For the study, published in the March issue of Medical Care, researchers evaluated a set of critical factors that can affect hospital deaths: hospital occupancy, nurse staffing levels, weekend admission and seasonal influenza.

Hong Kong authorities said Friday that a dead chicken found in the southern Chinese territory had tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.

The number of H1N1 cases has steadily declined in the Western Hemisphere, prompting Cayman’s Health Services Authority (HSA) to close the flu clinic.

“Indeed, the cases of H1N1 have come down,” said Dr Kiran Kumar, Medical Officer of Health, “and we are happy that we have managed well. Although the clinic is closing, we will continue to closely monitor all cases of H1N1 between now and the next flu season.”

Normally, this is the peak period for the flu in the United States. But that just doesn't seem to be the case this year.

The number of states reporting widespread cases of the flu mysteriously plunged from 49 at the end of October to zero at the beginning of the January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the beginning of March, most states are only reporting sporadic cases of the flu.

Normally, this is the peak period for the flu in the United States. But that just doesn't seem to be the case this year.

The number of states reporting widespread cases of the flu mysteriously plunged from 49 at the end of October to zero at the beginning of the January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the beginning of March, most states are only reporting sporadic cases of the flu.

Rwanda Targets Communities In Effort To Curb Maternal Mortality

To reduce maternal mortality in Rwanda and reach U.N. Millennium Development Goal targets, the government will conduct maternal death audits in villages to help identify ways to improve outcomes, Rwanda's Minister of Health Richard Sezibera announced recently, the New Times/allAfrica.com reports.

ILI rate

The Department of Health & Children and the HSE advised yesterday (18th February, 2010) that the rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) for the week ending Sunday 14th February 2010 (week 6, 2010), was 6.2 per 100,000 population. This is a slight decrease from the 6.8 per 100,000 population reported during week 5, 2010.

A new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) of all patients in Canada admitted to hospital for H1N1 in the first five months of the outbreak summarizes the risk factors for a severe outcome. The H1N1 pandemic presents important learnings for clinicians and researchers and data on severe outcomes can help inform future treatment and prevention guidelines.