Credibility and transparency are essential to building trust in public health communications. During unfolding public health crises, the problem of what and when to warn is an enduring policy dilemma that goes to the heart of public trust.
Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) persuasively refuted spurious claims from the Council of Europe that H1N1 [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, International News, US News, Vaccine Updates
Tagged: Care and Treatment, h1n1, influenza, International News, pandemic flu, swine flu, US News, Vaccine Updates
- Published:
- February 2, 2010 – 3:06 am
- Author:
- By The Editor
Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) are surging in Egypt. Last year Egypt recorded 39 human cases of H5N1, a vast jump over eight cases in 2008. Four new cases were reported this month, bringing the country’s case count to 94. Of these, 27 have been fatal. These numbers position Egypt just behind Indonesia [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, International News
Tagged: avian influenza, Care and Treatment, flu, h1n1, h5n1, influenza, International News, pandemic flu, swine flu
- Published:
- January 29, 2010 – 3:24 am
- Author:
- By The Editor
Despite substantial development efforts that go into antiviral drugs and vaccines for influenza, viruses are able to develop resistance due to their high mutation rates.
In a recent issue of Nature, a team of German moleclar biologists make the case that by targeting host rather than viral factors, it may be possible to develop flu treatments [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, International News, Vaccine Updates
Tagged: avian influenza, Care and Treatment, flu, h1n1, h5n1, influenza, International News, swine flu, Vaccine Updates
- Published:
- January 24, 2010 – 1:54 pm
- Author:
- By The Editor
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a very rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Specifically, “GBS damages the nerves’ protective covering (myelin sheath) and this interferes with the signaling process, causing weakness, numbness or paralysis.” There is no cure for GBS but it is treatable. Most recover and [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, US News, Vaccine Updates, Video and Media
Tagged: Care and Treatment, flu, h1n1, influenza, swine flu, US News, Vaccine Updates, Video and Media
- Published:
- January 15, 2010 – 10:29 pm
- Author:
- By The Editor
Background on Haiti Earthquake
USGS National Eathquake Information Center: Magnitude 7.0 – HAITI REGION
DOS: Travel Alert – HAITI
WHO: Public health risk assessment and interventions: Haiti Earthquake January 2010 (PDF)
USAID: Response to Haiti Earthquake
DOD: OPERATION UNIFIED RESPONSE
How You Can Help
American Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
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Categories: Care and Treatment, International News
Tagged: Care and Treatment, flu, h1n1, Haiti earthquake, influenza, International News, swine flu
- Published:
- January 13, 2010 – 7:07 pm
- Author:
- By The Editor
PYONGYANG: The H1N1 flu situation remains unclear in North Korea. Indications, though somewhat tenuous, suggest the situation is serious. The Wall Street Journal reported the country issued a nationwide alert on H1N1 in late December. Earlier that month North Korea’s official news agency (KCNA) reported that nine people had contracted the H1N1 virus in the [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, International News
Tagged: Care and Treatment, flu, h1n1, influenza, International News, swine flu
- Published:
- January 7, 2010 – 4:39 am
- Author:
- By The Editor
BEIJING: Agence France Presse reported that all but six of China’s 659 deaths from H1N1 were recorded in the last two months of 2009, suggesting the flu is on the upswing. While H1N1 is declining in major cities, China’s Health Ministry reports H1N1 is spreading into the countryside. Ministry officials described the winter flu outlook [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, International News, Video and Media
Tagged: Care and Treatment, flu, h1n1, influenza, International News, swine flu, Video and Media
- Published:
- January 7, 2010 – 2:20 am
- Author:
- By The Editor
As the nation enters 2010 with ample H1N1 vaccine supplies and a public weary from H1N1, HHS has ramped up public information efforts encouraging Americans to get vaccinated.
Several events are planned for National Influenza Vaccination Week, which has been rescheduled to the week of Jan 10. New public-service announcements (PSA’s) are appearing on radio, TV [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, US News, Vaccine Updates, Video and Media
Tagged: Care and Treatment, flu, h1n1, influenza, swine flu, US News, Vaccine Updates, Video and Media
- Published:
- January 2, 2010 – 4:40 pm
- Author:
- By The Editor
As 2009 comes to a close, an estimated 60 million Americans have been vaccinated for H1N1. This represents a remarkable achievement.
Despite waning H1N1 infection rates in the U.S., recent surveys show that half of all Americans desire the vaccine. While HHS handling of the H1N1 pandemic has drawn criticism, overall public awareness has been an [...]
Categories: Care and Treatment, International News, US News, Vaccine Updates
Tagged: Care and Treatment, flu, International News, swine flu, US News, Vaccine Updates
- Published:
- December 30, 2009 – 11:40 pm
- Author:
- By The Editor
