Study Outlines Risks Of Swine Flu Pandemic.

reports University of Tokyo professor Yoshihro Kawaoka said “the public should know the risk” of a potential swine flu pandemic following Monday’s publication of the results of a study conducted by Kawaoka and other researchers. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, called for “immediate action” and revealed that vaccines are effective against swine flu but remain underused in China, the global pork supply leader. According to Dr. Joe Bresee, head of the CDC’s Epidemiology and Prevention Branch, the current US flu vaccine does not protect against the viruses discussed in Monday’s report. Opinion: Americans Not Worried Enough About The Flu. In the Washington Post (12/30, Ropeik) “Post Everything” blog, Harvard University instructor David Ropeik urges the government to bolster public awareness and education programs focused on increasing influenza immunization rates. Ropeik asserts influenza immunization numbers are low despite the flu’s significant economic and health impact because Americans’ risk perception of the virus is also low, resulting in preventable illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths. According to Ropeik, better public education and communication programs, increased media attention, vaccination incentives, and other programs are cost-effective measures necessary to convince Americans to get inoculated. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015-12-29/researchers-warn-of-potential-for-swine-flu-pandemic