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(CIDRAP News) – Commonly available drugs that are sold in lower-cost generic versions improve the survival of patients hospitalized for seasonal influenza, researchers reported today, raising the possibility of a widely available treatment that could be used in a severe flu pandemic if other drugs are in short supply.

Flu activity rebounds at many colleges

(CIDRAP News) – A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the true number of H1N1 influenza cases in the first 4 months of the epidemic may have been as high as 5.7 million, or more than 100 times the official case count.

(CIDRAP News) – Though only available for emergency use, intravenous (IV) antivirals peramivir and zanamivir have been lifesaving for some pandemic H1N1 patients, including two dramatic cases that doctors presented yesterday during a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conference call for clinicians.

(CIDRAP News) – Some clinicians and public-heath workers are experiencing understandable confusion about the timing of doses for H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines, as well as other childhood vaccines, officials at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in a conference call for health professionals.

Oct 28, 2009

NYC to start school-based vaccines

(CIDRAP News) – The pandemic H1N1 vaccine supply is increasing significantly, and over the next 2 weeks Americans will have an easier time finding and receiving the doses, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

(CIDRAP News) – Requests to use the intravenous (IV) antiviral drug peramivir in hospitalized H1N1 flu patients came quickly after the government issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) Oct 23, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official said today.

(CIDRAP News) – In a measure designed to help hospitals respond more quickly to surging numbers of pandemic H1N1 cases, President Barack Obama on Oct 24 signed an emergency declaration that will help facilities establish alternative care sites and protocols for triage and transport.

Oct 26, 2009

WHO: Pandemic expands in Northern Hemisphere

(CIDRAP News) – Questions about the tardy US supply of pandemic H1N1 vaccine have increased with the report that most of Novartis's doses may not reach the country until early in 2010 and a European regulatory recommendation that may have implications for the global vaccine supply.

(CIDRAP News) – Pandemic flu activity is now widespread in 46 states, five more than the previous week, causing an increasing number of school closures and starting to hit the young adult age-group harder, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

(CIDRAP News) – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has seen a change in the ethnic distribution of fatal pandemic H1N1 influenza cases, a CDC official reported at a meeting of its vaccine advisory committee today.

October 22, 2009

It's a race right now! And it's between the H1N1 virus and our long-awaited vaccine. Unfortunately, as I write this column, the virus is winning. So will your employees' best defense against the fast-moving virus ultimately win out? Possibly. But don't count on it.

(CIDRAP News) – In a move designed to lighten the burden on emergency departments and clinics, Minnesota officials today unveiled a flu triage line staffed by nurses who can discuss symptoms with sick patients, suggest treatment steps, and prescribe an antiviral drug if the caller is in a high-risk category.

(CIDRAP News) – Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius promised a Senate committee today that the flow of pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine doses will greatly improve in November, following its slow start this month.

China showing signs of second pandemic flu wave