( On October 5 Chiron Corporation notif...)Rapid Flu Tests May Prove Especially Helpful This Season,Health

On October 5, Chiron Corporation notified the CDC that none of its influenza vaccine (Fluvirin) would be available for distribution in the United States for the current influenza season. In the wake of this sudden removal of nearly half of the anticipated American vaccine supply, medical officials and the general public have grown increasingly alarmed about the scarcity of vaccine and the risk of a looming epidemic.

It remains to be seen if virulent new strains of flu or an abnormally high incidence of the disease will strike when the nation is particularly vulnerable. No matter what measures public health officials activate to increase vaccine supplies and assure vaccination among the highest priority cohorts of the population, millions of Americans who would normally have a flu shot will be forced to go without this year.

Thus far this season, cases of influenza have been reported in 17 states, according to the weekly CDC report of October 23. This is likely the calm before the storm, because a typical flu season entails in excess of ten million cases of influenza in the U.S., causing some 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths. With limited vaccine available, flu incidence and its impact this year could be far worse.

Given the situation, several steps have emerged as the best available courses of action:

1. Assure that available vaccine, including nasal-spray vaccines for appropriate age groups, are administered to those at highest risk: infants and young children, those with chronic or immuno-compromising diseases, pregnant women, residents of nursing homes the elderly and health care workers and caregivers.

2. Encourage reasonable hygiene precautions for everyone, including frequent and thorough hand washing. People are also being urged to remain home if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

3. Assiduously identify, track and treat flu outbreaks.

Diagnostic tests available for influenza inclu
'"/>

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine technology :

1. Rapid Whole Blood Testing for Infectious Mononucleosis Antibodies
2. Point of Care Cardiac Analyzers Yield Rapid Cardiac Marker Results
3. Avian (Bird) Flu: Is There a Role for Rapid Tests?
4. Rapid HIV Testing Increases Possibility of Treatment
5. Dade Behrings (hsCRP) Tests and BNTM Series Analyzers
6. Point of Care Strep Tests Speed Treatment, Lower Costs
7. Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tests for Celiac Disease