Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Community Based Assessment Centres - roles and functions in a flu pandemic

The expected roles and functions of Community Based Assessment Centres (CBACs) in the event of an influenza pandemic have been outlined by the New Zealand Ministry of Health, in a draft document sent to District Health Boards for comment and to assist with local planning.

15 Dec 2005

Urgent call to save lives of 30 million under fives over next decade

Unprecedented opportunity to reduce child mortality in poorest countries must not be missed

15 Dec 2005

Scientists working to protect us against avian and pandemic flu

The expression 'prevention is better than a cure' is a truism when it comes to vaccine research. European scientists in various EU-funded projects are hard at work developing new vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tools against some of the deadliest and most virulent viruses, including strains of avian flu.

15 Dec 2005

Companies warned about shonky bird flu remedies

The appearance of so-called bird flu remedies which have hit the market in the U.S. have prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue warnings to nine companies.

14 Dec 2005

Ninth death from bird flu in Indonesia

Top health officials in Indonesia have confirmed a ninth human death in the country from bird flu.

14 Dec 2005

Chlamydia loves lipid droplets

Invasive bacterial pathogens, the Chlamydiae know us very, very well. The Chlamydiae learned to parasitize eukaryotic cells half a billion years ago by reprogramming cellular functions from within.

13 Dec 2005

Common baby illnesses may trigger cancer

Researchers in the UK say that the common infections that affect mothers and babies may trigger certain types of childhood cancers.

12 Dec 2005

ASEAN stockpiles bird flu drug in Malaysia

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is presently meeting in Kuala Lumpur, has agreed this week to create a stockpile of antiviral drugs to combat the deadly spread of bird flu throughout the region.

12 Dec 2005

Roche chooses partners to help make Tamiflu

The producer of sought after bird flu drug Tamiflu, drug giant Roche, has apparently chosen 12 possible partners to help it churn out enough of the drug.

12 Dec 2005

U.S. flu death predictions more fiction than fact

According to a Harvard University graduate student, U.S. data on influenza death may be more PR than science.

12 Dec 2005

Infections are a major cause of childhood cancer

Results from a new study of childhood cancer statistics provide further evidence that common infections affecting mother and baby could play a key role in triggering certain types of the disease.

12 Dec 2005

Hospitals a good place to catch bird flu

While U.S. officials continue to urge states and businesses to get ready for an outbreak of serious disease, issuing checklists of preparations, and Congress battles with funding a federal plan before the end of the year, a report has been released that declares that because most U.S. hospitals do not follow good hygiene practices

12 Dec 2005