Study: Half of health staff would refuse swine flu shot, despite plans to vaccinate them first

About half of Hong Kong’s health workers would refuse the swine flu vaccine, new research says, a trend that experts say would likely apply worldwide.

In a study that polled 2,255 Hong Kong health workers this year, researchers found even during the height of global swine flu panic in May, less than half were willing to get vaccinated.

Most said they would pass on the swine flu shot, which is not yet available, because they were afraid of side effects and doubted how safe and effective it would be.

Full Article: here.

Special pandemic fees for doctors ‘outrageous’: nurses’ federation

It’s “outrageous” that any Canadian doctors should be negotiating extra fees for treating H1N1 flu patients during a pandemic, says the president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses.

Linda Silas said she was “stunned” to hear doctors in Alberta have negotiated a special payment rate as high as $518 an hour, in the event the provincial government is forced to declare a public health emergency over the flu pandemic. Alberta nurses, who are salaried employees of the health system, will not be offered enhanced payment.

Full Article: here.

Food and Drug Administration authorizes emergency use of swine flu test for US troops overseas

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it has authorized the emergency use of a swine flu test for U.S. troops overseas, allowing the military to speed up diagnoses and treatment of a virus that could cause widespread infections again this fall.

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The authorization allows for the use of unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products during a public health emergency, the FDA said.

The FDA said the test will help to speed up diagnosis of H1N1 infections so that deployed troops can quickly begin treatment.

Full Article: here.

In April, Egypt ordered a complete cull of the country’s pig population. Approximately 350,000 pigs were slaughtered.

Unfortunately, Egypt’s garbage management industry, which features one of the world’s highest recycling rates at 85%, was pig-dependent. Organic waste which previously was sorted out and fed to the pigs, is now piling up as rubbish — leading to major garbage and health problems.

Read more: here.

“Three amigos” summit dominated by swine flu, trade

Leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada gather on Monday to present a united front to try to limit the spread of the H1N1 swine flu, but there is less unity on simmering trade issues.
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The leaders, sometimes referred to as “the three amigos,” are expected to issue a joint communique stressing their shared commitment to keep a predicted resurgence in the H1N1 virus this autumn as limited as possible.

A senior Obama administration official said the goal was to ensure that the people of the three countries are fully informed about steps to mitigate the spread of the virus, which is believed to have originated in Mexico last spring.

Full Article: here.