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WHO to assess whether H1N1 has peaked within weeks
The WHO's emergency committee decided on Tuesday that it was premature to declare the pandemic, which was declared in June and was the first in more than 40 years, was past its worst. Read the full article.
Flu lives longer in drier air
Doctors (and patients) have long known that influenza in temperate areas is more common in the winter, and that some winters are worse for flu than others. Now they know why – drier winter air keeps the flu virus alive longer and the drier the air, the more flu. Read the full article.
Teasing Vaccines From Tobacco
The U.S. Department of Defense, caught off guard by the swift spread of the H1N1 flu virus last year and delays in producing a vaccine, is backing an unusual plan to use tobacco plants to make the vaccine. Flu vaccines are typically grown in chicken eggs. Although the technique is slow and expensive, vaccine makers have done little to improve on this reliable method for more than 60 years. The urgent need for a better way became apparent last year. Read the full article.
Swine flu wanes, but experts say pandemic strain could reemerge
Even as officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are announcing that the epidemic of the H1N1 flu is no longer widespread in any state, no disease expert is willing to say there isn't a third -- or fourth -- wave of swine flu in the country's future. Read the full article.
After H1N1, Researchers Warn of a Potential New Superbug
Another pandemic could arise at any time, and a new paper published in the Feb. 22 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) demonstrates that it could even come from an existing flu virus that many of us have forgotten about: the H5N1 bird flu, which has infected 478 people in 15 countries since 2003, with 286 deaths — a fatality rate higher than 50%. Read the full article.
New seasonal flu vaccine to contain H1N1 strain
GENEVA (Reuters) - This year's seasonal flu vaccine in the northern hemisphere should include protection against three strains, including the pandemic H1N1 virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Thursday.
Read the full article.
H1N1 Flu Hits Old Age Homes
Pandemic H1N1 flu outbreaks can occur in long-term care facilities, despite the generally lower risk of infection among adults 65 and older, the CDC said. In three reported outbreaks, attack rates ranged from 6% to 28% -- lower than is usually seen when seasonal influenza attacks such facilities, the agency said in the Jan. 29 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Read the full article.
Swine flu vaccine safe, California and CDC data show
At the height of fears over H1N1 flu this fall, some vaccination foes claimed it was safer to get swine flu than to be inoculated against it. But data from California show that getting the flu was drastically far more dangerous. Read the full article.
Swine flu still spreading, but at a reduced rate
U.S. health officials say the number of H1N1 cases has not swelled dramatically, but the virus hasn't gone away, either, as would be expected in a normal influenza outbreak. Read the full article.
Most Adults Not Getting Necessary Vaccinations
Public health experts say they're concerned about the low number of U.S. adults who receive recommended vaccinations -- and in particular about seniors who aren't immunized against pneumonia. Read the full article.
Swine flu still out there, officials caution
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - H1N1 swine flu is still circulating around the world and still killing people, although it is on the decline everywhere, global health officials said on Friday. Read the full article.
Seasonal Flu Numbers Down, Could H1N1 Be The Reason?
January is generally known for snow and sniffles, but this year, doctors are seeing fewer cases of seasonal flu than in years past. They say the reason could be that H1N1 has replaced the seasonal strain. When patients come to see Dr. Henry West at the Urgent Treatment Center, many could care less about the official name for their flu like symptoms. "In great part the flu is the flu, whether it's H1N1 or seasonal, in terms of it makes you feel sick, it doesn't really hurt that many people long term. You treat it with the same antiviral drugs," said Dr. West. Read the full article.
Double trouble: Bacterial super-infection after the flu
San Diego, CA – Current research suggests that the flu may predispose to secondary bacterial infections, which account for a significant proportion of mortality during flu pandemics. The related report by Lee et al, "A mouse model of lethal synergism between influenza virus and Haemophilus influenzae," appears in the February 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology. Influenza affects between three and five million people annually, causing up to 500,000 deaths worldwide. While most people will recover in one to two weeks, others will develop life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia or bronchitis. High-risk groups for seasonal influenza include the very young and old, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women. However, during influenza pandemics, mortality may be significant in previously healthy young adults. Read the full article.
Flu pandemic easing, but risks remain: WHO
GENEVA (Reuters) - The H1N1 flu pandemic appears to be easing, but a third wave of infections could yet strike, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. Read the full article.
Pandemic flu still active in parts of world: WHO
GENEVA (Reuters) - The H1N1 flu virus is spreading most actively in North Africa, South Asia and parts of Europe, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
Read the full article.
Up to 80 million Americans infected with H1N1: CDC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As many as 80 million Americans have been infected with H1N1 swine flu, up to 16,000 have been killed and more than 360,000 hospitalized, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.
Read the full article.
Health officials: NYers still need flu shots
Now that swine flu vaccine shortages are over, New York health officials are urging people who haven't been vaccinated to get the shots — as new waves of illness are expected in coming weeks. "When it's in a shortage, everyone clamors for it," said Dr. Richard Daines, commissioner of the state Department of Health. "Now that it's abundant, people don't think they need to fight for it."
Read the full article.
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