Swine Flu Could Wreak More Havoc On US Economy, Says Economist

ScienceDaily (2009-09-25) -- H1N1 influenza could slow growth in key industries and stall already-weak GDP growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2009, says one health economist. ... > read full article

Swine Flu Vaccines Being Tested: Vaccine Expected To Be Available In November

ScienceDaily (2009-07-18) -- Researchers are currently comparing 4 potential vaccines for H1N1v, also known as swine flu or Mexican flu. 300 to 400 volunteers will be recruited for these tests. “There is a good chance that a Mexican flu vaccine is available early November”, expects vaccine expert involved with the research. ... > read full article

Swine Flu: H1N1 Virus More Dangerous Than Suspected, Except To Survivors Of The 1918 Pandemic Flu Virus

ScienceDaily (2009-07-13) -- Researchers also noted that those people exposed to the 1918 virus, all of whom are now in advanced old age, have antibodies that neutralize the H1N1 virus. ... > read full article

First Wave Of Swine Flu Hit Young People Harder Than Expected

ScienceDaily (2009-07-05) -- A mathematical epidemiologist is researching the A(H1N1) influenza pandemic strain circulating around the world. The new study's findings reveal an age shift in the proportion of cases toward a younger population when compared with historical patterns of seasonal influenza in Mexico. "For the 1918 ("Spanish flu") influenza pandemic, this was the pattern -- first a mild wave, and then a severe one with higher case fatality rates," notes one of the researchers. ... > read full article

First Wave Of Swine Flu Hit Young People Harder Than Expected

ScienceDaily (2009-06-29) -- A mathematical epidemiologist is researching the A(H1N1) influenza pandemic strain circulating around the world. The new study's findings reveal an age shift in the proportion of cases toward a younger population when compared with historical patterns of seasonal influenza in Mexico. "For the 1918 ("Spanish flu") influenza pandemic, this was the pattern – first a mild wave, and then a severe one with higher case fatality rates," notes one of the researchers. ... > read full article

Vaccinating Children May Be Effective At Helping Control Spread Of Influenza

ScienceDaily (2009-06-19) -- Targeting children may be an effective use of limited supplies of flu vaccine, according to new research. The study suggests that, used to support other control measures, this could help control the spread of pandemics such as the current swine flu. ... > read full article

Preventing Spread Of Infectious Deseases Is Everyone's Responsibility

Preventing Spread Of Infectious Diseases Is Everyone's Responsibility

ScienceDaily (2009-06-16) -- According to a new report, we must all share responsibility for preventing the spread of diseases such as swine flu, SARS, avian influenza, diarrheal and skin diseases, and even the common cold. ... > read full article

UK Tops The List Of 213 Countries At Extreme Risk To The Spread Of Swine Flu

UK Tops The List Of 213 Countries At Extreme Risk To The Spread Of Swine Flu

ScienceDaily (2009-06-17) -- A Warwick Business School professor and one of the founders of global risks specialist, Maplecroft, has released maps and indices revealing the countries most at risk from an influenza pandemic. The map of Risk of Spread shows the UK most at risk to the spread of an influenza pandemic. ... > read full article

WHO Closer To Declaring Swine Flu Outbreak A Pandemic

(Medical News Today)

The WHO on Tuesday said it was "getting closer" to declaring the H1N1 (swine) flu outbreak to be a pandemic, as the virus continues to spread to people outside of North America, and in populations "as far apart as Britain, Spain, Japan, Chile and Australia," the AP/Washington Post reports (Jordans, AP/Washington Post, 6/2).

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You

(CDC)

What is H1N1 (swine flu)?
H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus.

Swine flu vaccine appeal to firms

(BBC News)

The World Health Organization has urged pharmaceutical companies to reserve part of their swine flu vaccines for poor countries.

Malaysia confirms second case of swine flu

Malaysia confirms second case of swine flu(Taiwan News)Malaysia confirmed its second case of swine flu Saturday, a woman who recently returned from the United States.
Ramlee Rahmat, the Health Ministry deputy director-general, said the woman had returned to Malaysia from the United States on Wednesday and was hospitalized Friday in northern Penang state.

Malaysia confirms first case of swine flu

(The Jakarta Post)

Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of swine flu, a 21-year-old student who recently returned from the United States.
A statement by the Health Ministry's director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalized on Thursdy after suffering from fever, sore throat and body aches. He had returned to Malaysia from the United States on Wednesday.

US confirms 2,254 swine flu cases,104 hospitalization

US confirms 2,254 swine flu cases,104 hospitalization
(AFP via Yahoo News UK)

US health officials said Saturday that swine flu was continuing to spread in the country, with the number of confirmed cases rising to 2,254, with 104 people hospitalized.
The cases were confirmed in 44 of the nation's 50 states and the capital Washington but health authorities were now focusing on the characteristics of the new virus and on developing a vaccine, said Anne Schuchat of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

SWINE FLU BREAKING NEWS

SWINE FLU BREAKING NEWS 2: New case count, attack rate, patients' travel history, public awareness, product scams, treatment insurance
(CIDRAP News)

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 365 cases of swine influenza H1N1 in 11 countries as of 7 pm. GMT (1 p.m. US ET) today, up from 331 cases reported earlier in the day. The case numbers by country are United States, 141 (1 death); Mexico, 156 (9 deaths), Canada, 34; Spain, 13; United Kingdom, 8; New Zealand, 3; Germany, 3; Israel, 2; and 1 each in Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and China (Hong Kong). [WHO update 8]
Preliminary data from cases in the United States show a swine flu virus attack rate in the 25% to 30% range, which is consistent with seasonal influenza, Anne Schuchat, MD, interim deputy director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) science and public health program, said at a media briefing today. The attack rate is the proportion of people exposed to a pathogen who actually get sick.

HEALTH-ASIA: Swine Flu Threatens To Be Deadlier than Bird Flu, SARS

HEALTH-ASIA: Swine Flu Threatens To Be Deadlier than Bird Flu, SARS
(IPS)

BANGKOK, Apr 29 (IPS) - When the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the influenza pandemic alert from phase three to an ominous phase four warning this week, it went beyond the alarm associated with the killer avian influenza virus in Asia.
The global health body’s warning came as the outbreak of a lethal strain of swine flu has killed more than 150 people in Mexico - the epicentre of the virus - and has also been detected in parts of the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.