Category: Swine Flu

WHO bids Swine Flu adieu

August 11, 2010 by MassDevice staff

In a jargon-laced statement August 10, World Health Organization director-general Dr. Margaret Chan declared an end to the Swine Flu pandemic.

The United Nations' health organization head proclaimed that the "world is no longer in phase 6 of influenza pandemic alert" and that the H1N1 influenza virus had entered into a "post-pandemic period."

FDA clears Intelligent MDx Swine Flu assay

March 24, 2010 by MassDevice staff

Intelligent Medical Devices Inc. won emergency clearance from the Food & Drug Administration for a test that can detect the presence of Swine Flu in about 90 minutes.

FDA issues warnings, recall

February 3, 2010 by MassDevice staff

The Food & Drug Administration issues a pair of warnings to Millipore Corp. (NYSE:MIL) and Cardiac Sciences Corp. (NSDQ:CSCX) and put out a Class I recall of Synthes USA's (SIX:SYST) Synex II vertebral implant.

Millipore warned on Swine Flu diagnostics claims

The FDA sent the Billerica, Mass.-based lab instruments maker a warning letter in September of last year about a promotional email the company sent out touting its influenza diagnostics.

Quest Diagnostics: Swine Flu declined 75 percent since October peak

December 18, 2009 by MassDevice staff

Kissing under the mistletoe might be back on this Christmas, as long as whoever you're kissing is a willing participant.

That's because the threat of Swine Flu putting a damper on the holidays may be fading, according to Quest Diagnostics Inc. (NYSE:DGX), which says that reports of the H1N1 influenza virus are down 75 percent since an October peak.

The Madison, N.J.-based company's "H1N1 Testing in America: End of the Second Wave?" report follows similar news put out in November by Quest, which said then that Swine Flu peaked in October.

Swine Flu threat may have peaked, study finds

November 20, 2009 by MassDevice staff

In its monthly "Health Trends" report released Nov. 20, researchers at Quest Diagnostics Inc. found that demand for the company's 2009 H1N1 influenza virus test kit started to slide since Oct. 27. Positive test results also began to drop across most age groups and in most regions of the country, according to the report.

There were two important exceptions to the otherwise positive news. Infection rates continued to grow in the Northeast, more than doubling during the two weeks ended Nov. 10 compared with the prior two weeks. Swine Flu also remains a significant risk to older adults, with the rate of infection tripling in people over age 65 since late August, the study found.

UPDATE: CDC taps GE Healthcare to track Swine Flu

October 29, 2009 by MassDevice staff

GE Healthcare and the Centers For Disease Control struck a one-year deal to set up what the healthcare conglomerate calls a "real-time" monitor of Swine Flu activity in the United States.

Inverness swings into the black during the third quarter

October 27, 2009 by MassDevice staff

Inverness Medical Innovations Inc. put some black ink on its balance sheet during the third quarter, logging a 22.1 percent increase in revenues compared with Q3 2008, largely on a jump in sales of its influenza diagnostic tests and contributions from acquisitions.