There has been a lot of discussion about the use of antiviral medications to reduce the impact and spread of influenza. A just released study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) researches the use of Oseltamivir ring chemoprophylaxis, together with prompt identification and isolation of infected personnel. This study concludes that the ring therapy was effective in reducing the impact of outbreaks of 2009 H1N1 influenza in semiclosed settings. Although antiviral “ring chemoprophylaxis” [...]
H1N1 (Swine Flu): WHO Reiterates that Big Pharma Did Not Influence Flu Decisions
The head of the WHO said Tuesday that her decisions about swine flu were not influenced by advisers’ links to pharmaceutical companies, which were pointed out in a critical journal article this month. Three scientists out of 22 who worked on the guidelines were named as having received some money from pharmaceuticals. The scientists did not work at the drug companies, but were paid for things like speaking at meetings sponsored by them. The guidelines [...]
H1N1 (Swine Flu): The Public’s Response to the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic – An Interesting New Study
The NEJM just published an interesting account of the public respond to the H1N1 pandemic…in a nutshell? Public health officials, take note: the old fable of “If we build it, they will come” approach to a pandemic flu vaccine isn’t going to work. You’re also going to have to convince people that the illness is a serious health threat, and that the vaccine is safe. That’s the essence of a Harvard School of Public Health [...]
