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Nanoemulsion vaccines effective against two new targets
(02/26/08) A novel technique for vaccinating against a variety of infectious diseases – using an oil-based emulsion placed in the nose, rather than needles – has proved able to produce a strong immune response against smallpox and HIV in two new studies.
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Risk factors shouldn't guide HPV vaccination
(02/11/08) A new study from U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital finds that using risk factors – including a woman’s sexual history - to target specific populations for HPV vaccination is not effective, and would exclude as many as 80 percent of women who could benefit the most from the vaccine.
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U-M poll: Many kids, adults not protected against flu
(01/21/08) A report released today by the U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health finds flu vaccination rates among young children and high-risk adults are much lower than expected across the country, leaving millions of Americans unprotected should a major flu outbreak occur.
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Catheter chaos: Hospitals mixed on UTI prevention
(01/03/08) American hospitals are all over the map when it comes to preventing the most common type of in-hospital infection -- urinary tract infections related to the use of urinary catheters -- a new U-M/VA study finds. That means that hospitalized patients and families shouldn't be afraid to speak up to ask if a catheter is still necessary.
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MVN announces flu shot clinics
(10/31/07) Visits to flu clinics run by the University of Michigan Health System’s Michigan Visiting Nurses and other health care providers across the country are down this year, a decrease that MVN attributes to a current lack of a widespread flu outbreak and a subsequent complacency among the public. But the threat of a flu epidemic is as real as ever. MVN's flu shot clinic schedule for November and December is now available.
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U-M pediatrician, actress take part in national pertussis education campaign
(10/16/07) Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases (PKIDs) today announced the launch of its national educational campaign “Silence the Sounds of Pertussis” with actress and new mom Keri Russell. 
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Davenport Lecture delivers tales of hope and despair from AIDS workers
(10/02/07) Ronald Bayer, Ph.D., and Gerald Oppenheimer, Ph.D., MPH, have compiled an oral history of how South Africa’s doctors and nurses struggle to provide care for AIDS patients in an environment of scant resources, and professional and political barriers. The pair will discuss their book at the seventh annual Davenport Lecture.
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Record number of kids expected to get flu vaccine this year
(10/01/07) According to results from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, 65 percent of parents plan to have their children, ages 6 months to 5 years, vaccinated against the flu this season. The U-M poll also finds that parents more likely to vaccinate their kids if they plan to vaccinate themselves against the flu.
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MVN announces flu shot clinics
(09/28/07) Clinics will be offered throughout the area. Flu shots are $33 this year, and pneumonia shots will be offered for $84. Payment options include cash, check and credit card, as well as Blue Care Network, CareChoices, Health Alliance Plan, M-Care, Medicare Part B and Priority Health, all of which cover the entire cost of the flu shot.
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Reasons, remedies for underinsurance for childhood vaccines
(08/07/07) In an editorial appearing in the Aug. 8 issue of JAMA, U-M pediatrician Matthew Davis, M.D., explains the reasons why many privately insured children are not covered for recommended vaccines. He also offers remedies to increase child and adolescent vaccinations by making national vaccine priorities explicit and consistent across the country.
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A parent's guide to understanding tonsils and strep
(08/06/07) When is a tonsillectomy the right choice for your child? And, why are some children more prone to chronic throat infections? To help answer those questions, a U-M Health System expert offers parents a seven-step guide to better understand tonsils, tonsillitis, strep and tonsillectomies before the start of the school year.
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Majority of U.S. parents not in favor of HPV vaccine mandates
(05/22/07) According to a new report released today by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital National Poll on Childrens Health, the majority of U.S. parents do not support school mandates for Gardasil, a vaccine designed to provide protection against human papillomavirus, or HPV, the virus linked to cervical cancer and genital warts. In fact, only 44 percent of parents are in favor of a school mandate for the HPV vaccine.
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An easy New Year's resolution: Get your flu shot
(01/02/07) That's right, it's still not too late to get a flu shot but time is running out. The University of Michigan Health System's Michigan Visiting Nurses will offer two flu shot clinics in coming days, on Jan. 5 and Jan. 9.
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7 things to know about preventing, treating winter laryngitis
(01/02/07) Viral laryngitis is contagious and passes the same way as common colds and flu bugs. To avoid getting laryngitis, a U-M expert suggests seven ways to prevent and treat this inflammation of the voice box, and offers suggestions for caring for your voice even when it's healthy.
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Flu shot effective against drifted influenza; nasal spray vaccine less so
(12/13/06) During a year in which the circulating strains of influenza showed genetic differences from the strains in vaccines, the traditional killed-virus flu shot was found to be effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults. The live attenuated-virus nasal spray vaccine also prevented illnesses but was less effective.
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MVN offers Nov. and Dec. flu shot clinics
(11/16/06) It's not too late to get your flu shot! U-M's Michigan Visiting Nurses will offer flu shot clinics throughout late-November and December. Health officials say it is still effective to get a flu shot during this time.
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Nov. 15 lecture looks to history for flu response
(10/16/06) If bird flu or an especially virulent form of annual flu strikes, what can we do to reduce the spread of infection in the first critical weeks and months, while we wait for a vaccine or medications? A U-M expert will look to the history of the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu pandemic for answers in a Nov. 15 lecture at U-M.
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Michigan Visiting Nurses announces flu shot clinics
(09/28/06) Michigan Visiting Nurses will offer flu clinics to the public at numerous locations throughout October. Medicare B, M-Care, CareChoices and HAP cover the cost of the shots.
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Annual flu shot may protect cardiovascular disease patients
(09/19/06) The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology are asking heart doctors to do something they may not normally do - give flu shots to their patients. However, patients with cardiovascular disease should not get the nasal-spray flu vaccine.
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Existing vaccine facilities can handle flu pandemic
(09/14/06) The most cost effective and quickest way to respond to a flu pandemic within the next five years is to use existing facilities to make vaccines from cell cultures, new research suggests.
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Kids with asthma not getting recommended flu shot
(09/11/06) Researchers at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital say many children with asthma - who are at an increased risk for influenza-related complications - arent getting immunized against the flu, even when they visit their doctor during flu season.
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U-M launches new website on 1918 flu pandemic
(09/06/06) Amidst the public health chaos of the 1918-1920 influenza epidemic, some U.S. communities experienced low morbidity and mortality rates. The Center for the History of Medicine compiled thousands of pages of primary and secondary source materials on seven such communities. The original documents are now on-line and freely available to researchers.
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Rotavirus: Messy diapers may be sign of severe intestinal infection
(09/05/06) While mild bouts of diarrhea arent uncommon in young children, moderate to severe diarrhea, lasting several days could be a sign a dangerous infection in the intestines known as rotavirus gastroenteritis. A U-M expert explains how parents can help prevent the spread of rotavirus, and care for their child through unpleasant episodes.
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U-M experts weigh-in on HPV vaccine recommendations
(06/29/06) University of Michigan Health System experts are available to discuss today's HPV vaccine recommendations and recent research about HPV vaccines, as well as provide information about cervical cancer, HPV and childhood immunizations.
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Proteus mirabilis gives up its genetic secrets
(05/23/06) Scientists now have inside information to use in the fight against Proteus mirabilis - a nasty bacterium that can cause kidney stones, as well as hard-to-treat urinary tract infections.
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Will parents accept new HPV vaccines for kids?
(05/11/06) A new study suggests that many parents may be hesitant to immunize their preadolescent children against HPV once vaccines become available in 2007. Simply providing them with educational materials will not be enough to gain their acceptance, say researchers. They found that parents' attitudes and life experience with HPV were more likely to influence their decision to vaccinate their child that educational materials alone.
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Program to boost elderly flu vaccination could save lives
(03/22/06) Results from a U-M Health System study hold the promise to cost-effectively boost flu immunization rates among the elderly, and ultimately save lives. The study shows that if the federal government were to adopt an intense, 10-year direct-to-consumer advertising campaign - similar to those used by pharmaceutical companies to promote their products - it could significantly increase flu vaccination rates among the elderly and save more than 6,500 lives.
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The flu: Is a pandemic near?
(11/04/05) About as many Americans die of influenza each year as are killed by breast cancer. But only with some unusual event -- the movement new flu strains or a shortage of vaccine does the public typically take notice. And this year, flu season holds a frightening new prospect the avian flu.
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Antibacterial soaps no better at cleaning your hands
(10/24/05) Germophobic Americans have antibacterial soaps in their bathrooms and kitchens, they carry hand sanitizing gels and wipes when they're away from home, and their grocery stores have even gotten into the act, offering wipes for the cart handles.
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A 'pox' on shingles: Vaccine proven effective for debilitating disease
(08/31/05) Chicken pox is an annoying, itchy rash for children, but the virus that causes chicken pox can cause Shingles, a very serious health problem for older adults. A national study by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that a higher dose of the children's chicken pox vaccine can help to prevent shingles in adults. When shingles did occur, the vaccine reduced the chronic pain of the nerve disease often associated with the infection.
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Doc, do I still need this catheter?
(07/29/05) Millions of hospital patients could be spared the humiliation and infection risk that come with a urine-collecting catheter, a new UMHS study finds, if hospitals used a simple reminder system to prompt doctors to remove the devices after two days.
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Don't wait - vaccinate!
(07/28/05) Polio, diphtheria, mumps, and German measles - all life-threatening diseases that have been virtually eradicated through the use of vaccines. Despite life-saving immunization programs, some children still are not getting vaccinated according to the recommended schedule, putting themselves and their communities at risk. Fortunately, there is a way for kids to catch-up on necessary vaccinations they may have missed.
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Possible herpes virus Achilles' heel found
(07/25/05) Despite the fact that 45 million Americans are infected with the herpes simplex virus, scientists don't fully understand how the virus infects us. Now, new U-M research has identified a crucial cell receptor for that process; a potential Achilles' heel that could lead to new treatments.
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MVN offers meningitis vaccinations
(05/13/05) College students should receive meningitis vaccinations before heading to campus, especially if they plan to live in residence halls. The U-M Michigan Visiting Nurses are offering vaccinations at their Ann Arbor office and at upcoming clinics.
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Americans willing to pay more for greater vaccine coverage
(05/10/05) A new national web-based study from the U-M Health System found that about 80 percent of adults would be willing to pay an additional $3 to $6 each month in health plan premiums to have their health insurance automatically cover newly recommended vaccines.
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50 years after Salk, polio's effects still linger
(04/12/05) Fifty years after the University of Michigan’s Thomas Francis Jr., M.D., announced a “safe, effective, and potent “ vaccine that would end one of the most virulent of childhood diseases, the effects of paralytic polio still linger. Today, experts in the UMHS Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are working to treat polio survivors at its Post-Polio Clinic, learn more about polio's effects through research, and educate future health care providers today to care for aging polio survivors.
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In emergency, flu vaccine could be made quickly in existing facilities
(03/16/05) In an emergency such as a pandemic outbreak or last year's vaccine shortage, the influenza vaccine could be produced twice as fast using cell cultures in existing biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, according to Henry Wang, a University of Michigan professor of biomedical and chemical engineering
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MVN offers meningitis shots to Hajj travelers
(12/13/04) To protect travelers who are making the Hajj and to help them meet entry requirements in Saudi Arabia, the University of Michigan Health System’s Michigan Visiting Nurses is offering vaccinations against bacterial meningitis on an appointment basis at its Ann Arbor office.
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Med School receives $5.9-million NIH grant to study anthrax
(11/29/04) The U-M Medical School has been awarded a $5.9-million contract from NIH for a Biodefense Proteomics Research Center.
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We wish you a Merry (achoo!) Christmas and a (sniffle) Happy New Year! (cough, cough)
(11/23/04) This year’s “holiday rush” of colds and flu may be especially bad because of the shortage of flu vaccine. But there are simple and specific things you can do to keep yourself from getting — or giving — this most unwelcome holiday gift. And if you do get a cold or the flu, there are some basic things to know about taking care of yourself and your loved ones — including when to go to the ER.
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Immune system in a bottle could help prevent flu vaccine shortage
(10/24/04) Picture a honeycomb and each compartment in the honeycomb is coated with living cells from a person’s mouth, skin or a piece of bone.
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Potentially dangerous staph infections spreading
(08/02/04) Staph bacteria are not uncommon in health care settings. In fact, they account for a large number of hospital-related infections each year. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of these types of bacteria which is now found among athletes, military recruits and others in the general population. What is particularly concerning to medical experts is that MRSA is resistant to many common antibiotics.
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MVN offers meningitis shots for college students
(07/15/04) The U-M Health System's Michigan Visiting Nurses is teaming up with local Kroger stores this summer to vaccinate college-bound students against meningitis. MVN encourages all students living in dormitories and residences halls to get vaccinated against this potentially fatal illness.
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College students: don't leave home without a meningitis shot
(04/27/04) In an effort to protect college-bound students against meningitis, the University of Michigan Health System’s Michigan Visiting Nurses will offer meningitis vaccination clinics by appointment for students at its Ann Arbor office.
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Anthrax can germinate and grow in soil
(02/16/04) For Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, nothing beats the inside of a warm human or animal host for triggering an intense spurt of rapid growth and reproductive activity. But when a warm-blooded animal isn't available, new research by scientists in the U-M Medical School shows that ordinary dirt can do the job, as well.
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U-M Michigan Visiting Nurses offers meningitis clinics for Hajj pilgrims, college students
(01/06/04) To protect travelers who are making the Hajj this year and college students living in residence halls, the University of Michigan Health System's Michigan Visiting Nurses is offering vaccination clinics against bacterial meningitis on an appointment basis at its Ann Arbor office.
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Holiday respiratory etiquette: Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of flu
(12/22/03) Since the flu is one gift you can't send back this holiday season, experts at the University of Michigan Health System are offering some guidance on holiday respiratory etiquette to help you prevent the spread of germs that cause the flu. And for those unlucky enough to have contract the flu this holiday season, they offer tips on treatment.
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Study: Men do not cause yeast infections in women
(12/18/03) Women may blame their husbands or boyfriends for headaches, tears and stress. But a new U-M study shows they can’t be blamed for those nasty recurrent yeast infections, contrary to popular belief. What might be responsible? Certain sexual activities, and a woman's own immune system.
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Scientists discover how anthrax creates its deadly spores
(12/16/03) In the age-old battle between man and microbe, it pays to know your enemy. This is especially true for Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax. Scientists have now identified all the genes and proteins involved in anthrax spore formation.
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University of Michigan offers meningitis vaccinations this week
(09/10/03) This week, the University of Michigan's Michigan Visiting Nurses and University Health Service will again offer its students vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis in a series of on-campus clinics.
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U-M part of NIH-funded center for research on infectious diseases
(09/08/03) The U-M is one of 14 institutions selected by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to participate in the Midwestern Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research.
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College-bound students: Don’t leave home without a meningitis shot!
(07/25/03) In an effort to protect college-bound students against meningitis, the University of Michigan Health System's Michigan Visiting Nurses (MVN) is teaming up with Kroger to offer meningitis vaccination clinics for students. MVN is also offering meningitis vaccination clinics Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Ann Arbor office.
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Information on the U-M Liver Transplant Program for viewers of 'Good Morning America'
(06/19/03) University of Michigan liver transplant patient Michael Hagan appeared on Good Morning America Thursday, June 19, 2003, to talk about the liver transplant he received at University Hospital. He was also recently featured in the Detroit Free Press.
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Keeping on guard against West Nile Virus
(06/02/03) Summer is here and, once again, the threat of West Nile Virus is with us. This virus, which surfaced in the U.S. only a few years ago, is commonly transmitted back and forth between infected birds and mosquitoes. However, humans can become the unintended hosts of the disease when they are bitten by an infected mosquito.
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SARS Information from the UMHS
(05/06/03) As the world responds to the ongoing epidemic of the new disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the University of Michigan Health System offers the following resources to our patients and their families, our community, our employees, and the news media.
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Polio a thing of the past?
(04/07/03) Most Americans think of polio as a thing of the past. Although the disease has largely been eradicated, about one million Americans are polio survivors. For these men and women who contracted the disease through epidemics of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, many are experiencing the late effects of their struggle with polio. The University of Michigan's Post-Polio Clinic is studying the way age and gender are effecting this population.
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Don't spring into home improvement projects without a tetanus shot!
(03/17/03) Even though there's still snow and ice covering most of Michigan, homeowners, landscapers and builders alike are preparing to plant flowers and gardens, or to construct wood decks and new homes, at the first sign of spring.
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Want to finish Med School in six week?
(03/07/03) If you've missed your calling to become a doctor but would still like a glimpse of medical school, it's not too late. The U-M Medical School is now enrolling students in its third annual Mini-Med School to be held from 7 to 9 p.m., every Tuesday from April 8 to May 13, on the Medical School campus. The tuition is $75 per person; complimentary parking will be provided.
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Tattoos and piercings: body art health tips
(03/05/03) Many kids covet them, and most parents dread them. But like it or not, tattoos and body piercings are all the rage. So as the impulsive days of spring break near, physicians at the University of Michigan Health System recommend keeping a level head when considering body art.
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Ecological effects of climate change include human epidemics
(02/18/03) The link between climate and cholera, a serious health problem in many parts of the world, has become stronger in recent decades, says a U-M scientist who takes an ecological approach to understanding disease patterns.
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Taking a closer look at polio's lifelong effects
(01/06/03) A new U-M Health System study will be the first to explore gender differences and the impact menopause may have on the overall quality of polio survivors' lives.
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U-M professor develops faster way to test beach water for E. coli levels
(08/07/02) From News & Information Services: A faster, portable testing unit that can yield E. coli results in about 45 minutes, instead of waiting days.
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West Nile Virus bites its way back this summer
(06/03/02) Evidence of West Nile, a mosquito-borne virus, has already been detected in several states this year, including Michigan.
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Smallpox info for "ER" viewers and UMHS patients
(05/17/02) The May 16 episode of the television show "ER", and recent news stories, may be making your wonder about smallpox and the smallpox vaccine.
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Time to resume routine vaccination against smallpox?
(05/07/02) Immunizing young Americans against smallpox before a bioterrorist attack might save many more lives than a strategy focused exclusively on isolating and vaccinating those at risk after an attack -- but at what cost?
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Study examines potential risks of smallpox vaccination
(05/07/02) A new study recommends any decision to resume smallpox vaccination should be based on the likelihood of a smallpox attack, the effectiveness of other smallpox control measures and the potential harm of the smallpox vaccine.
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Study examines the potential risks of smallpox vaccination
(04/18/02) An immunization campaign to vaccinate Americans against smallpox would be protective against a smallpox bioterror attack, but the smallpox vaccination itself poses a risk of death or serious illness.
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Anthrax spores use failsafe protection system, say U-M scientists
(02/27/02) A new study shows that germination of anthrax spores requires the coordinated activity of several genes, receptor proteins and amino acids in at least two simultaneous signaling pathways.
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Minimizing your risk for winter colds, flu and pneumonia
(12/03/01) Every year, millions of Americans suffer through the winter months with the runny nose, sore throat, fever and body aches of the common cold… or, is it the flu?
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Michigan Visiting Nurses offer flu & pneumonia shots during 2001 fall immunization program
(11/26/01) Each fall, Michigan Visiting Nurses (MVN) coordinates Fall Immunization Clinics for those 18 years and older. Public Clinics around southeast Michigan 11/26/01 - 12/08/01.
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Vaccine safety concerns up among parents and physicians, U-M study shows
(05/01/01) Worries leading some to refuse or recommend against hepatitis, MMR, chicken pox vaccines.
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UMHS introduces new hand hygiene policy, including fingernail requirements
(04/20/01) The policy is based on recent research showing that artificial nails and long natural nails harbor more microorganisms than short natural nails, even after handwashing.
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Women need testing and care for infection that can steal fertility, expert says
(03/26/01) Chlamydia spreads fast and goes undetected, despite accurate new test and easy cure.
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Breastfeeding fact or fiction
(03/05/01) Breastfeeding can increase a baby's brain development, reduce cancer risk in moms.
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Epstein-Barr virus linked to invasive breast cancer and lymphoma
(02/28/01) U-M scientists find virus releases molecular brake on roaming cancer cells.
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Michigan Visiting Nurses Announces Public Meningitis Immunization Clinic for Those Making the Hajj
(02/19/01) Last year, health officials identified an outbreak of meningococcal disease during the Hajj. Four cases of the disease were subsequently identified among the approximately 15,000 pilgrims returning to the United States, their community, and their close contacts.
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An ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure this flu season
(01/24/01) U-M doctors offer tips to avoid - or cope with - an infection
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Nasty winter virus can send babies, toddlers, kids to the hospital
(01/08/01) RSV is all around us, but hand washing can cut down on transmission, U-M expert says.
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