Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, the influenza viruses. In people, common symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.
Swine influenza or Swine flu – 29 countries have officially reported 4379 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. – World Health Organization updated the Swine flu report as of 07:30 GMT, 10 May 2009, 29 countries have officially reported 4379 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.
Last group of people, including guests and staff members of Metropark Hotel in WanChai, under quarantine released. – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s health authorities Friday evening lifted a quarantine on the Metropark Hotel in Wan Chai.
Keep swine flu leaflets safe – McGimpsey – Over 800,000 leaflets giving the public important information about swine flu will begin dropping through letter-boxes across Northern Ireland today.
Influenza A(H1N1) – update 22 – 25 countries have officially reported 2500 cases. – As of 16:00 GMT, 8 May 2009, 25 countries have officially reported 2500 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.
Reduced physical activity and increased energy intake have been major drivers of the obesity epidemic. – A study presented on Friday at the European Congress on Obesity is the first to examine the question of the proportional contributions to the obesity epidemic by combining metabolic relationships, the laws of thermodynamics, epidemiological data and agricultural data.
The world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history. – The world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history, thanks, in part, to vigilance and diligence of countries, Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said in her address to a special meeting of ASEAN+3 health ministers in Bangkok, Thailand.
Study finds children’s activity levels not influenced by more PE time in school – Scheduling more physical education time in schools does not mean children will increase their activity levels, suggests new research that discovered those who got lots of timetabled exercise at school compensated by doing less at home while those who got little at school made up for it by being more active at home.
Study in pregnant women suggests probiotics may help ward off obesity – One year after giving birth, women were less likely to have the most dangerous kind of obesity if they had been given probiotics from the first trimester of pregnancy, found new research that suggests manipulating the balance of bacteria in the gut may help fight obesity.
To avoid any misunderstanding FAO, WHO and OIE would like to reissue their joint statement originally issued on 30 April. – In the ongoing spread of influenza A(H1N1), concerns about the possibility of this virus being found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products have been raised.
Alcohol in Britain: trends show young men are binge-drinking less, but women are binge-drinking more – A new research shows that the proportion of women who binge-drink almost doubled between 1998 and 2006 and is now at 15% (men who binge-drink increased by 1% to 23%).
U.S. FDA Licenses Sanofi Pasteur’s New Influenza Vaccine Manufacturing Facility. Sanofi Pasteur committed to increasing its seasonal and pandemic influenza preparedness; New facility will increase production capacity in the U.S. – Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group (Euronext: SAN) (NYSE: SNY), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed its new influenza vaccine manufacturing facility.
Study shows benefits of anti-clotting medications reduced by common heartburn drugs. Proton pump inhibitors interfere with anti-clotting protection of clopidogrel. – The anti-clotting action of the medication clopidogrel (Plavix) can be compromised by common drugs for the treatment of heartburn and ulcers resulting in a roughly 50% increase in the combined risk of hospitalization for heart attack, stroke and other serious cardiovascular illnesses, according to a new study presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions.
