French health officials warned Wednesday that the country is officially in the clutches of a flu epidemic after the number of cases reached 176,000, two of which were fatal. The notorious "swine flu" is among three strains causing infection.
The editorial in today’s Le Monde slams France efforts to prevent the spread of swine flu last summer. Several official reports have pointed the finger at the WHO and at national authorities for complicity with the pharmaceutical industry in over-estimating the extent of the pandemic. Also in today’s papers, Le Figaro and Libération face off on Nicolas Sarkozy’s recent declarations on crime. FRIDAY, 6th AUGUST 2010
In this edition: the left is tickled pink when the second round of regional elections gives it over 54% of the vote, while President Nicolas Sarkozy responds with a cabinet reshuffle; 22 towns ask the state to foot the bill for the flu epidemic France had expensively prepared for; and a scientific experiment shows how easily ordinary people can be convinced to inflict pain, with no other reward than being on TV.
The Swine Flu pandemic – the world was put on alert and almost 14,000 people died. Now the experts are asking was the response to strong? Did governments do the right thing? In France vast amounts of vaccine are unused – the French even sold off excess stocks of the drugs. Was this money wasted or was it a precaution that had to be taken?
The Swine Flu pandemic – the world was put on alert and almost 13,000 people died. Now the experts are asking was the response to strong? Did governments do the right thing? In France vast amounts of vaccine are unused – the French even sold off excess stocks of the drugs. Was this money wasted or was it a precaution that had to be taken?
The World Health Organisation denied on Tuesday that it was pushed to exaggerate the dangers of the H1N1 flu virus by drugs companies, which received millions in vaccination deals when the WHO declared the flu a "pandemic" last June.
The swine flu epidemic in mainland France that has killed hundreds has ended, a monitoring group of doctors said Wednesday. The doctors recommended continuing the vaccination programme, however, to avoid a resurgence of the epidemic.
As countries across Europe start selling off surplus supplies of the new flu vaccination, HEALTH looks at why governments were left with excess jabs. The production of the flu vaccine has changed little in over 50 years.
30 million bank cards have been blocked in Germany since January 1st, because of a technical problem linked to the new year. French maker Gemalto, that produces the chips in the cards, says that German banks are to blame and not the cards.
The French government announced yesterday that it would cancel the purchase of 50 million unused swine flu vaccines, a few days after deciding to sell part of the surplus to other countries. Has the vaccination campaign been overreacting?
