08
Dec
2011
Flu

Flu Shots: Save Your Health, Your Marriage, Your Holiday
31
Mar
2010
Flu
by Water Quality & Health Council

Are Hand Sanitizers Better than Hand Washing for Combating the Common Cold?

According to a new study reported by the ASM, hand sanitizers containing ethanol are much more effective at removing rhinovirus from hands than washing with soap and water. Hand sanitizers containing both ethanol and organic acids significantly reduced recovery of the virus from hands and rhinovirus infection up to 4 hours following use. The researchers of... Read More »
17
Mar
2010
Flu
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

Flu Vaccination Protects Entire Communities

When children are vaccinated against the seasonal flu, the entire community benefits. A study by theNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) found that people living in communities in which about 80 percent of the children were vaccinated were much less likely to contract seasonal influenza, even if they themselves had not been vaccinated. This... Read More »
03
Mar
2010
Flu
by Water Quality & Health Council

Virus Hybridization Could Create Pandemic Bird Flu

According to a new study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, genetic interactions between avian influenza (H5N1) and human seasonal influenza viruses have the potential to create hybrid strains combining the virulence of bird flu with the pandemic ability ofH1N1. The study showed that in laboratory experiments with mice, a single gene segment from a human seasonal flu... Read More »
14
Dec
2009
Flu
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD

National Influenza Vaccination Week – December 6-12

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated this week (Dec. 6-12) as National Influenza Vaccination Week to highlight the importance of ongoing efforts to vaccinate against influenza (flu) and to foster even greater efforts going forward. This year, National Influenza Vaccination Week serves as an important reminder to seek out the H1N1... Read More »
09
Dec
2009
Flu
by Water Quality & Health Council

Rapid Influenza Tests Often Fail to Detect H1N1

Doctors’ offices and hospitals are using “rapid influenza diagnostic tests” to identify the presence of the H1N1 flu in patients; however, these tests actually do a poor job of sniffing out H1N1 because the rapid test does not detect H1N1, only influenza A. A confirmatory test must be done to identify H1N1 – a strain of influenza A.... Read More »
07
Dec
2009
Flu
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

Second Wave of H1N1 Peaks

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the level of H1N1 activity across the United States has dropped for the fourth straight week, indicating that the second wave of H1N1 in the United States has peaked.... Read More »
07
Nov
2009
Flu
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

Is it the flu or the common cold?

Viruses are unwelcomed visitors in many households right now. I am frequently asked how to tell whether a family member is suffering from the flu or just a common cold. Some of the symptoms are similar, but others generally indicate one or the other of these illnesses. To help you evaluate your symptoms, I’ve created... Read More »