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.

Scientists present new perspective on antigenic drift of flu viruses

Influenza viruses evade infection-fighting antibodies by constantly changing the shape of their major surface protein. This shape-shifting, called antigenic drift, is why influenza vaccines-which are designed to elicit antibodies matched to each year's circulating virus strains-must be reformulated annually.

30 Oct 2009

Risk of serious flu-related sickness far outpaces risk of injectable vaccine in pregnant women

Pregnant women who catch the flu are at serious risk for flu-related complications, including death, and that risk far outweighs the risk of possible side effects from injectable vaccines containing killed virus, according to an extensive review of published research and data from previous flu seasons.

30 Oct 2009

Mintel predicts increased sales of OTC drugs in upcoming months

Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere and with shades of yellow and orange comes a less-welcome visitor: cold and flu season. Made worse this year by the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, people around the world are flocking to drugstores and supermarkets to stock up on over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, says market research firm Mintel.

30 Oct 2009

FluGen's CHO-cell-based production system generates egg-free, 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine virus

FluGen Inc., an emerging leader in the development, production and delivery of influenza vaccines, today announced that its proprietary CHO-cell-based production system has generated novel 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine virus without the use of eggs during any step of production.

30 Oct 2009

All Canadians need to be immunized against H1N1: CPHA

The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) announced today that it is encouraging Canadians to get the H1N1 vaccination. To help people make an informed choice, it is launching a new online portal of information.

30 Oct 2009

Five-year program aimed at preventing future pandemic diseases awarded to DAI

DAI has been awarded a five-year program aimed at preventing future pandemics such as HIV/AIDS and H1N1.

30 Oct 2009

Risk of serious flu-related sickness far outpaces risk of injectable vaccine in pregnant women

30 Oct 2009

Black AIDS Institute and CDC leaders finalize grant details for African American HIV University

Leaders from the Black AIDS Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) met recently to finalize the details of a four and one-half year grant to fund the Institute's African American HIV University (AAHU) Community Mobilization College.

29 Oct 2009

Gen-Probe receives FDA emergency use authorization for its Prodesse ProFlu-ST test

Gen-Probe Incorporated today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an EUA (emergency use authorization) for its test, the Prodesse ProFlu-ST(TM), to be used in CLIA high complexity laboratories for the diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection, aided by an algorithm that relies on seasonal influenza A/H1 virus and seasonal influenza A/H3 virus results, from a single sample in individuals who are diagnosed with influenza A by currently available FDA-cleared or authorized devices.

29 Oct 2009

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals reports fiscal 2009 third-quarter results

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and provided a corporate update regarding clinical programs and potential emergency use of intravenous (i.v.) peramivir.

29 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 29, 2009

Today's headlines are all about the unveiling of the House health bill -- expected later this morning.

29 Oct 2009

Modern techniques can reduce current shortage of H1N1 vaccine in the U.S.

President Barack Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency this weekend, a status that will give the federal government greater flexibility and authority to contain the pandemic. But the current shortage of H1N1 vaccine underscores the severe lack of U.S. preparedness in responding to pandemics, whether through natural disease transmission or manmade bioterrorist attacks, according to a new video from the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.

29 Oct 2009

Poison control centers to take calls for H1N1

The same reassuring voice on the telephone line when you fear you've had a poison emergency may be the same person answering your questions about the H1N1 flu pandemic.

29 Oct 2009

AAHP confirms homeopathic medicines for prophylaxis of infectious diseases

Recent news articles regarding Swine Flu H1N1 have been widespread. The virulence of the strain among humans and its implications for pandemic disease in humans may lead to increased interest in homeopathic treatments for Swine Flu H1N1.

29 Oct 2009

73% increase in antiviral prescriptions in the past two weeks: SDI

According to SDI’s Vector One®: National, antiviral prescriptions rose dramatically last week to over 648,000, an increase of more than 73% in the past two weeks. Antiviral prescriptions have climbed each week since the week ending Aug. 21, but the increases in the past two weeks have been significant.

28 Oct 2009

HHS selects Smiths Medical to supply safety hypodermic syringes

Smiths Medical announced today that it has been selected for a contract award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for safety hypodermic syringes that could reach $10 million. The award is part of the government’s national flu pandemic preparedness efforts.

28 Oct 2009

Dementia patients face higher risk of flu mortality; refine guidelines needed for testing and vaccination policies

An epidemiological study on pneumonia and influenza (P&I) in adults age 65 and over reports that patients with dementia are diagnosed with flu less frequently, have shorter hospital stays, and have a fifty percent higher rate of death than those without dementia.

28 Oct 2009

Microbix and Hunan Biopharmaceutical to build $200-million influenza vaccine facility

Microbix, a developer of a patented technology that doubles the output of influenza vaccine production, announced today it has signed a joint venture agreement with the Hunan Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (a Hunan Province state-owned enterprise) for initial financing to construct Asia's largest influenza vaccine production facility and the third largest vaccine plant in the world.

28 Oct 2009

Drug-cocktail approach offers hope in developing single agent to treat drug-resistant H1N1 swine flu

An experimental drug cocktail that includes three prescriptions now widely available offers the best hope in developing a single agent to treat drug-resistant H1N1 swine flu, says a virology researcher in the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

28 Oct 2009

HMSMobile Swine Flu Center application to provide information on H1N1 virus introduced

The HMSMobile Swine Flu Center, a new iPhone application developed by the Harvard Health Publications Division of Harvard Medical School, is now available for purchase in the iTunes store.

28 Oct 2009

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists present new perspective on antigenic drift of flu viruses

Risk of serious flu-related sickness far outpaces risk of injectable vaccine in pregnant women

Mintel predicts increased sales of OTC drugs in upcoming months

FluGen's CHO-cell-based production system generates egg-free, 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine virus

All Canadians need to be immunized against H1N1: CPHA

Five-year program aimed at preventing future pandemic diseases awarded to DAI

Risk of serious flu-related sickness far outpaces risk of injectable vaccine in pregnant women

Black AIDS Institute and CDC leaders finalize grant details for African American HIV University

Gen-Probe receives FDA emergency use authorization for its Prodesse ProFlu-ST test

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals reports fiscal 2009 third-quarter results

First Edition: October 29, 2009

Modern techniques can reduce current shortage of H1N1 vaccine in the U.S.

Poison control centers to take calls for H1N1

AAHP confirms homeopathic medicines for prophylaxis of infectious diseases

73% increase in antiviral prescriptions in the past two weeks: SDI

HHS selects Smiths Medical to supply safety hypodermic syringes

Dementia patients face higher risk of flu mortality; refine guidelines needed for testing and vaccination policies

Microbix and Hunan Biopharmaceutical to build $200-million influenza vaccine facility

Drug-cocktail approach offers hope in developing single agent to treat drug-resistant H1N1 swine flu

HMSMobile Swine Flu Center application to provide information on H1N1 virus introduced

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