Nearly 2 million more doses of swine flu vaccine available today, CDC says
An additional 1.8 million doses of Vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 Influenza virus have become available since Monday, bringing the total ready to be shipped to 31.8 million doses, said Dr.Thomas R. Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a news conference this morning. "We are on track for a 10 million dose increase this week," he said. That scaled-back goal is well below the 20 million doses per week that officials had predicted last...

Why The Swine Flu Vaccine May Not Help Those That Need It Most: PHOTO
This month's Atlantic magazine features a frightening and fascinating look at both the Swine Flu vaccination and Influenza vaccinations in general. As people across the country line up for Swine Flu vaccinations, demand the supply increase faster and beg their doctors for Tamiflu, and as parents debate the pros and cons of giving their kids an “emergent” vaccination–rushed into being because of the pandemic

Cat catches swine flu
Does the Swine Flu pandemic pose a threat to your pet? Yes, according to a report out today from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

World first as swine flu found in US cat
Vets in the US state of Iowa said Wednesday that a household cat had tested positive for Swine Flu -- the first known case in the world of the new pandemic strain spreading to the feline population. The domestic shorthair, a 13-year-old castrated male, apparently caught A(H1N1) off its owners -- two of the three members of the family had previously contracted the deadly virus. "This is the first cat that we are aware of with the pandemic H1N1," said Brett Sponseller, an assistant professor of...

The Associated Press: CDC: Up to 6 million swine flu cases in few months
Atlanta — As many as 5.7 million Americans were infected with Swine Flu during the first few months of the pandemic, according to estimates from federal health officials. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 1.8 million and 5.7 million Americans were infected from mid-April through July 23. The figures are the CDC's most specific calculation to date. They also estimated that between 9,000 and 21,000 hospitalizations occurred during that time....

Signs that swine flu may be easing in Phila. region
After several weeks of sharp increases in the spread of Swine Flu around the region, the first hints that the pandemic may be leveling off have begun to emerge. Experts caution that it is too early to draw conclusions. It is likely to come back in the winter, and even the early trend is not uniform: Just as Flu patterns vary around the country, the evidence here suggests that disease is continuing to spread quickly in New Jersey even as it might be leveling off in Philadelphia. And...

CDC Says Seasonal Flu Vaccine Shortage Possible
There is already a shortage of Swine Flu Vaccine , and Tamiflu , and some degree of panic has even led to companies like Clorox seeing increased profits . Seasonal Flu Vaccine does not provide any protection against Swine Flu, but that's not stopping people. In fact, normally people are pretty complacent about seasonal Flu shots. This year, with H1N1 Swine Flu on everyone's mind, nearly 90 million doses of Vaccine for seasonal Influenza already have been distributed, out of a total of 114...

Epic flu might be easing in Indiana: PHOTO
Nine Hoosiers died last week from H1N1 Influenza, nearly doubling the number of such deaths in the state since June. While last week was by far the deadliest H1N1 week, state health officials see some signs that the illness is loosening its grip here. But by other measures, Influenza activity -- almost all of it H1N1 -- remains at a historic high. In the past two decades, doctors who monitor the Flu for the state have never had that illness represent such a high percentage of their cases as...

Iowa Cat First Feline To Get H1N1 Swine Flu
The 13-year-old cat, unnamed in the report, was treated last week at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, Iowa. It has since recovered. The H1N1 virus also has been confirmed in two ferrets, one in Nebraska and one in Oregon, but both of those animals died. It's this same sort of cross-species mutation that leads to viruses such as Ebola or Marburg crossing from monkeys into humans. Those viruses typically infect simians first, but can cross to humans, which is when you...

Cat diagnosed with swine flu
washingtonpost.com's health and wellness blog by Jennifer Huget tackles health in the news -- and your life.

Questions, with answers, about H1N1 (swine flu): PHOTO
Who should get the H1N1 vaccine? Pretty much everyone, Health officials say, assuming a person hasn't already had the H1N1 Flu. But don't go elbowing to the front of the line just yet. With limited vaccine supplies available, some groups get priority because the virus poses greater risk to them than it does to most healthy adults. So if you're not pregnant, a healthcare worker, age 6 months to 24 years, live with or Care for an infant under 6 months, or have a compromised immune...

Swine flu hits Venezuelan tribe
The deaths happened in forest villages near Venezuela's border with Brazil over the recent couple of weeks, said Raidan Bernade, a Venezuelan doctor on a team sent to contain the outbreak. Mr Bernade told that doctors confirmed one of those who died had Swine Flu - a 35-year-old Yanomami woman who doctors believe was pregnant. Six babies, the oldest of whom was about one year old, died from similar symptoms, though samples weren't taken in time to confirm it was Swine Flu, Mr Bernade said. He...

Swine flu cases increase slightly on college campuses last week
Influenza-like illnesses, assumed to be primarily pandemic H1N1 Influenza, continued to increase on college campuses last week, although the rate has slowed. A total of 9,128 new cases were reported in the week ending Oct. 30 at the  274 colleges and universities reporting to the American College Health Assn., an increase of 2% from the previous week. Twenty-five hospitalizations were reported, but no deaths. That brings the totals for the academic year to more than 65,000 cases and...

Some Oklahoma kids need swine flu booster
Health officials are reminding parents that children under 10 who have been vaccinated for Swine Flu will need a booster shot, even if that means standing in line a second time.

Two women the latest swine flu victims
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San Jose Unified Sets Target Date for Swine Flu Program
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS)  -- San Jose Unified School District has set a November 16 target date to begin a free, voluntary H1N1 vaccination program to inoculate all its 32,000 students against the widespread virus. The only problem? The vaccine has to arrive on time. The district is the largest in Santa Clara County and the only one planning to offer districtwide vaccinations. Melinda Landau, the district’s manager for health and family support programs, said if things go...

Jordan's disabled son down with swine flu?
LONDON - Kate Price a.k.a Jordan was left distraught when her disabled seven-year-old son Harvey had to be hospitalised after he felt seriously ill.

Swine flu changes could spell trouble
San Francisco — As the H1N1 Flu virus spreads at breakneck speed, a team of scientists is close behind. They are watching its evolution through a cutting-edge technology in hopes of answering the question: Where did it come from — and where is it going?

Swine Flu Positive in Commercial Herd of Pigs in US
In an article published last month , there were also three pigs from the Minnesota State Fair that were thought to have contracted the Swine Flu virus according to preliminary tests. After further testing, the Swine Flu was confirmed. These were not commercial hogs like the herd who tested positive in Indiana. The positive tests in Indiana came just days after U.S. officials successfully negotiated an end to a six-month ban on pork imports to China. Officials expect the Chinese to reopen their...

Flu outbreak suspected in Amazon tribe deaths
CARACAS, Venezuela — Swine Flu has appeared among Venezuela’s Yanomami Indians, one of the largest isolated indigenous groups in the Amazon, and a doctor said Wednesday that the virus is suspected in seven deaths, including six infants.

Nation is facing vaccine shortage for seasonal flu
Even though the regular Flu Season has yet to start, the nation is facing a severe shortage of seasonal Flu Vaccine as well as Swine Flu Vaccine. Federal officials and independent Flu experts have said the situation was unavoidable, given that the global Swine Flu pandemic had raised demand for all Flu shots far beyond what manufacturers can make in a year. The shortage does not mean there will be an increase in seasonal Flu deaths, which average about 36,000 a year. The same amount of Vaccine...

Flu deaths up again in Minnesota, spread slows
The H1N1 Flu pandemic is spreading more slowly across Minnesota, but the number of deaths continues to mount. But, state Health officials warned today, it's premature to say the pandemic has peaked. The officials announced today that three more Minnesotans have died from complications of the Influenza strain, bringing to 15 the number who have succumbed to it. In addition to the three H1N1 deaths confirmed last week, one other Minnesotan died from what the Health Department characterized as...

Officials report H1N1 infection in an Iowa cat
Des Moines, Iowa — A 13-year-old Iowa cat has been infected with Swine Flu, veterinary and federal officials said Wednesday, and it is believed to be the first case of the virus in a feline.

Nation is facing vaccine shortage for seasonal flu
Even though the regular Flu Season has yet to start, the nation is facing a severe shortage of seasonal Flu Vaccine as well as Swine Flu Vaccine. Federal officials and independent Flu experts have said the situation was unavoidable, given that the global Swine Flu pandemic had raised demand for all Flu shots far beyond what manufacturers can make in a year. The shortage does not mean there will be an increase in seasonal Flu deaths, which average about 36,000 a year. The same amount of Vaccine...

Flu deaths up again in Minnesota, spread slows
The H1N1 Flu pandemic is spreading more slowly across Minnesota, but the number of deaths continues to mount. State Health officials announced today that three more Minnesotans have died from complications of the Influenza strain, bringing to 15 the number who have succumbed to it. In addition to the three H1N1 deaths confirmed last week, one other Minnesotan died from what the Health Department characterized as "unspecified-type Influenza." The Department did not release details...