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H7N9 bird flu virus continues to spread throughout China

"China on Saturday reported its first case of H7N9 bird flu in the southern province of Hunan, the latest sign the virus that has killed 23 people in the country is continuing to spread," Reuters reports (Ruwitch, 4/29).

30 Apr 2013

New treatment options for influenza

The flu is caused by an infection with the influenza virus, which mainly attacks the upper respiratory tract - the nose, throat and bronchi and rarely also the lungs. According to the World Health Organization, around five to 15 percent of the population are affected by upper respiratory tract infections during seasonal flu outbreaks, and between 250 000-500 000 people die of the illness every year.

29 Apr 2013

Roundup: Md. panel says hospitals should absorb all of sequester cut; Calif. medical board scrutinized over discipline failure; Iowa lawmakers file 'personhood' resolution

A selection of health policy stories from Maryland, Iowa, California, Oregon, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

29 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 26, 2013

Today's headlines include reports that some Democratic senators have concerns about the health law's roll out as well as other news about the measure's implementation.

26 Apr 2013

Researchers call H7N9 bird flu strain 'one of the most lethal'; first case outside China reported by Taiwan

Chinese scientists have confirmed for the first time that a new strain of bird flu that has killed 23 people in China has been transmitted to humans from chickens.

26 Apr 2013

Nature editorial, opinion piece address H7N9 virus

The journal Nature published an editorial and opinion piece on the emergence of the H7N9 avian influenza strain.

26 Apr 2013

New strain of bird flu poses pandemic threat

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling the new strain of H7H9 influenza virus "lethal" and The University of Kansas Hospital is preparing now for any potential cases.

26 Apr 2013

New information on mitigating spread of infection from flu viruses

Pandemic flu continues to threaten public health, especially in the wake of the recent emergence of an H7N9 low pathogenic avian influenza strain in humans.

25 Apr 2013

H7N9 flu virus found to transmit from birds to humans but not person-to-person

Scientists in China have confirmed for the first time that the influenza A H7N9 virus has transmitted from birds—specifically, chicken at a wet poultry market—to humans, according to an Article published Online First in The Lancet.

25 Apr 2013

Chinese bird flu continues to spread

The H7N9 avian influenza outbreak in China is continuing to spread, although authorities believe that the large majority of those affected did not become infected via human-to-human contact.

25 Apr 2013

To avoid difficulties experienced during SARS epidemic, China must remain transparent in H7N9 efforts

"On this 10th anniversary of China's April 2003 admission that the SARS virus had spread across that country ... Beijing finds itself once again in a terrible position via-a-vis the microbial and geopolitical worlds," Laurie Garrett, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes in a Foreign Policy opinion piece, noting the emergence of a new strain of bird flu, H7N9, in the country.

25 Apr 2013

One's pursuit of health and wellness doesn't stop when work day begins, says wellness officer

Newly released results from a health and wellness survey at The Ohio State University match what previous research has shown to be true: Respondents who reported higher beliefs in their ability to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors also reported more participation in behaviors that support their overall health.

25 Apr 2013

WHO research team still unsure of H7N9 transmission routes

The WHO "has only a limited understanding of a deadly new form of avian flu that has killed 20 people and infected more than a hundred others, a team of researchers said on Monday, leaving unclear how the disease spreads and how virulent it could become," the Wall Street Journal reports.

24 Apr 2013

Number of H7N9 cases surpasses 100; U.S. CDC warns physicians to be vigilant

"The number of bird flu cases in China jumped Sunday to 102, including 20 deaths, the World Health Organization announced," CNN reports, noting 70 patients remain hospitalized with the new H7N9 avian flu strain and the "WHO said there is still no evidence of human-to-human transmission" (Gray/Armstrong, 4/22).

23 Apr 2013

Researchers urge doctors to consider Lyme disease as cause when presented with skin lesions

When a person contracts Lyme disease, quick diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoiding long term complications. But the diagnostic process may be delayed if a physician does not recognize a skin rash caused by Lyme disease because it does not have the bull's-eye appearance that is best known to physicians and the public.

23 Apr 2013

Eating mushrooms can help increase, maintain vitamin D levels, find BUSM researchers

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have discovered that eating mushrooms containing Vitamin D2 can be as effective at increasing and maintaining vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) as taking supplemental vitamin D2 or vitamin D3.

23 Apr 2013

Texas scientist says nonmedical community should be educated about long-term effects of antibiotic overuse and misuse

When thousands of experimental biology researchers gather in Boston this weekend, many of them undoubtedly will be presenting work related to the hunt for the next generation of antibiotics and how to battle back existing and emerging superbugs.

22 Apr 2013

TEDMED conference speaker highlights key actions to stop pandemics

Some 2,000 health professionals and thought leaders from all sectors of society are attending TEDMED at the Kennedy Center [in Washington, D.C.,] this week for a series of talks [focusing on medical technology and health care], which are also being televised in more than 80 countries.

22 Apr 2013

Health experts in China working to identify source, transmission routes of H7N9 flu virus

"Fifteen global and Chinese health experts are on a mission in Beijing and Shanghai to learn more about the H7N9 bird flu virus that has killed 17 people and sickened 70 others, said Dr. Michael O'Leary, head of WHO's office in China," the Associated Press reports (Wong, 4/19).

20 Apr 2013

Editorials address China's response to emergence of H7N9 bird flu strain

"The H7N9 strain contains gene sequences that make it relatively effective, for a bird virus, at infecting humans and other mammals," Bloomberg writes.

20 Apr 2013

Flu News and Research

H7N9 bird flu virus continues to spread throughout China

New treatment options for influenza

Roundup: Md. panel says hospitals should absorb all of sequester cut; Calif. medical board scrutinized over discipline failure; Iowa lawmakers file 'personhood' resolution

First Edition: April 26, 2013

Researchers call H7N9 bird flu strain 'one of the most lethal'; first case outside China reported by Taiwan

Nature editorial, opinion piece address H7N9 virus

New strain of bird flu poses pandemic threat

New information on mitigating spread of infection from flu viruses

H7N9 flu virus found to transmit from birds to humans but not person-to-person

Chinese bird flu continues to spread

To avoid difficulties experienced during SARS epidemic, China must remain transparent in H7N9 efforts

One's pursuit of health and wellness doesn't stop when work day begins, says wellness officer

WHO research team still unsure of H7N9 transmission routes

Number of H7N9 cases surpasses 100; U.S. CDC warns physicians to be vigilant

Researchers urge doctors to consider Lyme disease as cause when presented with skin lesions

Eating mushrooms can help increase, maintain vitamin D levels, find BUSM researchers

Texas scientist says nonmedical community should be educated about long-term effects of antibiotic overuse and misuse

TEDMED conference speaker highlights key actions to stop pandemics

Health experts in China working to identify source, transmission routes of H7N9 flu virus

Editorials address China's response to emergence of H7N9 bird flu strain

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