Medical Flu Animations

Scientists Isolate Genes That Made 1918 Flu Lethal
By mixing and matching a contemporary flu virus with the "Spanish flu" a virus that killed between 20 and 50 million people 90 years ago in history's most devastating outbreak of infectious disease researchers have identified a set of three genes that helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus.

1918 Flu Killed Millions Because Of Three Genes
A team of scientists from the US and Japan have identified a combination of three genes in the flu virus that was most likely responsible for making the 1918 flu strain so deadly that it caused the most devastating outbreak of infectious disease ever known to humankind, leaving tens of millions dead in its wake.

News From The Journals Of The American Society For Microbiology
Killer Peptide May Offer New Therapy Against Influenza A Virus In a new study researchers identified what appears to be the first antibody-derived peptide that inhibits the activities of harmful microbes such as influenza A virus and HIV-1. They report their findings in the December 2008 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Baxter Receives EMEA Positive Opinion For CELVAPAN, The First Cell Culture-Based Pandemic Flu Vaccine
Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion for the marketing authorization of CELVAPAN, the first cell culture-based H5N1 (avian flu) pandemic vaccine, in the European Union.

Health Department Reports This Season's First Lab-Confirmed Flu Case In The Northeast Region
A girl in Lehigh County is this season's first state laboratory-confirmed case of influenza in Pennsylvania's northeast region, the Department of Health said today. "We want to remind Pennsylvanians that it's still early in the flu season and it is not too late to get a flu shot," said acting Health Secretary Everette James. "It is the best way to protect yourself and those around you, and there is plenty of vaccine available.

Winter Health - Avoiding Festive Flu
Sickly Brits will spend more than three-and-a-half years of their lives suffering from colds and flu, new research has revealed. Each year, according to a recent survey of 2000 people commissioned by Dettol, the average Brit will suffer from three colds, each bout lasting just over five days. We also suffer from flu once a year so the average adult is laid up with a cold and flu for almost three weeks every year.

HHS Releases Guidance For Use And Stockpiling Of Antiviral Drugs For Pandemic Influenza
Health care workers and emergency services personnel who could have direct contact with individuals who are ill during an influenza pandemic should be protected with antiviral drugs throughout the pandemic, even before these workers are exposed or become ill themselves, according to guidance released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Hand Hygiene Is More Important Than You Think! - Oklahoma State Department Of Health
Did you know that most of the time, it's your own hands that make you sick? Germs on your hands cause most contagious illnesses. Your hands can pick up germs from coughing and sneezing onto them, from touching other persons' unclean hands, and from surfaces or substances that have disease-causing germs.

Immunology Center Will Continue To Drive Standard Methods, Better Science
The Rochester Human Immunology Center (RHIC) has been awarded a $4 million renewal of its grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Disease (NIAID). The renewal enables RHIC to continue leading the field of immunology in a worldwide effort to standardize how researchers use complex technologies like flow cytometry that are central to the discovery of new treatments.

First Flu Case Confirmed In Mississippi
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports the first laboratory confirmed influenza case of the 2008-2009 season. The presence of Influenza B in a sample from a patient in the Covington County area was documented at the MSDH Laboratory on Friday. "This is National Influenza Vaccination Week which, in conjunction with our first lab confirmed case of the year, serves as a great reminder that it's not too late to get your flu shot," said State Health Officer Dr.

First Cases Of Flu Identified In Bay State, Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that some flu activity has begun to be seen across the state, indicating that flu season has begun. The announcement coincides with National Influenza Vaccination Week, which begins on December 8, and underscores the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu to keep healthy throughout the fall and winter months.

CDC Officials Urge Flu Vaccinations, Especially For Minorities
CDC officials earlier this month at an ethnic media roundtable in Los Angeles expressed the importance of vaccinations to prevent the spread of the flu, New America Media reports. The roundtable, held Dec.

Whooping Cough Cases On The Rise, Says Kentucky Department For Public Health
More Kentuckians, particularly older children and teens, should get a booster vaccine to prevent the onset of pertussis, a highly contagious disease more commonly known as whooping cough, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) announced today. Though there are relatively few whooping cough cases in the state each year, public health surveillance has detected an increase in recent months.

Fighting Cold And Flu Symptoms With Hot Drinks
A hot drink may help reduce the symptoms of common colds and flu, according to new research by Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre. New research at the Centre has found that a simple hot drink of fruit cordial can provide immediate and sustained relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness.

It Is A Cold Or Flu? Ask NHS Direct's New Symptom Checker
Do I have a cold? Is it flu? Or are my symptoms serious enough that I should seek urgent medical attention? Over the next couple of months many of us will unfortunately be struck down with either a bad cold or a dose of flu - and in fact NHS Direct has already experienced a 206% rise in callers (from September 8 to December 7, 2008) - ringing about colds, flu, coughs and fever.