All News

(CIDRAP News) – Egypt's health ministry has announced two new human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, both in women who had exposure to sick birds, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.

One of the patients is a 40-year-old woman from Banha district in Daquahliya governorate, northeast of Cairo, who got sick on Jan 31 and was hospitalized 2 days later. In the hospital she received oseltamivir and is in stable condition, the WHO said.

(CIDRAP News) – Pandemic flu activity last week stayed level with the previous week, though the virus continues to circulate and cause deaths, prompting a warning from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that Americans shouldn't let their guard down.

(CIDRAP News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today that 225 cases of H1N1 flu with resistance to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) have been found worldwide, and resistant viruses have spread from person to person in several clusters but have not spilled into the community.

Feb 5, 2010

I had the good fortune of participating last week in the 40th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Spending 5 days in close quarters with 2,000 world leaders from government, business, academia, and the arts was an eye-opener. But as I've reflected on the experience, I realize it's what I didn't see (or hear) that may be most telling—and troubling.

(CIDRAP News) – One third of US adults aged 65 and older are not vaccinated against pneumonia, according to a national report that describes them as representative of millions of adult Americans who are vulnerable to diseases that can be forestalled by vaccines.

(CIDRAP News) – A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official estimated today that more than 75 million Americans, or close to 25% of the population, have been vaccinated against the pandemic H1N1 virus.

Study: Rhinovirus may have stalled H1N1

Feb 4, 2010

(CIDRAP News) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday notified healthcare providers that 50 lots of Sanofi Pasteur's pandemic H1N1 vaccine in prefilled syringes have a shorter shelf life than shown on the label.

(CIDRAP News) – Further testing in the investigation of a widespread Salmonella outbreak linked to sausage products strengthens the evidence that contaminated black pepper was the source of the problem, the Rhode Island Department of health said today.

Feb 3, 2010

Feb 2, 2010

(CIDRAP News) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has notified state and local health departments of a recall of pre-filled syringes of H1N1 flu vaccine made by Sanofi Pasteur Inc because of a decrease in potency.

It is the second voluntary, non–safety-related recall of H1N1 vaccine made by Sanofi, which recalled pre-filled syringes of pediatric vaccine in mid-December for the same reason.

Poor nations not receiving vaccine

(CIDRAP News) – The Obama administration today released its $3.8 trillion budget for the 2011 fiscal year, trimming some public health programs but posting notable gains for food safety and bioterror countermeasures.

(CIDRAP News) – Daniele Inc., the company whose sausage products have been linked to a widespread Salmonella outbreak, yesterday expanded its earlier product recall to include another 17,235 pounds of products that may be contaminated by black pepper.

Feb 1, 2010