This page brings together the latest science and developments on the swine flu pandemic into a single accessible resource for both health professionals and the general public. You will find a range of regularly updated links to scientific resources on the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus listed below. We will also be critically appraising new research on swine flu as it is published. Read More…

Pandemic showing summer decline but health officials prepare for second wave in autumn Owen Bowcott The number of deaths from swine flu in Britain has climbed to 59 but infection rates have continued to fall through the summer, according to the Department of Health. The latest figures released today show the disease on the wane during the holidays with about 260 people still being treated in hospital, fewer than last week. Of those, 30 were in intensive care. There were an estimated 11,000 people diagnosed with H1N1 flu in England last week, the cases spread uniformly across the country, and representing...

Swine flu (swine influenza) is a disease of pigs. It is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by one of many Influenza A viruses. Approximately 1% to 4% of pigs that get swine flu die from it. It is spread among pigs by direct and indirect contact, aerosols, and from pigs that are infected but do not have symptoms. In many parts of the world pigs are vaccinated against swine flu. Most commonly, swine flu is of the H1N1 influenza subtype. However, they can sometimes come from the other types, such as H1N2, H3N1, and H3N2. Read More…

By Maggie Fox, Reuters WASHINGTON – U.S. health officials strengthened their recommendations for seasonal flu vaccines on Friday, saying all children aged 6 months to 18 years should be immunized — especially because of the H1N1 flu pandemic. The seasonal vaccine provides little or no protection against H1N1 swine flu, but immunization will help prevent people from being infected with both at once and can help minimize the effects of the pandemic on schools, workplaces and the economy in general, health experts say. “Vaccination against seasonal influenza should begin as soon...

By Janet French, Saskatoon StarPhoenix SASKATOON — The expected surge in H1N1 cases this fall could challenge Canada’s medical community like nothing before, federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq told Canadian doctors Monday as she issued a rallying cry to physicians. Aglukkaq told physicians gathered for the Canadian Medical Association’s annual meeting in Saskatoon they got into the medical field for the “immeasurable satisfaction of saving lives and helping change lives for the better.” Given the current challenges posed by the H1N1 outbreak and a shortage of medical...

(CBS) U.S. officials Monday said they had slashed their estimate of how many H1N1 flu vaccine doses will be available for the start of a mass vaccination campaign in the fall. Citing delays in manufacturing and packaging the vaccines, the Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) said only 45 million doses of the new H1N1 vaccine would be on hand in mid-October, instead of the 120 million previously forecast. Twenty million doses a week, federal officials said, would be added each week after that. The revised delivery guidelines have pushed back a U.S. government estimate on priority immunizations...

State DOH has swine flu info page The Florida Department of Health: Swine flu information GENERAL QUESTIONS Is there swine flu in Florida? Yes, there is currently swine flu circulating in Florida. In late June and early July over 90% of the specimens tested for influenza at the Bureau of Laboratories have been positive for H1N1 (Swine) Influenza. At this point in time it can be assumed that a person with influenza-like illness has the H1N1 strain, without conducting laboratory testing. Read More…

MONTREAL — A young Montreal mother who died of the swine flu Friday never had a chance to hold her newborn son. Fatiha Idrissi, 23, was taken off life support Friday morning after contracting H1N1 two months ago. Idrissi checked in to Sacre-Coeur Hospital in June after she realized she was suffering from more than just a cold. Read More…

New Delhi: The deadly and contagious Swine Flu virus has been creating havoc in some states of India mostly in Maharashtra. As the epidemic is spreading to other neighbouring states, it has triggered the panic and rumours too. However, the panic is mostly due to rumour. The Swine Flu can be treated easily through awareness and precautions. The H1N1 virus has raised several questions. Here are some of the facts and myths regarding Swine flu: Myth 1: Consuming or handling animal meats, such as pork, can transmit some H1N1viruses. Read More…

By CLAIRE KNAPP, Contributing Writer Officials fear last spring’s swine flu outbreak was only a dress rehearsal for the H1N1 virus, which could return in a more virulent form when schools open in the fall. “Our school closure protocol is being updated,” said John Beckley, health officer and director of the Hunterdon County Department of Health. Compared to urban areas like New York City, confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus have been relatively low in Hunterdon County, with 17 confirmed cases and 11 probable cases since the flu first broke out last spring. There have been no flu-related deaths...