Influenza Virus Surveillance in US Swine Production SystemsInfluenza Virus Surveillance in US Swine Production Systems
This study investigates the prevalence of influenza A viruses in coordinated swine production systems in the United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - November 17, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases Journal Article Source Type: news

Scientists Take Huge Step Toward Universal Flu Vaccine
A universal flu vaccine -- one that provides immunity against every strain of the influenza virus for multiple years -- is the holy grail of flu research. It would be a medical breakthrough on the order of penicillin, with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives every year. And scientists just got one crucial step closer to making it a reality. Two separate groups of scientists published papers this week demonstrating that a new type of flu vaccine can provide protection against multiple strains of the disease, rather than just one. Though a truly universal flu vaccine that could be given to humans remain...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - August 28, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news

Scientists Take Huge Step Toward Universal Flu Vaccine
A universal flu vaccine -- one that provides immunity against every strain of the influenza virus for multiple years -- is the holy grail of flu research. It would be a medical breakthrough on the order of penicillin, with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives every year. And scientists just got one crucial step closer to making it a reality. Two separate groups of scientists published papers this week demonstrating that a new type of flu vaccine can provide protection against multiple strains of the disease, rather than just one. Though a truly universal flu vaccine that could be given to humans remain...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - August 28, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news

Researchers 'a step closer' to universal flu vaccine
Conclusion These studies have developed two different flu vaccines that could potentially offer broader protection against a variety of flu strains than current vaccines. As yet, this research has only been conducted in animals, with one study showing an effect against different flu strains in mice and monkeys, and the other showing an effect in mice and ferrets. As monkeys are more similar to humans than mice or ferrets, the results from these experiments are likely to be the most representative of what would happen in humans. While the results are encouraging, it is likely that additional lab and animal research on bo...
Source: NHS News Feed - August 25, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Medication Heart/lungs Swine flu Source Type: news

Four out of ten Brits may naturally show fewer flu symptoms
ConclusionA study of 1,414 unvaccinated people showed those with T cells targeting virus nucleoprotein still got infected by flu, but had fewer symptoms. The logic is that people with fewer symptoms are less likely to spread the virus through coughs and sneezes, which may slow the spread of both seasonal and pandemic flu strains.This is plausible, but was not directly tested in this study, so we don't know if it's true in real life. The research team suggested vaccines that boost T cell numbers might be worth exploring, as an alternative to those that try to stop virus infection altogether. An added potential benefit of th...
Source: NHS News Feed - June 16, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medical practice Medication Swine flu Source Type: news

Studies on flu like H1NI led to information on homoeopathic medicines: Government
Studies on influenza like H1N1 during swine flu pandemic in 2009 has resulted in identification of specific homoeopathic medicines, LS was informed. (Source: The Economic Times)
Source: The Economic Times - March 13, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Swine flu outbreak in India raises concern: New strain of H1N1 may carry dangerous mutations
Since December, an outbreak of swine flu in India has killed more than 1,200 people, and a new study suggests that the strain has acquired mutations that make it more dangerous than previously circulating strains of H1N1 influenza. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - March 11, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news

Researchers monitor for next novel influenza strain
While flu season starts to die down, researchers are diligently monitoring for the next novel influenza virus by monitoring swine influenza viruses. The work is starting with swine in the field. Researchers are surveying for swine influenza viruses as part of a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - March 3, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news

World Briefing: India: Swine Flu Prompts City’s Caution
A west Indian city has banned most public gatherings in an attempt to halt the spread of swine flu, which has claimed at least 926 lives nationwide in 11 weeks. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - February 26, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tags: India Influenza Swine Influenza Source Type: news

Airport screening for viruses misses half of infected travelers but can be improved, says UCLA-led study
In the past decade, the H1N1 virus and Ebola are just two of the diseases whose spread was spurred by international airline travel. Screening passengers at airports, therefore, could be one key method for slowing the global spread of infectious diseases. And although a team lead by UCLA researchers has found that airport screening misses at least half of infected travelers, the scientists say that rate could be improved. Their research was published in eLife, a highly regarded open-access online science journal. The life scientists used a mathematical model to analyze screening for six viruses: the SARS coronavirus, the Eb...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - February 25, 2015 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

Swine flu: WHO 'carefully watching' situation in India
A senior WHO official said the seasonal influenza was quite normal at this time of the year and that its India office was closely working with the govt for dealing with the disease. (Source: The Economic Times)
Source: The Economic Times - February 24, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

India Deploys Expert Teams to Study Rise in Flu Cases
Officials are trying to determine the extent of illness, which has caused 700 deaths since the beginning of the year. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - February 20, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By ELLEN BARRY and HARI KUMAR Tags: India Epidemics Influenza Deaths (Fatalities) Swine Influenza World Health Organization Source Type: news

Medicos asked to adhere to Standard Universal Precautions on swine flu
Delhi government directed all 25 designated hospitals to strictly adhere to the Standard Universal Precautions while dealing with H1N1 influenza patients. (Source: The Economic Times)
Source: The Economic Times - January 30, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Could brain protein help people 'sleep off' the flu?
Conclusion This complex study suggests the AcPb protein is playing a role in regulating normal sleep and the response to flu infection in mice. At this stage, the implications of this research for humans are unclear, as differences between the species may mean the results would not be exactly the same in humans. While The Telegraph suggests this "could finally lead to an effective treatment for the [flu], which until now has eluded experts", we are a long way off knowing whether this is the case. What the researchers have shown – in mice – is if you remove this protein, mice don't fight the virus as we...
Source: NHS News Feed - January 13, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Medication Heart/lungs Swine flu Source Type: news

Media, M.D.
After almost two months of screaming newspaper headlines and wall-to-wall cable television coverage about the Ebola outbreak, a calm descended over the media in late October. On Oct. 30, the Washington Post's front page carried the headline, "New Cases of Ebola Declining, WHO Says." The next day, the same real estate carried stories about the war in Syria and the CEO of Apple, Inc. Over the same two days, Ebola was nowhere to be found on the front page of the New York Times. It was 23 days after the death of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first and only confirmed Ebola fatality in the United States. Barring another victim arr...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - November 4, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news