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Like many people his age, Jerry Lucier, 54, of Northville, Mich. never got the flu shot. Then, in April, he almost died as a result of an H1N1 flu infection and was transferred by medical helicopter to the ECMO unit at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich.

The delay between the time when a disease outbreak becomes possible and when it actually happens depends chiefly on how frequently infection is introduced to the population and how quickly the number of cases caused by a single individual increases, according to new research from the University of Georgia.

A Michigan State University researcher is challenging a widely held African belief that a spinal tap, a procedure safely used to treat other diseases, could suck the brain from the base of the skull and cause death in malaria patients.

During the trial and evaluation of a UV device for surface disinfection, healthcare professionals' due diligence must span a wide range of considerations. For example, any new device being considered for purchase and implementation in a healthcare organization should be evaluated for its cost effectiveness; healthcare professionals must investigate whether the technology has demonstrated a reduction in infection rates that justifies the cost associated with the purchase and maintenance of the device. Evaluators must identify the ongoing costs involved in the use, education and training for clinical products and equipment. In choosing advanced technologies, the length of treatment time is a key factor that should be considered when purchasing capital equipment, due to the potential economic impact in terms of staffing and labor costs in-volved.