Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Flu / Cold / SARS News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/flu-sars/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170230.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170230.php The H1N1 (swine flu) virus is now the dominant flu strain worldwide, the WHO reported Thursday, with the virus accounting for up to 70 percent of the flu viruses sampled in some countries, the Associated Press reports. Swine Flu Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170179.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170179.php The NPHS influenza surveillance scheme, which records reports of diagnoses of flu from more than 300 GP practices across Wales, shows that the increase in the rate of influenza consultations has stalled over the last week. Further detail can be found on the NPHS website. The report from 3 November estimates there were 65. Swine Flu Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170140.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170140.php The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced contract awards for up to 120,000 treatment courses of intravenous (IV) antiviral drugs to help treat hospitalized 2009 H1N1 influenza patients. Patients hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 influenza are evaluated to determine if antiviral drugs will be useful; some patients are not able to take the drugs that are currently available as pills or liquid and may benefit from intravenous antiviral medications. Swine Flu Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170101.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170101.php Since the news broke of a housecat in Iowa testing positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, pet owners and veterinarians alike have been scrambling to learn more: Can my pet get sick? What would the symptoms of H1N1 in cats be? How is it identified? How is it treated? The American V Swine Flu Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169963.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169963.php "My body aches and my head is throbbing. Do I have the flu or is it just because I'm stressed or tired? Do I need a flu shot? Do I need the H1N1 vaccine, too?" Millions of Americans will be asking themselves these and more questions this fall and winter as news reports and health care providers continue to warn about seasonal influenza and novel H1N1 influenza, otherwise known as swine flu. The Swine Flu Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169984.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169984.php As flu season approaches, parents around the country are starting to face school closures. But how bad should an influenza outbreak be for a school to shut down? A study led by epidemiologists John Brownstein, PhD, and Anne Gatewood Hoen, PhD of the Children's Hospital Boston Informatics Program, in collaboration Asami Sasaki of the University of Niigata Prefecture (Niigata, Japan), tapped a detailed set of Japanese data to help guide decision making by schools and government agencies. Flu / Cold / SARS Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169870.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169870.php UGL Unicco, a subsidiary of United Group Limited (UGL), today announced its UGL Unicco Flu Preparedness and Business Continuity Plan. It is a comprehensive set of procedures and cleaning services that are designed to help ensure the health and safety of customers' personnel, the public and UGL Unicco employees during flu events, up to and including pandemic events. Swine Flu Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169874.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169874.php Health experts from the Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (ABH), a National Hajj specific organisation express their grave concern about the safety and wellbeing of over 25,000 British Hajj pilgrims who will start travelling from next week to join more than 2 million people from all over the world to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Swine Flu Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169878.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169878.php A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, state officials confirmed this morning, marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza. The cat, which has recovered, is believed to have caught the virus from someone in the household who was sick with H1N1. There are no indications that the cat passed the virus on to any other animals or people. Swine Flu Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169879.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169879.php The World Health Organization recently declared H1N1 swine flu a global pandemic, resulting in the creation of rigorous vaccination programs worldwide. Children are among those considered particularly susceptible to contracting swine flu and are viewed as a top priority in receiving this vaccine. Most H1N1 swine flu vaccines are prepared from virus grown in chicken's eggs, resulting in a vaccine that contains remnants of egg proteins. Swine Flu Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169845.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169845.php Hoping to keep the flu at bay? A strong immune system helps. Enjoying the bounty of colorful fruits and vegetables available right now can be an important step toward supporting your family's immune system this cold/flu season. In addition to vitamins, minerals and fiber, fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients, believed to come from the com-pounds that give these foods their vibrant colors. Flu / Cold / SARS Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169766.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169766.php H1N1 pandemic swine flu vaccine supplies are "on track to hit the 10 million increase" according to the Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a telephone conference on Tuesday, CDC Director Tom Frieden told the press that: "As of today there are 31.8 million doses of flu vaccine available." He said the US was now on track to hit the anticipated and hoped for 10 million increase for the current week. Swine Flu Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169724.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169724.php In contrast with some common perceptions regarding 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infections, an examination of cases in California indicates that hospitalization and death can occur at all ages, and about 30 percent of hospitalized cases have been severe enough to require treatment in an intensive care unit, according to a study in the November 4 issue of JAMA. Swine Flu Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169725.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169725.php Surgical masks appear to be no worse than, and nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza in health care workers, according to a study released early online today by JAMA. The study was posted online ahead of print because of its public health implications. It will be published in the November 4 issue of JAMA. Respiratory / Asthma Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169742.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169742.php With flu vaccination season in full swing, research from the University of Rochester Medical Center cautions that use of many common pain killers -- Advil, Tylenol, aspirin -- at the time of injection may blunt the effect of the shot and have a negative effect on the immune system. Richard P. Phipps, Ph.D. Immune System / Vaccines Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169738.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169738.php An editorial published today in BMJ Clinical Evidence reports that more flu viruses could qualify as pandemic strains as a result of recent changes to the World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria for a flu pandemic. A change from, for example, A [H2N2] influenza to A [H3N2] is a process known as a "shift". Under the 2005 criteria, the appearance of a new influenza subtype was required before a pandemic was declared. Swine Flu Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169663.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169663.php Healthy pregnant women mount a robust immune response following just one dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, according to initial results from an ongoing clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health. "For pregnant women, who are among the most vulnerable to serious health problems from 2009 H1N1 infection, these initial results are very reassuring," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Swine Flu Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169676.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169676.php The NPHS influenza surveillance scheme, which records reports of diagnoses of flu from more than 300 GP practices across Wales, shows levels of influenza continue to increase across Wales and are normal for the time of year. Further detail can be found on the NPHS website. The report from 29 October estimates there were 82. Swine Flu Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169611.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169611.php The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a guidance document that should help manufacturers develop diagnostic tests for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. Although there are not any FDA-approved or cleared tests that diagnose this specific infection, during this pandemic, manufacturers can submit a request to the FDA for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Swine Flu Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169544.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169544.php 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". Swine Flu Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169519.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169519.php The American Nurses Association (ANA) conveyed to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that reported shortages of respirator masks needed to protect registered nurses from the risk of contracting the H1N1 influenza are unacceptable, and warned the quality of patient care could needlessly decline during the H1N1 pandemic without adequate protection measures. Swine Flu Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169492.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169492.php FluGen Inc., an emerging leader in the development, production and delivery of influenza vaccines, today announced that its proprietary CHO-cell-based production system has generated novel 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine virus without the use of eggs during any step of production. Unlike traditional vaccine production methods, FluGen's CHO-based system does not use eggs. Swine Flu Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169494.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169494.php 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. While many women, particularly first-time mothers, are worried about getting a flu shot while pregnant, Dr. Pregnancy / Obstetrics Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169500.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169500.php Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) takes a proactive approach with education around how to prevent the influenza virus each year through its FluventionTM program. In the past, the Company's flu prevention campaign encouraged its members to get the seasonal influenza vaccines and take everyday precautions to prevent illness. Swine Flu Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169363.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169363.php 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. Swine Flu