Influenza

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.


Influenza Flu trends from Google.org
By tracking the popularity of certain Google search queries, Google's engineers have discovered that they can accurately estimate the level of flu in each state, in near real time.

2 doses of flu vaccine needed against bird flu pandemic
An international study led by University of Leicester researchers has determined that vaccination will be the best way to protect people in the event of the next influenza pandemic – but that each person would need two doses.

12 diseases worsened by climate change
Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society released a report that lists 12 pathogens that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change, with potential impacts to both human and wildlife health and global economies.

New bird flu vaccine may give long-term defense
A new vaccine under development may provide protection against highly pathogenic bird flu and its evolving forms, according to researchers at Purdue University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who discovered the new preventative drug and have tested it in mice.

VereFlu portable lab-on-chip for detection of bird flu
Following the success of the evaluation trials conducted at the prestigious National University Hospital of Singapore, Veredus Laboratories and STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) announced the commercial availability of VereFlu, a portable lab-on-chip application for rapid detection of all major influenza types at the point of need.

MRSA and community acquired staph pneumonia more common
Preliminary research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that community acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium may be more common than originally suspected, including that caused by antibiotic resistant strains.

Avian influenza in West Bengal, no humans affected
Indian Department of Animal Husbandry has notified fresh poultry deaths in Jiaganj and Raghunathganj-II blocks of Murshidabad district of West Bengal on 9th_March, 2008 which has been confirmed as H5 infection of bird flu.

Bird flu awareness campaigns should continue in India
The recent, worst-ever outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Indian state of West Bengal seems to have been brought under control by the swift and comprehensive measures taken by the country's authorities, though continued vigilance was crucial, the United Nations agricultural agency said.

Influenza vaccination for children 6 months through 18 years of age
A panel of immunization experts voted to expand the recommended ages for annual influenza vaccination of children to include all children from 6 months through 18 years of age. The previous recommendation was for vaccination of children from 6 months to 59 months of age.

Bird flu could strike again in India, warns FAO
India is to be commended for its successful efforts to control the recent worst-ever outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the state of West Bengal, FAO said today. The agency warned, however, that intensive surveillance should continue in high-risk areas as the possibility of new outbreaks remains high.

Genetic breakthrough boosting natural immunity
Researchers at McGill University have discovered a way to boost an organism's natural anti-virus defences, effectively making its cells immune to influenza and other viruses.

US' 49 states gripped with influenza
After relatively low levels of influenza activity in the early part of the season, since January influenza activity has been picking up in the US. This week 44 states are reporting widespread influenza activity. This is up from 31 states reporting widespread activity last week. Five states are reporting regional activity, making 49 states overall.

Update on Avian Influenza in West Bengal, India
No suspected human cases of Avian Influenza have been detected in any of the affected districts in West Bengal, in India. Number of affected districts (14 districts) remains the same. In these districts, 48 blocks and five municipalities are involved.

Researchers cracking the code of bird flu time bomb
Researchers at Griffith University Institute for Glycomics, Queensland led by Professor Mark von Itzstein have developed a technique to 'crack-the-code' of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus. It will enable influenza virus specialists and drug researchers to interrogate one of the virus' key surface proteins without risk of infection.

New bird flu outbreak at Karachi poultry farm, Pakistan
A new outbreak of the avian flu in Pakistan reported by the Pakistani authorities, and authorities took steps to cull a large number of birds at a poultry farm in the Karachi city, where 5,500 chickens died of the deadly disease earlier this week.

3 m birds culled in West Bengal, India
Nearly 3 million birds culled in most of the 13 Bird flu affected districts of West Bengal, India. Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rahaman told PTI in Berhampore that 27 lakh birds had been culled and the remaining one lakh would be destroyed by today.

European influenza viruses resistant to tamiflu, oseltamivir
Preliminary surveillance into antiviral drug susceptibility against seasonal flu viruses currently circulating in Europe has revealed that some of the A (H1N1) viruses (13%) have shown resistance to the antiviral drug, oseltamivir (Tamiflu). These viruses however, remain sensitive to the antivirals, zanamivir and amantadine.

Bird flu in new areas in West Bengal, India
Bird flu samples collected from the Panchla block of Howrah district, Suri-I, Mayureswar-I and Nanoor blocks of Birbhum district and Kalyani municipality of Nadia district have tested positive for Avian Influenza virus.

Culling of birds in West Bengal, India - update
Unseasonal rains hampered culling in Indian state West Bengal with the operations yet to begin in Purulia and Howrah districts where outbreak of avian influenza has been confirmed. Culling operations delayed by a few hours in Purulia due to bad weather.

Delayed action led to bird flu spread in India
The Indian Central Govt. hinted that the West Bengal government's delayed action contributed to the rapid spread of bird flu even as it allayed fears about the disease spreading to humans in the state.

Bird flu update - over 2.4 lakh birds culled in West Bengal, India
As per latest information received, a total mortality of 1,13,796 poultry birds has been reported from Birbhum, Dakshin Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Burdwan & Bankura districts of West Bengal.

Bird flu situation improving, says Indian minister
Bird flu situation in West Bengal, eastern India, had not worsened, instead it is showing signs of "overall improvement", said state Animal Resources Minister Anisur Rehman, "the state had set a target to cull 4,00,000 chickens within seven days of which 60,000-70,000 had already been culled".

Over 85,632 birds culled, bird flu in east India
As per latest information received, a total mortality of 98,254 poultry birds has been reported from Birbhum, Dakshin Dinajpur, Murshidabad, Nadia, South 24 parganas, Burdwan and Bankura districts of West Bengal.

Prodesse's ProFlu+ Test for Respiratory Viruses receives FDA clearance
Prodesse, Inc., the leader in multiplex real-time PCR for infectious disease, announced that it received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its ProFlu+™ Assay.

Bird flu alert in West Bengal, India
Death of poultry birds has been reported from parts of Birbhum and South Dinajpur districts of West Bengal, India.

New test to detect and identify 12 respiratory viruses
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new diagnostic test that detects 12 respiratory viruses, including strains of flu that have triggered epidemics.

Three more H5N1 bird flu deaths in Egypt
Two new deaths from H5N1 avian influenza in women from the Nile Delta reported by Egyptian officials, and a third death involving a 50-year-old woman whose infection was previously confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

8 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in Peshawar, Pakistan
The Ministry of Health in Pakistan has informed WHO of 8 suspected human cases of H5N1 avian influenza infection in the Peshawar area of the country. These cases were detected following a series of culling operations in response to outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry. One of the cases has now recovered and a further two suspected cases have since died.

India to share experience in controlling avian flu
The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that India is committed to share the experience of control and containment of the outbreak of influenza in poultry. He was speaking at a three-day International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, here.

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