From the category archives:

Social Impact

Swine Flu Hits Ramadan Gatherings

Muslims marked the start of the fasting month of Ramadan Saturday, but the global H1N1 pandemic has put a damper on religious festivities throughout the Middle East.  “Everyone is worried about swine flu,” says Anwar Mohamed, a Yemeni antique dealer. “We have been told to avoid crowds, but everywhere there are crowds.” As Islam’s holiest [...]

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Why the poor will suffer more with Swine Flu

From an excellent piece in the NEJM, by Dr. Nicole Lurie, that nicely links healthcare reform, infection prevention and the public health: “Early detection of a new infectious disease—and potentially the survival of those who are infected—requires that sick people have access to the health care system and receive early treatment. Delays in seeking care [...]

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Feds advise employers on swine flu

Businesses could play a key part in controlling an expected outbreak of swine flu this fall, and can help by preaching good hygiene, promoting flu shots and making plans for high absenteeism, federal officials said Wednesday.  But one of the biggest things employers can do to prevent the spread of the new H1N1 virus is [...]

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Some measures won’t help prevent flu pandemic

Writing in the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, Courtney, Dr. D. A. Henderson and colleagues said it appears that the new H1N1 is now too widespread to try to stop.  “In 1957 it was decided pretty early on that efforts to quarantine or isolate people would not be effective,” Courtney said. As happened this year, the [...]

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Swine flu advert man is sick… with the flu

He told us all to ‘Catch It. Bin It. Kill it.’ on national TV.  But now the actor from the Government’s adverts has fallen victim to swine flu himself.  David McCusker suspected he caught the virus after developing a fever on top of the usual cold symptoms. via Swine flu advert man is sick… with [...]

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Some measures slow pandemic but that’s all – Insights from 1957

Writing in the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, Courtney, Dr. D. A. Henderson and colleagues said it appears that the new H1N1 is now too widespread to try to stop. “In 1957 it was decided pretty early on that efforts to quarantine or isolate people would not be effective,” Courtney said. As happened this year, the [...]

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Swine flu fake absences cost firms more than virus

Thousands of healthy workers are thought to have taken advantage of official guidelines on the pandemic to extend their summer holidays.  By simply phoning the NHS swine flu hot line or visiting its website, unscrupulous workers can get themselves a course of antiviral medicine and do not need a sick note from their GP for [...]

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Big rush for Haj despite flu scare

Due to the swine flu scare, tour operators are taking doctors with their groups this year. And before a person is taken for the pilgrimage, he or she is to be thoroughly interviewed by a doctor about his or her medical history. Women are to be interviewed by female doctors. The Haj Committee has asked [...]

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Flu too mild to justify national vaccination plans? CDC seeks public feedback

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to gather the public’s thoughts in August on how big this fall’s H1N1 influenza vaccination drive should be. The CDC will hold 10 “public engagement” meetings around the country to get the citizenry’s advice on whether the vaccination program should be an all-out effort or something [...]

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Four vulnerable areas of society in a pandemic

Go the link below to access the four stories – all of which provide help insight into pandemic planning History suggests that we are likely to experience a much bigger, second wave of H1N1 influenza pandemic in the fall. Four experts discuss different areas that will play a role in the public health response. E.R.’s [...]

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