In just five months, the H1N1 Virus, commonly known as the Swine Flu, has affected thousands of people around the world and became a global epidemic. Specifically, the Western Hemisphere has seen the worst of the Swine Flu, with South America leading with the most cases and deaths, and North America following behind. Of the over 3,000 deaths from the epidemic worldwide, almost 700 were in the United States. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine for the H1N1 virus and will start mass producing and distributing around the world. There are a limited number of supplies available at the beginning of October. 45 million doses of the 195 million ordered by the government are scheduled to arrive October 15. The same side effects that people experience from the normal flu vaccine could be experienced with the H1N1 vaccine. There are also tests to see how many doses the average adult and child need to protect themselves of the epidemic, as well as the effectiveness of the vac...
By Cheryl Sowa · September 24 2009
small business, swine flu, workplace, h1n1
Government, Politics and the Economy
Democrats Offer Mixed Signals on Deficit
President Obama may have called for legally binding measures to enforce spending restraint, but both his congressional allies and his own actions are threatening to undermine his effort. WSJ.com
Healthcare Bill Raises Taxes by $600 Billion
House Democrats have drafted healthcare overhaul legislation that includes $600 billion in tax increases and $400 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. According to Ways and Means chairman Charles Rangel, the total cost of healthcare reform will top $1 trillion. Bloomberg.com
Management and Operations
By Charles M Cooper · June 12 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government and Economy
House Forgets Small Business in New Credit Card Reform Bill
The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights, which restricts some aggressive tactics by credit card companies, passed the House but doesn’t apply to small business credit cards even though such cards function the same way consumer credit cards do. BusinessWeek.com
Stress-Tests Results Delayed
With banks disputing the findings of the recent federal stress tests, the Fed and US banking regulators will now reveal the results on May 7 after the financial markets close. Bloomberg.com
By Charles M Cooper · May 01 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
According to the Centers for Disease Control:
The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today, CDC reports additional cases of confirmed swine influenza and a number of hospitalizations of swine flu patients. Internationally, the situation is more serious too, with additional countries reporting confirmed cases of swine flu. In response to the intensifying outbreak, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 4. A Phase 4 alert is characterized by confirmed person-to-person spread of a new influenza virus able to cause “community-level” outbreaks. The increase in the pandemic alert phase indicates that the likelihood of a pandemic has increased.
In short, it’s here and there is more on the way. Now, that doesn’t mean you should panic. There has been one confirmed death here in the US, that of a 23-month old child, but so far that...
By Charles M Cooper · April 29 2009
small business, swine flu, flu prevention
Government and Economy
Specter's Party Switch Raises Hopes for Card Check
Senator Arlen Specter claims that his move to the Democrat Party will not change his vote when it comes to the union-organizing legislation, but a compromise that could allow the bill to slide through may now be easier. BusinessWeek.com
House Leader Pushes for Mileage Tax
Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, wants Congress to enact a mileage-based tax on cars and trucks to pay for highway programs now, rather than wait the results of a pilot program, to make up f...
By Charles M Cooper · April 28 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
