Behind the Headlines

Your guide to the science that makes the news

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Pandemic waves

Friday Aug 14 2009

An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association has questioned whether the prevailing belief that the current pandemic flu will return in a more dangerous second wave is justified. The authors also...

Tamiflu for children questioned

Tuesday Aug 11 2009

It has been widely reported that Tamiflu may be of little benefit when given to children, with several news sources suggesting that the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza rarely prevent complications in children with seasonal flu, but...

Swine flu jab safety checks

Thursday Aug 6 2009

The World Health Organization has issued a briefing note on its website discussing the safety of new pandemic vaccines, a topic that has been the subject of much media speculation in recent weeks....

Swine flu science: overview

Friday Oct 2 2009

This page brings together the latest science and developments on the swine flu pandemic into a single accessible resource for both health professionals and the general public.

Swine flu science: overview

Friday Oct 2 2009

This page brings together the latest science and developments on the swine flu pandemic into a single accessible resource for both health professionals and the general public.

Tamiflu side effects in children

Friday Jul 31 2009

New research claims that “more than half of children taking Tamiflu to combat swine flu suffer side effects such as nausea, insomnia and nightmares,” said The Daily Telegraph. It also said the study suggests that one in...

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Swine flu drugs for the pregnant

Wednesday Jul 29 2009

Pregnant women who develop swine flu should be given antiviral treatment as soon as possible, say the authors of a new study. The research gathered data from 13 US states between mid-April and...

Age and antivirals

Tuesday Jul 28 2009

The journal BMC Infectious Diseases has published research evaluating the age-prioritisation of antivirals during an influenza pandemic. The Daily Mail referred to the study in an article: “Will mass use of Tamiflu...

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Swine flu basics

Monday Jul 27 2009

A recent article in the British Medical Journal discusses the basics of the swine flu virus. It talks about important issues relating to swine flu, including how the virus differs from ordinary seasonal flu and how mutations...