Recent gains in eradicating hunger and poverty endangered by economic and food crises, says UN report

United Nations, 2009

Available online PDF [60p.] at: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202009%20ENG.pdf

By Helen Branswell –

TORONTO — All cases of Tamiflu resistance are not created equal. So while the first three instances of swine flu infection with Tamiflu-resistant viruses were reported in the past week, it was Number 3, not Number 1 that put influenza experts on edge.

Public health authorities in Hong Kong announced Friday they have found a case of Tamiflu resistance in a woman who hadn't taken the drug. That means she was infected with swine flu viruses that were already resistant to Tamiflu, the main weapon in most countries' and companies' pandemic drug arsenals.

Dear Colleagues:

We are glad to announce the inauguration of the @influenza e-list for the dissemination and exchange of information about Influenza in the Americas and in the world; and as a contribution to improve the access to information.

The list is moderated to update and maintain the quality, and relevance of the content.

This virtual space is proposed for learning and active participation. We invite you to share this space and to send us your suggestions and information.

Greetings,

Marcelo D’Agostino
Knowledge Management and Communication Advisor

June 2009

Will a “play-or-pay” policy for health care cause job losses?

by Phillip Cryan

A play‐or‐pay employer contribution policy for health care would require employers who don’t provide their workers comprehensive health insurance to pay a new payroll tax to help fund public provision of health insurance for those workers. Many of the health care reform proposals currently under discussion in Congress incorporate such a contribution — as did the campaign proposal put forward by President Barack Obama.

Date: June 29
Author: Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
Source: Reuters

* Most patients were under age 59

* All hospitalized patients had pneumonia

* No single pattern predicts sickest patients

Swine flu patients in Mexico were young and many were healthy before developing severe infections, doctors reported on Monday.

The drug has been offered to those with close contact to swine flu
Experts have reported the first case of swine flu that is resistant to tamiflu - the main drug being used to fight the pandemic. Roche Holding AG confirmed a patient with H1N1 influenza in Denmark showed resistance to the antiviral drug. David Reddy, company executive, said it was not unexpected given that common seasonal flu could do the same.

June 21, 2009

ALTHOUGH Massachusetts recorded its first swine-flu death this month, the effect of the disease has not been as dire as many feared. As a result, public health officials have been able to view the health system’s response to the pandemic as a test case for an even more dangerous outbreak of flu. Among the lessons learned is the need for better coordination between the public-health sector and the private suppliers of the tools needed to contend with flu: face masks, swabs, and antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu.