Swine flu


Vaccinating against the power of The Google

These days consumers have access to a wealth of health information. So why would they listen to a journalist? Well, The Google doesn’t know everything, writes Nick Miller. Factual analysis is worthy too.

Deconstructing swine flu: 12 things you didn’t know

You might be over the swine flue jokes, but Associate Professor Heath Kelly offers 12 things you may not know about the swine flu pandemic. How serious has the pandemic been?

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Executive Remuneration

Crikey readers weigh in on how measuring the obscenity of executive remuneration, the danger of footpaths and the South Ossetian war between Georgia and Russia.

Infuenza vaccination: the case against

With the national rollout of pandemic influenza vaccination beginning today, an international expert on influenza vaccination and a leading US consumer advocate have raised several questions for Australian health authorities.

Influenza vaccination: the case for

Dr Michael Wooldridgeresponds to Peter Collignon in the debate about swine flu vaccination: “vaccination will stop this epidemic in its tracks”.

Mass vaccinations for Swine Flu: learning from hindsight

We do not seem to have learned much since 1976 when a swine flu virus outbreak went through Fort Dix in the US, writes Peter Collignon.

What Roxon failed to mention about the swine flu vaccination

Health Minister Nicola Roxon is busy peddling the benefits of the swine flu vaccine, while Croakey examines the past perils of health ministers spruiking pharmaceuticals.

Fight the war on drugs or make the world’s biggest taco?

Mexico may have some problems — a violent drug war, economic issues — but they are winners when it comes to Guinness World Records. Michael Jackson dances, world’s biggest meatball, longest catwalk, the list goes on…

Obama: stay in school, wash your hands

After all the hype and fears around US President Barack Obama’s speech to America’s school kids, the White House has released the full text of the address — a lovely little “work hard, dare-to-dream, don’t get swine flu” pep talk that’s about as political as a Wiggles album.

US tackles swine flu with Sesame St

The US government has enlisted a new recruit in the fight against the spread of swine flu: Elmo; creating a series of PSA videos to deliver health and hygiene tips to youngsters by utilising a fuzzy and familiar face.

Video of the Day: Fighting swine flu with Elmo

US health officials are trying to contain the spread of swine flu by using a fuzzy, familiar face to deliver health and hygiene tips to youngsters: Elmo.

Swine flu vaccine’s image problem

Public demand for the new swine flu vaccine may be underwhelming, writes Dr Julie Leask. For people to want a vaccine they must not only believe it is safe. They must also think it is necessary.

Infection control experts add to concerns about multidose flu vaccine

The Australian Infection Control Association has warned the Federal Government against proceeding with the planned swine flu vaccination program due to health risk concerns, writes Melissa Sweet.

Learning the lessons from swine flu

In October 2006, several people thought to be infected with avian influenza flew into Brisbane, triggering an emergency response that revealed important gaps in the country’s preparedness for a pandemic.
The “patients” were in fact participants in a massive exercise, involving 1500 participants, testing whether the $610 million invested in pandemic planning over the previous three […]

No more deadly than your average non-swine flu

Fear can drive us to make hasty decisions that are not necessarily based on good and robust data. This is exactly what has happened with the swine flue outbreak, writes Professor Peter Collignon.

WARNING: zombies attack may destroy humans

If zombies attacked the human race, only severe force would save us, says new research. There is a serious side to the work, comparing zombie attacks to the spread of infectious diseases like swine flu. What about zombie pigs?

2009 influenza pandemic: assessing the fallout

Surveillance, control, treatment and prevention of influenza is a multi-billion dollar global industry. But it is built on surprisingly shaky foundations, writes Associate Professor Heath Kelly.

Ashes 09: the swine flu diaries

Crikey’s Ashes correspondent Jarrod Kimber becomes the second high profile (ahem) Australian cricket journalist to get swine flu.

Swine flu and pregnancy: don’t miss the bigger picture

The risk of swine flu for pregnant women has received a lot of attention. But influenza more generally is dangerous for pregnant women, explains Professor Peter McIntyre, though much of it is preventable.

Swine flu around the world

Mapping the aporkalypse, as the death-toll rises around the world.

What they’re saying

Tamiflu-resistant swine flu found

A Danish case — where a woman given Tamiflu got swine flu anyway — has found a version of the pandemic with a mutation that is resistant to the antiviral drug.

Swine flu no excuse for a party, say doctors

Parents are being warned off holding ‘swine flu parties’ designed to infect children with the H1N1 virus while it remains relatively mild, in a bid to provide them immunity against a potentially more severe mutation of the virus later.

The science of a sneeze

Scientists who study the ways we cough and sneeze shed light on how viruses like swine flu are spread.

Swine flu chaos? GPs only have themselves to blame

Sitting on our arses? I think not, writes a disgruntled health care professional.

Swine flu v. seasonal flu: something for everyone

Swin flu gets all the headlines, but is there other flu out there too? And how bad is it? Margaret Paul reports.