Influenza News and Research

Latest Influenza News and Research

Aphios awarded NIH grant to develop pathogen inactivation technology for blood products

Aphios Corporation today announced that it has been awarded a RC-1 Challenge grant (No. 1RC1HL102822-01) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Health’s (NIH) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to develop a generally-applicable pathogen inactivation technology for blood products.

30 Sep 2009

ANXeBusiness highlights the importance of disaster plan readiness during H1N1

ANXeBusiness Corp., a leading provider of networking and security managed services, today issued advice for IT organizations on the importance of disaster plan readiness, proper employee education and preparation for organizations to maintain business continuity during the H1N1 influenza pandemic.

30 Sep 2009

Disaster preparedness program on UCTV

Earthquakes, fires, floods, pandemics. The public relies on health professionals, emergency responders and trained volunteers to react appropriately to a range of disasters, big or small. But does everyone understand the systems that are in place to respond to these dreaded events?

30 Sep 2009

Presentations on seasonal influenza and H1N1 viruses

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar hosted a detailed talk about a virus that's causing concern around the world. The recent cause of an interruption in local school openings, H1N1 information was presented in timely fashion by Dr. Abdullatif Al-Khal, head of the communicable disease unit at Hamad Medical Corporation, and Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, Professor of Public Health at WCMC-Q.

30 Sep 2009

Therapeutic target for acute respiratory distress syndrome identified

Research led by Dr. Jay Kolls, Professor and Chairman of Genetics at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has identified a therapeutic target for acute lung injury resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome, a highly fatal complication of influenza infection.

30 Sep 2009

Total Wellness ready to meet increased demand for the seasonal flu vaccine

Omaha-based Total Wellness, a leading provider of corporate health and wellness services, encourages employers – both large and small – to follow recommendations made by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which encourages employees to receive flu shots this fall.

30 Sep 2009

Aetna announces first-dollar coverage for H1N1 flu vaccine administration

Aetna announced today that it will provide first-dollar coverage for the administration of the H1N1 flu vaccine for all of its fully-insured health plan members, and for all members of self-funded plans unless directed otherwise by the plan sponsor. Aetna is offering this coverage even in instances where members’ plans do not include coverage for preventive care or have limits on such coverage.

30 Sep 2009

Hygafem's hand sanitizing program launched at Morehouse College

Hygafem, Inc., the Georgia-based premier provider of touch-free workplace wellness technologies and services, has successfully launched its hand sanitizing program at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. Hygafem’s touch-free hand sanitizing program decreases the risk of spreading disease, ensures safe and healthy facilities, and boosts satisfaction for students and employees at Morehouse College.

29 Sep 2009

Research study on the U.S. life expectancy

The Great Depression had a silver lining: During that hard time, U.S. life expectancy actually increased by 6.2 years, according to a University of Michigan study published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

29 Sep 2009

BDI Pharma's proprietary flu vaccine supply program SecuriFLU successful

BDI Pharma, Inc., the fastest growing national wholesale distributor of biotech therapies, announced today the success of its proprietary supply program SecuriFLU. The program provides ordering solutions for customers who require quick, easy access to online ordering for flu vaccine. Customers may access brands from multiple manufacturers offering a full range of age indications.

29 Sep 2009

Flu shots available at Concentra Urgent Care locations

The flu season is in full swing, and health officials predict this year’s outbreak of seasonal influenza to be stronger than usual. To help protect against this highly contagious illness, Concentra is offering seasonal flu vaccines at more than 300 medical centers across the country.

29 Sep 2009

Merck to distribute Afluria in the U.S. for CSL Biotherapies

CSL Biotherapies and its parent company, CSL Limited, one of the world's leading manufacturers of influenza vaccine, have reached an agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. on rights to market and distribute Afluria® in the United States under an exclusive, six-year agreement effective September 3, 2009.

28 Sep 2009

Presentations on Inovio Biomedical's electroporation-delivered DNA vaccines

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today it will make multiple presentations at the Vaccine 3rd Global Congress being held in Singapore October 4th – 6th.

28 Sep 2009

WellPoint covers administration costs for H1N1 vaccines

Each year, influenza causes illness, hospitalizations and deaths, and severely strains the health care delivery system. This year, seasonal flu is complicated by the emergence and rapid spread of the H1N1 virus. In an effort to ensure that individuals and their families can take the appropriate actions to help protect themselves against the H1N1 virus, WellPoint's affiliated health plans will cover the administration of the H1N1 vaccine without co-pay or deductible for all health plan members. Plans also are encouraging self-insured employers to cover the cost of the vaccination for their employees.

28 Sep 2009

American Lung Association in Indiana holds flu panel discussion

In an effort to educate Indianapolis area residents about the importance of annual seasonal influenza vaccination, the American Lung Association in Indiana is kicking off the 2009-2010 influenza season by holding a flu panel discussion at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School on September 24 at 6:30 p.m. to educate the community about the dangers of influenza.

28 Sep 2009

Child health experts to gather in Italy for Excellence in Paediatrics conference

Obesity, the flu pandemic and diabetes are just three of the hot topics that will be explored when top child health experts gather in Italy for Excellence in Paediatrics from 3 to 6 December 2009.

28 Sep 2009

H1N1 vaccine for limited supply only to people at highest risk

The novel H1N1 virus (Swine Flu Virus) is expected to complicate the 2009/2010 flu season. The H1N1 vaccine has been approved for release but availability and access is still unknown. Seasonal influenza vaccine (flu shot) is available and the CDC recommends vaccination over the next few months.

28 Sep 2009

EMS provides free resources for protection against swine flu

Emergency Management & Safety Solutions (EMS), the crisis planner for many Fortune 100 companies, international government agencies and large non-profit organizations, is providing free resources to help people prepare for, prevent transmission of and take care of the ill to survive this wave of this year’s H1N1 flu pandemic. Today, over 180 countries have experienced the H1N1 virus outbreak and at least 3,486 people have died – including 1,000 Americans.

26 Sep 2009

New line of household disinfectant wipes and sprays launched

Seventh Generation, the nation's leading brand of non-toxic, environmentally safe household solutions, incorporates the latest breakthrough in green chemistry with the introduction of a new line of household disinfectant wipes and sprays.

25 Sep 2009

WHO lowers expectation of H1N1 vaccine output, appeals for donations to fight pandemic

International drug makers are expected to produce three billion doses of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, "enough for just under half the world's population," a WHO official said Thursday, Canwest News Service/Ottawa Citizen reports. "The agency was hoping pharmaceutical companies would be able to make about five billion doses a year, but data collected over the summer led to the revised estimate," the news service writes (Fitzpatrick, 9/24).

25 Sep 2009