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Pandemic flu related news from the BMJ Group
daily12009-07-20T14:09:52ZNews: WHO swine flu review committee promises to probe links with drug industry http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-who-swine-flu-review-committee-promises-to-probe-links-with-drug-industry The chairman of the external expert review committee examining the World Health Organization’s management of the H1N1 pandemic said on 2 July that the panel will probe deeper into allegations that the drug industry may have unduly influenced key outcomes...No publisherJHayesnews2010-07-08T12:46:53ZLinkNews: UK response to H1N1 pandemic was highly satisfactory, independent review says http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-uk-response-to-h1n1-pandemic-was-highly-satisfactory-independent-review-says The United Kingdom’s response to the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, which cost £1.2bn (1.5bn; $1.8bn), was highly satisfactory and good value for money, concludes an independent review. But any purchasing for future pandemics should allow greater flexibility, it adds...No publisherJHayesnews2010-07-06T10:56:00ZLinkNews: Italian auditor criticises contract for H1N1 vaccine http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-italian-auditor-criticises-contract-for-h1n1-vaccine The contract between the drug firm Novartis and Italy’s health ministry over the purchase of 24 million doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine Focetria raises "many perplexities," a report from the Italian Court of Audit (Corte dei Conti) has said...No publisherJHayesnews2010-07-06T10:55:01ZLinkNews: Telephone and internet surveys will improve estimates of flu incidence, experts say http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-telephone-and-internet-surveys-will-improve-estimates-of-flu-incidence-experts-say Experts have admitted that accurate predictions of the incidence of the H1N1 flu pandemic in the United Kingdom proved a near impossible challenge...No publisherJHayesnews2010-06-29T11:10:47ZLinkNews: A more severe flu pandemic is as inevitable as "death and taxes" http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-a-more-severe-flu-pandemic-is-as-inevitable-as-death-and-taxes The next flu pandemic could be more severe than the H1N1 pandemic of 2009, health experts have warned...No publisherJHayesnews2010-06-29T11:08:38ZLinkNews: WHO admits to "inconsistencies" in its policy on conflicts of interest http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-who-admits-to-inconsistencies-in-its-policy-on-conflicts-of-interest The World Health Organization has admitted that its policies governing the publication of conflicts of interests of its expert advisers have "inconsistencies" and that safeguards "surrounding engagements with industry" need to be tightened...No publisherJHayesnews2010-06-16T09:26:40ZLinkNews: Australian government says healthy under 5s should not be given seasonal flu jab http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-australian-government-says-healthy-under-5s-should-not-be-given-seasonal-flu-jab Australia’s health authorities have recommended that healthy children under 5 should not be given the seasonal flu jab, after preliminary research showed rates of febrile convulsions nine times higher than expected...No publisherJHayesnews2010-06-07T15:15:11ZLinkNews: Council of Europe condemns "unjustified scare" over swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-council-of-europe-condemns-unjustified-scare-over-swine-flu The Council of Europe has heavily criticised the World Health Organization, national governments, and EU agencies for their handling of the swine flu pandemic...No publisherJHayesnews2010-06-07T15:12:43ZLinkNews: Swine flu pandemic review panel seeks access to confidential documents between WHO and drug companies http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-swine-flu-pandemic-review-panel-seeks-access-to-confidential-documents-between-who-and-drug-companies The chairman of the external expert review committee examining the World Health Organization’s management of the H1N1 pandemic said the panel wants access to confidential documents between the agency and drug companies...No publisherJHayesnews2010-05-28T09:17:45ZLinkNews: Former Roche employee questions marketing of oseltamivir to businesses http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-former-roche-employee-questions-marketing-of-oseltamivir-to-businesses-1 A former employee of Roche has questioned the drug company’s sales practices for the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), as well as its efforts to maintain market share and tender for distributors for a broad range of products...No publisherJHayesnews2010-05-28T09:38:22ZLinkNews: Trusts forced to cut services because of costs of swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-trusts-forced-to-cut-services-because-of-costs-of-swine-flu Some primary care trusts have had to cut spending on their regular services because of the costs of the recent A/H1N1 flu pandemic, it has been shown. A Freedom of Information Act request by GP newspaper showed that the cost of dealing with the pandemic forced one in six trusts to cut other services...No publisherJHayesnews2010-05-14T13:20:36ZLinkNews: GSK chief defends profits made on back of swine flu crisis http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-gsk-chief-defends-profits-made-on-back-of-swine-flu-crisis Andrew Witty, chief executive of global drug company GlaxoSmithKline, has denied accusations that the company profiteered during the swine flu crisis. Last year the company made a pre-tax profit of more than $13bn (£8.5bn; 9.8)...No publisherJHayesnews2010-05-04T15:49:33ZLinkNews: New director of European disease centre defends its role in flu pandemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-new-director-of-european-disease-centre-defends-its-role-in-flu-pandemic Marc Sprenger, the new director of the Stockholm based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), has made it clear that he will not be pushing for the centre’s mandate to be extended to include non-communicable diseases...No publisherJHayesnews2010-05-04T15:47:07ZLinkNews: Australia suspends seasonal flu vaccination of young children http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-australia-suspends-seasonal-flu-vaccination-of-young-children Australia has extended a suspension of vaccination of children aged 5 years and under against seasonal flu, pending further investigations into an apparent spike in febrile convulsions associated with the vaccine...No publisherJHayesnews2010-05-04T15:44:11ZLinkNews: Hospital stays for young adults with flu shot up in England in 2009 http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-hospital-stays-for-young-adults-with-flu-shot-up-in-england-in-2009 Hospitalisation rates for young adults with influenza were 37 times higher in the autumn of 2009—when the H1N1 strain was predominant—than for the same period in the previous year, the latest figures for hospitals in England show...No publisherJHayesnews2010-04-28T15:48:58ZLinkNews: External committee is to look at criticisms of WHO’s management of H1N1 pandemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-external-committee-is-to-look-at-criticisms-of-who2019s-management-of-h1n1-pandemic An evaluation of the World Health Organization’s management of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic will include an examination of the criticisms levelled at the agency, an interim report by an external expert review committee says...No publisherJHayesnews2010-04-28T15:43:20ZLinkNews: Department of Health agrees deal with GSK to cancel part of swine flu vaccine order http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-department-of-health-agrees-deal-with-gsk-to-cancel-part-of-swine-flu-vaccine-order The Department of Health in England announced that it has agreed with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to cap its order for the company’s swine flu (H1N1) vaccine, saving about one third of the value of the original order that it placed for enough vaccine to protect the entire UK population...No publisherJHayesnews2010-04-15T13:34:07ZLinkNews: Out of hours services would need to expand in more severe flu pandemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-out-of-hours-services-would-need-to-expand-in-more-severe-flu-pandemic A lack of capacity in out of hours services means that GPs in England would struggle to cope if a more severe wave of pandemic flu were to occur, speakers said at a pandemic summit at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London on 18 March...No publisherJHayesnews2010-03-22T15:41:20ZLinkNews: Head of WHO’s vaccines advisory group defends its policy on competing interests http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-head-of-who2019s-vaccines-advisory-group-defends-its-policy-on-competing-interests The chief who oversees the World Health Organization’s top advisory group on global vaccines has defended the oversight mechanism that guards against potential conflicts of interest among its members...No publisherJHayesnews2010-03-19T16:02:38ZLinkLetter: English mortality from A/H1N1: Comparisons with recent flu mortality http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/letter-english-mortality-from-a-h1n1-comparisons-with-recent-flu-mortality How do the number of deaths from pandemic A/H1N1 compare with influenza related mortality in recent years?...No publisherJHayesnews2010-02-02T16:07:17ZLinkNews: Council of Europe launches investigation into H1N1 pandemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-council-of-europe-launches-investigation-into-h1n1-pandemic A Europe wide investigation will begin this week into the World Health Organization’s decision to label the outbreak of swine flu a "pandemic," amid allegations that it did so under pressure from drug companies looking to boost demand for their vaccines...No publisherJHayesnews2010-02-02T10:18:41ZLinkNews: Use leftover Tamiflu to grit icy roads, MP suggests http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-use-leftover-tamiflu-to-grit-icy-roads-mp-suggests An MP has said that unused supplies of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) pills left over from the swine flu pandemic that never quite happened in the United Kingdom could be used to grit icy roads...No publisherJHayesnews2010-01-26T11:32:38ZLinkNews: Government is in talks with GSK to offload surplus swine flu vaccine http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-government-is-in-talks-with-gsk-to-offload-surplus-swine-flu-vaccine The Department of Health in England is negotiating with GlaxoSmithKline over what can be done with millions of doses of swine flu vaccine it has ordered under contract from the company but that are now unlikely to be needed.
No publisherJulietWalkernews2010-01-11T15:56:17ZLinkNews: Politician accuses drug companies of overplaying dangers of H1N1 http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-politician-accuses-drug-companies-of-overplaying-dangers-of-h1n1 Drug companies are being accused of unnecessarily raising fears over the H1N1 swine flu virus so as to increase profits by boosting sales of their new vaccines ...No publisherBTwisselmannnews2010-01-12T17:12:11ZLinkNews: WHO vaccine expert had conflict of interest, Danish newspaper claims http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-who-vaccine-expert-had-conflict-of-interest-danish-newspaper-claims Controversy has arisen at the World Health Organization after allegations that some WHO experts, including a leading vaccine adviser, have financial ties to the drug industry ...
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2010-01-12T17:03:09ZLinkNews: Too early to declare H1N1 swine flu pandemic over, says WHO chief http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-too-early-to-declare-h1n1-swine-flu-pandemic-over-says-who-chief It is too soon to declare the H1N1 swine flu pandemic over and the evolution of the virus should be monitored closely over the next year, the head of the World Health Organization has warned ...No publisherBTwisselmannnews2010-01-08T13:08:45ZLinkNews: Swine flu has been "considerably less lethal than feared," says Donaldson http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-swine-flu-has-been-considerably-less-lethal-than-feared-says-donaldson Two thirds of primary care trusts in England have now reached agreements for GPs to vaccinate children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years against swine flu and the rest are close to finalising deals.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-12-21T12:57:24ZLinkNews: WHO dispatches H1N1 vaccines to priority group of 35 poorer nations http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-who-dispatches-h1n1-vaccines-to-priority-group-of-35-poorer-nations Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Mongolia will be the first three countries out of a priority group of 35 poor nations to receive the deliveries of H1N1 pandemic flu vaccines donated by governments and drug companies ...No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-12-21T12:56:48ZLinkNews: GPs make deals with local NHS to vaccinate children against swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-gps-make-deals-with-local-nhs-to-vaccinate-children-against-swine-flu GPs in London and the north east of England have reached agreements with local NHS bodies to vaccinate children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years against swine flu, after the BMA failed to make a national deal with the government.
No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-12-14T10:32:05ZLinkNews: Health ministers from around the world make H1N1 top priority http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/health-ministers-from-around-the-world-make-h1n1-top-priority Health ministers from around the world agreed last week that H1N1 remains the top global health threat. No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-12-10T12:21:52ZLinkNews: Fall in swine flu cases may not signal an end of the epidemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/fall-in-swine-flu-cases-may-not-signal-an-end-of-the-epidemic England’s chief medical officer has said it is too early to know whether the "striking reduction" in numbers of new swine flu cases would continue in weeks ahead, and warned there may be a rise of infections among older people after Christmas. No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-12-10T12:12:05ZLinkNews: GPs are told to vaccinate all priority groups against swine flu before Christmas http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-gps-are-told-to-vaccinate-all-priority-groups-against-swine-flu-before-christmas More than a million doses of swine flu vaccine are estimated to have been given to people in high risk priority groups since the programme began in the United Kingdom at the end of October, according to information on uptake from the Department of Health.No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-11-30T11:49:52ZLinkNews: Up to a third of schoolchildren in some parts of England may already have had swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-up-to-a-third-of-schoolchildren-in-some-parts-of-england-may-already-have-had-swine-flu Up to a fifth of school age children in England may have been infected with the swine flu virus in the first wave of the outbreak between April and the end of September this year, the Health Protection Agency has estimated.No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-11-25T17:19:06ZLinkDeaths from swine flu in UK rise, while cases fall http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/deaths-from-swine-flu-in-uk-rise-while-cases-fall No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-11-16T08:54:05ZLinkWHO recommends early antiviral treatment for at risk groups with suspected swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/who-recommends-early-antiviral-treatment-for-at-risk-groups-with-suspected-swine-flu People in groups at high risk of complications—such as pregnant women, children under 2 years old, and people with underlying medical conditions—and who are suspected of having swine flu should be treated promptly with antiviral drugs, the World Health Organization said on 12 November. No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-11-16T08:52:17ZLinkReassure pregnant women over swine flu vaccine, health officials urge http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/reassure-pregnant-women-over-swine-flu-vaccine-health-officials-urge England’s Department of Health has urged GPs to reassure pregnant women who are worried about being vaccinated against swine flu.
No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-11-09T15:30:38ZLinkNews: Number of swine flu patients going into intensive care is rising http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-number-of-swine-flu-patients-going-into-intensive-care-is-rising The proportion of patients in hospital with swine flu who have been admitted to intensive care continues to rise in England, said the chief medical officer, Liam Donaldson, last week.
No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-11-02T15:19:45ZLinkCases of swine flu in England almost double in a week http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/cases-of-swine-flu-in-england-almost-double-in-a-week The number of patients with swine flu who required intensive care rose to its highest level so far in the epidemic last week, with 99 patients being admitted compared with 63 at the end of July.No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-10-27T12:35:30ZLinkNews: H1N1 vaccination begins as proportion of cases in hospital admitted to intensive care rises http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-h1n1-vaccination-begins-as-proportion-of-cases-in-hospital-admitted-to-intensive-care-rises The swine flu vaccination programme will begin on Wednesday 21 October, when the first vaccines are distributed to acute trusts for use in "very high risk" patients and healthcare professionals, the chief medical officer Liam Donaldson has announced.No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-10-20T11:00:48ZLinkNews: H1N1 pandemic flu found to cause viral pneumonia in severe cases, says WHO http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-h1n1-pandemic-flu-found-to-cause-viral-pneumonia-in-severe-cases-says-who The World Health Organization expressed heightened concern following the presentation of new evidence on clinical aspects of the H1N1 pandemic by experts from heavily affected countries ...
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-10-20T11:23:04ZLinkNews: WHO will start delivering H1N1 vaccine to 100 poorer nations in November http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/who-will-start-delivering-h1n1-vaccine-to-100-poorer-nations-in-november About 100 low and middle income nations will start receiving the first deliveries of H1N1 flu vaccines donated by drug companies and governments as early as November, World Health Organization officials announced on 12 October. No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-10-14T15:42:41ZLinkNews: People with asthma are most at risk of complications from swine flu, study shows http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-people-with-asthma-are-most-at-risk-of-complications-from-swine-flu-study-shows The government has released further information on the underlying conditions that can cause swine flu to become more dangerous, showing that asthma is the most common comorbidity found in those who are admitted to hospital.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-10-06T14:56:01ZLinkNews: European agency approves swine flu vaccines for licensing http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/european-agency-approves-swine-flu-vaccines-for-licensing Two swine flu vaccines, including one of those to be used in the United Kingdom’s vaccination programme, were approved for licensing by the European Medicines Agency on 25 September. No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-29T11:53:18ZLinkNews: UN seeks $1.5bn and donations of vaccines to help poor nations fight swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/un-seeks-1-5bn-and-donations-of-vaccines-to-help-poor-nations-fight-swine-flu United Nations health officials have called for rich nations to pledge more money and donate vaccines against H1N1 flu to help developing countries fight the pandemic. No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-29T11:53:45ZLinkNews: Children are likely to need two doses of swine flu vaccine http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/children-are-likely-to-need-two-doses-of-swine-flu-vaccine Children are likely to need two doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine to achieve a full immune response, while most adults will need just one, the director of immunisation at the Department of Health has saidNo publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-29T11:54:19ZLinkNews: Chief medical officer warns that swine flu may be on the rise again http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/chief-medical-officer-warns-that-swine-flu-may-be-on-the-rise-again The incidence of swine flu has risen in the past week in England, the first weekly increase in incidence since late July. Liam Donaldson, England’s chief medical officer, said that although the increase is slight, it may be "the start of an upturn."No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-09-29T11:57:36ZLinkNews: Swine flu vaccine is a "thousandfold" safer than the infection, say experts http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/swine-flu-vaccine-is-a-thousandfold-safer-than-the-infection-say-experts Experts this week played down the risk of adverse effects from the forthcoming swine flu vaccine, saying that even in the worse case scenario people would be a "thousandfold better off" having the jab than the disease. No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-16T10:53:15ZLinkNews: GPs are to be paid £5.25 a shot for swine flu vaccination http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-gps-are-to-be-paid-a35-25-a-shot-for-swine-flu-vaccination GPs in England are to be paid £5.25 (5.90; $8.70) for every dose of swine flu vaccine they administer, once it is licensed, under a deal agreed between the BMA and the Department of Health.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-15T15:00:47ZLinkNews: Mental health charities object to contingency plans for flu epidemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/mental-health-charities-object-to-contingency-plans-for-flu-epidemic Mental health charities in the United Kingdom reacted with concern this week in response to government plans to relax mental health safeguards in the event of a worsening flu pandemic.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-14T14:30:01ZLinkNews: Course of flu epidemic is hard to predict, says UK government adviser http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/course-of-flu-epidemic-is-hard-to-predict-says-uk-government-adviser The second wave of swine flu is expected at the beginning of October at the earliest, the UK government’s chief scientific adviser has said.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-14T15:38:17ZLinkNews: China gears up for swine flu vaccination as virus spreads inland http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/china-gears-up-for-swine-flu-vaccination-as-virus-spreads-inland As China rolls out the first phase of its programme to vaccinate 65 million of its 1.3 billion people against A/H1N1 swine flu, the Ministry of Health has confirmed that the disease is spreading inland and into rural areas and may infect tens of millions of Chinese people in the coming months.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-14T15:38:11ZLinkAustralia’s swine flu vaccination plans come under fire http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/australia2019s-swine-flu-vaccination-plans-come-under-fire The Australian government’s impending programme of vaccination against H1N1 flu has been criticised by some professional groups that have raised concerns about potential risks.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-08T11:21:15ZLinkOpposition to swine flu vaccine seems to be growing worldwide http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/opposition-to-swine-flu-vaccine-seems-to-be-growing-worldwide As governments gear up to launch national vaccination programmes against swine flu, questions are beginning to emerge about how many people will be prepared to take up the offer of the vaccine.No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-09-01T14:11:04ZLinkIncidence of swine flu in England continues to fall, but winter surge is predicted http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/incidence-of-swine-flu-in-england-continues-to-fall-but-winter-surge-is-predicted The number of new cases of A/H1N1 influenza reported in England continues to fall, but the government forecasts a sharp rise in cases during the winter months.No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-08-24T07:54:37ZLinkOfficials watch events in southern hemisphere as swine flu rates in UK slow down http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/officials-watch-events-in-southern-hemisphere-as-swine-flu-rates-in-uk-slow-down No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-08-07T15:21:13ZLinkSwine flu incidence in England is slowing down http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/swine-flu-incidence-in-england-is-slowing-down The signs are that the weekly number of new infections of A/H1N1 flu is beginning to level off, the Department of Health for England has said.
No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-08-03T14:39:40ZLinkDoctors call for guidance on how to prioritise critically ill patients in swine flu pandemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/doctors-call-for-guidance-on-how-to-prioritise-critically-ill-patients-in-swine-flu-pandemic "Extraordinary pressure" is expected on critical care beds this autumn, as the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic is set to enter a severe phase. However, the Department of Health has yet to clarify how it plans to meet demand, according to a House of Lords report this week. No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-07-30T08:00:28ZLinkSwine flu website inundated as cases in England double in a week http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/swine-flu-website-inundated-as-cases-in-england-double-in-a-week The Department of Health for England said that the number of cases of influenza A/H1N1 has almost doubled, increasing to 100 000, from about 55 000 a week ago.
No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-07-24T15:41:26ZLinkEU prepares new guidelines for monitoring swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/eu-prepares-new-guidelines-for-monitoring-swine-flu The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is planning to issue new surveillance advice to national health authorities on the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic. No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-07-24T12:38:35ZLinkA/H1N1 influenza update http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/a-h1n1-influenza-update As the English government launches a dedicated telephone service and website that will prescribe antivirals to take the pressure off of GPs, Adrian O’Dowd reports on the latest information on swine flu
No publisherBTwisselmannnewsfeature2009-07-23T15:55:23ZLinkGovernment tries to end confusion over swine flu advice to pregnant women http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/government-tries-to-end-confusion-over-swine-flu-advice-to-pregnant-women The government has issued new guidance to try to end the confusion over advice to pregnant women on how to avoid the A/H1N1 virus.No publisherBTwisselmannnews2009-07-22T13:47:01ZLinkOnly 12% of Germans say they will have H1N1 vaccine after row blows up over safety of adjuvants http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/only-12-of-germans-say-they-will-have-h1n1-vaccine-after-row-blows-up-over-safety-of-adjuvants No publisherJulietWalkernews2009-11-16T08:53:04ZLinkEngland to launch special flu service next week to take pressure off primary care http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/england-to-launch-special-flu-service-next-week-to-take-pressure-off-primary-care The Department of Health for England has brought forward by three months its plans for a national pandemic flu service to relieve pressure on GPs and other NHS service providers as the number of cases of influenzaA/H1N1 and consultations continue to rise rapidly. The service, which will launch towards the end of the week, means that people will be able to get a prescription for antiviral drugs through a special telephone and internet service rather than by visiting or telephoning their GP.No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T15:50:00ZLinkData on flu deaths are potentially misleading, say researchers http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/data-on-flu-deaths-are-potentially-misleading-say-researchers The only thing that can definitely be said about the A/H1N1 flu outbreak is that the virus is not becoming more virulent, said epidemiologists this week. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T15:43:20ZLinkHealthcare workers should get top priority for vaccination against A/H1N1 flu, WHO says http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/healthcare-workers-should-get-top-priority-for-vaccination-against-a-h1n1-flu-who-says The World Health Organization said on Monday 13 July that healthcare workers in all countries should be vaccinated against the A/H1N1 flu virus "as a first priority." They should be followed by high risk groups such as people with chronic conditions and pregnant women. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T15:39:15ZLinkGPs will lead UK’s swine flu vaccination campaign http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/gps-will-lead-uk2019s-swine-flu-vaccination-campaign The government is planning a large scale but non-compulsory campaign of vaccination against the A/H1N1 virus. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanewseditorial2009-07-21T15:41:32ZLinkPatients and doctors are asked to report antivirals’ side effects as swine flu spreads http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/patients-and-doctors-are-asked-to-report-antivirals2019-side-effects-as-swine-flu-spreads The number of people in the United Kingdom confirmed as having died after contracting the A/H1N1 virus rose to seven this week after the deaths of three more people, including two children, were announced. All were said to have had serious underlying health problems. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanewsinformation for patients2009-07-21T15:34:49ZLinkCases of A/H1N1 flu are nearing epidemic levels in London and West Midlands, say GPs http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/cases-of-a-h1n1-flu-are-nearing-epidemic-levels-in-london-and-west-midlands-say-gps London and the West Midlands are approaching epidemic consultation rates for A/H1N1 influenza, figures from the Royal College of General Practitioners show. Epidemic activity can be defined as 200 consultations with patients with influenza-like illness per 100 000 people per week. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T15:32:59ZLinkWHO to call on nations with high rates of swine flu to move away from testing all suspected cases http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/who-to-call-on-nations-with-high-rates-of-swine-flu-to-move-away-from-testing-all-suspected-cases The World Health Organization said on Tuesday (7 July) that with the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic evolving rapidly, it plans to issue new guidelines for nations with large infection rates, advising them to move away from conducting laboratory testing on all suspected cases and to focus instead on monitoring big trends in the spread of disease. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T15:25:53ZLinkUK government predicts 100 000 new A/H1N1 flu cases a day by September http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/uk-government-predicts-100-000-new-a-h1n1-flu-cases-a-day-by-september The UK government is planning for a rapid rise in the number of cases of A/H1N1 flu and is limiting provision of antiviral drugs to people with symptoms, while excluding asymptomatic contacts of infected people. The move comes after the revelation that up to 100 000 new cases of the infection could emerge each day by the end of August. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T15:01:49ZLinkTwo more people in UK die from swine flu, as swabbing policy ends in “hot spot” areas http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/two-more-people-in-uk-die-from-swine-flu-as-swabbing-policy-ends-in-201chot-spot201d-areas Two more people have died in the United Kingdom after contracting the A/H1N1 virus, while some GPs in so called hot spot areas are now handling the virus in a different way from how they did at the start of the epidemic. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:50:10ZLinkUse of Tamiflu may need to be rethought as number of swine flu cases in the UK nears 3000 http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/use-of-tamiflu-may-need-to-be-rethought-as-number-of-swine-flu-cases-in-the-uk-nears-3000 The United Kingdom may need to rethink its strategy on use of the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to treat swine flu, a BMA official has said, as the UK’s number of cases is rising faster than in most of the rest of the world. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:36:16ZLinkAustralia plans to restrict antiretrovirals to high risk cases as swine flu spreads http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/australia-plans-to-restrict-antiretrovirals-to-high-risk-cases-as-swine-flu-spreads Health authorities in Australia are bracing for a fraught winter, as the novel H1N1 influenza A virus spreads alongside seasonal flu. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:22:48ZLinkWorld Health Organization declares A (H1N1) influenza pandemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/world-health-organization-declares-a-h1n1-influenza-pandemic The head of the World Health Organization has declared the first influenza pandemic in 41 years after intense consultations with top officials from countries that are experiencing rapid transmission of the novel A (H1N1) flu virus at the community level, and with international experts monitoring the global outbreak. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:20:17ZLinkUK scientific adviser criticises UK planning for flu pandemic http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/uk-scientific-adviser-criticises-uk-planning-for-flu-pandemic The government’s chief scientific adviser is not convinced that the United Kingdom has the right plans in place to cope with avian flu.No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:16:14ZLinkCountries hit by swine flu reach 62 http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/countries-hit-by-swine-flu-reach-62 Countries hit by swine flu reach 62: The number of countries affected by the A/H1N1 flu virus has risen to 62, according to the World Health Organization. Globally, as the BMJ went to press, there were 17 459 confirmed cases of the virus in 62 countries, including 115 deaths. The UK figure has risen to 278. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:13:02ZLinkNumber of confirmed swine flu cases could be “tip of iceberg” http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/number-of-confirmed-swine-flu-cases-could-be-201ctip-of-iceberg201d Almost 13 000 people around the world have now been confirmed as having been infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus, but experts in the United States are warning that the actual figures there could be much higher. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:05:05ZLinkUK urges more flexibility in criteria for flu pandemic alerts http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/uk-urges-more-flexibility-in-criteria-for-flu-pandemic-alerts Greater flexibility and additional information are needed when deciding whether to declare a flu pandemic, a delegation of countries have told the World Health Organization. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T14:02:32ZLinkMexico City returns to normality, but cases of A/H1N1 reach almost 2000 in US http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/mexico-city-returns-to-normality-but-cases-of-a-h1n1-reach-almost-2000-in-us Mexico City’s 20 million residents emerged last week from a five day economic shutdown that the authorities had ordered to try to contain the A/H1N1 flu epidemic. Offices and restaurants have reopened, and high school and university students have gone back to class.No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T13:09:13ZLinkChief medical officer warns against complacency over swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/chief-medical-officer-warns-against-complacency-over-swine-flu The health secretary, Alan Johnson, and the chief medical officer for England, Liam Donaldson, have told the public not to become complacent about A/H1N1 flu and have warned that the hallmarks of a pandemic are still present. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T13:04:12ZLinkGlobal aid agencies boost support to poorer nations to fight flu threat http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/global-aid-agencies-boost-support-to-poorer-nations-to-fight-flu-threat International agencies, spearheaded by the World Health Organization, are scaling up their support to low and middle income nations, including Mexico, to help them respond to the possible threat of an A/H1N1 flu pandemic. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T12:53:27ZLinkEuropean flu toll reaches 107 confirmed cases http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/european-flu-toll-reaches-107-confirmed-cases By the morning of Tuesday 5 May, when the BMJ went to press, 107 confirmed and 10 probable cases of A/H1N1 flu had been reported in the European Union, said the Stockholm based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T12:37:25ZLinkMass information campaign starts in UK as flu cases rise to 28 http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/mass-information-campaign-starts-in-uk-as-flu-cases-rise-to-28 A mass public information campaign starts in the United Kingdom this week as leaflets on how to stop the spread of swine flu begin to arrive in every home. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T12:34:08ZLinkNews: Confirmation of first person to person transmission of swine flu in UK expected soon http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-confirmation-of-first-person-to-person-transmission-of-swine-flu-in-uk-expected-soon The first human to human transmission of swine influenza in the United Kingdom is expected to be confirmed today, as the number of confirmed cases has risen to eight. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T10:49:43ZLinkNews: US Congress holds hearings on outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-us-congress-holds-hearings-on-outbreak-of-influenza-a-h1n1 Questions on the threat posed by the outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) remained unanswered after three days of congressional hearings in Washington, DC. But the meetings dampened down media frenzy through the constant repetition of the limited facts that were known. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T10:56:18ZLinkNews:EU commissioner says pandemic likely, but may not be deadly http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-eu-commissioner-says-pandemic-likely-but-may-not-be-deadly European Union governments will increase cooperation among themselves in the fight against the novel flu virus but have not committed themselves to sharing their stockpiles of vaccines and antiflu drugs. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T10:52:26ZLinkNews: WHO raises flu pandemic alert to level 5 http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/who-raises-flu-pandemic-alert-to-level-5 The World Health Organization has raised its flu pandemic alert level to five, the second highest level, saying it thinks that a global outbreak of swine influenza is imminent. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T10:09:52ZLinkNews: Health department starts to stockpile masks for clinicians to combat swine flu http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-health-department-starts-to-stockpile-masks-for-clinicians-to-combat-swine-flu The Department of Health is planning to stockpile huge numbers of extra facemasks for clinicians to use in preparation for a possible pandemic of swine influenza. No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T09:56:37ZLinkNews: Swine flu could come back in more virulent form after summer http://pandemicflu.bmj.com/archive/news-swine-flu-could-come-back-in-more-virulent-form-after-summer The number of deaths in Mexico from swine influenza may be only "the tip of the iceberg" and, after a mild summer, the virus could return in a more virulent form, experts at the Stockholm based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said this week.No publisherEMagyary-Kossanews2009-07-21T09:54:54ZLink