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A Cochrane review that included published studies as well as unpublished drug-company data for the two most common antiviral drugs for flu—oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza)—found that they can shorten symptoms by about two thirds of a day but can cause side effects. The investigators also found few data to support stockpiling the drugs for pandemic or seasonal flu, according to reports today in BMJ.
Readiness is better now, Fineberg said, "but it's not adequate."
Saudi Arabian officials today reported four Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases in Riyadh, one of them fatal and the other three severe enough to require intensive care.
Editor's Note: The North Korea item was edited on Apr 10 to reflect the correct avian flu strain (H5N1) in last year's outbreak in that country.
China's Anhui province yesterday reported a new case of H7N9 avian flu, according to a provincial health report posted by the infectious diseases news board FluTrackers.
Those fighting the outbreak focus on providing accurate information and on minimizing risk.
A Saudi emergency department was closed for disinfection over MERS concerns after recent cases.
Food from restaurants was associated with almost twice the number of disease outbreaks and more than double the illnesses as food prepared at home, according to data compiled by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a food safety watchdog.
Each country has confirmed 6 new cases, bringing the outbreak total to 143.
At least 4 health workers are among 9 new MERS cases reported by Saudi Arabia over the past 2 days.
Cases of chikungunya in the Caribbean have reached 19,682, according to data today from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), up from 18,493 cases a week ago.
China has reported two more cases of H7N9 avian flu, according to a provincial health report posted by the infectious diseases news board FluTrackers.
Both patients are from Jiangsu province, and their cases were confirmed on Apr 5. The first is a 73-year-old man from Taizhou City who is hospitalized in critical condition.
Minnesota health officials diagnosed Lassa fever in a man who had traveled to West Africa.
A chikungunya outbreak in the Dominican Republic underscores the need for greater mosquito-control efforts.
A study focusing on H7N1 avian flu viruses prompted special prepublication reviews because of "dual use" concerns.
Guinea has reported 10 more suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), along with three more deaths. Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO), said today in a Twitter post that the developments push the country's overall outbreak total to 137 illnesses, 86 of them fatal.
US influenza activity took a break last week from its recent pattern of steady decline, at least by some measures, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.
The slow but steady trickle of cases in China could mount with increased travel and poultry sales during the upcoming Qingming Festival.
A Liberian health official said today that three more deaths have been reported among suspected and confirmed Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases, raising the number so far to seven, AllAfrica News reported today.
The new Ebola cases push the outbreak total to 127 cases, including 83 fatal ones.
China reported two more H7N9 influenza infections today, along with two deaths in patients whose illnesses were announced earlier.
