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.

H1N1 virus detected in turkeys

The detection of an H1N1 virus in turkeys in Chile raises concern that poultry farms elsewhere in the world could also become infected with the pandemic flu virus currently circulating in humans, FAO said today.

27 Aug 2009

Majority of Americans are ready to get vaccinated against H1N1 flu virus

A recent poll on the H1N1 flu conducted by the American Red Cross found that more Americans are taking or planning on taking extra measures to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissue (78%) or wash their hands more carefully (76%) to avoid getting the flu.

27 Aug 2009

Lakewood-Amedex to speed up development of its broad spectrum anti-influenza product into clinical studies

Lakewood-Amedex Inc., (L-A), the anti-infectives biopharmaceutical company developing a unique portfolio of anti-bacterial and anti-viral products including NuBiotics, a novel family of synthetic anti-bacterial compounds, and anti-viral products against hepatitis, HIV and influenza, announced today that it is accelerating development of its broad spectrum anti-influenza product into clinical studies.

27 Aug 2009

CDC report predicts that forty percent of Americans may be affected by the H1N1 flu

From summer camps to summer travel, the H1N1 influenza has taken a toll worldwide this season, and experts say the new flu strain is expected to be back in force this fall. Forty percent of Americans could end up being affected by the H1N1 flu, the CDC reported last month.

27 Aug 2009

Rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA with the Nanogap Sensor Array

A novel electronic sensor array for more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA for disease diagnosis and biological research has been developed by scientists at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN).

27 Aug 2009

Asia will experience H1N1 vaccine shortage, WHO says

A spokesperson for the WHO said on Tuesday that Asia will not have enough H1N1 vaccines for swine flu when cold weather hits, Reuters reports.

26 Aug 2009

Quality test for Guardian Technologies International's Signature Mapping TBDx system completed

Guardian Technologies International, Inc. (OTCBB: GDTI) today announced that its Software Quality Assurance Team has completed all unit, component, integration, and systems tests of Signature Mapping TBDx™ (TBDx™) in preparation for September clinical trials in South Africa.

26 Aug 2009

Patient health and safety survey reveals that healthcare facilities are not ready to combat swine flu pandemic

A patient health and safety survey of 190 American hospitals from coast to coast compiled by registered nurses in eight different states finds that a disturbing number of our nation's healthcare facilities are not prepared for the coming H1N1/swine flu pandemic, according to results released today by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

26 Aug 2009

DAS181 inhibits H5N1 Influenza lung virus infection of human lung tissues

NexBio, Inc. announced today the publication "DAS181 Inhibits H5N1 Influenza Lung Virus Infection of Human Lung Tissues" in the September, 2009 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (AAC).

26 Aug 2009

MRSA Survivors Network founder organizes the first Inaugural World MRSA Day

MRSA Survivors Network founder, Jeanine Thomas has organized the first Inaugural World MRSA Day Kick-off event on October 1st in Chicago at Loyola University. Other events will be held across the globe and in the U.S. on October 2nd and throughout the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month.

26 Aug 2009

The University of Nottingham scientists conduct research on swine flu virus

Scientists at The University of Nottingham and Health Protection Agency East Midlands are carrying out urgent research into the swine flu virus after being commissioned as part of the government's response to the pandemic.

26 Aug 2009

Aastra's CC:LifeLine provides virtual call center for pandemic response planning

Aastra, a leading provider of IP-Telephony and Contact Center solutions, offers a solution for contact centers needing an alternative for premises-based agents if it is necessary to close the call center due to a disaster or flu epidemic. Aastra’s CC:LifeLine™ (www.aastraondemand.com/solutions-cclifeline2.asp) provides a virtual call center environment ensuring that agents can serve customers even if the physical call center is inaccessible.

25 Aug 2009

Free webinar for business travel industry on swine flu pandemic

"Business as usual” won’t be this flu season, with the effects of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic expected to include quarantines, travel restrictions and school and office closings. Businesses that rely on travel need to make preparations now to mitigate the impact.

25 Aug 2009

WHO appeals for donated, low-cost H1N1 vaccines

The WHO's flu chief Keiji Fukuda on Saturday called upon wealthy nations and vaccine manufacturers to donate H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines to developing countries, the Associated Press reports.

24 Aug 2009

CSL Biotherapies initiates clinical trials of Influenza A/H1N1 2009 vaccine in the US

CSL Biotherapies has announced the initiation of the company’s first U.S. clinical trials of its candidate Influenza A/H1N1 2009 vaccine. Study investigators will administer vaccinations to the first U.S. study volunteers today, August 24. The studies will determine the safety of CSL’s candidate vaccine and its ability to elicit an immune response (also referred to as immunogenicity) in adults and children.

24 Aug 2009

National campaign to educate people with developmental disabilities about protection from germs

The Tech-Aid Institute, http://www.techaidinstitute.com, is launching a national campaign to educate people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities about how to protect themselves from germs that include the 2009 flu pandemic that is commonly known as the Swine (H1N1) Flu.

24 Aug 2009

'Explosion' of H1N1 cases likely, WHO Says

In the coming months, countries should prepare for an "explosion" in new cases of H1N1 (swine) flu until peak transmission of the virus is reached, WHO Western Pacific Director Shin Young-soo told a symposium of health officials gathered in Beijing Friday, the Associated Press reports.

23 Aug 2009

Adamas Pharmaceuticals forges agreement with U.S. Naval Health Research Center for evaluating triple combination antiviral drug

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, announced today that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Naval Health Research Center for preclinical studies evaluating Adamas' triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) therapy for influenza A, including novel influenza A/H1N1. TCAD therapy includes Adamas' investigational proprietary fixed-dose oral combination drug, to be administered adjunctively with a neuraminidase inhibitor, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate, Roche).

22 Aug 2009

UnitedHealth Group to follow the CDC’s guidance on administration of the swine flu vaccine

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced today that the company will cover the administration of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine for its members whose health benefit plans cover immunizations, and also cover the administration of the vaccine for members whose plans currently do not include immunizations and do not plan to in the future.

21 Aug 2009

Medicago and Ajanta Pharma forge MoU to commercialize seasonal influenza VLP-based vaccines in India

Medicago Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Ajanta Pharma Limited ("Ajanta") to discuss and negotiate an agreement to commercialize Medicago's pandemic and seasonal influenza VLP-based vaccines in India and other territories.

21 Aug 2009

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

H1N1 virus detected in turkeys

Majority of Americans are ready to get vaccinated against H1N1 flu virus

Lakewood-Amedex to speed up development of its broad spectrum anti-influenza product into clinical studies

CDC report predicts that forty percent of Americans may be affected by the H1N1 flu

Rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA with the Nanogap Sensor Array

Asia will experience H1N1 vaccine shortage, WHO says

Quality test for Guardian Technologies International's Signature Mapping TBDx system completed

Patient health and safety survey reveals that healthcare facilities are not ready to combat swine flu pandemic

DAS181 inhibits H5N1 Influenza lung virus infection of human lung tissues

MRSA Survivors Network founder organizes the first Inaugural World MRSA Day

The University of Nottingham scientists conduct research on swine flu virus

Aastra's CC:LifeLine provides virtual call center for pandemic response planning

Free webinar for business travel industry on swine flu pandemic

WHO appeals for donated, low-cost H1N1 vaccines

CSL Biotherapies initiates clinical trials of Influenza A/H1N1 2009 vaccine in the US

National campaign to educate people with developmental disabilities about protection from germs

'Explosion' of H1N1 cases likely, WHO Says

Adamas Pharmaceuticals forges agreement with U.S. Naval Health Research Center for evaluating triple combination antiviral drug

UnitedHealth Group to follow the CDC’s guidance on administration of the swine flu vaccine

Medicago and Ajanta Pharma forge MoU to commercialize seasonal influenza VLP-based vaccines in India

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