“Men may be without restraints upon their liberty; they may pass to and fro at pleasure: but if their steps are tracked by spies and informers, their words noted down for crimination, their associates watched as conspirators—who shall say that they are free?” — ~ Sir Thomas May
September 27, 2009 by DELTHIA RICKS / delthia.ricks@newsday.com
North Shore University Medical Center’s
Despite a planned rally in Albany Tuesday to protest a state regulation requiring health care workers be vaccinated against influenza — both seasonal and swine flu — New York’s top public health official predicts dissenters will ultimately extinguish their anger and roll up their sleeves.
September 24, 2009
Police embroiled in violent battles with G20 protesters
Anti-G20 protesters rampaged through the city centre of Pittsburgh tonight, smashing up shops and throwing rocks at police, as officers used tear gas and baton-charges in an attempt to bring them under control.
In riots which continued through evening rush hour, about 300 protesters were reported to have remained from an initial crowd of 2,000 in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh’s Little Italy.
Frustrated in their attempts to reach the venue where world leaders are meeting the crowd, many of whom wore face-masks and armed themselves with rocks, broke windows at fast-food restaurants, a BMW dealership and a bank in the area, about a mile from the fenced-off convention centre.
By Helen Branswell, Medical Reporter, The Canadian Press
TORONTO – Faced with puzzling but unconfirmed evidence that suggests a seasonal flu shot may raise the risk of catching swine flu, Ontario announced Thursday it is rescheduling its seasonal flu vaccine program to delay most of it until after pandemic vaccine has been administered.
At a news conference in Toronto, Dr. Arlene King, the province’s chief medical officer of health, said the seasonal and pandemic vaccines will be delivered in three waves, starting in October.
She is not alone. Across the country, federal health officials say, only about 42 percent of all health care workers get an annual flu shot. That is little better than the overall national average of 33 percent and far below the 65 to 70 percent rate for the elderly.
That’s why the emergency regulation adopted this summer by the State Health Department making all hospital, home health and hospice workers get seasonal and swine flu vaccinations was a startling and radical step.
(Reuters) – Shares of VeriChip Corp (CHIP.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) tripled after the company said it had been granted an exclusive license to two patents, which will help it to develop implantable virus detection systems in humans.
The patents, held by VeriChip partner Receptors LLC, relate to biosensors that can detect the H1N1 and other viruses, and biological threats such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, VeriChip said in a statement.
The technology will combine with VeriChip’s implantable radio frequency identification devices to develop virus triage detection systems.
Obama refuses to halt CIA probe President Obama said he would not interfere in the legal process President Obama has rejected a request by seven former
heads of the CIA to end the inquiry into allegations of abuse of suspects held by the agency.
“Nobody’s above the law,” Mr Obama said in an interview with the American CBS television programme Face The…