WHO strikes back at critics — H1N1 pandemic

The World Health Organization has struck back at criticism about the agency’s handling of the H1N1 pandemic, saying claims that the outbreak was a false alarm are scientifically wrong and irresponsible. “The world is going through a real pandemic. The description of it as a fake is both wrong and irresponsible,” said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, [...]

Preventing disease through vaccination — a contrast between developed and developing countries

Nearly 12 million Africans deemed at highest risk from yellow fever will be vaccinated next week against the virus, which can cause explosive epidemics in cities. Vaccination is the best way to prevent yellow fever, which is hard to diagnose in early stages and for which there is no specific treatment, according to the United [...]

Health Canada warns people not to buy unauthorized products to fight H1N1 flu

Federal authorities are warning Canadians not to buy unauthorized products from the Internet or other sources that claim to fight the H1N1 virus.  The Competition Bureau and Health Canada issued a statement Wednesday saying that only three products are authorized for use against the virus: the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline called Arepanrix, which is available at [...]

U.S. and other countries make H1N1 vaccine available internationally through the WHO

The United States joins Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and Britain in efforts to make the H1N1 vaccine available to less-developed countries.  The White House announced yesterday that they are prepared to make 10 percent of America’s H1N1 vaccine supply available to other countries through the World Health Organization. The recent news [...]

Treating H1N1 – WHO recommends keeping antivirals for severe cases

In contrast to the H1N1 treatment protocols established by many developed nations, the World Health Organization recently announced that healthy patients who get H1N1 swine flu without suffering complications do not need to be treated with antivirals like Tamiflu.  Antiviral treatments are strongly recommended for pregnant women, patients with underlying medical conditions and children under [...]

H1N1 vaccines close to approval says WHO

The World Health Organization recently stated that the first vaccines to combat H1N1 swine flu should be approved and ready for use in some countries from September, according to a recent article by Reuters. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research, also said vaccine production yields were improving, following a disappointing start [...]

WHO set to declare flu pandemic

The BBC reports that UN health officials are expected to declare the first global flu pandemic in 40 years, after holding emergency talks on the swine flu crisis. WHO poised to declare first flu pandemic in 40 years Flu experts expected to recommend move to phase 6 Expected to urge finishing seasonal flu vaccine production [...]

A historical view of flu pandemics: a reason to remain vigilant

Global H1N1 fears are subsiding, but as a recent Wall Street Journal article pointed out this may be premature.  The article illustrates how the number of countries with confirmed H1N1 cases has risen from four on April 27th to 48 as of Wednesday, with the number of individual cases increasing from 73 to 13,398.  However, [...]

World Health Assembly to be cut short due to swine flu

Earlier this week, the UN announced that the sixty-second World Health Assembly would be cut short due to global concerns about the spread of influenza A (H1N1) – swine flu.  Instead of the previously scheduled 10 day meeting (May 18-27), the WHA will be cut in half and will run from May 18-22, 2009. Due to [...]

WHO raises global alert for swine flu outbreak

Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO’s Director-General, yesterday raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5, warning that a pandemic is likely imminent. Listen to the Audio statement by WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan – 29 April 2009  Swine flu is suspected of killing 160 people in Mexico and making about 2,500 [...]