"Although yearly vaccination with the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs can be effective for prevention and treatment of the flu." 04-09
"The 1918 flu that killed 20 million people appears to be more birdlike than previously thought, according to findings by U.S. and British researchers that could help explain why it was the deadliest influenza strain ever recorded."
"The research, conducted separately by scientists at the Scripps Institute in La Jolla, Calif., and at Britain's Medical Research Council, used lung samples preserved from victims of the 1918 flu to reconstruct a protein crucial to their infection."
" 'These were not little steps but big strides toward understanding, at the structural and molecular level, what it is about these strains that make them dangerous,' said Dr. Gregory Poland, a flu specialist at the Mayo Clinic who reviewed the research."
"Different influenza strains spread around the world annually. Every so often a strain tough enough to kill millions emerges, and experts believe the world is overdue for another pandemic. Unraveling what made the 1918 flu so vicious could help doctors better react if a similar strain returns."
"Asia's current bird flu, a strain known as H5N1, clearly can jump directly from poultry to people - at least 16 people have died of it this winter. Most cases have been traced directly to contact with sick birds, although human-to-human transmission has not been ruled out in one instance." 2-04
"Type A influenza viruses can infect several animal species, including birds, pigs, horses, seals and whales. Influenza viruses that infect birds are called “avian influenza viruses.” Birds are an especially important species because all known subtypes of influenza A viruses circulate among wild birds, which are considered the natural hosts for influenza A viruses. Avian influenza viruses do not usually directly infect humans or circulate among humans." 12-04
"A top U.N. public health expert warned Thursday that a new influenza pandemic could come anytime and claim millions of lives unless officials to take action now to control an epidemic in Asia."
"Dr. David Nabarro of the World Health Organization called on governments to take immediate steps to address the threat at a news conference following his appointment as the new U.N. coordinator to lead a global drive to counter a human flu pandemic." 9-05
"A new canine influenza, or dog flu, is spreading steadily through the nation's dogs, and experts say there is no vaccine available to curb the virus that has killed young and otherwise healthy animals." 10-05
"With flu season reaching its peak, two drugs typically prescribed to fight the virus will be ineffective this season and should not be prescribed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Saturday."
"The CDC found in tests that the antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine were ineffective 91 percent of the time against H3N2 influenza, the dominant strain this season."
"However, two other antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza are still effective, said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. Amantadine and rimantadine are older, less-expensive and less commonly prescribed drugs." 01-06
"Researchers have found what they think could be the key to a whole new way of treating and protecting against influenza—with monoclonal antibodies. If the discovery pans out, the approach could be used as a treatment for bird flu and seasonal flu and also as the basis for a vaccine against many different flu strains, including the H5N1 strain that has caused so much worry about a pandemic."
"Our vaccine is directed against the lollipop stick, which actually contains the machinery that allows the virus to enter cells. This is what allowed us to make this significant scientific advance—to identify a new Achilles' heel in the virus's coat protein."
"We tested the antibody against bird flu, against 1918 pandemic flu; we tested it against all 10 different types of flu viruses, multiple strains, both in tissue culture and in animals. The antibody was not only active in preventing infection; you could give it to animals that got a lethal dose of the flu virus as late as three days after infection, when they were clearly getting sick, and they recovered and survived." 02-09
"The CDC is actively investigating isolated human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) in several states (CA, TX, OH, KS, NY) and is working closely with Canada and Mexico and with the WHO. The CDC is continuously updating investigation information." 04-09
"Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below." 04-09
"Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below." 04-09
"Beta glucans are used for high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. Beta glucans are also used to boost the immune system in people whose body defenses have been weakened by conditions such chronic fatigue syndrome, or physical and emotional stress; or by treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy. Beta glucans are also used for colds (common cold), flu (influenza), H1N1 (swine) flu, allergies, hepatitis, Lyme disease, asthma, ear infections, aging, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis."
"People apply beta glucans to the skin for dermatitis, eczema, wrinkles, bedsores, wounds, burns, diabetic ulcers, and radiation burns." 07-10
"Based on early data from flu sufferers, health officials say the current influenza vaccine is 62% effective in reducing symptoms of the disease.""That means that those who are vaccinated are 62% less likely to need to see a doctor for their illness compared to those who are not vaccinated." 01-13
"Piggybacking off this year’s influenza epidemic, a new strain of the highly contagious norovirus has reached the U.S. from Australia."
"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that the new norovirus strain, called GII.4 Sydney, is currently the leading cause of norovirus outbreaks in the U.S. and accounted for 58% of cases of the infection in December."
"Often confused with the stomach flu because of its contemporaneous circulation with influenza during winter months, norovirus causes 21 million cases of illness, often involving severe vomiting and diarrhea, 70,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S., and 800 deaths. Where influenza is a respiratory illness, norovirus, which comes in five forms, favors the stomach and intestinal tract, causing inflammation of tissues that leads to pain, nausea, and the diarrhea and vomiting. According to the CDC, about 51% of the cases in the U.S. were caused by person-to-person transmission, and 20% resulted from contaminated food. Most infections occur in places where large numbers of people are gathered, such as schools, nursing homes and cruise ships, where the virus can pass easily from host to host." 01-13
Provides information on childhood diseases and conditions. Includes fact sheets on some of the most common childhood problems, such as Asthma, Baby Bottle Tooth Decay and Oral Health, Bacterial Meningitis, Campylobacter, Chickenpox, Cold Sores, Common Cold, Cryptosporidium, Cytomegalovirus, Diarrheal Diseases, Diphtheria, Earache (Otitis Media), E. coli, Fifth Disease, Foodborne Illnesses, Giardiasis, Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Coxsackie A), Head Lice, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections, Impetigo, Infectious Mononucleosis, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Pertussis, Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis), Pinworms, Polio, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Ringworm, Roseola, Rotavirus Diarrhea, Rubella, Salmonella, Scabies, Shigellosis, Strep Throat and Scarlet Fever, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Tetanus, Tuberculosis, and Yeast Infections (Thrush) 5-00
"A major component of pandemic preparedness is to strengthen the capacity to respond to yearly epidemics of influenza. A surveillance network for human and animal influenza and a targeted influenza vaccination programme are the cornerstones of a national influenza policy." 12-04
"A global pandemic of avian influenza is 'very, very likely' and could kill tens of millions of people worldwide, a top World Health Organization official said Monday."
Editor's Note: U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson stated on December 3, 2004 that one of his greatest health fears is for a pandemic of avian flu. 12-04
"Avian influenza refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily infect birds. A pandemic occurs when an avian influenza strain adapts to become easily transmissible between humans, e.g., by coughing and sneezing. Once this adaptation occurs, it will no longer be a bird virus - it will be a human influenza virus." 02-08