Flu season generally starts in October, can run as late as May, and peaks in January to February, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
While for the most part it results in symptoms similar to those of a cold — cough, sore throat, runny nose and headache — the flu also has symptoms like fever, achiness, tiredness, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. It should be noted that unlike a cold, the flu can cause "mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death."
In fact, the CDC estimates that over a 30 year period, "influenza-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. And, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized in the United States each year due to complications related to seasonal influenza."
The best way to prevent getting the flu, experts agree, is to get vaccinated every year.
Seasonal vaccines are developed for the three influenza strains that research predicts will be most prevalent that year. There are two ways to receive the vaccine: via an injection, or through a nasal mist. The injectable vaccine is created using the killed virus and is appropriate for use in anyone over 6 months of age.
The nasal mist is made with live, weakened viruses, and is "sometimes called LAIV for 'Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine'," according to the CDC. The nasal mist can be used on healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49, but should not be used by pregnant women.
Be sure to eat a healthy diet, including lots of colorful vegetables and yogurt, which is believed to stimulate your immune system and drink plenty of water, which helps to flush toxins from your system. Also include plenty of ginger, garlic, and dark leafy greens, suggests herbalist Robin Rose Bennett, of West Milford.
"Ginger and garlic can be used in cooking, and ginger tea is also good. Ginger and garlic can both be chopped and infused in a jar with raw local honey, ready to use within 24 hours, but (it) only gets better over months of time...all these are safe for kids, except the usual caution regarding infants not being given honey for one year," says Bennett.
2011年11月24日星期四
2011年9月28日星期三
Traffic officer jailed for giving girlfriend herpes freed
A traffic officer who was jailed for giving his ex-girlfriend genital herpes today walked free from prison on bail after launching an appeal against his conviction.
David Christopher Edward Golding, 28, from Braunston, Northamptonshire, was jailed for 14 months at Northampton Crown Court last month after admitting causing grievous bodily harm.
But new evidence could cast doubt on whether it was Golding who actually passed on the sexually transmitted infection to the woman, the Court of Appeal heard today.
A prosecution-commissioned medical report suggests that it could not be proved that it was definitely Golding who gave the victim the disease.
Mr Justice Burnett, sitting at the London court, granted Golding's application for bail to allow him to go home while new evidence is gathered for his appeal.
Golding, who worked for the Highways Agency, was accused of recklessly infecting his then partner with the genital herpes virus when they were together about two years ago.
But his jailing caused outrage among sexual health groups, who said the sentence would add to the stigma attached to carriers of the 'trivial' condition.
The appeal is to be based around examination of a blood sample given by the woman some time ago, which might cast doubt on Golding's guilt, Mr Justice Burnett told the court.
'This whole matter should not go into the long grass whilst both parties seek further expert evidence,' the appeal judge added.
'It is important that this proceeds with some speed. If the conclusion following the further medical evidence is that causation really could not be proved, then the sooner that is, the better.
'As importantly, if the outcome excludes the possibility of causation by another route, then that needs to be known as quickly as possible because the appellant may, in those circumstances, have to return to custody to continue to serve his sentence.'
Granting bail pending appeals is a rare move for the Court of Appeal, but Mr Justice Burnett said Golding's was an 'exceptional' case.
His legal team may also argue that it was wrong that he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, rather than the less serious offence of causing actual bodily harm, which carries a lesser sentence.
At the time of the sentencing, Golding’s parents, Janet, 64, and Christopher, 59, said they were shocked by the jail term.
Mrs Golding said: ‘This is David’s first offence and we are distraught at what might happen to him in jail. He’s a good son who did not deserve this.’
Her husband said that he found the sentence ‘difficult to understand’.
The virus which causes genital herpes could cause an outbreak or lie dormant for years, during which time it is not infectious. Many people remain unaware they are infected.
Those who do display symptoms usually suffer fever, headache and tiredness and small blisters and itching.
Nigel Scott, spokesman for the Herpes Viruses Association, said Golding’s sentence was ‘outrageous’ and compared the case to prosecuting children for ‘giving their friends chicken pox’.
He added: ‘It is such a trivial infection that most people don’t notice it. It has exactly the same medical implications and consequences as an ordinary facial cold sore.’
Marian Nicholson, director of the HVA, added: ‘Many of those who are diagnosed are reluctant to disclose their status but this is because of the unnecessary stigma, not because it is serious ... emphatically it is not.’
The appeal is unlikely to return to court for at least a month, but Golding will be allowed to go home while further investigation is undertaken.
David Christopher Edward Golding, 28, from Braunston, Northamptonshire, was jailed for 14 months at Northampton Crown Court last month after admitting causing grievous bodily harm.
But new evidence could cast doubt on whether it was Golding who actually passed on the sexually transmitted infection to the woman, the Court of Appeal heard today.
A prosecution-commissioned medical report suggests that it could not be proved that it was definitely Golding who gave the victim the disease.
Mr Justice Burnett, sitting at the London court, granted Golding's application for bail to allow him to go home while new evidence is gathered for his appeal.
Golding, who worked for the Highways Agency, was accused of recklessly infecting his then partner with the genital herpes virus when they were together about two years ago.
But his jailing caused outrage among sexual health groups, who said the sentence would add to the stigma attached to carriers of the 'trivial' condition.
The appeal is to be based around examination of a blood sample given by the woman some time ago, which might cast doubt on Golding's guilt, Mr Justice Burnett told the court.
'This whole matter should not go into the long grass whilst both parties seek further expert evidence,' the appeal judge added.
'It is important that this proceeds with some speed. If the conclusion following the further medical evidence is that causation really could not be proved, then the sooner that is, the better.
'As importantly, if the outcome excludes the possibility of causation by another route, then that needs to be known as quickly as possible because the appellant may, in those circumstances, have to return to custody to continue to serve his sentence.'
Granting bail pending appeals is a rare move for the Court of Appeal, but Mr Justice Burnett said Golding's was an 'exceptional' case.
His legal team may also argue that it was wrong that he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, rather than the less serious offence of causing actual bodily harm, which carries a lesser sentence.
At the time of the sentencing, Golding’s parents, Janet, 64, and Christopher, 59, said they were shocked by the jail term.
Mrs Golding said: ‘This is David’s first offence and we are distraught at what might happen to him in jail. He’s a good son who did not deserve this.’
Her husband said that he found the sentence ‘difficult to understand’.
The virus which causes genital herpes could cause an outbreak or lie dormant for years, during which time it is not infectious. Many people remain unaware they are infected.
Those who do display symptoms usually suffer fever, headache and tiredness and small blisters and itching.
Nigel Scott, spokesman for the Herpes Viruses Association, said Golding’s sentence was ‘outrageous’ and compared the case to prosecuting children for ‘giving their friends chicken pox’.
He added: ‘It is such a trivial infection that most people don’t notice it. It has exactly the same medical implications and consequences as an ordinary facial cold sore.’
Marian Nicholson, director of the HVA, added: ‘Many of those who are diagnosed are reluctant to disclose their status but this is because of the unnecessary stigma, not because it is serious ... emphatically it is not.’
The appeal is unlikely to return to court for at least a month, but Golding will be allowed to go home while further investigation is undertaken.
2011年4月28日星期四
Glaxo's Profit Rises, but Sales Fall 11%
GlaxoSmithKline PLC Wednesday posted an 11% fall in first-quarter revenue, weighed by a steep drop in sales of pandemic flu vaccines and anti-virals, but said quarterly profits were supported by strong sales of new products, continued expansion in emerging markets and Japan as well as asset disposals.
For the three months to end-March, Glaxo posted a profit of £1.64 billion ($2.70 billion) before major restructuring, up 5.1% from £1.56 billion a year earlier. Net profit, which includes restructuring charges, was up 14% at £1.53 billion compared with £1.34 billion. The group booked restructuring charges of £135 million in the first quarter.
Sales in the period fell to £6.59 billion from £7.36 billion, hit by generic competition to herpes drug Valtrex, a continued steep fall in revenue from its controversial diabetes pill Avandia, and a drop in sales of flu products after last year's pandemic-linked windfall. Analysts had forecast quarterly sales of £6.66 billion.
Still, the U.K.'s largest drug maker said asset disposals delivered positive earnings per share growth in the quarter. Glaxo is selling its Quest Diagnostics stake for $1.7 billion and North American rights to cold sore treatment Zovirax to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International INC for $300 million.
As a result, earnings per share came in at 32.2 pence versus 30.7 pence in the year-ago quarter. Market expectations had seen first-quarter EPS at 31 pence.
The drug industry overall is suffering as older products lose patent protection and governments and health insurers push back on pricing. But Glaxo now looks better placed than many of its rivals when it comes to patent expiries. The company said its prospects look bright going forward.
"These first quarter results are in line with the expectation that I set out in February that GSK will make significant progress during 2011 to improve sales performance, enhance cash generation and deliver new product approvals and pipeline visibility," Chief Executive Andrew Witty said in a statement.
Mr. Witty has pursued a diversification strategy since taking the helm three years ago at Glaxo, building its consumer and vaccines businesses and expanding in emerging markets.
Dominic Valder of Evolution Securities said Glaxo's sales and earnings performance looks set to improve from the second half of this year. "Glaxo is now sort of in the eye of the storm from a growth perspective and the stock should return to growth later on this year and we're becoming more confident about where the growth is coming from," said Mr. Valder, who rates Glaxo a buy.
Glaxo, which reports in sterling, set a first-quarter dividend of 16 pence, up 7% from a year earlier.
Glaxo recently resumed its share buyback program, suspended in 2008. Having bought back shares to the tune of £317 million in the first quarter, the company Wednesday said full-year buybacks are now expected to be at the top end of its repurchase range of between £1 billion to £2 billion.
The company doesn't provide detailed sales or earnings guidance.
Glaxo said it received a subpoena on April 18 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office of the Inspector General, "requesting production of documents relating to the group's marketing and promotion of Lovaza," a fish oil-based product designed to lower high triglycerides. The U.S. inspectors are requesting documents from January 1, 2006 to the present, Glaxo said.
For the three months to end-March, Glaxo posted a profit of £1.64 billion ($2.70 billion) before major restructuring, up 5.1% from £1.56 billion a year earlier. Net profit, which includes restructuring charges, was up 14% at £1.53 billion compared with £1.34 billion. The group booked restructuring charges of £135 million in the first quarter.
Sales in the period fell to £6.59 billion from £7.36 billion, hit by generic competition to herpes drug Valtrex, a continued steep fall in revenue from its controversial diabetes pill Avandia, and a drop in sales of flu products after last year's pandemic-linked windfall. Analysts had forecast quarterly sales of £6.66 billion.
Still, the U.K.'s largest drug maker said asset disposals delivered positive earnings per share growth in the quarter. Glaxo is selling its Quest Diagnostics stake for $1.7 billion and North American rights to cold sore treatment Zovirax to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International INC for $300 million.
As a result, earnings per share came in at 32.2 pence versus 30.7 pence in the year-ago quarter. Market expectations had seen first-quarter EPS at 31 pence.
The drug industry overall is suffering as older products lose patent protection and governments and health insurers push back on pricing. But Glaxo now looks better placed than many of its rivals when it comes to patent expiries. The company said its prospects look bright going forward.
"These first quarter results are in line with the expectation that I set out in February that GSK will make significant progress during 2011 to improve sales performance, enhance cash generation and deliver new product approvals and pipeline visibility," Chief Executive Andrew Witty said in a statement.
Mr. Witty has pursued a diversification strategy since taking the helm three years ago at Glaxo, building its consumer and vaccines businesses and expanding in emerging markets.
Dominic Valder of Evolution Securities said Glaxo's sales and earnings performance looks set to improve from the second half of this year. "Glaxo is now sort of in the eye of the storm from a growth perspective and the stock should return to growth later on this year and we're becoming more confident about where the growth is coming from," said Mr. Valder, who rates Glaxo a buy.
Glaxo, which reports in sterling, set a first-quarter dividend of 16 pence, up 7% from a year earlier.
Glaxo recently resumed its share buyback program, suspended in 2008. Having bought back shares to the tune of £317 million in the first quarter, the company Wednesday said full-year buybacks are now expected to be at the top end of its repurchase range of between £1 billion to £2 billion.
The company doesn't provide detailed sales or earnings guidance.
Glaxo said it received a subpoena on April 18 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office of the Inspector General, "requesting production of documents relating to the group's marketing and promotion of Lovaza," a fish oil-based product designed to lower high triglycerides. The U.S. inspectors are requesting documents from January 1, 2006 to the present, Glaxo said.
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