Influenza surveillance mechanisms in Mexico were adequate during the fast-spreading H1N1 outbreak in 2009, yet Mexico did not have the infrastructure to quickly identify the emergence of this novel strain, according to an Arizona State University (ASU) epidemiologist... [...more]
A new study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology examines how the swine flu virus, Influenza A H1N1 (2009), affects pregnant women. Clinicians at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore treated 211 confirmed cases of pregnant women with swine flu between 26 May 2009 and 14 September 2009... (Source: Pregnancy News From Medical News Today) [...more]
Ask any health professional who cares for children and they will tell you: When H1N1 flu hits, it can be very severe. In the last four months of 2009, nearly 240 children died in the United States from H1N1 flu more than three times as many child deaths as in a typical non-H1N1 flu season... (Source: Immune System / Vaccines News From Medical News Today) MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources. [...more]
The latest poll from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) shows that almost half of Americans believe the H1N1 flu outbreak is over (44%), and levels of concern about getting sick with the virus continue to decline. Few (18%) think it is "very likely" there will be another widespread outbreak of the H1N1 virus in the U.S. [...more]
A study that looked at how people behave during pandemics has identified key demographic and psychological factors that may predict protective behaviours. The study is published online, in the British Journal of Health Psychology. Dr Alison Bish and Professor Susan Michie at the Health Psychology Unit, University College London, investigated the results of a number of studies into how people behave during pandemics, such as the recent swine flu outbreak, to better understand protective behaviour and to improve interventions and communication in the future... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) [...more]
WHO spokesman, Gregory Hartl, said in a new briefing that the H1N1 flu pandemic (swine flu) continues to spread in parts of eastern and southeastern Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. However, he added that globally it is generally declining. The H1N1 pandemic virus continues to be the main influenza virus circulating globally. WHO (World Health Organization) said the virus is a health risk to people with underlying conditions, such as asthma, as well as pregnant women. Hartl said that activity in general is decreasing... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources. [...more]
ILI rate: The Department of Health & Children and the HSE advised yesterday that the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) for the week ending Sunday 24th January 2010 (week 3, 2010), was 12.2 per 100,000 population. This is a decrease from the 16.6 per 100,000 population reported during week 2, 2010. Age-specific ILI rates: During week 3, 2010, sentinel GPs reported an ILI rate of 6.4 per 100,000 in the 0-4 year age group, and an ILI rate of 3.4 per 100,000 in the 5-14 year age group... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) [...more]
During a Council of Europe meeting on Tuesday to address the WHO's handling of the H1N1 virus, the WHO said it had not "fallen under the sway of drugs firms and exaggerated the dangers of the H1N1 flu virus, but said it might have handled the crisis better," Reuters reports. "Critics say the WHO relied too much on advice from advisers in the pay of the pharmaceutical industry, triggering an internal review by the WHO and an inquiry by the Council of Europe, a pan European human rights watchdog," writes the news service (Reilhac, 1/26)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) [...more]
ILI rate: The Department of Health & Children and the HSE advised yesterday (14th January, 2010) that the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) for the week ending Sunday 10th January 2010 (week 1, 2010), was 21.0 per 100,000 population. This is a small increase from the 15.3 per 100,000 population reported during week 53, 2009 and indicates that the Swine Flu virus is still capable of causing infection. This virus can also result in serious health complications for those with an underlying medical condition... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) [...more]
The rapid and widespread entry of the pandemic H1N1 infection that led to a large number of infected cases in Australia suggested a public health management failure in containing the pandemic when it broke out in April 2009. According to a paper in Respirology published by Wiley-Blackwell, despite the well-intentioned and well-funded public health effort against the pandemic, the primary failure of the prepared public health response was the unanticipated clinical presentation and the high infectivity of virus... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) MedWorm Message: Get the very latest Swine Flu news via the MedWorm Swine Flu RSS news feed - updated hourly from thousands of authoritative health and news sources. [...more]
