Swine Flu outbreak confirmed at Cork University Hospital
Flu vaccine should be enough to protect people againt H1N1 virus (Source: The Irish Times - Health)
Source: The Irish Times - Health - February 20, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
New deadly strain of bird flu may have emerged
“Experts are concerned about the spread of a new strain of bird flu that has already killed one woman in China,” BBC News reports.
The new strain, which has evolved from an existing bird flu virus called H10N8, has infected two people in China.
A case report in The Lancet medical journal warns that potential for a new pandemic “should not be underestimated”.
Their genetic tests of the strain suggests it has adapted to infect humans more easily.
That said, experts suggest there is currently no cause for alarm. There is no evidence that the new strain can pass between humans. Also, the woman who died of the ne...
Source: NHS News Feed - February 5, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine flu QA articles Medical practice Source Type: news
Anti-swine flu vaccination linked to increased risk of narcolepsy in young adults
(Wiley) Pandemrix is an influenza vaccination, created in 2009 to combat H1N1, known as Swine Flu. Now, a team of Swedish clinicians testing the vaccine for links to immune-related or neurological diseases have linked Pandemrix to an increased risk of narcolepsy in young adults. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - January 21, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Flu vaccine and disease modifying drugs
Norwegian research found that people with MS taking glatiramer acetate (Copaxone), natalizumab (Tysabri) or mitoxantrone had a less effective response to the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations. People taking beta interferon showed no reduction.
MSIF
Flu immunisation - A to Z of MS (Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust)
Source: Multiple Sclerosis Trust - January 21, 2014 Category: Neurology Source Type: news
Flu Season Still in Full Swing
With flu season still in swing, it’s more important than ever to get that flu shot and practice good health behavior! As of the week ending on January 4, 2014 at least 35 states are now showing widespread geographic influenza activity according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to the activity across the country, every state in the South Central Region is showing the highest level of influenza activity. The unusually high number of those affected by the flu prompted the CDC to issue an official health advisory notice to clinicians.
The health advisory notice states
From November t...
Source: Network News - January 20, 2014 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Naomi Gonzales Tags: General (all entries) Public Health Source Type: news
Tamiflu Shortage Again
WebMD Health News
By Rita Rubin
Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH
Jan. 8, 2014 — The liquid form of the flu drug Tamiflu is in short supply because of early strong demand.
But the shortage is expected to be brief, lasting only through mid-January, according to its manufacturer, Genentech.
Doctors typically give the liquid form of the antiviral drug, called Tamiflu OS, to children under age 13 or to people who have trouble swallowing. It is approved for babies as young as 2 weeks old.
“There has been strong and early demand for Tamiflu Oral Suspension (OS), and we are experiencing a temporary delay in packag...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - January 9, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: mreal197 Tags: WebMD News Source Type: news
Influenza Hospitalizations Increasing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has seen a dramatic increase in the number of hospitalizations for influenza, including admissions to intensive care units (ICU),as well as an increase in the number of young and middle-aged patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Most of the hospitalizations are due to infections from the 2009 A/H1N1 virus.State health officials continue to urge residents to get vaccinated against the flu. (Source: Wisconsin DHFS Press Releases)
Source: Wisconsin DHFS Press Releases - January 9, 2014 Category: Hospital Management Source Type: news
Flu Activity Now Widespread In Mass.; H1N1 Dominant Strain
BOSTON (CBS/AP) –Flu season appears to be in full swing in Massachusetts, with health officials reporting cases statewide.
Health care providers are seeing an uptick in the H1N1 strain that was prevalent in 2009. H1N1 or “Swine Flu” typically causes more illness in children and young adults, compared to older adults, although severe illness is possible in all age groups.
The Center for Disease Control says hardest hit areas include Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
Flu is usually the worst in January or February, although last year the illness hit the U.S. very hard in early December.
According to...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - December 29, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Healthwatch Local News Syndicated Local CBS Boston flu season H1N1 Swine Flu WBZ Source Type: news
Flu Activity Now Widespread In Mass.; H1N1 Dominant Strain
BOSTON (CBS/AP) –Flu season appears to be in full swing in Massachusetts, with health officials reporting 860 cases statewide.
Health care providers are seeing an uptick in the H1N1 strain that was prevalent in 2009. H1N1 or “Swine Flu” typically causes more illness in children and young adults, compared to older adults, although severe illness is possible in all age groups.
The CDC says this year’s vaccine does protect against the H1N1 strain.
The Center for Disease Control says hardest hit areas include Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.
Flu is usually the worst in January or February, alth...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - December 29, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Healthwatch Local News Syndicated Local CBS Boston flu season H1N1 Swine Flu WBZ Source Type: news
Record numbers of NHS staff get flu jab
Over 450,000 NHS workers - 19 per cent more than last year - were vaccinated this yearRelated items from OnMedicaUS expert calls for mandatory vaccinesWorld not well prepared for swine fluSchools shut due to swine flu outbreakNo deaths from meningitis C last yearAdult vaccine uptake needs improving (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - December 23, 2013 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
Scientists start to unpick narcolepsy link to GSK flu vaccine
LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have found that the sleep disorder narcolepsy can sometimes be triggered by a scientific phenomenon known as "molecular mimicry", offering a possible explanation for its link to a GlaxoSmithKline H1N1 pandemic flu vaccine. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - December 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
Vaccination 'a civic duty' according to new report
This report provides useful information about adult immunisations in the UK as well as useful recommendations for increasing immunisation coverage, particularly among social care workers. However, it does not replace current guidelines for recommended vaccines. Currently recommended vaccines for adults in the UK are described below.
Who produced the report?
This report, titled ‘Immune response. Adult immunisation in the UK’ was written by the UK’s International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK). According its website, the ILC-UK is a registered charity and independent think tank dedicated to addressing issues of longev...
Source: NHS News Feed - November 19, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Medication Older people QA articles Source Type: news
Experts with links to drugs industry 'hyped swine flu'
Conclusion
This was a well-conducted study, albeit based on a small sample of articles. The finding that academics with ties to the drugs industry were more likely to make a higher assessment of risk from swine flu, and those promoting the use of antiviral drugs were more likely to have industry links, is worrying.
The general issue of academics with undisclosed links to the pharmaceutical industry being interviewed by journalists is of concern. That said, the study does not prove that media coverage either fuelled public anxiety about swine flu or the policy decisions made about drug or vaccine funding.
Similarly, the...
Source: NHS News Feed - November 12, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Medication Swine flu Source Type: news
Probiotic pickled turnip touted as ‘flu wonder cure’
Conclusion
This simple experiment showed that giving a bacterial extract found in Japanese pickled turnip to mice, as a preventative treatment for flu, reduced some of the symptomatic effects of flu upon subsequent infection. Specifically, it lessened body weight loss and reduced declines in general health during a seven-day flu period.
While the results are encouraging, it is too soon to roll out the red carpet and welcome a “new wonder cure” as both the headlines in the Daily Express and Mail Online suggest.
For instance, mice given the Japanese pickle extract still experienced declines in body weight of approximate...
Source: NHS News Feed - November 6, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Medical practice Medication Swine flu Source Type: news
A step ahead of influenza; honeybee sex
Staying a step ahead of influenza Every fall, the latest batch of flu vaccines attempts to keep society a step ahead of the evolution of the flu virus. Heroic worldwide surveillance efforts have avoided a repeat of the 1918 flu pandemic, but as shown in the recent H1N1 outbreak, viruses can still outwit even the best public health efforts. During the H1N1 outbreak, antiviral drugs offered the only hope against emergent flu strains... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - October 31, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Flu / Cold / SARS Source Type: news
