February 20th, 2012
Health experts from the Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (ABH), a National Hajj distinct organisation express their grave concern concerning the safety and wellbeing of more than 25,000 British Hajj pilgrims who will start travelling from next week to join much more than two million people from all over the world to carry out the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The wellness professionals are concerned that in spite of a clear assistance from Saudi Arabian Government and also the World Well being Organisation (WHO) a substantial number of high risk categories i.e. folks who suffer from chronic disease, pregnant girls, young children below 12 and those aged more than 65 are travelling to carry out Hajj with out getting vaccinated against the swine flu which can result in significant consequence effecting the people and also the wellness technique.
The well being experts are issuing a last-minute warning to the prospective pilgrims that they ought to be prepared for the screening approach that’s taking place at all ports of entry to Saudi Arabia. If pilgrims are suspected of getting swine flu then they’ll be temporarily quarantined and if tested positive they are going to be admitted to hospital for isolation.
The pilgrims should take the threat of swine flu seriously and they ought to take all needed precautionary measures to safeguard their wellness. They really should make private hygienic habits like covering the nose while sneezing, coughing into a tissue and washing hands with water and soap. They need to also utilise the private hygiene kit that includes face masks and hand sanitizers which will be created offered to them by the Saudi authorities at the airport upon arrival.
Khalid Pervez, Common Secretary of ABH advised that “prospective British Hajj pilgrims ought to take lead of Egypt which has created well being insurance coverage mandatory for all their pilgrims to ensure that they wouldn’t have any dilemma in getting treatment in Saudi hospitals”.
Source
Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK (A.B.H)
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February 18th, 2012
A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, state officials confirmed this morning, marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza.
The cat, which has recovered, is believed to have caught the virus from someone within the household who was sick with H1N1. There are no indications that the cat passed the virus on to any other animals or individuals.
Prior to this diagnosis, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus had been found in humans, pigs, birds and ferrets.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and also the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are reminding pet owners that some viruses can pass between folks and animals, so this was not an altogether unexpected event. Pet owners need to monitor their pets’ wellness very closely, no matter what type of animal, and visit a veterinarian if there are any signs of illness.
The AVMA is actively tracking all instances of H1N1 in animals and posting updates on our Web site at http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus.
Source
American Veterinary Medical Association
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February 16th, 2012
2.5 (6 votes)1 (three votes)
Article Opinions:1 posts
The World Health Organization recently declared H1N1 swine flu a global pandemic, resulting within the creation of rigorous vaccination programs worldwide. Young children are among those considered particularly susceptible to contracting swine flu and are viewed as a top priority in receiving this vaccine.
Most H1N1 swine flu vaccines are prepared from virus grown in chicken’s eggs, resulting in a vaccine that contains remnants of egg proteins. Egg allergy is among the most frequent food allergies in infants and young kids. The allergy can be mild or severe but oftentimes the severity level remains unidentified. Regardless of whether a child will be at low or high risk for a clinical reaction as a consequence of receiving this vaccine depends upon the severity of their allergy. As the number of swine flu vaccinations increases, the likelihood of clinical reactions occurring in youngsters with an undetected severe egg allergy intensifies.
Following exposure to egg, children with this allergy may possibly suffer from clinical reactions including rash, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections and even anaphylaxis. In a press release issued last month, the US Food and Drug Administration suggested against H1N1 influenza vaccination for individuals with severe or life-threatening allergies to chicken eggs. Determining the severity of egg allergy is essential to knowing whether or not or not a child can safely receive the H1N1 swine flu vaccine.
Phadia offers complete lab testing to accurately diagnose and identify severity level of egg allergy. ImmunoCAP, Phadia’s precise, reliable allergy test that measures IgE antibodies, indicates clinical reaction to both egg white (f1) and ovomucoid (f233). The f1 test will help the physician to confirm or rule out an allergy to egg white. If an allergy to egg white is confirmed, the f233 follow-up test can be conducted to identify the severity of egg allergy and regardless of whether the child is at low or high risk for clinical reaction. Phadia will be the only company to offer this crucial follow-up test.
Phadia’s state-of-the-art ImmunoCAP allergy test technique facilitates diagnosis in kids with suspected egg allergy, and, upon diagnosis, determines the level of allergy severity. These comprehensive tests allow physicians to provide timely advice to parents and caregivers anxious to know regardless of whether or not their child should receive the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Given the prevalence of the infection and urgency of the vaccination protocol now in place, Phadia’s advanced allergy testing technology couldn’t come at a much more critical time. As the market leader in allergy testing, Phadia is committed to meeting the needs of the healthcare community.
Source
Phadia
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February 14th, 2012
5 (1 votes)4.5 (2 votes)
As flu season approaches, parents around the country are starting to face school closures. But how bad ought to an influenza outbreak be for a school to shut down? A study led by epidemiologists John Brownstein, PhD, and Anne Gatewood Hoen, PhD of the Children’s Hospital Boston Informatics Program, in collaboration Asami Sasaki of the University of Niigata Prefecture (Niigata, Japan), tapped a detailed set of Japanese data to help guide decision making by schools and government agencies. The analysis was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention inside the November issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“Currently many U.S. schools don’t have specific or consistent algorithms for deciding whether or not to shut down,” says Brownstein. “They don’t always use quantitative data, and it might be a political or fear-based decision rather than a data-based 1.”
Sasaki, Hoen and Brownstein analyzed flu absenteeism data from a Japanese school district with 54 elementary schools. Tracking four consecutive flu seasons (2004-2008), they asked what pattern of flu absenteeism was best for detecting a true school outbreak — balanced against the practical need to keep schools open if possible.
“You’d want get a school closed ahead of an epidemic peaks, to stop transmission of the virus, but you also don’t wish to close a school unnecessarily,” explains Brownstein. “We also wanted an algorithm that’s not too complex, that could be easily implemented by schools.”
A school outbreak was defined as a daily flu absentee rate of more than 10 percent of students. After comparing more than two dozen possible scenarios for closing a school, the analysis suggested three optimal scenarios:
A single-day influenza-related absentee rate of 5 percent
Absenteeism of 4 percent or much more on two consecutive days
Absenteeism of 3 percent or more on three consecutive days
The scenarios #2 and #3 performed similarly, using the greatest sensitivity and specificity for predicting a flu outbreak (i.e., the fewest missed predictions and also the fewest “false positives.”) Both gave much better results than the single-day scenario (#1). The researchers suggest that scenario #2 (with a sensitivity of 0.84 and a specificity of 0.77) might be the preferred early warning trigger, balancing the need to stop transmission using the need to minimize unnecessary closures.
“Our method would give school administrators or government agencies a basis for timely closure decisions, by allowing them to predict the escalation of an outbreak using past absenteeism data,” says Hoen. “It could be used with data from schools in other communities to provide predictions. It would leave decision-making in the hands of local officials, but provide them with a data-driven basis for making those choices.”
Japan makes a great model for studying influenza in schools simply because it closely monitors school absenteeism due to flu, requires testing for the flu virus in students who grow to be ill, and has a track record of instituting partial or complete school closures during outbreaks. However, Brownstein cautions that the scenarios might play out differently within the U.S. than they would in Japan, mainly simply because students here aren’t required to be tested for influenza as they’re in Japan, so it is much less certain no matter whether they actually have the flu. Also, the vaccination status of students in this study was unknown.
Last spring, during the early days of the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the CDC suggested initial a 7-day school closure, then a 14-day closure following appearance of the first suspected case. Later, as a lot more became known concerning the extent of community spread and illness severity, the CDC changed the recommendation to advise against school closure unless absentee rates interfered with school function. CDC’s present guidelines (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/schoolguidance.htm, 10/21/09) do not provide a specific algorithm, but state that “the decision to selectively dismiss a school really should be created locally,” in conjunction with neighborhood and state wellness officials, “and ought to balance the risks of keeping the students in school using the social disruption that school dismissal can cause.” When the decision is produced to dismiss students, CDC recommends doing so for five to 7 calendar days.
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, the Boston University School of Public Health, and Niigata University were coauthors on the study. The study was funded by the Takemi Program, the Japan Foundation for the Promotion of International Medical Research Cooperation, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illness, the National Institutes of Wellness Research and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Citation: Sasaki A, et al. Evidenced-based tool for triggering school closures during influenza outbreaks, Japan. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Nov. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/15/11/1841.htm.
Source: James Newton
Children’s Hospital Boston
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February 12th, 2012
three (6 votes)three (1 votes)
“My body aches and my head is throbbing. Do I have the flu or is it just since I’m stressed or tired? Do I need a flu shot? Do I need the H1N1 vaccine, too?”
Millions of Americans will be asking themselves these and a lot more questions this fall and winter as news reports and health care providers continue to warn about seasonal influenza and novel H1N1 influenza, otherwise known as swine flu.
The flu symptoms self-assessment tool on MayoClinic.com helps you assess whether or not you or your loved ones have some form of flu, or just a cold. If you possibly or likely have the flu, you’ll also learn whether or not antiviral medication is an option. And you can check a concise list of high-risk groups who ought to seek medical attention for the flu.
Influenza is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory technique, including the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. If you’re generally healthy and you catch influenza – frequently called the flu – you’re likely to feel rotten for a few days, but you most likely won’t develop complications or need hospital care. If you have a weakened immune method or chronic illness though, influenza can be fatal.
Novel H1N1 flu, popularly known as swine flu , is a respiratory infection caused by an influenza virus 1st recognized in spring 2009. The new virus, which is officially called swine influenza A (H1N1), contains genetic material from human, swine and avian flu viruses. Unlike typical swine flu, H1N1 flu spreads quickly and easily.
Based on the expertise of Mayo Clinic infectious disease and epidemiology scientists and physicians, as well as other specialists for specific populations such as youngsters or pregnant women, MayoClinic.com provides continually-updated and credible details regarding the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines and treatment recommendations.
Source
Mayo Clinic
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February 9th, 2012
4 (4 votes)
Because the news broke of a housecat in Iowa testing positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, pet owners and veterinarians alike have been scrambling to learn a lot more: Can my pet get sick? What would the symptoms of H1N1 in cats be? How is it identified? How is it treated?
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has been in constant contact with experts and agencies across the country to learn much more about this case and share this data with the public and veterinarians. The results of these efforts are now available on the AVMA’s Web site, where those wanting to learn much more can access continuously updated “Frequently Asked Questions” on the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, how the virus may well affect pets, and what veterinarians need to know when talking with clients and treating patients.
These resources, along with additional, frequently updated information on H1N1, are available on the AVMA’s Web site at http://www.avma.org/public_health/influenza/new_virus.
Source
AVMA
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February 7th, 2012
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced contract awards for up to 120,000 treatment courses of intravenous (IV) antiviral drugs to help treat hospitalized 2009 H1N1 influenza patients.
Patients hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 influenza are evaluated to determine if antiviral drugs will be useful; some patients aren’t able to take the drugs which are currently available as pills or liquid and could benefit from intravenous antiviral medications.
To help meet the potential need for IV medications to combat the H1N1 virus, HHS ordered 10,000 treatment courses every from BioCryst, Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, totaling $31.five million. The contracts allow HHS to place additional orders of up to 30,000 treatment courses with each manufacturer over two years. Roche manufactures Tamiflu; GlaxoSmithKline, Relenza, and BioCryst manufactures Peramivir.
Because there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antiviral medications that can be administered intravenously to treat influenza, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization on Oct. 23 to allow use of intravenous Peramivir, an investigational antiviral drug inside the class of drugs known as neuraminidase inhibitors.
The HHS orders for intravenous oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and intravenous zanamivir (Relenza), also neuraminidase inhibitors, are predicated on FDA emergency use authorization for these medications.
FDA has not issued emergency use authorization authorizing the use of intravenous Tamiflu or Relenza. Orders for Tamiflu and Relenza are based on anticipated need of emergency use authorizations for additional IV drugs inside the future. Tamiflu and Relenza are FDA-approved in the form of pills or liquid, and studies are ongoing into the use of these two drugs intravenously for hospitalized H1N1 flu patients.
The emergency use authorization for IV Peramivir allowed doctors to prescribe the drug to treat certain adults and kids hospitalized with confirmed or suspected 2009 H1N1 infections. Specifically, IV Peramivir is authorized only for hospitalized adult and pediatric patients for whom therapy with an IV drug is clinically appropriate.
To authorize emergency use of any product, the FDA commissioner must determine that in an emergency, based on the totality of scientific evidence available, it truly is reasonable to believe that the product may be effective in diagnosing, treating, or preventing the serious or life threatening disease or condition; that the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product in the emergency situation, and that there is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the product for diagnosing, preventing, or treating such critical or life threatening disease or condition.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will manage the contracts. BARDA supported the advanced development of IV Peramivir beginning in 2007 as part of a larger HHS initiative to develop promising new influenza medications and vaccines.
For more information on the emergency use of IV Peramivir authorized by FDA, including data for well being care providers on patient eligibility, see here. Healthcare providers can also call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). Additional details about BARDA contracts is available here.
Source
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
View drug info on Relenza; Tamiflu capsule.
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February 5th, 2012
The NPHS influenza surveillance scheme, which records reports of diagnoses of flu from more than 300 GP practices across Wales, shows that the increase inside the rate of influenza consultations has stalled over the last week. Further detail can be found on the NPHS website.
The report from 3 November estimates there were 65.7 cases of a flu-like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 folks in Wales – this will be the equivalent of 1971 individuals in Wales contacting their GPs within the last seven days with flu like symptoms. Not all of these individuals will have swine flu and not every person with flu like symptoms will contact their GP.
It is expected that the proportion of influenza cases diagnosed that are due to swine flu will increase as the virus spreads in Wales.
The report also shows levels of influenza activity in every county of Wales. On 3 November, the rate of diagnosis of flu-like illness at a neighborhood level ranged from 18.five per 100,000 people in Monmouthshire to 119.1 per 100,000 men and women in Pembrokeshire.
GPs are no longer being asked to swab folks they suspect may possibly have swine flu. Microbiology laboratories are therefore no longer testing mostpeople suspected of having swine flu.
As at midday on 28 October, there have already been a total of 341 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu in Wales given that the start of the outbreak.
As at midday on 28 October, of the laboratory confirmed cases, a total of 192 had been admitted to hospital given that the start of the outbreak with 31 still in hospital.
On 28 October, there were 58 clinically diagnosed patients in hospital in connection with swine flu, 13 of whom had been in critical care.
On 28 October, the Welsh Assembly Government reported that it had been formally notified that seven men and women with swine flu in Wales have died. The Welsh Assembly Government is also aware of a swine flu-related death of a person from Wales abroad.
No further details will be confirmed or denied about cases in order to protect their right to confidentiality.
The rates of GP consultations for flu-like illness across the UK, which are taken from diverse surveillance schemes and are not directly comparable, are:
60.18 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs in the previous seven days out of every 100,000 people in Wales (as of 25 October).
42.8 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs within the previous seven days out of every 100,000 folks in England (for the week ending 25 October)
111.4 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Scotland (for the week ending 26 October)
280.6 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 folks in Northern Ireland (for the week ending 23 October)
138 people within the UK with swine flu have died – 7 in Wales, 97 in England 26 in Scotland and 8 in Northern Ireland. The majority had underlying well being conditions.
For the latest international figures for the spread of swine flu, visit the website of the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int
Comment from the National Public Health Service for Wales
Dr Roland Salmon, Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, National Public Well being Service for Wales, said:
“The number of individuals contacting their GP with flu symptoms has stalled. This could be due to the half-term break, similar to the effect seen over this year’s summer holidays. It truly is too early to say regardless of whether this changing trend means that the rate of consultations for influenza has peaked.
“Not every person who has contacted their GP with flu like symptoms will have swine flu. It is also true that not everybody with flu like symptoms will contact their GP.
“The vaccine against swine flu has been tested and approved. It’s now being offered to folks at most risk of complications from the virus as well as front line wellness and social care workers. Vaccination will be the most effective tool we have in preventing swine flu so I urge people identified as being at risk to look out for their invitation to be vaccinated by their GP surgery.
“People with flu like symptoms ought to check their symptoms on http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk or by calling the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513.
“Most individuals will get greater at home with rest, plenty of fluids, and medication such as paracetamol.
“Antiviral medications are available for individuals who’re at particular risk from flu, or for individuals who turn into very ill.
“If symptoms worsen or people have underlying well being problems they should call their GP. Men and women ought to not go to Accident and Emergency Departments, a pharmacy or to their GP surgery unless advised to do so as this may possibly risk spreading the infection. It also places undue pressure on the emergency services.
“Over the last six months, the symptoms of swine flu have generally been like those of seasonal flu. A lot of people recover from the infection without needing to be admitted to hospital or to call a doctor. However, a couple of people go on to develop complications and as the pandemic continues we are seeing deaths from swine flu in Wales, just as we do most years from seasonal flu.
“Sadly, the number of deaths in Wales has increased. However, the great majority of men and women make a full recovery. By following public well being advice if they turn out to be ill, and taking up the swine flu vaccine now it’s available to those in at-risk groups, individuals can help avoid the spread of the virus and by exactly the same token help prevent death and serious disease.
“It is still critical that folks practice very good respiratory and hand hygiene to reduce the chance of catching or spreading viruses.”
Public wellness advice and messages
If you have flu-like symptoms, stay at home. You can check your symptoms by calling the Swine Flu Details Line on 0800 1 513 513 or visiting www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk . If you are still concerned, phone your GP.
Do not go into your GP surgery or Accident and Emergency department unless you are advised to do so or are seriously ill, as you may spread the illness to other people.
Further information including wellness advice can be found at http://www.wales.gov.uk, www.nphs.wales.nhs.uk , http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk and http://www.hpa.org.uk. You can also call the Swine Flu Information line on 0800 1 513 513 for recorded details, or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 for well being advice.
It is always excellent practice to follow respiratory and hand hygiene such as:
Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, always carrying tissues, using a tissue when possible.
Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
Maintaining great basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other individuals.
Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product. Helping your children follow this advice.
Facemasks
Although we are aware that facemasks had been being given out to the public in Mexico, the available scientific evidence does not support the general wearing of facemasks by those who aren’t ill whilst going about their normal activities. We are, however, reviewing NHS supplies and stockpiles of facemasks for healthcare workers who’re likely to come into regular contact with people that may possibly have symptoms. The UK will receive an additional 227 million surgical facemasks and 34 million respirators.
Wales will receive its proportionate share.
Control measures
The European Medicines Agency has granted marketing authorisation to Celvapan (Baxter), Focetria (Novartis) and Pandemrix (GlaxoSmithKline) H1N1 swine flu vaccines.
The European Medicines Agency has strict processes in place for licensing pandemic vaccines. In preparing for a pandemic, appropriate trials to assess the safety and the immune responses have been carried out on vaccines very similar to the swine flu vaccine.
Supplies of the vaccine have arrived in Wales as well as the vaccination programme has started to protect those at most risk of complications of the virus and front line well being and social care workers.
The four UK nations have accepted the advice of the Joint Committee on
Vaccination and Immunisation on priority groups for swine flu vaccination:
People aged over six months and under 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
All pregnant girls, subject to licensing conditions on trimesters
Household contacts of men and women with compromised immune systems e.g. individuals in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer.
People aged 65 and over inside the present seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups. This does not include otherwise wholesome over 65s, because they appear to have some natural immunity to the virus.
Vaccination of frontline health and social care workers began at exactly the same time as the very first at-risk group, and will continue for as long as necessary. This group is at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients. Protecting these people will help the NHS workforce to remain resilient and able to treat sick patients.
GPs are administering the vaccination programme following agreement between the Department of Health, the devolved Administrations, the General Practitioners Committee and NHS employers.
Around 60 million doses of vaccine are expected by the end of the year – sufficient for 30 million folks to be vaccinated – with more following following that.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has produced a webpage providing info for British citizens planning to attend the Hajj. The page is available here.
A leaflet providing advice for British Hajjis is available here.
Key advice included in the leaflet is that the elderly, pregnant girls, men and women with chronic diseases and kids ought to postpone the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages this year due to the high likelihood of transmission of flu in the course of the pilgrimage. Though well being care facilities for the Hajj are generally of a high standard, due to the large number of pilgrims, it might be much less than would normally be expected within the UK for individuals who are vulnerable to complications.
Features of the outbreak
Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the level of influenza pandemic alert at phase six on 11 June 2009.
Phase six indicates there is human-to-human spread of the virus in at least two countries in one World Health Organization region, with community level outbreaks in at least 1 other country in a various WHO region.
On 2 July the four UK nations agreed to move to the treatment phase in their response to the pandemic – treating men and women most at risk. Contact tracing and also the use of antivirals preventively were ended. GPs are providing clinical diagnosis of swine flu cases rather than awaiting laboratory test results.
Further wellness info for the public on swine flu is available bilingually from http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk
Further public health information on swine flu and Pandemic Flu is available bilingually from http://www.nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Further info from the Welsh Assembly Government response is available bilingually at http://www.wales.gov.uk
Source
National Public Wellness Service for Wales (NPHS)
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February 4th, 2012
To buy the important professional insurances at lower prices is not so easy as you image. At the beginning, you will say there are thousands of companies or agencies provide many kinds of insurances involved in almost every area in our daily life. It is true, I agree. But the huge choices provided will also bring you confusion, for example, you will not trust the official promotion completely when you think about the strong competition in insurance industry, further more, you will want to pick out the one with good quality at lower prices to save your money to protect you and your families. So what you can do? Why not submit your insurance quotes online for quicker and more professional reference? It seems like that many more customers prefer to find the professional guidance on insurances, after all, general people are hard to know comprehensively when they are finding the insurances which are close to them, such as homeowner insurances, life insurances. For example, how to ensure your life insurance is competitive and which one is worthy to invest. A series of complex questions will be caused when you start to make your final choice, and what you need to do is making wise decision and do lots of preparation before.
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February 3rd, 2012
1.5 (two votes)
The H1N1 (swine flu) virus is now the dominant flu strain worldwide, the WHO reported Thursday, with the virus accounting for up to 70 percent of the flu viruses sampled in some countries, the Associated Press reports. “We remain quite concerned concerning the patterns that we’re seeing,” Keiji Fukuda, the WHO’s particular adviser on pandemic influenza to the director-general, said during a press briefing. However, “[Fukuda] said the swine flu virus appeared to be fairly stable, and that samples from about the world remained very similar to when the virus was first identified in April,” the news service writes (Cheng, 11/5).
During the press conference, Fukuda spoke of a growing body of evidence from ongoing H1N1 vaccination campaigns in 20 countries that demonstrates the safety and effectiveness of the H1N1 vaccine, the Canadian Press reports. “We now have very good evidence, based on many people receiving the vaccines, that we have no picture of unusual side-effects emerging,” Fukuda said. “And the side-effects which are expected – such as a painful injection or perhaps some swelling at the injection site – these are occurring at rates which are expected and usually seen with seasonal influenza vaccine. So the picture right now looks quite very good in terms of the safety,” he added (Branswell, 11/5).
“[Fukuda] complained a
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February 1st, 2012
On November 10, 2009 at 12:00 noon EST Wellness Minister Leona Aglukkaq and National Chief of the Assembly of 1st Nations (AFN) Shawn Atleo will co-host a Virtual Summit on H1N1 preparedness for First Nations communities.
“The Government of Canada has been working closely with Initial Nations to help them prepare for the H1N1 Flu Virus. Vaccinations are well underway in several communities across the country”, said Minister Aglukkaq. This unique outreach activity is yet one more way we are reaching out and communicating with Canada’s indigenous peoples.
This live nation-wide webcast will be accessible to all who wish to participate and will feature presentations by crucial officials, and question and answer sessions on issues related to H1N1 in on-reserve Initial Nations, including remote and isolated communities. The Virtual Summit will include discussions on the preparations and active implementation of measures being used to deal with the second wave of H1N1, including the distribution of vaccines and antiviral drugs for First Nations communities. There will also be video profiles of planning and preparedness efforts in two Very first Nations communities and an expert panel Question and Answer session.
“When I took office and the H1N1 issue arose, it became quickly apparent that there were differing levels of details and understanding between jurisdictions. This was not helpful for Initial Nations, for individuals or for emergency planning. The Virtual Summit is an important tool that will ensure we’re working from shared knowledge of the level of preparedness in First Nations communities and that First Nations have an opportunity to ensure their concerns, issues and ideas are addressed in planning and preparedness efforts,” said National Chief Shawn Atleo.
The Virtual Summit stems from the Communications Protocol signed by the Assembly of Initial Nations, Wellness Canada, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on September 19th which commits all partners to work together to plan for and respond quickly and effectively to an H1N1 flu-virus pandemic in Initial Nation communities.
Specific areas of communication are being addressed by means of the development of a variety of communications tools, such as public wellness notices for print and radio media and posters on promotion and prevention, to meet the needs of 1st Nations.
To date, 96% of Very first Nations communities have a community-level pandemic influenza pandemic plan in place.
To watch the Virtual Summit on November 10, 2009, go to: http://www.fnh1n1summit.ca
Source
Health Canada
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January 30th, 2012
three.75 (4 votes)1 (1 votes)
Preparis, Inc. today associated the rapid spread of H1N1 pandemic to the high percentage of companies that are not doing enough to stop its spread inside the workplace. In response, the company has unveiled a particular website dedicated to helping businesses and their employees prepare for the “swine flu” pandemic. This free service, called H1N1 Central, takes a decidedly business-centric and hands-on approach. It can be found at http://www.preparis.com.
“The workplace is a breeding ground for H1N1,” said Armistead Whitney, CEO of Preparis. “The day within the life of a worker includes 8-10 hours of close confinement, shaking hands and using exactly the same doors and elevators with others who could be infected. Recent studies indicate that up to 80% of businesses aren’t prepared to stop the spread of H1N1. This risks lives and jeopardizes business productivity. That’s why we created H1N1 Central – to kick-start companies in their efforts to prepare their business and their workforce.”
Businesses have a responsibility to protect their employees, and in turn continue serving their customers, even during the H1N1 pandemic. Preparis helps businesses prepare for any threat, including pandemics, terrorism and natural disasters, by delivering services and data to desktops and mobile devices. H1N1 Central is unique in that it’s a free, centralized resource featuring data and tools that focus specifically on what businesses need to know and do in order to protect their companies and workforce.
Actionable Insight for Swine Flu Preparedness
The Preparis X-Force, an embedded ‘intelligence committee,’ creates much of the advice on H1N1 Central. The company has packaged this along with other info, from sources like the Centers for Illness Control and also the World Wellness Organization, and paired it with advice and tools in a business-actionable format. The expertise is shared daily, with up-to-the-minute knowledge from expert authorities.
Proven Resource
Preparis users, represented in over 70 cities around the world, have been utilizing a a lot more in-depth version of H1N1 Central for a number of months. The company realized a growing need among the general business populace for much more expert opinion from centralized, approved sources and now offers this limited version as a free tool for all employers.
Source
Preparis
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