Scientists Make Killer Flu Virus Even Deadlier

Staff / Truthdig Dec 28, 2011 More than half of the people infected with H5N1 -- the bird flu virus -- are dead, so it's a damned good thing the virus isn't airborne. That is, until now. U.S.-funded researchers in the Netherlands have successfully engineered a viral H5N1 strain that can spread through the air, realizing fears of a potentially weaponized germ that infects easily and kills half its victims. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Harsh Methods Help China Keep Swine Flu at Bay

Staff / Truthdig Nov 12, 2009 China's authoritarianism has apparently helped the country keep a lid on the global H1N1 pandemic. Similarly populated India has experienced nearly 17 times as many deaths from the disease. The United States, with less than a quarter of China's population, has recorded about 133 times as many deaths. (continued) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Swine Flu Cases in U.S. Top 1 Million

Staff / Truthdig Jun 29, 2009 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 1 million Americans have contracted swine flu this year. That figure dwarfs the 27,717 confirmed and probable U.S. cases, but it also means the odds of surviving the disease -- 127 people have died -- are much better than previously thought. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Don’t Panic

Cameron Cardow / Truthdig Jun 15, 2009 Dig deeper

Swine Flu Reaches Pandemic

Staff / Truthdig Jun 12, 2009 It's been 40 years since we've had a flu pandemic on our hands, but after roughly 30,000 swine flu cases spread across multiple regions of the world, the WHO held an emergency meeting and took the plunge. Try not to feel alarmed. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Swine Flu on the Verge of Pandemic

Staff / Truthdig Apr 30, 2009 With news of the first swine flu death outside of Mexico (U.S.) and the first infection of a patient with no connection to Mexico (Spain), the World Health Organization has reclassified the health scare one level short of a full pandemic and has urged governments to initiate emergency measures. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Devils We Know

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Apr 28, 2009 The initial response to the flu outbreak, which may have the potential to become a pandemic, illustrates first of all how sensitive and responsive the global health-monitoring system has become. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )