Story Summary: In a joint statement, the three leading scientific organizations focusing on infectious disease prevention, The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), as well as the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) cautioned that failing to act on what science indicates will not lead to enhanced protection, but instead could inhibit an effective response to a future outbreak. In response to the H1N1 influenzapandemic, the infectious diseases community immediately launched studies into how the virus spreads, how it causes disease, and what is the best means to treat and present illness. In the case of certain procedures that could potentially aerosolize the virus, thereby allowing for airborne transmission, healthcare workers should wear respirators. The members of our organizations are professionals who come face to face with patients on a daily basis. Our utmost concern is the protection of healthcare workers and the community against the spread of this virus, said Christine Nutty RN, CIC, President of APIC. Scientists around the world are researching the H1N1 virus to keep patients and healthcare workers safe as we enter the flu season this fall. Our goal is to protect our colleagues and ourselves, to provide excellent care to our patients, and to make sure our hospitals are safe for visitors and families, said Rupp of SHEA. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: H1N1 Swine Flu Map Of Confirmed Outbreaks To-Date09 Jun 2009Featured below is an interactive Google map pinpointing outbreaks of H1N1 swine flu in 2009, together with source attributions, report dates, and current known statuses….Read the Full Story

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