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13 Jul 2009 16:01

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World: Captain Obvious, formerly known as the World Health Organization

  • The WHO is full of good advice these days. For example, today they announced that health-care workers should be immunized against the H1N1 virus first as they will be more prone to exposure and need to be healthy to take care of those in need. I know, right? It’s total genius. source

11 Jun 2009 10:11

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World: We’re all gonna die! Swine flu headed towards pandemic status

  • Swine flu, known by experts and supernerds as H1N1, is likely to be called a pandemic by the World Health Organization today. It would be the first disease named pandemic in 40 years. source
  • Despite this, though, it’s not really any more dangerous than it was yesterday. It would just get a new title and merely confirm that the disease is a worldwide outbreak. We swear. source

16 May 2009 12:56

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World: The H1N1/swine flu toll is rising heavily still

  • 8,451 confirmed cases of swine flu around the world source

13 May 2009 09:30

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World: Swine flu is causing overreactions. Who would have thought?

  • WHO to world: Lay off the Tamiflu, we need that jank. Despite the fact that the outbreak has proven relatively minor so far, WHO’s insistence that WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE OMG has caused a few people to overreact and use resources needed for severe outbreaks for any minor ailment. As the Tamiflu supply is limited, WHO has asked that you back off. Only use it if you actually have H1N1. source

01 May 2009 19:39

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U.S., World: The swine flu vaccine will come out soon, but … not right away

  • The reality is that from the time the potentially pandemic virus is identified, it takes between four and six months to have the first doses of vaccine coming out of the factory and being available for immunizing people.
  • Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny • WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research, on the process of getting a vaccine out to the public. It’s not the quickest process in the world, but they’re already ahead of the game in one respect – they have the virus identified, which is a major step in production. In other news, the H1N1 outbreak (we still hate that name BTW – it’s not that we don’t think there should be another name, but it’s very clinical) seems to be flagging to some degree in Mexico City, which is positive. • source

30 Apr 2009 20:42

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U.S., World: The new name for swine flu sucks worse than Vanilla Ice

  • H1N1 whatever WHO dudes, it’s still swine flu source

30 Apr 2009 09:17

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U.S., World: World Health Organization: We’ll get the answers

  • It really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic. We do not have all the answers right now, but we will get them.
  • WHO Director-General Margaret Chan • On yesterday’s Phase 5 alert, the second-highest one. We certainly hope they get the answers. Regarding Mexico’s status, part of what caused the high number of deaths is a general distrust of the health care system by the public, along with misdiagnosis of some cases. Part of what helps prevent the most serious effects of the disease is early, rapid treatment. • source