Millions of people are harmed every year from inappropriate medication use, and many injuries occur as a result of incomplete access to information about a drug, a patient, or the patient's condition. The FDA announced the Safe Use Initiative, a coordinated effort through out the health care sector aimed at reducing the likelihood of preventable harm from medication use.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded approximately $208 million to two programs that support research to better understand the human immune response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including those that may be introduced into a community through acts of bioterrorism.

During this declared public health emergency, the FDA published guidance to help manufacturers of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus tests seek Emergency Use Authorization. If granted, the EUA will allow the tests to be used during the current H1N1 emergency. Visit www.flu.gov for more information on H1N1.