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.

Inovio Biomedical announces positive test results of its consensus influenza vaccines

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that a combination of its synthetic consensus H1N1, H2N2, H3N2, and H5N1 influenza vaccine candidates achieved protective antibody responses against several different influenza sub-types and strains in ferrets.

20 Nov 2009

LAIV and TIV vaccines appear to offer protection against A/H1N1 virus

Immunization with either live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV, also known as FluMist®), or trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV), appears to offer a protection (~ 45%) against the novel A/H1N1 virus, the cause of the present influenza pandemic. However, the benefit was largely attributed to the youngest age group. The finding emerges from an evaluation of medical encounters and seasonal influenza immunization of U.S. military service members.

20 Nov 2009

WSNA highlights serious concerns about safety of nurses and patients during H1N1 pandemic

Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), representing more than 1,600 registered nurses at Sacred Heart Medical Center, is holding a press conference today to highlight serious concerns about the safety of nurses and patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center during this H1N1 pandemic.

20 Nov 2009

H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

A commentary in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases brings to light the gaps in knowledge on the transmission of a common pathogen - the influenza virus - and its impact on decisions about how best to protect health care workers. Infectious diseases specialist Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of infection control for Rhode Island Hospital, looks at the ongoing debate in light of the H1N1 pandemic, what past research tells us about the spread of influenza, and what is missing in the debate. His commentary is currently available in an online first edition.

20 Nov 2009

High prevalence of asthma among children with H1N1

A new study on pediatric H1N1 influenza admissions has found that asthma is a significant risk factor for severe disease in children with pandemic H1N1 compared with the seasonal flu.

19 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health News: HIV/AIDS grant giving; Africa's water resources; sex workers in Malawi

HIV/AIDS program grants made by U.S.-based foundations totaled $618 billion in 2008, an 11 percent increase from the previous year, according to a new report by Funders Concerned About AIDS, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation accounted for the majority of the grants, and when it was "excluded, foundation giving [for HIV/AIDS] actually declined 3 percent compared to 2007."

19 Nov 2009

Adamas Pharmaceuticals expands its Phase 2 TCAD therapy study for influenza A

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, announced today that it has expanded its Phase 2 clinical study of a proprietary investigational triple-combination antiviral drug therapy for influenza to include centers in the United States, Canada and Europe. The study, which was initiated in August 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere, is designed to investigate Adamas' triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) therapy as a treatment for influenza A, including novel influenza A/H1N1, the cause of the current flu pandemic.

19 Nov 2009

DxNA announces successfull evaluation of its GeneSTAT PCR system

DxNA, a molecular diagnostics company headquartered in St. George, Utah, announced today that the DxNA GeneSTAT PCR system has successfully completed evaluation studies under the direction of a California laboratory supported by the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme in Food and Agriculture.

19 Nov 2009

Exaggerated responses of immune system explain elders’ susceptibility to viral infections

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that exaggerated responses of the immune system explain why the elderly succumb to viral infections more readily than younger people. Published in the November 19 Cell Host & Microbe, the study bucks the general belief that declining immune responses are to blame for susceptibility to viral infections.

19 Nov 2009

Sinovac Biotech files shelf registration statement with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. ( SVA), a leading developer and provider of vaccines, announced today that it has filed a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

19 Nov 2009

Why avian flu virus has not caused a pandemic?

Bird flu viruses would have to make at least two simultaneous genetic mutations before they could be transmitted readily from human to human, according to research published today in PLoS ONE.

19 Nov 2009

Opinions: Fighting TB; currency transaction tax

Though tuberculosis "is one of the world's leading killers … few citizens, scientists and policymakers are demanding more attention to TB research, treatment and prevention. … It's time to bring TB research into the 21st century," Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, writes in an MSNBC opinion piece.

19 Nov 2009

CEL-SCI commences clinical study of LEAPS-H1N1 treatment for hospitalized patients

CEL-SCI Corporation, a developer of vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and a late-stage oncology company, announced today the start of the Company's first clinical study for hospitalized H1N1 patients at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Johns Hopkins).

18 Nov 2009

Sinovac Biotech receives a revised production license for its Panflu.1 vaccine

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading developer and provider of vaccines in China, announced today that it received a revised production license from State Food and Drug Administration for Panflu.1, the Company's H1N1 vaccine. The population has been expanded to include people over 60 years old. The shelf life for PANFLU.1 was extended to one year from six months.

18 Nov 2009

Homecare, an important part of the solution to nation's healthcare crisis

During November -- National Homecare Month -- the American Association for Homecare celebrates the thousands of dedicated professionals who provide cost-effective and consumer-preferred homecare.

18 Nov 2009

Enigma ML, the fully automated Point-of-Care mini-laboratory instrument to be showcased

Enigma Diagnostics Limited, the decentralised point-of-care molecular diagnostics company, announces the showcasing of its fully automated Point-of-Care mini-laboratory instrument, the Enigma ML, at MEDICA 2009 at the Dusseldorf Trade Fair Centrehas in Dusseldorf, Germany in Hall 1, stand E07a between 18-20 November.

18 Nov 2009

Quest Diagnostics' Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test receives CE mark

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced that the Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test developed by its Focus Diagnostics business has been CE marked and is now available as a test kit for distribution to approximately 35 countries in Europe.

From Quest Diagnostics 18 Nov 2009

ED clinicians utilize WEBeMARS to report the progress of the H1N1 flu pandemic

EDIMS LLC, a leading provider of interoperable emergency department (ED) information management systems for hospitals, announced today that 22 of its client EDs in New York and New Jersey are reporting daily on the progress of the H1N1 flu pandemic to their state health departments.

18 Nov 2009

Quit and Stay Quit Monday, a tobacco-free campus initiative

plan can help them stay quit for good! Each Monday following the national quit day, smokers and relapsers can check in with local and national quitlines, counselors, family and friends to strengthen their commitment to a smoke-free life.

18 Nov 2009

Cinergy Health creates a guide for the prevention and treatment of H1N1

Cinergy Health, a nationwide provider of guaranteed issue health insurance benefit programs, has created a guide for consumers concerned about the H1N1 virus, which has already killed more than 4,000 Americans.

18 Nov 2009

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Inovio Biomedical announces positive test results of its consensus influenza vaccines

LAIV and TIV vaccines appear to offer protection against A/H1N1 virus

WSNA highlights serious concerns about safety of nurses and patients during H1N1 pandemic

H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

High prevalence of asthma among children with H1N1

Also in Global Health News: HIV/AIDS grant giving; Africa's water resources; sex workers in Malawi

Adamas Pharmaceuticals expands its Phase 2 TCAD therapy study for influenza A

DxNA announces successfull evaluation of its GeneSTAT PCR system

Exaggerated responses of immune system explain elders’ susceptibility to viral infections

Sinovac Biotech files shelf registration statement with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Why avian flu virus has not caused a pandemic?

Opinions: Fighting TB; currency transaction tax

CEL-SCI commences clinical study of LEAPS-H1N1 treatment for hospitalized patients

Sinovac Biotech receives a revised production license for its Panflu.1 vaccine

Homecare, an important part of the solution to nation's healthcare crisis

Enigma ML, the fully automated Point-of-Care mini-laboratory instrument to be showcased

Quest Diagnostics' Simplexa Influenza A H1N1 (2009) test receives CE mark

ED clinicians utilize WEBeMARS to report the progress of the H1N1 flu pandemic

Quit and Stay Quit Monday, a tobacco-free campus initiative

Cinergy Health creates a guide for the prevention and treatment of H1N1

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