As WHO Declares Flu Pandemic, Public Health Lab Trainers Gather in Orlando

Public health lab training professionals expanding educational offerings for lab industry It was inspired timing last week that brought together the nation’s public health laboratory training professionals in Orlando, Florida, just as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its decision on Thursday to declare influenza A/H1N1 as the first influenza pandemic in 41 years. This conference was organized by the National Laboratory Training Network (NLTN), in association with the Association...

It’s Official: WHO Declares Swine Flu Pandemic

Clinical laboratory managers should be planning for a busy flu season this fall Yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared that A/H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is a global pandemic. This is the first such flu pandemic in 41 years. The announcement was not a surprise, since it was know that WHO was prepared to make this declaration weeks ago. But objections from several countries that such a declaration might trigger civil unrest and economic disruption caused WHO to defer...

Wall Street Journal Headline: “Staff Shortages in Labs May Put Patients at Risk”

Influenza Outbreak Calls Attention to Shortage of Medical Technologists, other lab staff It took the threat of an influenza pandemic recently to get at least one news reporter to realize the shortage of medical laboratory technicians has reached epidemic proportions. While the recent outbreak of A/H1N1 influenza turned out to be a dress rehearsal, it inspired Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Laura Landro to focus on the critical role played by medical technologists, clinical laboratory...

CNN Recognizes “Heroes in Lab Coats”

Noted Author lauds the quiet professionals working in the world’s laboratories Seldom do laboratory professionals get the recognition they deserve each day for their role in protecting the public health from spread of disease. Now, with the specter of an influenza pandemic hanging over the world, CNN Contributor Bob Greene suggests it is time to pay homage to what he describes as our unsung “heroes in lab coats.” Writing yesterday in a commentary on the CNN Web site, Greene...

Clinical Laboratories Deal with Soaring Demand for Swine Flu Testing

Tidal wave of Swine Flu Specimens Puts Stress Public Health Laboratories In the United States, the number of confirmed and suspected cases of A/H1N1 influenza continues to increase day by day, although the overall number is limited. As of today, Thursday, the CDC reports 109 confirmed A/H1N1 cases in 11 states, and one confirmed fatality in the state of Texas. Clinical laboratories across the United States are swamped with phone calls from physicians’ offices and requests for collection...
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