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AFP – Swine flu will spread further across the world, experts at the World Health Organisation warned Friday, as the number of confirmed cases surged by more than a thousand in 24 hours.

AP – Maintenance workers wearing masks scrubbed desks, floors and door handles on Friday in a swine flu outbreak that shut down three New York City public schools and left an assistant principal hospitalized in critical condition.

AP – Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline said Friday it has received orders from several countries to stockpile pandemic vaccine as soon as it gets the vaccine’s key ingredient from the World Health Organization.

Reuters – President Barack Obama on Friday named a public health activist who made New York the first U.S. city to ban smoking in restaurants to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency charged with protecting Americans from illnesses ranging from heart disease to new flu strains.

AP – President Barack Obama on Friday appointed Dr. Thomas Frieden as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, turning to a health commissioner who led the campaign to ban smoking and trans-fats from New York City restaurants.

HealthDay – THURSDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) — In a phase 3 clinical trial,
an experimental immune-based treatment boosted by 20 percent the overall
survival of those with tough-to-treat neuroblastoma, which affects mostly
children.

HealthDay – THURSDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) — Researchers have discovered
the nausea-easing powers of ginger that many grandmothers are already
familiar with, and report that the spice helped cancer patients who were
undergoing chemotherapy.

HealthDay – THURSDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) — The first genomic test aimed
at predicting colon cancer recurrence may help individualize treatment for
patients, leading to less toxic and more targeted therapy choices,
scientists say.

HealthDay – FRIDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) — In a troubling sign that the
swine flu outbreak has yet to run its current course in the United States,
three New York City public schools were closed Thursday after dozens of
flu-like infections surfaced and an assistant principal was in critical
condition on a ventilator, according to published reports.

HealthDay – (HealthDay News) — Diabetes doesn’t have to keep you from
traveling, but you still need some extra preparation before you begin your
trip.