News tagged with 'CDC'

CDC users beware! A malware campaign launched by hackers Tuesday morning invites people concerned about the swine flu to create a profile in an invitation that appears to come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Once that's done, your computer will get very sick, and you lose all confidential information.

Novartis has had a new seasonal flu vaccine fast-tracked by the FDA. Meanwhile a larger than normal number of bacterial infections is being seen among people who have had the swine flu, underscoring the need to monitor a patient's vaccine schedule.

There are 19 million newly diagnosed cases of sexually transmitted diseases(STD)a year, almost half among 15 to 24 year old females, finds this federal report from the CDC. African-American females have 20 times the gonorrhea rates than Caucasians showing the prevention message is not being heard.

This new CDC study finds that between 1997 and 2007 incidents of allergic reactions to foods shot up 18 percent and parents of almost four percent reported a food or digestive allergy in their child. No one really knows why and until two years ago, the CDC was not even tracking.

Birth defects are associated with the use of nitrofurantoins and sulfonamides, two antibiotics sometimes used during pregnancy.

Eight states are recalling 546,000 pounds of ground beef after E. coli contamination was detected. One person in New Hampshire has died and two others are sickened from what is suspected to be the same contaminated meat.

When a study showed the more expensive N-95 respirator was superior over surgical masks, the CDC and Institute of Medicine quickly adopted the findings and made recommendations to hospitals. Now it's revealed the findings were based on faulty science.

Facing a lack of forthcoming information about the dangers and concerns of vaccines in general, and the swine flu vaccine specifically, a citizens' group plans a protest at the CDC this week as experts in immunization gather.

Three studies are looking at the small percentage of patients who become critically ill requiring ICU care. While the majority of cases are mild, the average age of those critically ill is remarkably young, in the mid-30s. The studies express the concern that there may not be enough ICU units available to accommodate patients who need them.

GlaxoSmithKline is bring home about $3.5 billion from its swine flu vaccines while the government protects drug makers under the assumption that vaccine production is not profitable.

A 14-year-old girl in Britain died shortly after receiving her HPV vaccine Monday. Drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline has isolated that batch of the Cervarix vaccine. Cervarix is a direct competitor to Gardasil (Merck) and is seeking U.S. approval. The Gardasil vaccine is also thought to be responsible for a number of deaths.

The mission of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies, how easy it is to prevent it.

Canadian researchers find getting a seasonal flu shot may double your chances of getting the swine flu. The results, yet unpublished, are causing a buzz in the public health community worldwide.

It is now thought to be possible one day to reduce the risk of contracting HIV with a vaccine after the largest clinical trial ever held cut the infection rate by 32 percent.

While more girls are getting the first shot of Gardasil in 2008 than a year earlier, fewer than one in five completes the three-shot series, reports the CDC.