Infection Control Today Magazine

Social Distancing

Researchers Analyze Tweets for Bio-Surveillance

Micro-blogging services such as Twitter offer the potential to crowdsource epidemics in real-time. However, Twitter posts (‘tweets’) are often ambiguous and reactive to media trends. In order to ground user messages in epidemic response Nigel Collier, of the National ...More
October 13, 2011
Posted in News, Infections & Pathogens
To Meet, Greet or Retreat During Influenza Outbreaks?

When influenza pandemics arrive, the specter of disease spread through person-to-person contact can mean that schools close, hand sanitizer sales rise, and travelers stay home. But is severing social and business interactions with our neighbors really better than taking a ...More
March 28, 2011
Posted in News
Disease Transmission Model Says Media Coverage Cuts Infection Rate and Pandemic Extent

At the first sign of a disease pandemic, public health officials should begin strongly communicating about the extent of the outbreak and the steps that can be taken by the public to avoid infection. That's the recommendation of two mathematical biologists who have modified ...More
September 16, 2010
Posted in News
Social Avoidance Behaviors were Prevalent in H1N1 Epidemic

During the SARS pandemic in Hong Kong, panic and worry were prevalent in the community and the general public avoided staying in public areas. ...More
July 30, 2010
Posted in News
Public May Find It Hard to Follow Measures to Limit Spread of Infection

The H1N1 flu virus is spreading misery around the country, but University of Michigan researchers say that implementing and sustaining infection-limiting measures will still be a challenge.In focus groups with residents from four Michigan communities, U-M researchers found ...More
November 17, 2009
Posted in News
Simple Hygienic Measures Can Help Prevent Respiratory Illness

In a new study published this month in the British Medical Journal, researchers sought to review the evidence of effectiveness of physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. The researchers culled data from a number of sources for their ...More
September 25, 2009
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions
Vaccinating Children May be Effective at Helping Control Flu Spread

Targeting children may be an effective use of limited supplies of flu vaccine, according to research at the University of Warwick funded by the Wellcome Trust and the EU. The study suggests that, used to support other control measures, this could help control the spread of ...More
June 17, 2009
Posted in News
WHO Offers Interim Guidance for Swine Flu Outbreaks

The current situation regarding the outbreaks of A(H1N1) swine influenza is evolving rapidly, and countries from different regions of the globe have been affected. Based on epidemiological data, human-to-human transmission has been demonstrated along with the ability of the ...More
April 30, 2009
Posted in News, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions