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Which of These Technological Advances Improved Flu Treatment and Prevention?
The influenza virus, responsible for seasonal flu outbreaks and occasional devastating pandemics, has been a persistent threat to human health for centuries. However, the fight against the flu hasn't been waged with just needles and tissues. Technological advancements have played a crucial role in improving both the treatment and prevention of influenza. This post will delve into several key technological breakthroughs that have significantly impacted our ability to combat this pervasive illness, answering the question: which of these technological advances improved flu? We'll explore everything from diagnostic tools to vaccine production and antiviral development, highlighting their individual contributions to a healthier world.
H2: 1. Rapid Diagnostic Testing: A Game-Changer in Flu Management
Before the widespread availability of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs), diagnosing the flu often relied on clinical symptoms alone, leading to delays in treatment and potential spread. RIDTs, utilizing techniques like immunochromatography, provide quick and accurate results within minutes, directly impacting patient care. This speed allows for earlier antiviral treatment, reducing the severity and duration of symptoms, and facilitating more effective infection control measures. This timely diagnosis is particularly crucial for high-risk individuals, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
#### H3: Impact on Public Health Initiatives
The immediate results provided by RIDTs have significantly improved public health initiatives. Hospitals and clinics can quickly identify outbreaks, isolate infected individuals, and implement targeted interventions to prevent wider dissemination. This rapid response system, powered by technological advancements in diagnostics, is a cornerstone of modern flu management strategies.
H2: 2. Vaccine Production: From Egg-Based to Cell-Based Technologies
Traditional influenza vaccine production relied heavily on embryonated chicken eggs. This method, while effective, presented limitations, including long production times and potential for egg allergies to affect vaccine accessibility. The development of cell-based vaccine production technologies has revolutionized this process. Cell-based manufacturing offers increased production capacity, reduced production time, and eliminates the risk of egg allergies, making vaccines more widely available and accessible to a larger population.
#### H3: Improved Vaccine Efficacy and Safety
Furthermore, cell-based technologies have allowed for the development of more effective and safer vaccines. The flexibility of cell culture allows for the production of vaccines targeted against multiple strains of influenza, enhancing their overall effectiveness. The reduced risk of egg-related contaminants also enhances the safety profile of these newer vaccines.
H2: 3. Antiviral Drug Development: Targeting the Virus's Life Cycle
The development of antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), represents another significant technological advance in flu management. These drugs work by targeting specific stages of the influenza virus's life cycle, inhibiting its replication and reducing the severity of illness. This targeted approach, born from advancements in virology and drug design, provides crucial therapeutic options for high-risk individuals and during influenza outbreaks.
#### H3: Neuraminidase Inhibitors: A Key Breakthrough
Neuraminidase inhibitors, like oseltamivir and zanamivir, represent a pivotal breakthrough in antiviral therapy. These drugs effectively block the neuraminidase enzyme, crucial for the virus's release from infected cells. By inhibiting this enzyme, the spread of the virus is significantly reduced, leading to a milder illness and faster recovery. The ongoing development of novel antiviral agents, targeting different viral mechanisms, promises even more effective treatments in the future.
H2: 4. Bioinformatics and Genomics: Predicting and Preventing Future Pandemics
The application of bioinformatics and genomics has profoundly impacted our understanding of influenza viruses. Through advanced sequencing technologies and computational analysis, scientists can rapidly identify new strains, track their evolution, and predict potential pandemic threats. This advanced understanding allows for the timely development of vaccines and antiviral drugs, significantly reducing the impact of future outbreaks.
#### H3: Surveillance and Predictive Modeling
The capacity to monitor influenza viruses globally, coupled with sophisticated predictive modeling, empowers public health organizations to prepare for and mitigate the impact of future pandemics. This proactive approach, facilitated by technological advancements in bioinformatics, is essential for safeguarding global health security.
Conclusion
Technological advances have demonstrably improved our ability to combat the flu. From rapid diagnostics enabling quicker treatment and infection control to cell-based vaccine production increasing accessibility and safety, and the development of effective antiviral drugs, technology has significantly reduced the burden of influenza on individuals and public health systems. The integration of bioinformatics and genomics further enhances our predictive capabilities, empowering us to better prepare for and mitigate future outbreaks. The ongoing evolution of these technologies promises even more effective strategies in the continuous battle against this persistent viral threat.
FAQs
1. Are all flu vaccines the same? No, flu vaccines vary in their composition (strains included) and manufacturing methods (egg-based vs. cell-based). Consult your healthcare provider for personalized vaccine recommendations.
2. How effective are antiviral drugs against the flu? Antiviral drugs are most effective when started early in the course of the illness. Their effectiveness varies depending on the viral strain and individual factors.
3. Can rapid flu tests give false results? Yes, like any diagnostic test, RIDTs can produce false positive or false negative results. Clinicians often consider other factors in making a diagnosis.
4. What are the long-term effects of the flu? While most recover fully, some individuals may experience long-term complications like pneumonia or myocarditis. Seeking medical attention is crucial if symptoms worsen.
5. How can I protect myself from the flu? Vaccination is the most effective preventative measure. Other strategies include practicing good hygiene (handwashing), avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
which of these technological advances improved flu: Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 6) King K. Holmes, Stefano Bertozzi, Barry R. Bloom, Prabhat Jha, 2017-11-06 Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death globally, particularly among children and young adults. The spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective packages of interventions and strategies across delivery platforms to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, malaria, adult febrile illness, viral hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases. The volume emphasizes the need to effectively address emerging antimicrobial resistance, strengthen health systems, and increase access to care. The attainable goals are to reduce incidence, develop innovative approaches, and optimize existing tools in resource-constrained settings. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Improving Diagnosis in Health Care National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Board on Health Care Services, Committee on Diagnostic Error in Health Care, 2015-12-29 Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Technological Advances and Innovations in the Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Disorders Gabriele De Rubis, Ronan MacLoughlin, Hélder A. Santos, Saritha Shetty, Divya Suares, Kamal Dua, 2024-10-21 Technological Advances and Innovations in the Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Disorders focuses on 3D printing, bioprinting, microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip systems, and molecular modeling. The book, written by a team of leading experts in the field, is an essential resource for anyone interested in the future of CRD treatment. Chapters discuss the emerging therapeutic approaches for CRDs, including biologicals and phytoceuticals. Core chapters of the book then cover the application of 3D printing, bioprinting, microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip systems, and molecular modeling to different CRDs. The book concludes with a discussion of the current clinical trials and future prospects for the management of CRDs.This is a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals who are interested in the latest technological advances in the field of CRDs. It will also be of interest to students and scientists working in the fields of pharmaceutical sciences, microfluidics, bioinformatics, drug design, drug delivery, and 3D printing. - Provides the most recent and updated perspectives and challenges in the management of chronic respiratory disorders - Covers exciting new technologies such as 3D printing, bioprinting, microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip systems, and molecular modelling - Includes the most recent information on the development of advanced drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic respiratory disorders |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Great Influenza John M. Barry, 2005-10-04 #1 New York Times bestseller “Barry will teach you almost everything you need to know about one of the deadliest outbreaks in human history.”—Bill Gates Monumental... an authoritative and disturbing morality tale.—Chicago Tribune The strongest weapon against pandemic is the truth. Read why in the definitive account of the 1918 Flu Epidemic. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research, The Great Influenza provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon. As Barry concludes, The final lesson of 1918, a simple one yet one most difficult to execute, is that...those in authority must retain the public's trust. The way to do that is to distort nothing, to put the best face on nothing, to try to manipulate no one. Lincoln said that first, and best. A leader must make whatever horror exists concrete. Only then will people be able to break it apart. At the height of World War I, history’s most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: What You Need to Know about Infectious Disease Madeline Drexler, |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Toward Precision Medicine National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Life Sciences, Committee on A Framework for Developing a New Taxonomy of Disease, 2012-01-16 Motivated by the explosion of molecular data on humans-particularly data associated with individual patients-and the sense that there are large, as-yet-untapped opportunities to use this data to improve health outcomes, Toward Precision Medicine explores the feasibility and need for a new taxonomy of human disease based on molecular biology and develops a potential framework for creating one. The book says that a new data network that integrates emerging research on the molecular makeup of diseases with clinical data on individual patients could drive the development of a more accurate classification of diseases and ultimately enhance diagnosis and treatment. The new taxonomy that emerges would define diseases by their underlying molecular causes and other factors in addition to their traditional physical signs and symptoms. The book adds that the new data network could also improve biomedical research by enabling scientists to access patients' information during treatment while still protecting their rights. This would allow the marriage of molecular research and clinical data at the point of care, as opposed to research information continuing to reside primarily in academia. Toward Precision Medicine notes that moving toward individualized medicine requires that researchers and health care providers have access to very large sets of health- and disease-related data linked to individual patients. These data are also critical for developing the information commons, the knowledge network of disease, and ultimately the new taxonomy. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Perspectives on Research with H5N1 Avian Influenza National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, Board on Global Health, Board on Life Sciences, Policy and Global Affairs, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2013-04-04 When, in late 2011, it became public knowledge that two research groups had submitted for publication manuscripts that reported on their work on mammalian transmissibility of a lethal H5N1 avian influenza strain, the information caused an international debate about the appropriateness and communication of the researchers' work, the risks associated with the work, partial or complete censorship of scientific publications, and dual-use research of concern in general. Recognizing that the H5N1 research is only the most recent scientific activity subject to widespread attention due to safety and security concerns, on May 1, 2012, the National Research Council's Committee on Science, Technology and Law, in conjunction with the Board on Life Sciences and the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats, convened a one-day public workshop for the purposes of 1) discussing the H5N1 controversy; 2) considering responses by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which had funded this research, the World Health Organization, the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), scientific publishers, and members of the international research community; and 3) providing a forum wherein the concerns and interests of the broader community of stakeholders, including policy makers, biosafety and biosecurity experts, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the general public might be articulated. Perspectives on Research with H5N1 Avian Influenza: Scientific Enquiry, Communication, Controversy summarizes the proceedings of the workshop. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Role of Telehealth in an Evolving Health Care Environment Institute of Medicine, Board on Health Care Services, 2012-12-20 In 1996, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report Telemedicine: A Guide to Assessing Telecommunications for Health Care. In that report, the IOM Committee on Evaluating Clinical Applications of Telemedicine found telemedicine is similar in most respects to other technologies for which better evidence of effectiveness is also being demanded. Telemedicine, however, has some special characteristics-shared with information technologies generally-that warrant particular notice from evaluators and decision makers. Since that time, attention to telehealth has continued to grow in both the public and private sectors. Peer-reviewed journals and professional societies are devoted to telehealth, the federal government provides grant funding to promote the use of telehealth, and the private technology industry continues to develop new applications for telehealth. However, barriers remain to the use of telehealth modalities, including issues related to reimbursement, licensure, workforce, and costs. Also, some areas of telehealth have developed a stronger evidence base than others. The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) sponsored the IOM in holding a workshop in Washington, DC, on August 8-9 2012, to examine how the use of telehealth technology can fit into the U.S. health care system. HRSA asked the IOM to focus on the potential for telehealth to serve geographically isolated individuals and extend the reach of scarce resources while also emphasizing the quality and value in the delivery of health care services. This workshop summary discusses the evolution of telehealth since 1996, including the increasing role of the private sector, policies that have promoted or delayed the use of telehealth, and consumer acceptance of telehealth. The Role of Telehealth in an Evolving Health Care Environment: Workshop Summary discusses the current evidence base for telehealth, including available data and gaps in data; discuss how technological developments, including mobile telehealth, electronic intensive care units, remote monitoring, social networking, and wearable devices, in conjunction with the push for electronic health records, is changing the delivery of health care in rural and urban environments. This report also summarizes actions that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can undertake to further the use of telehealth to improve health care outcomes while controlling costs in the current health care environment. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Shock Waves Stephane Hallegatte, Mook Bangalore, Laura Bonzanigo, Marianne Fay, Tamaro Kane, Ulf Narloch, Julie Rozenberg, David Treguer, Adrien Vogt-Schilb, 2015-11-23 Ending poverty and stabilizing climate change will be two unprecedented global achievements and two major steps toward sustainable development. But the two objectives cannot be considered in isolation: they need to be jointly tackled through an integrated strategy. This report brings together those two objectives and explores how they can more easily be achieved if considered together. It examines the potential impact of climate change and climate policies on poverty reduction. It also provides guidance on how to create a “win-win†? situation so that climate change policies contribute to poverty reduction and poverty-reduction policies contribute to climate change mitigation and resilience building. The key finding of the report is that climate change represents a significant obstacle to the sustained eradication of poverty, but future impacts on poverty are determined by policy choices: rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development can prevent most short-term impacts whereas immediate pro-poor, emissions-reduction policies can drastically limit long-term ones. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Priorities for the National Vaccine Plan Institute of Medicine, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, Committee on Review of Priorities in the National Vaccine Plan, 2010-05-17 Vaccination is a fundamental component of preventive medicine and public health. The use of vaccines to prevent infectious diseases has resulted in dramatic decreases in disease, disability, and death in the United States and around the world. The current political, economic, and social environment presents both opportunities for and challenges to strengthening the U.S. system for developing, manufacturing, regulating, distributing, funding, and administering safe and effective vaccines for all people. Priorities for the National Vaccine Plan examines the extraordinarily complex vaccine enterprise, from research and development of new vaccines to financing and reimbursement of immunization services. Priorities for the National Vaccine Plan examines the extraordinarily complex vaccine enterprise, from research and development of new vaccines to financing and reimbursement of immunization services. The book makes recommendations about priority actions in the update to the National Vaccine Plan that are intended to achieve the objectives of disease prevention and enhancement of vaccine safety. It is centered on the plan's five goals in the areas of vaccine development, safety, communication, supply and use, and global health. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Acting in an Uncertain World Michel Callon, Pierre Lascoumes, Yannick Barthe, 2011-01-21 A call for a new form of democracy in which “hybrid forums” composed of experts and laypeople address such sociotechnical controversies as hazardous waste, genetically modified organisms, and nanotechnology. Controversies over such issues as nuclear waste, genetically modified organisms, asbestos, tobacco, gene therapy, avian flu, and cell phone towers arise almost daily as rapid scientific and technological advances create uncertainty and bring about unforeseen concerns. The authors of Acting in an Uncertain World argue that political institutions must be expanded and improved to manage these controversies, to transform them into productive conversations, and to bring about “technical democracy.” They show how “hybrid forums”—in which experts, non-experts, ordinary citizens, and politicians come together—reveal the limits of traditional delegative democracies, in which decisions are made by quasi-professional politicians and techno-scientific information is the domain of specialists in laboratories. The division between professionals and laypeople, the authors claim, is simply outmoded. The authors argue that laboratory research should be complemented by everyday experimentation pursued in the real world, and they describe various modes of cooperation between the two. They explore a range of concrete examples of hybrid forums that have dealt with sociotechnical controversies including nuclear waste disposal in France, industrial waste and birth defects in Japan, a childhood leukemia cluster in Woburn, Massachusetts, and mad cow disease in the United Kingdom. The authors discuss the implications for political decision making in general and describe a “dialogic” democracy that enriches traditional representative democracy. To invent new procedures for consultation and representation, they suggest, is to contribute to an endless process that is necessary for the ongoing democratization of democracy. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Emerging Viral Diseases Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2015-03-19 In the past half century, deadly disease outbreaks caused by novel viruses of animal origin - Nipah virus in Malaysia, Hendra virus in Australia, Hantavirus in the United States, Ebola virus in Africa, along with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), several influenza subtypes, and the SARS (sudden acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) coronaviruses - have underscored the urgency of understanding factors influencing viral disease emergence and spread. Emerging Viral Diseases is the summary of a public workshop hosted in March 2014 to examine factors driving the appearance, establishment, and spread of emerging, re-emerging and novel viral diseases; the global health and economic impacts of recently emerging and novel viral diseases in humans; and the scientific and policy approaches to improving domestic and international capacity to detect and respond to global outbreaks of infectious disease. This report is a record of the presentations and discussion of the event. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Opportunities in Biotechnology for Future Army Applications National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Board on Army Science and Technology, Committee on Opportunities in Biotechnology for Future Army Applications, 2001-07-11 This report surveys opportunities for future Army applications in biotechnology, including sensors, electronics and computers, materials, logistics, and medical therapeutics, by matching commercial trends and developments with enduring Army requirements. Several biotechnology areas are identified as important for the Army to exploit, either by direct funding of research or by indirect influence of commercial sources, to achieve significant gains in combat effectiveness before 2025. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Immunopotentiators in Modern Vaccines Virgil Schijns, Derek O'Hagan, 2005-12-19 Immunopotentiators in Modern Vaccines provides an in-depth insight and overview of a number of most promising immunopotentiators in modern vaccines. In contrast to existing books on the subject it provides recent data on the critical mechanisms governing the activity of vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems. Knowledge of immunological pathways and scenarios of the cells and molecules involved is described and depicted in comprehensive illustrations. - Contributions from leading international authorities in the field - Well-illustrated, informative figures present the interactions between immunopotentiators and the host immune system - Each chapter lists advantages and potential hurdles for achieving a practical application for the specific immunopentiator |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Globalization, Biosecurity, and the Future of the Life Sciences National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Policy and Global Affairs, Development, Security, and Cooperation, Committee on Advances in Technology and the Prevention of Their Application to Next Generation Biowarfare Threats, 2006-06-07 Biomedical advances have made it possible to identify and manipulate features of living organisms in useful ways-leading to improvements in public health, agriculture, and other areas. The globalization of scientific and technical expertise also means that many scientists and other individuals around the world are generating breakthroughs in the life sciences and related technologies. The risks posed by bioterrorism and the proliferation of biological weapons capabilities have increased concern about how the rapid advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology could enable the production of biological weapons with unique and unpredictable characteristics. Globalization, Biosecurity, and the Future of Life Sciences examines current trends and future objectives of research in public health, life sciences, and biomedical science that contain applications relevant to developments in biological weapons 5 to 10 years into the future and ways to anticipate, identify, and mitigate these dangers. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Viral Pathogenesis Michael G. Katze, Marcus J. Korth, G. Lynn Law, Neal Nathanson, 2015-12-30 Viral Pathogenesis: From Basics to Systems Biology, Third Edition, has been thoroughly updated to cover topical advances in the evolving field of viral pathogenesis, while also providing the requisite classic foundational information for which it is recognized. The book provides key coverage of the newfound ability to profile molecular events on a system-wide scale, which has led to a deeper understanding of virus-host interactions, host signaling and molecular-interaction networks, and the role of host genetics in determining disease outcome. In addition, the content has been augmented with short chapters on seminal breakthroughs and profiles of their progenitors, as well as short commentaries on important or controversial issues in the field. Thus, the reader will be given a view of virology research with perspectives on issues such as biomedical ethics, public health policy, and human health. In summary, the third edition will give the student a sense of the exciting new perspectives on viral pathogenesis that have been provided by recent developments in genomics, computation, modeling, and systems biology. - Covers all aspects of viral infection, including viral entry, replication, and release, as well as innate and adaptive immunity and viral pathogenesis - Provides a fresh perspective on the approaches used to understand how viruses cause disease - Features molecular profiling techniques, whole genome sequencing, and innovative computational methods - Highlights the use of contemporary approaches and the insights they provide to the field |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Future of Public Health Committee for the Study of the Future of Public Health, Division of Health Care Services, Institute of Medicine, 1988-01-15 The Nation has lost sight of its public health goals and has allowed the system of public health to fall into 'disarray', from The Future of Public Health. This startling book contains proposals for ensuring that public health service programs are efficient and effective enough to deal not only with the topics of today, but also with those of tomorrow. In addition, the authors make recommendations for core functions in public health assessment, policy development, and service assurances, and identify the level of government--federal, state, and local--at which these functions would best be handled. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Vaccine Design Sunil Thomas, 2016 |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Neuraminidase Inhibitors for Treatment of Influenza A and B Infections , 1999 |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Encyclopedia of Senior Health and Well-being Joseph Kandel, Christine A. Adamec, 2003-01-01 |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Affordable Excellence William A. Haseltine, 2013 Today Singapore ranks sixth in the world in healthcare outcomes well ahead of many developed countries, including the United States. The results are all the more significant as Singapore spends less on healthcare than any other high-income country, both as measured by fraction of the Gross Domestic Product spent on health and by costs per person. Singapore achieves these results at less than one-fourth the cost of healthcare in the United States and about half that of Western European countries. Government leaders, presidents and prime ministers, finance ministers and ministers of health, policymakers in congress and parliament, public health officials responsible for healthcare systems planning, finance and operations, as well as those working on healthcare issues in universities and think-tanks should know how this system works to achieve affordable excellence.--Publisher's website. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Extra Life Steven Johnson, 2021-05-11 “Offers a useful reminder of the role of modern science in fundamentally transforming all of our lives.” —President Barack Obama (on Twitter) “An important book.” —Steven Pinker, The New York Times Book Review The surprising and important story of how humans gained what amounts to an extra life, from the bestselling author of How We Got to Now and Where Good Ideas Come From In 1920, at the end of the last major pandemic, global life expectancy was just over forty years. Today, in many parts of the world, human beings can expect to live more than eighty years. As a species we have doubled our life expectancy in just one century. There are few measures of human progress more astonishing than this increased longevity. Extra Life is Steven Johnson’s attempt to understand where that progress came from, telling the epic story of one of humanity’s greatest achievements. How many of those extra years came from vaccines, or the decrease in famines, or seatbelts? What are the forces that now keep us alive longer? Behind each breakthrough lies an inspiring story of cooperative innovation, of brilliant thinkers bolstered by strong systems of public support and collaborative networks, and of dedicated activists fighting for meaningful reform. But for all its focus on positive change, this book is also a reminder that meaningful gaps in life expectancy still exist, and that new threats loom on the horizon, as the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear. How do we avoid decreases in life expectancy as our public health systems face unprecedented challenges? What current technologies or interventions that could reduce the impact of future crises are we somehow ignoring? A study in how meaningful change happens in society, Extra Life celebrates the enduring power of common goals and public resources, and the heroes of public health and medicine too often ignored in popular accounts of our history. This is the sweeping story of a revolution with immense public and personal consequences: the doubling of the human life span. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Abundance Peter H. Diamandis, Steven Kotler, 2014-09-23 The authors document how four forces--exponential technologies, the DIY innovator, the Technophilanthropist, and the Rising Billion--are conspiring to solve our biggest problems. Abundance establishes hard targets for change and lays out a strategic roadmap for governments, industry and entrepreneurs, giving us plenty of reason for optimism. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster Bill Gates, 2021-02-16 In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical - and accessible - plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide toward certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions-suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Emerging and Readily Available Technologies and National Security National Academy of Engineering, National Research Council, Center for Engineering, Ethics, and Society Advisory Group, Committee on Science, Technology, and Law, Board on Life Sciences, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Committee on Ethical and Societal Implications of Advances in Militarily Significant Technologies That Are Rapidly Changing and Increasingly Globally Accessible, 2014-05-29 The summary version of Emerging and Readily Available Technologies and National Security distills the findings and recommendations of the complete report into a a booklet format. The full report is available here. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Pandemic Century Mark Honigsbaum, 2019-03-09 Like sharks, epidemic diseases always lurk just beneath the surface. This fast-paced history of their effect on mankind prompts questions about the limits of scientific knowledge, the dangers of medical hubris, and how we should prepare as epidemics become ever more frequent. Ever since the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, scientists have dreamed of preventing catastrophic outbreaks of infectious disease. Yet, despite a century of medical progress, viral and bacterial disasters continue to take us by surprise, inciting panic and dominating news cycles. From the Spanish flu and the 1924 outbreak of pneumonic plague in Los Angeles to the 1930 'parrot fever' pandemic and the more recent SARS, Ebola, and Zika epidemics, the last 100 years have been marked by a succession of unanticipated pandemic alarms. Like man-eating sharks, predatory pathogens are always present in nature, waiting to strike; when one is seemingly vanquished, others appear in its place. These pandemics remind us of the limits of scientific knowledge, as well as the role that human behaviour and technologies play in the emergence and spread of microbial diseases. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Eco2 Cities Hiroaki Suzuki, Arish Dastur, Sebastian Moffatt, Nanae Yabuki, Hinako Maruyama, 2010-05-07 This book is a point of departure for cities that would like to reap the many benefits of ecological and economic sustainability. It provides an analytical and operational framework that offers strategic guidance to cities on sustainable and integrated urban development. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Making Markets for Vaccines Owen Barder, Alice Albright, Michael Kremer, Ruth Levine, 2005 A legacy of our generation -- Ch. 1. We need to invest more in vaccines -- Ch. 2. Promoting private investment in vaccine development -- Ch. 3. A market not a prize -- Ch. 4. Design choices -- Ch. 5. $3 billion per disease -- Ch. 6. Meeting industry requirements -- Ch. 7. How sponsors can do it. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, Committee on Public Health Approaches to Reduce Vision Impairment and Promote Eye Health, 2017-01-15 The ability to see deeply affects how human beings perceive and interpret the world around them. For most people, eyesight is part of everyday communication, social activities, educational and professional pursuits, the care of others, and the maintenance of personal health, independence, and mobility. Functioning eyes and vision system can reduce an adult's risk of chronic health conditions, death, falls and injuries, social isolation, depression, and other psychological problems. In children, properly maintained eye and vision health contributes to a child's social development, academic achievement, and better health across the lifespan. The public generally recognizes its reliance on sight and fears its loss, but emphasis on eye and vision health, in general, has not been integrated into daily life to the same extent as other health promotion activities, such as teeth brushing; hand washing; physical and mental exercise; and various injury prevention behaviors. A larger population health approach is needed to engage a wide range of stakeholders in coordinated efforts that can sustain the scope of behavior change. The shaping of socioeconomic environments can eventually lead to new social norms that promote eye and vision health. Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow proposes a new population-centered framework to guide action and coordination among various, and sometimes competing, stakeholders in pursuit of improved eye and vision health and health equity in the United States. Building on the momentum of previous public health efforts, this report also introduces a model for action that highlights different levels of prevention activities across a range of stakeholders and provides specific examples of how population health strategies can be translated into cohesive areas for action at federal, state, and local levels. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Socio-Economic Development Adam Szirmai, 2015-06-18 Taking a comparative and multidisciplinary approach, this textbook offers a non-technical introduction to the dynamics of socio-economic development and stagnation. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2012-05-28 Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters. This Special Report explores the social as well as physical dimensions of weather- and climate-related disasters, considering opportunities for managing risks at local to international scales. SREX was approved and accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 18 November 2011 in Kampala, Uganda. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: History of Vaccine Development Stanley A. Plotkin, 2011-05-11 Vaccinology, the concept of a science ranging from the study of immunology to the development and distribution of vaccines, was a word invented by Jonas Salk. This book covers the history of the methodological progress in vaccine development and to the social and ethical issues raised by vaccination. Chapters include Jenner and the Vaccination against Smallpox, Viral Vaccines, and Ethical and Social Aspects of vaccines. Contributing authors include pioneers in the field, such as Samuel L. Katz and Hilary Koprowski. This history of vaccines is relatively short and many of its protagonists are still alive. This book was written by some of the chief actors in the drama whose subject matter is the conquest of epidemic disease. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Advances in Fingerprint Technology Ashim K. Datta, 2001-06-15 Fingerprints constitute one of the most important categories of physical evidence, and it is among the few that can be truly individualized. During the last two decades, many new and exciting developments have taken place in the field of fingerprint science, particularly in the realm of methods for developing latent prints and in the growth of imag |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Vaccines: A Biography Andrew W. Artenstein, 2009-12-11 Why another book about vaccines? There are already a few extremely well-written medical textbooks that provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art technical reviews regarding vaccine science. Additionally, in the past decade alone, a number of engrossing, provocative books have been published on various related issues ra- ing from vaccines against specific diseases to vaccine safety and policy. Yet there remains a significant gap in the literature – the history of vaccines. Vaccines: A Biography seeks to fill a void in the extant literature by focusing on the history of vaccines and in so doing, recounts the social, cultural, and scientific history of vaccines; it places them within their natural, historical context. The book traces the lineage – the “biography” – of individual vaccines, originating with deeply rooted medical problems and evolving to an eventual conclusion. Nonetheless, these are not “biographies” in the traditional sense; they do not trace an individual’s growth and development. Instead, they follow an idea as it is conceived and dev- oped, through the contributions of many. These are epic stories of discovery, of risk-takers, of individuals advancing medical science, in the words of the famous physical scientist Isaac Newton, “by standing on the shoulders of giants. ” One grant reviewer described the book’s concept as “triumphalist”; although meant as an indictment, this is only partially inaccurate. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Threat of Pandemic Influenza Institute of Medicine, Board on Global Health, Forum on Microbial Threats, 2005-04-09 Public health officials and organizations around the world remain on high alert because of increasing concerns about the prospect of an influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable. Moreover, recent problems with the availability and strain-specificity of vaccine for annual flu epidemics in some countries and the rise of pandemic strains of avian flu in disparate geographic regions have alarmed experts about the world's ability to prevent or contain a human pandemic. The workshop summary, The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? addresses these urgent concerns. The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of killer flu. It also looks at gaps in readiness, including hospitals' inability to absorb a surge of patients and many nations' incapacity to monitor and detect flu outbreaks. The report points to the need for international agreements to share flu vaccine and antiviral stockpiles to ensure that the 88 percent of nations that cannot manufacture or stockpile these products have access to them. It chronicles the toll of the H5N1 strain of avian flu currently circulating among poultry in many parts of Asia, which now accounts for the culling of millions of birds and the death of at least 50 persons. And it compares the costs of preparations with the costs of illness and death that could arise during an outbreak. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Critical Dialogues in the Medical Humanities Emma Domínguez-Rué, Konrad Gunesch, 2019-06-21 This volume illustrates ongoing discussions in and about the medical humanities with studies on different approaches to the relationship between medical science and practice and the humanities, including reflections based on fiction, art, history, socio-economic and political concerns, architecture and natural landscapes. The book explores the ways in which healthcare and medical practice can be positively influenced by removing the focus from the technical knowledge of the medical practitioner. It offers innovative perspectives on spaces for healing, traces attitudes and beliefs in relation to illnesses and their treatment throughout history (including intimations of the future), and interrogates cultural attitudes to illness, doctoring and patients through the lens of fiction. Based on the premise that more interdisciplinary work between medical and non-medical professionals is needed, the chapters contained in this volume contribute to an ongoing dialogue between medicine and the humanities that continues to enrich both disciplines. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: How to Prevent the Next Pandemic Bill Gates, 2022-05-03 The COVID-19 pandemic isn't over, but even as governments around the world strive to put it behind us, they're also starting to talk about what happens next. How can we prevent a new pandemic from killing millions of people and devastating the global economy? Can we even hope to accomplish this? Bill Gates believes the answer is yes, and in this book he lays out clearly and convincingly what the world should have learned from COVID-19 and what all of us can do to ward off another disaster like it. Relying on the shared knowledge of the world's foremost experts and on his own experience of combating fatal diseases through the Gates Foundation, he first makes us understand the science of corona diseases. Then he helps us understand how the nations of the world, working in conjunction with one another and with the private sector, can not only ward off another COVID-like catastrophe but also go far to eliminate all respiratory diseases, including the flu. Here is a clarion call - strong, comprehensive, and of the gravest importance - from one of our greatest and most effective thinkers and activists. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: Emerging Infectious Diseases , 1998 |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Handbook of Behavior Change Martin S. Hagger, Linda D. Cameron, Kyra Hamilton, Nelli Hankonen, Taru Lintunen, 2020-07-15 Social problems in many domains, including health, education, social relationships, and the workplace, have their origins in human behavior. The documented links between behavior and social problems have compelled governments and organizations to prioritize and mobilize efforts to develop effective, evidence-based means to promote adaptive behavior change. In recognition of this impetus, The Handbook of Behavior Change provides comprehensive coverage of contemporary theory, research, and practice on behavior change. It summarizes current evidence-based approaches to behavior change in chapters authored by leading theorists, researchers, and practitioners from multiple disciplines, including psychology, sociology, behavioral science, economics, philosophy, and implementation science. It is the go-to resource for researchers, students, practitioners, and policy makers looking for current knowledge on behavior change and guidance on how to develop effective interventions to change behavior. |
which of these technological advances improved flu: The Canadian Encyclopedia James H. Marsh, 1999 This edition of The Canadian Encyclopedia is the largest, most comprehensive book ever published in Canada for the general reader. It is COMPLETE: every aspect of Canada, from its rock formations to its rock bands, is represented here. It is UNABRIDGED: all of the information in the four red volumes of the famous 1988 edition is contained here in this single volume. It has been EXPANDED: since 1988 teams of researchers have been diligently fleshing out old entries and recording new ones; as a result, the text from 1988 has grown by 50% to over 4,000,000 words. It has been UPDATED: the researchers and contributors worked hard to make the information as current as possible. Other words apply to this extraordinary work of scholarship: AUTHORITATIVE, RELIABLE and READABLE. Every entry is compiled by an expert. Equally important, every entry is written for a Canadian reader, from the Canadian point of view. The finished work - many years in the making, and the equivalent of forty average-sized books - is an extraordinary storehouse of information about our country. This book deserves pride of place on the bookshelf in every Canadian Home. It is no accident that the cover of this book is based on the Canadian flag. For the proud truth is that this volume represents a great national achievement. From its formal inception in 1979, this encyclopedia has always represented a vote of faith in Canada; in Canada as a separate place whose natural worlds and whose peoples and their achievements deserve to be recorded and celebrated. At the start of a new century and a new millennium, in an increasingly borderless corporate world that seems ever more hostile to nationaldistinctions and aspirations, this Canadian Encyclopedia is offered in a spirit of defiance and of faith in our future. The statistics behind this volume are staggering. The opening sixty pages list the 250 Consultants, the roughly 4,000 Contributors (all experts in the field they describe) and the scores of researchers, editors, typesetters, proofreaders and others who contributed their skills to this massive project. The 2,640 pages incorporate over 10,000 articles and over 4,000,000 words, making it the largest - some might say the greatest - Canadian book ever published. There are, of course, many special features. These include a map of Canada, a special page comparing the key statistics of the 23 major Canadian cities, maps of our cities, a variety of tables and photographs, and finely detailed illustrations of our wildlife, not to mention the colourful, informative endpapers. But above all the book is encyclopedic - which the Canadian Oxford Dictionary describes as embracing all branches of learning. This means that (with rare exceptions) there is satisfaction for the reader who seeks information on any Canadian subject. From the first entry A mari usque ad mare - from sea to sea (which is Canada's motto, and a good description of this volume's range) to the Zouaves (who mustered in Quebec to fight for the beleaguered Papacy) there is the required summary of information, clearly and accurately presented. For the browser the constant variety of entries and the lure of regular cross-references will provide hours of fasination. The word encyclopedia derives from Greek expressions alluding to a grand circle of knowledge. Our knowledge has expandedimmeasurably since the time that one mnd could encompass all that was known.Yet now Canada's finest scientists, academics and specialists have distilled their knowledge of our country between the covers of one volume. The result is a book for every Canadian who values learning, and values Canada. |
NIH Turning Discovery into Health
Dec 20, 2021 · universal flu vaccine — designed to produce broad protection against virtually all strains of the flu for extended periods of time. A promising approach has been to identify and …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
vaccines demonstrated that these vaccine candidates can prevent severe illness and death but not infection, which may pose difficulties in both the evaluation of clinical efficacy and …
Vaccine Innovations — Past and Future - The New England …
Jan 30, 2021 · Four vaccine-preventable illnesses have been eliminated from the Amer-icas: smallpox in 1971, poliomy-elitis in 1994, and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in. 2015 …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Apex Gene Vaccines Josef Thalhamer,Richard Weiss,Sandra Scheiblhofer,2011-08-31 The induction of antigen specific …
Learning more about how flu strains evolved may help guide …
After creating phylogenies using over 65,000 RNA sequences from influenza's surface proteins, collected between 1970 and 2020, they used features in these trees to identify strains that were...
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu Copy
Technological advances have demonstrably improved our ability to combat the flu. From rapid diagnostics enabling quicker treatment and infection control to cell-based vaccine production …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
Ready addresses these urgent concerns The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of killer flu It also looks at …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
The advancements in flu vaccine technology, from transitioning from egg-based to cell-based production, leveraging reverse genetics for precise control, and incorporating sophisticated …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
question: which technologies have truly improved flu vaccines? We'll explore the science behind these improvements, examining their impact on vaccine development, production, and …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu
Mar 19, 2015 · Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 6) King K. Holmes,Stefano Bertozzi,Barry R. Bloom,Prabhat Jha,2017 …
Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Influenza Research
Development of improved influenza vaccines is a key priority for the control of both seasonal and pandemic influenza. • Define all correlates of immune protection from influenza.
2009 H1N1 Influenza Improvement Plan - phe.gov
May 29, 2012 · Since the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, we have collaborated with state, local, and community partners to implement innovative approaches for increasing seasonal influenza …
TWO Breakthrough Technologies for Pandemic Preparedness
two main pillars of progress are key (see table 2 -1). The first pillar is advances in biomedical and genomic tech-nologies that can detect virtually any pathogen; produce simple, point -of...
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
Read why in the definitive account of the 1918 Flu Epidemic. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research, The Great Influenza provides us with a precise and …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
Sep 7, 2023 · Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Apex What You Need to Know about Infectious Disease Madeline Drexler, IAP Guidebook on …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu Vaccines
We Ready? addresses these urgent concerns. The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of killer flu. It also …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
that Gene vaccines displayed a weaker immunogenicity in humans than had been observed in the mouse models. Meanwhile these hurdles have been overcome and gene vaccines undergo a …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu
Technological advancements have significantly improved our ability to combat the flu. From revolutionary vaccine technologies to rapid diagnostic tests and targeted antiviral medications, …
Release of research and development roadmap to improve flu …
advances in vaccine science and technology to better protect against influenza, a disease that could cause a pandemic even worse than COVID-19
NIH Turning Discovery into Health
Dec 20, 2021 · universal flu vaccine — designed to produce broad protection against virtually all strains of the flu for extended periods of time. A promising approach has been to identify and …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
vaccines demonstrated that these vaccine candidates can prevent severe illness and death but not infection, which may pose difficulties in both the evaluation of clinical efficacy and …
Vaccine Innovations — Past and Future - The New England …
Jan 30, 2021 · Four vaccine-preventable illnesses have been eliminated from the Amer-icas: smallpox in 1971, poliomy-elitis in 1994, and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in. 2015 …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Apex Gene Vaccines Josef Thalhamer,Richard Weiss,Sandra Scheiblhofer,2011-08-31 The induction of antigen specific …
Learning more about how flu strains evolved may help guide …
After creating phylogenies using over 65,000 RNA sequences from influenza's surface proteins, collected between 1970 and 2020, they used features in these trees to identify strains that were...
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu Copy
Technological advances have demonstrably improved our ability to combat the flu. From rapid diagnostics enabling quicker treatment and infection control to cell-based vaccine production …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
Ready addresses these urgent concerns The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of killer flu It also looks at …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
The advancements in flu vaccine technology, from transitioning from egg-based to cell-based production, leveraging reverse genetics for precise control, and incorporating sophisticated …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
question: which technologies have truly improved flu vaccines? We'll explore the science behind these improvements, examining their impact on vaccine development, production, and …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu
Mar 19, 2015 · Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 6) King K. Holmes,Stefano Bertozzi,Barry R. Bloom,Prabhat Jha,2017 …
Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Influenza Research
Development of improved influenza vaccines is a key priority for the control of both seasonal and pandemic influenza. • Define all correlates of immune protection from influenza.
2009 H1N1 Influenza Improvement Plan - phe.gov
May 29, 2012 · Since the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, we have collaborated with state, local, and community partners to implement innovative approaches for increasing seasonal influenza …
TWO Breakthrough Technologies for Pandemic Preparedness
two main pillars of progress are key (see table 2 -1). The first pillar is advances in biomedical and genomic tech-nologies that can detect virtually any pathogen; produce simple, point -of...
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
Read why in the definitive account of the 1918 Flu Epidemic. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research, The Great Influenza provides us with a precise and …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved
Sep 7, 2023 · Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu Vaccines Apex What You Need to Know about Infectious Disease Madeline Drexler, IAP Guidebook on …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu …
We Ready? addresses these urgent concerns. The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of killer flu. It also …
Which Of These Technological Advances Has Improved Flu …
that Gene vaccines displayed a weaker immunogenicity in humans than had been observed in the mouse models. Meanwhile these hurdles have been overcome and gene vaccines undergo a …
Which Of These Technological Advances Improved Flu
Technological advancements have significantly improved our ability to combat the flu. From revolutionary vaccine technologies to rapid diagnostic tests and targeted antiviral medications, …