Best Ways to Steer Clear of the Flu

The best way for people to protect themselves from the flu is to get vaccinated — and it’s not too late to get a shot, an infectious diseases expert says. The flu vaccine also protects those who aren’t able to get it, including infants younger than 6 months and people with certain allergies and medical conditions, said Dr. Jeffrey Kahn.

13:31 Kazakhstan confirms H5 bird flu in wild swans

Kazakhstan has confirmed an outbreak of the highly contagious H5 bird flu virus in wild swans, by the Caspian Sea, reports Aljazeera. The World Organization for Animal Health , citing a report from the Kazakh agriculture ministry, said on Friday that two swans were found dead in the coastal city of Aktau in the west of the country.

Bill Gates, Norway to invest in vaccines against epidemics

U.S. business magnate Bill Gates will invest 855 million kroner and the Norwegian government one billion kroner to develop vaccines against epidemics, newspaper Aftenposten reported Thursday. This was announced both by Gates and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg during World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday afternoon, the report said.

Maple Ridge walk-in clinics turning patients away

In the midst of a heavy influenza season, Maple Ridge walk-in clinics are being forced to close their doors and send away patients, telling them to come back the next day. There is a lack of doctors to fill the shifts, and a cap of 50 patients per day set by the B.C. Ministry of Health.

Greece reports outbreak of H5N8 bird flu at hen farm – OIE

Jan 18 Greece reported an outbreak of the highly contagious H5N8 bird flu virus among laying hens on a farm in the southern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health said on Thursday, citing a report from the Greek farm ministry. The country had already reported a case of H5N8 in a swan in December but this would be the first outbreak on a farm.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China

On 5 January 2017, the Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region notified WHO of a case of laboratory-confirmed human infection with avian influenza A virus and on 9 January 2017, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China notified WHO of 106 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A virus. On 5 January 2017, a human case of infection with avian influenza A was reported from the Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region .

Savannahians share their cold, flu remedies

When Memorial Health-Islands practice representative Marion Ingram gets a cold, “I do Vitamin C. And of course, hot tea.” It’s cold and flu season and many people are breaking out the cough syrup and Tylenol, hot tea and their grandmother’s all-time famous remedy, chicken soup.

The need to know on flu season

… coughs, runny noses and aches start to rear their ugly heads. According to medical professionals with Baptist Health in Paducah, while the cold and flu are both different viruses they share some symptoms. A Cold lasts for roughly a week, with a …

City releasing quarantined cats as bird flu epidemic subsides :0

The first of hundreds of cats quarantined by the city amid a bird flu outbreak were sprung from their cages on Saturday, sources told The Post. An undisclosed number of detained kitties were carted out of the Animal Care Centers facility in Long Island City after getting clean bills of health, according to the shelter sources.

Conscription conflicts in WWI well detailed in new book

The Conscription Conflict & the Great War Edited by Robin Archer, Joy Damousi, Murray Goot & Sean Scalmer Monash University Publishing, 2016 Paperback, $29.95. The First World War was to take the lives of eleven million soldiers on both sides, seven million civilians, and, as a further consequence, the loss of some 50-100 million lives worldwide from the Spanish Flu pandemic which began in the troop staging camps and hospitals in A A war on such a scale was not conducted without much anguish, debate, and conflict on conscription issues within the affected democracies.

Flu level raised to widespread in Ky. –

The Kentucky Department for Public Health , within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services is raising the influenza level in the state from “regional” to “widespread.” Widespread activity is the highest level of flu activity, which indicates increased flu-like activity or flu outbreaks in at least half of the regions in the state.

Flu now widespread in North Carolina

… according to information from the Centers for Disease Control. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Region 5, which includes Watauga County and goes east to Guilford County, has the third-highest flu rate in the …

Flu cases on rise; when they will hit seasonal peak can’t be predicted: experts

The number of cases of influenza, as well as hospitalizations and deaths due to the viral respiratory illness, continue to escalate in Canada, and infectious diseases experts say there’s no telling how soon the seasonal scourge will reach its peak and begin to taper off. Figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s FluWatch report show there were 1,948 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza in the final week of December – the latest period for which statistics are available – a jump from 1,229 a week earlier and 692 the week before.

Flu level raised to widespread in Kentucky –

The Kentucky Department for Public Health , within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services is raising the influenza level in the state from “regional” to “widespread.” Widespread activity is the highest level of flu activity, which indicates increased flu-like activity or flu outbreaks in at least half of the regions in the state.

Flu death in Lake Charles, virus spikes in Louisiana

A warning this week about just how serious the flu virus can be, after the death of a patient in Lake Charles from flu complications. The death is a tragic reminder of the virus’ strength and CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital infectious disease physician, Dr. Tim Haman, says it is not something to be taken lightly.

Winnipeg Hospitals Seeing Surge as Flu Season Ramps Up

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says they’re experiencing a surge in patients with more people needing admission than some hospitals are typically equipped to handle. “However, we are not seeing huge numbers of confirmed cases from our lab yet but that does always lag behind what we see in our emergency departments,” says Lamont.

CDC Offers 10 Reasons to Get Vaccinated

… can be spread easily. 2.You may be at increased risk for complications from certain diseases if you have a chronic health condition or weakened immune system. Adults with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease and those …

Flu season already worse than last year

… The Centers for Disease Control is reporting about 10,000 flu cases as of last week in 2016. The Louisiana State Health Department said for that week, flu-like illnesses were high for Louisiana, especially in places like New Orleans and the …

Bird flu warning for West Sussex poultry owners

… feed suppliers in the county to raise awareness of the restrictions. I must stress though that any risk to human health is extremely low.” Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 4) Register with us by …

Taiwan reports second H5N2 avian flu case in 2017

The H5N2 avian flu virus was confirmed at the farm, where 2,672 chicken had been slaughtered to prevent further infection, according to the island’s animal and plant health inspection authority. The farm owner was given a fine of 50,000 New Taiwan dollars for failing to report unusual deaths of chicken in a timely manner, the authority said.

BioCryst Receives Health Canada Approval for RAPIVAB for the Treatment of Influenza

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Jan. 08, 2017 — BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for rare diseases, today announced that Health Canada has approved RAPIVAB i 1 2 , an intravenous treatment for acute, uncomplicated influenza.i 1 2 RAPIVAB is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and is also licensed for use in Japan and Taiwan as RAPIACTAi 1 2 and in Korea as PeramiFlui 1 2.i 1 2 i 1 2This RAPIVAB approval represents an important milestone for BioCryst and for our partner, Seqirus,i 1 2 said Jon P. Stonehouse, President & Chief Executive Officer .i 1 2 i 1 2We are excited that patients in Canada will soon have an I.V. option for the treatment of influenza infections.i 1 2i 1 2 RAPIVAB is being commercialized by Seqirus globally, excluding Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Israel.i 1 2 Seqirus is a … (more)

Flu shots urged

Cooler weather and shorter days mark the transition from fall to winter and it’s also a sign that flu season is here. The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County urges Floridians to prevent getting seasonal flu and spreading it to others by getting the flu vaccine.

Hospital sees bump in flu cases

… with the flu yourself, Kumar suggests wearing a face mask to help limit the spread of germs. Denton County Public Health keeps statistics on flu cases, but officials there could not be reached for comment Friday. In a statement last month, Juan …