(CIDRAP News) With so much uncertainty over how broad and severe the next wave of H1N1 influenza could be, now is the time to focus on the two top goals of saving and sustaining lives, Dr. Julie Gerberding, former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told business groups today.
(CIDRAP News) – A federal review of state and local pandemic preparedness efforts identified some gaps in medical surge planning and said that, while states are typically prepared to distribute antivirals and vaccines, some cities hadn't addressed all of the recommended planning components.
The findings were released today in two reports from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG).
(CIDRAP News) With the health of small businesses at stake in fragile economic times, federal officials and one of the nation's top business groups pushed new efforts this week to help companies prepare for the next wave of the H1N1 pandemic influenza.
(CIDRAP News) The first wave of H1N1 vaccine will probably consist of 3.4 million doses of MedImmune's nasal-spray product and is likely to reach providers the first week in October, federal health officials said today.
(CIDRAP News) A study in which N95 respirators strongly outperformed surgical masks in shielding hospital workers from influenza viruses and other microbes is being hailed as a landmark in research on respiratory protection for healthcare workers.
(CIDRAP News) A new study suggests that patients infected with pandemic H1N1 influenza can transmit the live virus longer than previously thought, though it's not clear if the findings will lead to changes in self-isolation recommendations.
(CIDRAP News) – A wide range of research findings on pandemic H1N1 influenza, seasonal flu, and avian flu was presented over the weekend at the 49th annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco (www.icaac.org).
(CIDRAP News) The United States is seeing increased levels of pandemic H1N1 influenza activity, with cases being reported in all 50 states and widespread activity in Guam and 11 states, most of them in the Southeast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today.
In last week's surveillance report, six states and Puerto Rico reported widespread activity, so the number of states reporting the highest activity has increased by five.
(CIDRAP News) Officials from Roche today said the company is producing Tamiflu (oseltamivir) at near-capacity levels and is collaborating on dozens of research studies, focusing on groups such as pregnant women who are at higher risk of complications from pandemic H1N1 flu.
(CIDRAP News) In a follow-up to new influenza guidelines for child care settings, federal experts were on hand today during a Web telecast to answer questions from parents, focusing on child care and concerns about youngsters who have chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes.
