Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Amantadine binds to and blocks critical M2 proton channel necessary for influenza virus to infect healthy cells

Antiviral drugs block influenza A viruses from reproducing and spreading by attaching to a site within a proton channel necessary for the virus to infect healthy cells, according to a research project led by Iowa State University's Mei Hong and published in the Feb. 4 issue of the journal Nature.

4 Feb 2010

New York Times examines WHO process for getting H1N1 vaccines to countries in need

The New York Times examines the WHO's role as a "clearinghouse" for getting the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine to lower income nations. Though H1N1 has died down in North America and many wealthier nations "are trying to get rid of their [vaccine] surpluses," the virus continues to circulate in regions of North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, according to the newspaper.

3 Feb 2010

HHS appoints new members to Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today the appointment of 24 new members to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). The PACHA’s chair, Dr. Helene Gayle, was appointed in August 2009.

2 Feb 2010

Pandemic H1N1 influenza of swine origin has distinct means of transmission from seasonal flu

Current research suggests that pandemic H1N1 influenza of swine origin has distinct means of transmission from the seasonal flu, yet does not result in the pathogenic severity of avian flu viruses.

2 Feb 2010

Romark Laboratories commences enrollment in Alinia clinical trial for acute uncomplicated influenza

Romark Laboratories announced that it has initiated enrollment of patients in a clinical trial of Alinia® (nitazoxanide) for treating acute uncomplicated influenza including illness caused by the currently circulating H1N1 strain.

1 Feb 2010

Study identifies key demographic and psychological factors that predict protective behaviour during pandemics

A study that looked at how people behave during pandemics has identified key demographic and psychological factors that may predict protective behaviours. The study is published online today, 30th January 2010, in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

30 Jan 2010

Canada to donate 5m doses of H1N1 vaccine to WHO; agency has received commitment of 200m vaccines

The Canadian government on Thursday announced the country would donate five million doses of H1N1 vaccines to the WHO from the country's current surplus, the Canadian Press reports (Branswell, 1/28).

30 Jan 2010

Obama fails to announce new approaches for tackling global HIV/AIDS crisis, says Global AIDS Alliance

In tonight's State of the Union Address President Obama failed to announce any new approach to America's role in the world, instead sticking to vague rhetoric about development, the global HIV/AIDS crisis, and other global health priorities.

28 Jan 2010

Baxter International reports net income of $572M for the fourth-quarter of 2009

Baxter International Inc. today reported strong performance for the fourth quarter of 2009, and provided its financial outlook for the first quarter and full-year 2010.

From Baxter International Inc. 28 Jan 2010

BD announces first-quarter fiscal 2010 results

BD today reported quarterly revenues of $1.917 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2009, representing an increase of 12 percent from the prior-year period, or 9 percent on a foreign currency-neutral basis.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 28 Jan 2010

Sinovac prices public offering at $5.75 per common share

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading China-based vaccine manufacturer, announced today that it has priced its public offering of 10,000,000 common shares at $5.75 per common share. Sinovac has granted the underwriters a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 common shares on the same terms and conditions.

28 Jan 2010

WHO addresses handling of H1N1 at Council of Europe meeting

During a Council of Europe meeting on Tuesday to address the WHO's handling of the H1N1 virus, the WHO said it had not "fallen under the sway of drugs firms and exaggerated the dangers of the H1N1 flu virus, but said it might have handled the crisis better," Reuters reports.

27 Jan 2010

Juvaris BioTherapeutics completes second close on its Series B equity financing

Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing adjuvanted vaccines for infectious diseases, announced that it has completed a second close on its Series B equity financing of up to $25 million. The additional equity investment came from an undisclosed strategic corporate investor who joins SV Life Sciences and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in the round.

27 Jan 2010

MBL generates human monoclonal antibodies against pandemic A type influenza virus

Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. (MBL), with the collaboration of Osaka University, has successfully generated several fully human monoclonal antibodies against pandemic A (H1N1 and H3N2) type influenza virus by utilizing blood samples from volunteers who were inoculated with influenza vaccine.

27 Jan 2010

Recipients of the 2010 Media Awards for Health Reporting announced

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) today announced the recipients of the 2010 Media Awards for Health Reporting, Canada's premier health journalism awards.

27 Jan 2010

Report highlights challenges facing Obama in Africa

A new report highlights challenges facing the Obama administration in Africa, including HIV/AIDS, poverty and climate change, VOA News reports.

27 Jan 2010

Low-cost ventilators for healthcare emergencies

A group of UK anaesthetists have designed and tested three prototype low-cost ventilators that could provide vital support during major healthcare emergencies involving large numbers of patients or casualties. The devices, detailed in a paper published online by Anaesthesia, could also be used where resources are limited, such as in developing countries, remote locations or by the military.

27 Jan 2010

Health care providers play a critical role in H1N1 vaccinations

Results from the latest C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health indicate health care providers play a critical role in influencing parents and patients to vaccinate their children and themselves against H1N1 flu.

27 Jan 2010

WHO rejects accusations it mishandled H1N1, updates worldwide stats

WHO spokesperson Gregory Hartl on Monday rejected accusations that the organization miscategorized H1N1 (swine flu) as a pandemic, calling such accusations "irresponsible," the Associated Press/Washington Post reports. "WHO also dismissed claims it colluded with drug companies to bring economic benefit to the industry by playing up the danger of the new H1N1 [swine flu] influenza strain," the news service writes.

27 Jan 2010

Low-cost ventilators for healthcare emergencies

25 Jan 2010

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Amantadine binds to and blocks critical M2 proton channel necessary for influenza virus to infect healthy cells

New York Times examines WHO process for getting H1N1 vaccines to countries in need

HHS appoints new members to Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS

Pandemic H1N1 influenza of swine origin has distinct means of transmission from seasonal flu

Romark Laboratories commences enrollment in Alinia clinical trial for acute uncomplicated influenza

Study identifies key demographic and psychological factors that predict protective behaviour during pandemics

Canada to donate 5m doses of H1N1 vaccine to WHO; agency has received commitment of 200m vaccines

Obama fails to announce new approaches for tackling global HIV/AIDS crisis, says Global AIDS Alliance

Baxter International reports net income of $572M for the fourth-quarter of 2009

BD announces first-quarter fiscal 2010 results

Sinovac prices public offering at $5.75 per common share

WHO addresses handling of H1N1 at Council of Europe meeting

Juvaris BioTherapeutics completes second close on its Series B equity financing

MBL generates human monoclonal antibodies against pandemic A type influenza virus

Recipients of the 2010 Media Awards for Health Reporting announced

Report highlights challenges facing Obama in Africa

Low-cost ventilators for healthcare emergencies

Health care providers play a critical role in H1N1 vaccinations

WHO rejects accusations it mishandled H1N1, updates worldwide stats

Low-cost ventilators for healthcare emergencies

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