State health officials report that the flu is now widespread in Minnesota. While not all of the cases are the swine flu, or H1N1, officials believe it's playing a big role in the upsurge.
So, what are the symptoms? We asked John Finnegan, dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
He says the symptoms are similar to those of seasonal influenza - they include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Finnegan also explains when someone should seek medical care.
The Nation's Coal Supply and Pandemic Preparedness
Government officials have failed to adequately address protections for coal miners and for the delivery of coal during a pandemic. That's according to a report from the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, or CIDRAP.
CIDRAP researcher Nick Kelley says that the coal industry must have safeguards to keep water and sewerage systems running, lights on, and critical drugs available during an inevitable pandemic.
Flu season is upon us. Each year about 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with complications from influenza and about 36,000 people die each year.
The best prevention is to get a flu shot, says Ed Ehilinger, director of Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota. He explains who is most at risk and also discusses his related study that involves college students.
An increased risk of death from diseases other than AIDS has been tied to a therapy designed to help HIV-positive people.
Jim Neaton, a University of Minnesota biostatistician who led the study, says that the results indicated that patients receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV had increased risk of death linked to three biomarkers.
More than 500 people in 32 states have become sick after eating tomatoes carrying salmonella bacteria.
Craig Hedberg, a University of Minnesota expert in food-borne disease, says that we're seeing an increase because people are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and also because public health officials are doing a better job of identifying outbreaks.
Online communities may be displacing physical communities for gays around the world. That's according to a new study by Simon Rosser, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.
With HIV cases on the increase, Rosser says the Internet could and should be used to promote HIV prevention.
A Web site developed by the University of Minnesota serves as a national clearinghouse for best practices in pandemic preparedness for local and state health departments.
Jill DeBoer, director of the University's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, tells us more about the site, called Promising Practices: Pandemic Preparedness Tools.
This week is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
Between 5 and 20 percent of Americans will fall ill this year from seasonal influenza. Symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Your best defense against the flu is to have a flu vaccination each year, says Jill DeBoer, associate director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. As kids head back to school, it's a good reminder for parents to make sure that their children are up to date with their vaccinations, says Joan Patterson, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.
Summer is here--a season when many of us cherish the time we spend at family picnics or at the backyard BBQ grill. But it's also a time to take special care in how we handle and cook food, says Craig Hedberg, a food-safety expert at the University of Minnesota.
May is Lyme disease awareness month. And while many people know that bites from a Deer tick can transmit Lyme disease to humans, most are unaware of two similar diseases spread by deer ticks. Craig Hedberg, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, says the three diseases exhibit similar symptoms.
This week is National Condom Week, an awareness campaign that promotes the use of condoms for safe sex and unwanted pregnancies. But are all condoms safe? We asked Jim Rothenberger, a public health educator with the University of Minnesota.
If and when a pandemic flu strikes, local governments will be better prepared to deal with it, thanks to planning efforts at the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
According to the University's Jill DeBoer, the initiative will identify the most problematic issues state and local agencies may confront in a pandemic, and then collect and disseminate options for addressing them.
The week of Dec. 4 is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Why is handwashing so important? We asked Will Hueston, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Animal Health and Food Safety.
State health officials report that the flu is now widespread in Minnesota. While not all of the cases are the swine flu, or H1N1, officials believe it's playing a big role in the upsurge.
Government officials have failed to adequately address protections for coal miners and for the delivery of coal during a pandemic. That's according to a report from the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, or CIDRAP.
Flu season is upon us. Each year about 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with complications from influenza and about 36,000 people die each year. 
An increased risk of death from diseases other than AIDS has been tied to a therapy designed to help HIV-positive people.
More than 500 people in 32 states have become sick after eating tomatoes carrying salmonella bacteria. 
Online communities may be displacing physical communities for gays around the world. That's according to a new study by Simon Rosser, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota. 
A Web site developed by the University of Minnesota serves as a national clearinghouse for best practices in pandemic preparedness for local and state health departments. 
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. As kids head back to school, it's a good reminder for parents to make sure that their children are up to date with their vaccinations, says Joan Patterson, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist. 
This week is National Condom Week, an awareness campaign that promotes the use of condoms for safe sex and unwanted pregnancies. But are all condoms safe? We asked Jim Rothenberger, a public health educator with the University of Minnesota. 
The week of Dec. 4 is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Why is handwashing so important? We asked Will Hueston, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Animal Health and Food Safety.
Last modified on Monday Jul 02, 2007