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70% of workers have changed their behavior to prevent flu, reveals survey

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20 Oct 2009

Fluarix seasonal influenza vaccine approved by the FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved use of the seasonal influenza vaccine Fluarix for children ages 3 years to 17 years. Previously, this vaccine, which contains inactivated (killed) influenza A and B viruses, had been approved for use in adults, ages 18 years and older.

20 Oct 2009

GlaxoSmithKline may see increased sales of Relenza during the A/H1N1 2009 pandemic

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that during the A/H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, GlaxoSmithKline could see its Relenza sales increase if Tamiflu-resistant strains of the virus spread. GlaxoSmithKline recently signed A/H1N1 2009 vaccine contracts with various governments for more than $3 billion and is donating supplies to less wealthy nations, ensuring that the company strikes a balance between profit and public health concerns.

20 Oct 2009

Novel H1N1 influenza raises parents' awareness and concern about seasonal influenza

Novel H1N1 influenza has raised parents' awareness and concern about seasonal influenza, increasing the likelihood that they will get their children vaccinated compared to past years, according to a recent national survey commissioned by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

20 Oct 2009

Poor readiness by many hospitals to tackle H1N1 pandemic; RNs step up protest

Some 16,000 registered nurses at 39 hospitals at three Catholic hospital chains in California and Nevada will join a one-day strike and picket October 30 as RNs step up the protest over poor readiness by many hospitals to confront the H1N1 pandemic, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) announced today.

20 Oct 2009

Optimer Pharmaceuticals to present additional data on fidaxomicin at the 47th IDSA meeting

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that additional data related to fidaxomicin, the Company's lead developmental product candidate for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, will be presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) to be held at The Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 29 through November 1, 2009.

20 Oct 2009

Opinions: HIV vaccine; HIV resources help promote global disease control; U.S. fight against world hunger

Seth Berkley, president and chief executive of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, in a New York Times opinion piece examines how the "pessimism" over the recent controversy surrounding the results of an experimental HIV vaccine tested in Thailand "may ultimately thwart other efforts to develop an AIDS vaccine.

20 Oct 2009

Winner of first annual Healthcare Administrator Award announced

Deborah Friberg, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, North Carolina, has been named the recipient of the first annual Healthcare Administrator Award, presented by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). The award recognizes a healthcare facility's executive team member who has demonstrated significant support for infection prevention and control throughout their facility.

20 Oct 2009

DC 'squanders' AIDS money on questionable groups despite urgent needs

A Washington Post investigation has found that the city with the highest AIDS rate in the United States, Washington, D.C., has awarded millions of dollars to often ineffective groups with little oversight. Officials failed to act when information about waste and abuse became available, and in the worst case one may have helped channel funding to relatives who operated an AIDS charity out of their nightclub. Meanwhile, AIDS patients waited years for treatment, faced needs legitimate agencies were unable to meet, and in one case, died alone on a park bench within a couple of miles of a dozen nonprofits meant to care for AIDS patients (Cenziper, 10/18).

20 Oct 2009

California's community hospitals launch public education and media campaign on H1N1

As preparations for the H1N1 flu season kick into high gear, California's community hospitals have launched a statewide public education and media campaign.

19 Oct 2009

WHO recommends antivirals for patients with symptoms of both H1N1, pneumonia

The WHO concluded a three-day meeting on H1N1 (swine flu) in Washington, D.C., on Friday, where health experts issued recommendations that patients with symptoms of H1N1 and pneumonia be treated quickly with antivirals, even before the results of H1N1 tests are complete, the San Francisco Chronicle blog, "ChronRX" reports (Allday, 10/16).

19 Oct 2009

School-age children most vulnerable to malaria infection in Africa, study says

Children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 in malaria-endemic African countries are "the most vulnerable group to malaria following the successful distribution of the free bednets to protect children under five and pregnant women against the killer fever," according to a study published in the journal BMC Public Health, the East African reports.

19 Oct 2009

Philippines at risk for rapid spread of disease after typhoons

"Survivors of two powerful storms that caused widespread destruction in the Philippines in recent weeks are threatened by outbreaks of potentially life-threatening diseases, as the country braces for another super-typhoon," named Lupit, that is expected to make landfall on Thursday, the Guardian reports.

19 Oct 2009

Experts: Treat swine flu quickly, even without verification

The World Health Organization concluded a three-day meeting on H1N1 (swine flu) in Washington, D.C., on Friday, where health experts issued recommendations that patients with symptoms of H1N1 and pneumonia be treated quickly with antivirals, even before the results of H1N1 tests are complete, the San Francisco Chronicle blog, "ChronRX" reports (Allday, 10/16).

19 Oct 2009

Innovative financing for global health issues discussed at Nairobi meeting

As more countries prepare to introduce a voluntary travel tax to help fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases worldwide, Philippe Douste-Blazy, chair of UNITAID and a U.N. special advisor on innovative development financing said at a recent event in Nairobi, Kenya, that "the airline levy gives participating developing nations an opportunity to contribute to treatment in their countries rather than depending on handouts from the developed world," the Standard reports.

19 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health News: Asia-Pacific reproductive health; developing country medical waste disposal; draft bill in Uganda; diarrhea deaths in China

"China has called on Asia-Pacific countries to attach greater importance to population and family planning and put more funds into the reproductive health and family planning programmes," the Daily Times reports (10/19).

19 Oct 2009

Schering-Plough to present data on boceprevir at the AASLD 2009 Annual Meeting

Schering-Plough announced that data on boceprevir, an investigational hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor, will be reported in an oral presentation at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting in Boston, Oct. 30-Nov. 3.

19 Oct 2009

Children's Hospital Boston's CRAFFT substance abuse diagnostic test helps identify high risk sexual behavior

Alcohol and drug use are known contributors to adolescents engaging in dangerous sexual activity; leading to substantial health risks such as unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted illnesses, drug overdoses and alcohol poisonings. Yet, research suggests that fewer than half of pediatricians report screening patients for substance use and at-risk sexual behavior.

19 Oct 2009

Ardea Biosciences reports results of RDEA594 Phase 2a study for hyperuricemia and gout

Ardea Biosciences, Inc. announced additional positive results from the completed first cohort of an ongoing Phase 2a, proof-of-concept study of RDEA594, its lead product candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.

19 Oct 2009

Vaccinations and preventative hygiene routines can help protect families from H1N1

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37 states in the U.S. now report widespread influenza activity - and nearly all influenza cases reported to the health authority are 2009 H1N1, also known as swine flu. However, with the release of a 2009 H1N1 vaccine this week, parents have a new preventative tool to help keep their families safe from illness.

19 Oct 2009

Disease/Infection News

70% of workers have changed their behavior to prevent flu, reveals survey

Fluarix seasonal influenza vaccine approved by the FDA

GlaxoSmithKline may see increased sales of Relenza during the A/H1N1 2009 pandemic

Novel H1N1 influenza raises parents' awareness and concern about seasonal influenza

Poor readiness by many hospitals to tackle H1N1 pandemic; RNs step up protest

Optimer Pharmaceuticals to present additional data on fidaxomicin at the 47th IDSA meeting

Opinions: HIV vaccine; HIV resources help promote global disease control; U.S. fight against world hunger

Winner of first annual Healthcare Administrator Award announced

DC 'squanders' AIDS money on questionable groups despite urgent needs

California's community hospitals launch public education and media campaign on H1N1

WHO recommends antivirals for patients with symptoms of both H1N1, pneumonia

School-age children most vulnerable to malaria infection in Africa, study says

Philippines at risk for rapid spread of disease after typhoons

Experts: Treat swine flu quickly, even without verification

Innovative financing for global health issues discussed at Nairobi meeting

Also in Global Health News: Asia-Pacific reproductive health; developing country medical waste disposal; draft bill in Uganda; diarrhea deaths in China

Schering-Plough to present data on boceprevir at the AASLD 2009 Annual Meeting

Children's Hospital Boston's CRAFFT substance abuse diagnostic test helps identify high risk sexual behavior

Ardea Biosciences reports results of RDEA594 Phase 2a study for hyperuricemia and gout

Vaccinations and preventative hygiene routines can help protect families from H1N1

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

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