morning.

29 Oct 2009

Comprehensive H1N1 influenza health information centre launched in Canada

Canadians are seeking credible information concerning the H1N1 (human swine flu) virus. As a leading Canadian source of ealth information, www.medbroadcast.com has launched a one-stop comprehensive national H1N1 (human swine flu) Influenza Health information centre (www.medbroadcast.com/H1N1). This information centre will help meet the needs of Canadians in search of useful, credible, and accurate H1N1 information.

29 Oct 2009

AAHP confirms homeopathic medicines for prophylaxis of infectious diseases

Recent news articles regarding Swine Flu H1N1 have been widespread. The virulence of the strain among humans and its implications for pandemic disease in humans may lead to increased interest in homeopathic treatments for Swine Flu H1N1.

29 Oct 2009

Insurer stocks rise after Reid's 'opt-out' announcement

A day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid proposed an 'opt-out' public option plan, health-care insurers' stocks climbed Tuesday," Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports.

28 Oct 2009

CDC says U.S. H1N1 vaccine supplies on the rise; Senators question government's handling of H1N1 vaccination program

Supplies of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine are steadily increasing in the U.S. and should soon be more widely accessible in the next two weeks, the CDC said on Tuesday, CQ HealthBeat reports. During a press briefing, CDC Director Thomas Frieden said that 22.4 million vaccine doses are now available for states to order (Norman, 10/27). "We're beginning to get to significant increases in the availability," Frieden said.

28 Oct 2009

CDC: H1N1 vaccine supplies on the rise

"More than 22 million doses of swine flu vaccine are available now, and most Americans should soon find it easier to get their dose, U.S. health officials said Tuesday, " according to The Associated Press/The Washington Post.

28 Oct 2009

Micronics inks license agreement with Biosearch Technologies

Micronics, Inc., a leading developer of point-of-care molecular diagnostic products, announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Biosearch Technologies, Inc. (Biosearch) for the right to make, have made, use and sell Micronics’ products that incorporate Biosearch’s proprietary fluorophores and quencher dyes for nucleic acid assays. Under the terms of the worldwide license, Biosearch has granted Micronics a royalty-free use of certain of its chemistries for inclusion in Micronics’ infectious disease tests for sale in underdeveloped countries.

28 Oct 2009

Drug-cocktail approach offers hope in developing single agent to treat drug-resistant H1N1 swine flu

An experimental drug cocktail that includes three prescriptions now widely available offers the best hope in developing a single agent to treat drug-resistant H1N1 swine flu, says a virology researcher in the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

28 Oct 2009

HMSMobile Swine Flu Center application to provide information on H1N1 virus introduced

The HMSMobile Swine Flu Center, a new iPhone application developed by the Harvard Health Publications Division of Harvard Medical School, is now available for purchase in the iTunes store.

28 Oct 2009

H1N1 overwhelms hospitals; Sebelius addresses flu vaccine shortage

Hospitals across the country are overwhelmed "as waves of flu patients arrive at their doors, doubling their emergency room volume," USA Today reports. "Just as significant is the effect on intensive care units: A relatively small number of flu patients are requiring intensive care, but some are so ill they will need round-the-clock care for weeks.

27 Oct 2009