123 days ago - Avian flu — the H5N1 virus experts think could out-kill the infamous 1918 pandemic flu — mutates every time it infects a human, according to new research out of Thailand.

Dr. Ron Elfenbein: Curb lawsuit abuse to compete for doctors

277 days ago - According to most national polls, access to affordable health care is among the very top concerns for most voters. A recent study from the Maryland Hospital Association and MedChi (Maryland’s state medical society) suggests that Marylanders ought to be particularly worried. The study found that Maryland has 16 percent fewer practicing physicians per capita than the national average, and this doctor shortage is expected to become severe over the next five to 10 years.

Mistreating livestock can have devastating consequences for people

289 days ago - Killing sick animals for food or mistreating livestock can have devastating consequences ranging from the worldwide spread of avian flu to outbreaks of bird and swine flu that killed hundreds of thousands of people, a Maryland expert says.

Virginia receives perfect score in emergency-preparedness report

338 days ago - Virginia will be prepared if bird flu attacks the Washington area, according to a report released Tuesday. The District of Columbia and Maryland will be a little less ready.

Editorial: Fix flu vaccine techniques now

381 days ago - We are wise to test and refine a drive-through flu vaccination clinic. Now is the time to figure out how to do it right. This year’s influenza forecast is about average, and plenty of vaccine is on hand.

Preparations under way for bird flu season

400 days ago - Masked hospital staff quickly checked in and evaluated coughing volunteers during an avian flu simulation at the University of Maryland Medical Center on Wednesday.

Three-Minute Inteview: Dr. Michael Greger

472 days ago - Johns Hopkins University last week released information about an accidental infection of an employee with tuberculosis and a study revealing how little doctors know about this once “vanquished” infection.

FluMist for young children put on hold

540 days ago - FluMist manufacturing problems in Liverpool, England, stalled efforts to get the nasal vaccine spray approved for children ages 1 to 4.

City to reveal pandemic flu preparations

542 days ago - Alexandria health officials will unveil the city’s preparations for handling an outbreak of pandemic flu in a town hall meeting Wednesday.

James Joyner: An interview with author John Robb

548 days ago - James Joyner: Throughout the book, you point out how easy it would be for relatively small groups with minimal funding to create power blackouts, disrupt our oil distribution networks, or even stage 9/11-style attacks on a routine basis. Why do you suppose that hasn’t already happened? For that matter, we are surely more vulnerable than Jerusalem or Baghdad to suicide bombers, yet we have yet to see such attacks in our cities. Why?

Monster mash

623 days ago - In “The Host,” a dysfunctional family of quirky adults would sacrifice anything for their little girl — including putting up with each other and jumping as a group onto a mini-van in motion. Sound familiar? But today’s low-budget Asian import has something else to distinguish it from last month’s Oscar-nominated best picture besides the Korean language: a giant, mutant, man-eating amphibian!

Unwanted critters: What to do when wildlife comes calling

654 days ago - Geese seem friendly enough, except when they are guarding a nest. Unfortunately, they eat a lot at the front end and do unmentionable things at the back end, messing up lawns, driveways, walkways, parks, docks, etc. In short, they can be almost as much as a nuisance as deer eating you out of hedges and hibiscus.