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July 2, 2009
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Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - Update 56 (WHO) Laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations (2005) 1 July 2009 09:00 GMT.
White House Plans Flu Summit Next Week (CNN) CNN has learned that the Obama administration is planning to convene a "flu summit" next week to make preparations for the fall, as officials in Argentina declare a health emergency because 35 people have died in the Latin American nation from swine flu.
Swine Flu Vaccine Made in Europe (BBC) The first doses of an H1N1 swine flu vaccine have been produced in Europe - but it will be around two months before any is distributed. The doses were produced by Novartis at a plant in Marburg, Germany.
Mexico Hosts Key Swine Flu Forum (BBC) Leaders and experts from 50 countries are meeting in Cancun, Mexico, to discuss the global swine flu outbreak.
“Prepandemic” Immunization for Novel Influenza Viruses, “Swine Flu” Vaccine, Guillain‐Barré Syndrome, and the Detection of Rare Severe Adverse Events (Journal of Infectious Diseases) The availability of immunogenic, licensed H5N1 vaccines and the anticipated development of vaccines against “swine” influenza A(H1N1) have stimulated debate about the possible use of these vaccines for protection of those exposed to potential pandemic influenza viruses and for immunization or “priming” of populations in the so‐called “prepandemic” (interpandemic) era. However, the safety of such vaccines is a critical issue in policy development for wide‐scale application of vaccines in the interpandemic period.
Flu Emergency in Argentina (AP/StraitsTimes) Authorities in Argentina's capital and Buenos Aires province declared health emergencies and extended school vacations on Tuesday as the nation's swine flu death toll surged to 35.
ECDC’s Director Participates in EU Presidency Conference on Influenza Preparedness and Response (ECDC) On the 2-3 July, ECDC’s Director, Zsuzsanna Jakab, will participate in an EU Presidency conference on Influenza Preparedness and Response – lessons learned and next steps.
Committee Formed to Review FBI Anthrax Investigation (FrederickNewsPost.com) The public has 20 days to comment on the makeup of an independent committee being assembled to study the science the FBI used in its investigation into the 2001 anthrax mailings.
Safety and Immunogenicity of Multiple and Higher Doses of an Inactivated Influenza A/H5N1 Vaccine (Journal of Infectious Diseases)
H5N1 avian influenza represents an episodic zoonotic disease with the potential to cause a pandemic, and antiviral resistance is of considerable concern. We sought to generate high‐titer H5N1 antibodies in healthy volunteers for the purpose of developing hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin.
A Malaria Vaccine for Control: More Progress (Journal of Infectious Diseases) Malaria remains the world’s major parasitic infection, causing hundreds of millions of febrile episodes and 1–2 million deaths annually—that is, 150–300 deaths occurring hourly day after day.
Study: Infants with HIV at Risk from Tuberculosis Vaccine (EarthTimes) Babies with HIV face potentially fatal risks from a standard tuberculosis vaccine, a new study published Wednesday in a World Health Organization magazine showed.
Hopes for Nuclear Breakthrough on Obama Moscow Trip (Reuters/Yahoo! News) Hopes are rising on both sides that President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow next week will produce a breakthrough in talks on cutting U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons and on helping Washington in Afghanistan.
Canada Seen Worst of G8 Not Curbing Climate Change (Reuters) With only five months to go until a new global pact on climate change, none of the Group of Eight nations is doing enough to curb global warming, with Canada and the United States ranking bottom, a study said on Wednesday.
Senate Struggle Expected over Climate Change Legislation (CQpolitics.com) Senate Democratic leaders are preparing for what is expected to be a tough fight over climate change legislation, even tougher than it was in the House.
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