News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – A large clinical trial in Africa has conclusively shown that artesunate is better than quinine for treating severe falciparum malaria in children, which should cement its status as the first-line treatment for severe malaria worldwide, says a large international team of researchers.

(CIDRAP News) – In a flu vaccine update at a federal advisory meeting today, officials with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said early signs suggest flu vaccine uptake in children is on par with last year and that enhanced monitoring for narcolepsy and seizures has turned up no signals of trouble.

(CIDRAP News) – A thorough surveillance study from France reinforces findings from other countries about obesity and delayed antiviral treatment as risk factors for severe 2009 H1N1 influenza, while indicating that the pandemic put a greater burden on intensive care units (ICUs) than seasonal flu typically does.