News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – Influenza activity remained elevated in Midwestern US states but elsewhere was at low levels, while some Northern Hemisphere countries reported moderate flu activity, according to the latest US and international reports.

(CIDRAP News) – In response to concerns from various governments about the possible effects of declaring a full-scale influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) will call on outside experts to consider whether to revise the agency's definitions of pandemic alert phases, a WHO official announced today.

(CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) today said the novel H1N1 influenza (swine flu) virus seems to be more contagious than seasonal flu, but it generally causes "very mild illness" in otherwise healthy people.