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.

Vienna scientists develop new technique for producing H1N1 vaccines

Scientists in Vienna have developed a new technique for producing vaccines for H1N1, 'swine flu', based on insect cells. The research, published today in the Biotechnology Journal, reveals how influenza vaccines can be produced faster than through the traditional method of egg-based production, revealing a new strategy for the fight against influenza pandemics.

5 Jan 2010

New York Times examines U.S. H1N1 reponse

As the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the U.S. continues to wane, the New York Times reflects on how federal officials handled the pandemic and other contributing factors.

5 Jan 2010

U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

As the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the U.S. continues to wane, the New York Times reflects on how federal officials handled the pandemic and other factors that helped the situation. "The outbreak highlighted many national weaknesses: old, slow vaccine technology; too much reliance on foreign vaccine factories; some major hospitals pushed to their limits by a relatively mild epidemic," the newspaper writes.

4 Jan 2010

Cepheid granted EUA for Xpert Flu A Panel test

Cepheid today announced it has been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Xpert® Flu A Panel test.

4 Jan 2010

Nukepills.com delivers 5.4 million doses of Potassium Iodide to protect people from nuclear radiation

For Nukepills.com, specialists in the niche market of radiation emergency preparedness, 2009 was a year of record sales due to events such as Iran's nuclear program, nuclear plant radiation leaks, Potassium Iodide distribution programs and worries of dirty bombs.

31 Dec 2009

Rite Aid offers H1N1 flu shots through certified immunizing pharmacists

Rite Aid now is offering the H1N1 (swine) flu shots by its certified immunizing pharmacists at 1,257 Rite Aid stores in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Customers can go to www.riteaid.com/H1N1 to find the most convenient Rite Aid store offering the H1N1 flu shots.

31 Dec 2009

Study says short-term school closures during flu pandemic may increase infection rates

Closing schools for less than two weeks during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic, say University of Pittsburgh researchers in a study published ahead-of-print and online in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

31 Dec 2009

Presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae could predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza

The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza.

31 Dec 2009

Young people more likely to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household

Young people aged under 18 years are more likely than adults to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household, according to a new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

30 Dec 2009

Researchers develop automated system to differentiate strains of influenza

Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Children's Research Institute, and the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin have developed a rapid, automated system to differentiate strains of influenza.

30 Dec 2009

Health gurus say recommit each Monday to resolve the smoking habit

On January 1st millions of Americans will resolve to quit smoking -- again. Yet many will resume their addiction by Groundhog's Day. Now authorities at Johns Hopkins and the American Cancer Society say it doesn't have to be that way. If a quitter falls off the wagon, the pros agree, just quit again the following Monday. And recommit to stay quit each Monday thereafter.

29 Dec 2009

SVA submits the first clinical trial application for HFMD vaccine in China

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today that it has filed the application with China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) to commence a human clinical trial for its vaccine against human enterovirus 71 (EV 71), which causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). This is the first clinical trial application for HFMD vaccine submitted in China.

28 Dec 2009

Medical treatment and evacuation during international travel

Recent surveys indicate that international travel, which had fallen off substantially over the course of the global recession, has rebounded in recent months – which means more U.S. business and leisure travelers navigating health- and security-related risks out in foreign corners of the world.

28 Dec 2009

EGCg in green tea inhibits flu infection

Joint research conducted by the Central Research Institute of ITO EN, Ltd. and Professor Takashi Suzuki of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, showed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a kind of catechin contained in green tea, had an inhibitory effect against three types of influenza viruses, including the swine-origin H1N1 virus that caused pandemic flu in 2009, and that its effect did not depend on the type of virus. These findings once again suggest that green tea is effective in preventing flu.

24 Dec 2009

More H1N1 vaccines available in U.S., many Americans don't want it

While an increasing number of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines are available in the U.S., "more than half of American adults say they still don't want it, and one-third of parents say they don't want their children to get it either, according to two surveys," the Washington Post reports. "As of this week, 111 million doses of vaccine against the pandemic strain of H1N1 flu have been released to states and cities.

24 Dec 2009

Elusys Therapeutics receives contract to speed up drug development for Anthrax

The HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) today awarded a contract to Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. of Pine Brook, N.J., for the advanced development of a medication to treat inhalational anthrax, one of the top bioterrorism threats facing the nation.

23 Dec 2009

Guardian Technologies International meets and presents SM TBDx to Indian healthcare officials

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a serious global pandemic health threat with more than 9 million new cases diagnosed annually. TB is a leading cause of mortality in India, killing nearly 1,000 people each day.

23 Dec 2009

Use of digital checklist for patients during pandemic reduces fatigue factor, shows report

The use of a digital checklist for patients being administered emergency drugs during a pandemic or following a biological terrorist attack reduces the fatigue factor, according to a report in the International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, and could save lives.

22 Dec 2009

Sinovac Biotech selected as Top 10 most competitive companies for 2009

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (SVA), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today that Sinovac was selected by China Business Media as one of China's Top 10 most competitive companies listed overseas for 2009.

22 Dec 2009

Study results of CSL’s pandemic H1N1 2009 vaccine published in JAMA

CSL Limited, Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical company, announced the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has published data from a clinical trial conducted in Australia to study CSL’s pandemic H1N1 2009 ‘swine’ flu vaccine.

22 Dec 2009

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Vienna scientists develop new technique for producing H1N1 vaccines

New York Times examines U.S. H1N1 reponse

U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

Cepheid granted EUA for Xpert Flu A Panel test

Nukepills.com delivers 5.4 million doses of Potassium Iodide to protect people from nuclear radiation

Rite Aid offers H1N1 flu shots through certified immunizing pharmacists

Study says short-term school closures during flu pandemic may increase infection rates

Presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae could predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza

Young people more likely to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household

Researchers develop automated system to differentiate strains of influenza

Health gurus say recommit each Monday to resolve the smoking habit

SVA submits the first clinical trial application for HFMD vaccine in China

Medical treatment and evacuation during international travel

EGCg in green tea inhibits flu infection

More H1N1 vaccines available in U.S., many Americans don't want it

Elusys Therapeutics receives contract to speed up drug development for Anthrax

Guardian Technologies International meets and presents SM TBDx to Indian healthcare officials

Use of digital checklist for patients during pandemic reduces fatigue factor, shows report

Sinovac Biotech selected as Top 10 most competitive companies for 2009

Study results of CSL’s pandemic H1N1 2009 vaccine published in JAMA

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