BRUSSELS, Belgium-Public health officials are asking for governments to take more action against influenza. Citing the thousands of deaths each year attributable to the virus, healthcare professionals are asking for help today before another outbreak occurs.
A new report, "Influenza: A Race Against Time," was recently released in Brussels at an international health conference. Within the report, officials ask for better public understanding of the virus, more vaccinations, and more access to improved treatments. They predict if these options are utilized, thousands of lives can be saved.
The report also cites several statistics including financial motivation for governments to develop and implement a national pandemic preparedness plan, originally established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999. More than 10% of all work absences are attributed to influenza and in the US more than 30 million cases of the virus are reported annually. There are also more than 20,000 deaths caused by the flu in the US each year.
The report was funded through an educational grant from Roche and Retroscreen Virology.
Revolutionizing Infection Prevention: How Fewer Hand Hygiene Observations Can Boost Patient Safety
December 23rd 2024Discover how reducing hand hygiene observations from 200 to 50 per unit monthly can optimize infection preventionists' time, enhance safety culture, and improve patient outcomes.
Pula General Hospital Celebrates Clean Hospitals
December 16th 2024Learn how Pula General Hospital in Croatia championed infection prevention and environmental hygiene and celebrated Clean Hospitals Day to honor cleaning staff and promote advanced practices for exceptional patient care and safety.
Understanding NHSN's 2022 Rebaseline Data: Key Updates and Implications for HAI Reporting
December 13th 2024Discover how the NHSN 2022 Rebaseline initiative updates health care-associated infection metrics to align with modern health care trends, enabling improved infection prevention strategies and patient safety outcomes.
Tackling Health Care-Associated Infections: SHEA’s Bold 10-Year Research Plan to Save Lives
December 12th 2024Discover SHEA's visionary 10-year plan to reduce HAIs by advancing infection prevention strategies, understanding transmission, and improving diagnostic practices for better patient outcomes.
Environmental Hygiene: Air Pressure and Ventilation: Negative vs Positive Pressure
December 10th 2024Learn more about how effective air pressure regulation in health care facilities is crucial for controlling airborne pathogens like tuberculosis and COVID-19, ensuring a safer environment for all patients and staff.