The following list contains information that ranges from tracking maps to national and international news sources to resource centers and more. Each link within each category is listed in alphabetical order to show that we do not favor one set of tracking tools over another. If you are concerned about H1N1 at a local level, visit the Centers for Disease Control, which has a page that includes a list of all state sites that focus on H1N1 news and information.

Tracking Maps

1. 2009 Swine Flu H1N1 Outbreak and Migration Map: This map highlights reported cases (both confirmed and unconfirmed) and the routes those cases traveled between home and vacation / business where they apparently contracted the strain.
2. Explore flu trends around the world: Google discovered a close relationship between how many people search for flu-related topics and how many people actually have flu symptoms. Google Flu Trends uses this aggregated Google search data to estimate flu activity up to two weeks faster than traditional systems.
3. FluTracker: Dr. Henry Niman, a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, used technology provided by Rhiza Labs and Google to create this map. The map is compiled using data from official sources, news reports and user-contributions and updated multiple times per day.
4. Global Swine Flu: This map, similar to the Heat Map mentioned below, creates hot spots represented by raster tiles on Virtual Earth and rendered through a Flash interface. This map also includes pins indicating flu outbreaks.
5. Google Maps’ H1N1 Swine Flu: This was the original Google Maps H1N1 flu tracker, which now has been moved to the FluTracker site noted above. The last update was 2 May 2009.
6. H1N1 Swine Flu Heat Map: UMapper built out a version of H1N1 data, which overlays raster tiles on Virtual Earth and renders it through a Flash interface. This map gets updated a few times per day.
7. Health Map: HealthMap brings together disparate data sources to achieve a unified and comprehensive view of the current global state of infectious diseases and their effect on human and animal health. To check just for influenza-related news, check only the box that says “influenza” under “Diseases, last 30 days.” You also can follow this map through Twitter or download an app for your iPhone.
8. New England Journal of Medicine Influenza A (H1N1 = “Swine Flu”) Reports: Official data is obtained from CDC and WHO daily Influenza A (H1N1) updates. Informal data sources are a subset of reports from the HealthMap database. The case numbers shown are cumulative counts. As of mid-July, reports are no longer available from official channels, however.

National and International News Updates

9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: This news information is especially pertinent for people who travel, as the CDC relays information on major outbreaks across the world and determines whether or not an area is safe for U.S. citizen travel. This information also is available as an RSS feed.
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Update: The CDC also offers specific information on the H1N1, with advice, news, maps and more that can help you apprise your situation.
11. Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy Novel H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu): CIDRAP is created by the Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota, and offers breaking news on H1N1.
12. CNN H1N1: Follow news, worldwide concerns, test your knowledge and learn about H1N1 activity in the U.S.
13. Create Google News Alerts: If you don’t have a Google account, create one, and if you have an account, you can go to the Google News pages and create alerts about “H1N1″ and/or “Swine Flu” to arrive in your email box or RSS reader. You can choose between H1N1 news or Swine Flu news.
14. Flu.gov: This is your one-stop access to U.S. Government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information. This site targets consumers, professionals, caregivers and more. They also have information on a state-by-state basis.
15. World Health Organization: The WHO presents updates on the most recent news items regarding disease outbreaks on this page. Use their RSS feed if you prefer.

Resource Centers

16. Business Continuity: Gartner Blog Network offers a special section on how H1N1 may affect businesses and organizations, including topics such as pandemic planning.
17. H5N1: This blog carries information about all pandemic influenza, and their link resources cover H1N1, avian flu and more.
18. MedScape Today’s H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu) Alert Center: Stay up-to-date on the latest vaccine information, news about H1N1 and insights from experts on this flu.
19. The Lancet’s H1N2 Flu Resource Centre: The Lancet’s H1N1 Resource Centre is the result of a collaborative effort by the editors of over 40 Elsevier-published journals and eleven learned societies who have agreed to make freely available any relevant content on this site. Register for site updates.
20. WebMD’s Swine Flu Guide: Look to this site for breaking news, medical facts and practical advice on H1N1

Information from Other Countries

21. European Center for Disease Prevention and Control: The European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was established in 2005 to strengthen Europe’s defenses against infectious diseases. This link leads to their H1N1 portion of the site.
22. Health Protection Agency: Look to the UK to provide information about “Swine Influenza.” This site has advice for the public, healthcare professionals and the media.
23. Influenza A (H1N1 Swine Flu): New Zealand offers this site that displays signs and symptoms, how to care for yourself and others, and a preparedness kit. They also supply news and updates for their country.
24. Resources and Links: Offered by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, this site offers news, answers to questions, guidelines for officials and more.
25. Swine Flu in Canada – Information Sources: This site provides insight into Canada’s outlook on H1N1, with news, flu tracking maps and even U.S. information.

The following list is divided into categories by price range, from free to over $20. The links, which lead to Blackberry App World, are listed in alphabetical order within each category. The ratings were gathered from Blackberry App World as well as from other resources such as TopTenReviews, BBGeeks, MobiHealthNews and more.

Free Blackberry Apps

1. Brio Calorie Tracker: This app is designed to help you maintain a record of daily caloric intake for a healthier life. You can use desktop synchronization to back up and restore your calorie history and records. Brio Calorie Tracker is one of the most popular free Blackberry fitness and health apps.
2. Calorie County by Fat Secret: Use this app for a quick pick on calorie and full nutrition information, to plan and keep track of your diet, a way to record calories you burn, and to journal your progress. Sync and access these records with an online account so you can gain access anywhere, any time.
3. Calorie Count Nutrition Search: What if you’re not eating enough protein or carbohydrates to meet your fitness goals? You can count calories and find nutritional information on this app, which brings About.com’s popular food and dient resource, Caloriecount.com, within instant reach.
4. FluRadar: This is not a game – you can keep track on up-to-date H1N1 flu information as you learn about new outbreaks in your area. This app shows distances to H1N1 events displayed in both miles and km, shows flue cases in a list or on a map and summarized current information concerning H1N1 events with a link to the original source when available.
5. GoodFoodNearYou: Find the best food options at twenty restaurants near you, no matter your location. Using a Zip Code, you can search over 36,000 restaurant menu items from over 250,000 U.S. restaurant locations.
6. My Personal Health Record: Named after the non-profit organization of the same name, this app is a free and confidential service that allows users to keep health information organized, accurate and in one place. Members to this organization also can print a free emergency wallet care online.
7. Total Fitness for Blackberry 1: This app includes a database of 5,000 food items containing nutritional information. You also can keep a daily log of your workouts from a database filled with over 60 weight-training exercises. Track your body weight, body fat, blood pressure, pulse and body measurements, too.
8. vClinic Mobile Health: This app automatically manages your calorie intake, weight and nutrients. You also can keep track of calories burned, and this app will warn you if you’ve broken your daily calories limit.

Blackberry Apps Under $10

9. Cholesterol Cutter: Learn how to control your cholesterol with exercise, diet and treatment plans and establish a log of your recordings for better treatment options. Additionally, you can keep a record of all medications with dosage information – a helpful record for your doctor. $2.99
10. Diet Fitness Diary: Track your daily caloric intake, use the burn-meter to record calories burned and use daily tips and image gallery to learn how to live a healthier life. You can customize your wellness program and track your health history as well. $7.99
11. FoodGauge: This is a food rating system that help you to make healthier eating choices by analyzing the types of food that you eat. When you enter the nutrition label information into the calculator, this tool will provide you with the food’s numerical score. FoodGauge is one of the most popular health and fitness Blackberry apps. $2.99
12. Health Browser: A simple yet effective app that allows users to browse diseases, conditions, emergencies, drugs, tips, drug overdoses, drug conflict and images. $7.99
13. Hypertension: Use this app to learn more about blood pressure, including lifestyle changes, a diet plan, information about medications and diet supplements and more. Use calculators for BMI, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease risk and stroke risk. $9.99
14. iFitness: This app provides a comprehensive exercise databse that provides clear pictures and instructions for over 230 exercises. Users can create a customized workout or use ten routines that offer varying goals from weight loss to ab definition and more. $3.99
15. KeepFit: This app is filled with facts and tips that you can use to learn more about natural foods and how they can affect your health. Use an alphabetical index of 45 items and learn about fruit juices and healing foods. Sponsored by Nature Cure with Natural Foods. $4.99
16. Mobile Rush-Hour Recipes On-Line Edition: Holly Clegg’s highly-popular recipes can come to the rescue of any busy person with her easy options for dinner. Meals include “trim&Terrific” options with instructions, shopping lists, photos and nutritional information. Expect banner advertisements appropriate to the content. $4.99
17. Runner and Fitness Cog: This is a handy app for runners and athletes that includes eleven utilities for various fitness calculations. All tools support U.S. standard English and metric measurements. Calculate pace, time or distance and you even can track the usage (mileage) of your shoes. $2.99
18. Total Fitness: This Blackberry app allows you to manage daily nutrition, exercise and health in one of the most advanced and complete fitness software programs available. Track your daily food intake, try the workout routines and track health data such as body weight, blood pressure and more. $4.99

Blackberry Apps Between $10 and $20

19. Diet Science: This app provides a deeper understanding about the food you eat. Many calculators, nutritional pyramids and diets included, so you can learn more about how to develop a balanced and healthy diet for your lifestyle. $10.99
20. FitDeck Mobile: A popular app that helps users get fit and stay fit. The exercises contained within this app require no weights or equipment as are designed for people of any fitness level. The exercises include simple descriptive images and instructions and users can shuffle exercises to create variety. $14.99
21. Glycemic Index Meal Planner: Do you need a meal planner that calculates overall Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL)? This app can help build healthy diets for diabetics, for weight loss, for sports performance and more. $13.99
22. Health Diet Manager: This health and diet manager comes with an extensive food database that includes menus from fast-food restaurants, too. Users can take advantage of a manager that tracks point balances (for diet programs such as WeightWatchers) and a means to track health-related data such as pulse rate, glucose and insulin levels, hours of sleep and much more. $19.99

Blackberry Apps Over $20

23. 5 Minute Clinical Consult for Mobile and Web: Receive fast and to-the-point guidance on diagnoses and treatments for over 700 medical conditions seen in everyday practice. Although geared toward medical practice, this app is available to anyone who wants information about diagnoses, treatment, medications, follow-up and patient teaching tools. $79.99
24. Ascendo Fitness Diet and Exercise Assistant: Set objectives, track nutrition, exercise and strength training, measure your progress with graphs and calculate several fitness ratios using personal information in U.S. or metric measurements. This app includes a Windows desktop companion, which includes a comprehensive list of 7,293 nutrition items based upon the USDA Standard Reference Database. $29.99
25. Taber’s Medical Dictionary for Mobile and Web: Medical students, clinicians and citizens can gain access to over 60,000 entries, 1,000 illustration and 30,000 integrated audio pronunciations with this health-science dictionary. When you download this app, you can receive one year of access to Tabers.com. $49.99

The following blogs are current, and they’re divided into various categories to help your search. Each blog is listed alphabetically within these categories to show readers that we do not favor one blog’s perspective over another.

Consumer Healthcare

1. DoctorPundit: This is a healthcare and science policy blog, a compilation of one physician’s thoughts on these topics and is intended for health care industry professionals and the general public.
2. Dr. Buttery’s Public Health Blog: This blog covers topics that range from access to prevention and from health education to policy and research.
3. Health Policy Blog: The Mayo Clinic Health Policy Symposium blog provides a venue for discussion of crucial health reform issues that were tackled at the 2008 Mayo Clinic National Symposium on Health Care.
4. Health Wonk Review: This blog is a biweekly compendium of the best health policy blogs on the Internet. This compendium provides readers with a way to sample the “best of the best.”
5. John Goodman’s Health Policy Blog: John Goodman’s perspective on health care policy and news.
6. The Health Care Blog: Wall Street Journal calls this blog a “must read,” and Industry Insider stated, “Learn more in ten minutes than you could reading your local paper for a week.”
7. WSJ Health Blog: The Wall Street Journal provides news and analysis on health and the business of health, including how health care policies affect both topics.

Health Care, Marketing and Communications

8. Health Care Vox: Know More Media sponsors this blog, which focuses on healthcare communications and marketing news and information.
9. Health Policy and Communications Blog: This blog is intended to foster discussion and analysisabout how health policy and communications issues affect clinical and economic outcomes.
10. Schwitzer health news blog: Gary Schwitzer, from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism & Mass Communication and publisher of HealthNewsReview.org writes this blog.

Health Care Economics

11. Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review: Bob Laszewski’s review of the latest developments in federal health policy and marketplace activities in the health care financing business.
12. Healthcare Economist: Jason is a Ph.D. economist with research interests in healthcare policy issues, healthcare policy economics, the health insurance market and Medicare.
13. Health Populi: Jane is a health economist and management consultant who has worked with health care stake holders for over two decades. She focuses on the forecasting, business planning and more.
14. The International Medical Market Place: This blog reflects its title, as it is an up-to-date report on international medical market information.

Health Care Reform

15. Guaranteed Healthcare Blog: This blog is focused on the single-payer model for guaranteed public health care.
16. Health Beat: This project by The Century Foundation features Maggie Mahar’s expertise and outlook on health care reform.
17. Health Care Renewal: This blog addresses the threats to health care’s “core values, especially those stemming from concentration and abuse of power.”
18. New Health Dialogue Blog: The New America Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institute, and they sponsor this blog on health care policy reform and other current health care issues.
19. PNHP Blog: This blog, produced by the Physicians for a National Health Program, focuses on single-payer resources and health care reform.
20. Retired Doc’s Thoughts: A retired doctor focuses on health care reform issues.
21. The Alan Katz Health Care Reform Blog: Alan has long been a strong advocate for agents and the role they play in America’s health care coverage system.
22. The Walker Report: Jon Walker writes about politics and policy, with a recent focus on health care reform. His blog entries also can be seen at Health Care for All.

International Policy

23. Center for Global Development Blogs: CGD’s blogs provide frequent updates, analysis, and informed commentary on specific health policy issues.
24. Global Health Report: Health journalist Christine Gorman searches internationally for what works, what doesn’t and what needs to happen next in global health.
25. Global Voices: Over 200 bloggers from around the world bring translations and citizen media reports to this venue. This link leads to the health section of this blog.
26. Health Affairs Blog: Read perspectives on national and international health affairs from the staff of The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere as well as from contributing voices.
27. Stayin’ Alive: Discussion of public health and health care policy, from a public health perspective. Topics include economics, politics and sociology of health and illness in the U.S. and the world.
28. World Health Care Blog: This site was launched as a companion blog to the World Health Care Congress conference series and is sponsored by World Congress.

Health Care and the Workplace

29. HR Benefits Alert: Entries on this blog focus on special reports and articles that bring Human Resources issues to light, including employee health and welfare.
30. OSHA Underground: A mostly anonymous group of bloggers, who are concerned with workplace safety and health, contribute to this blog about OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
31. Terry Neese’s Blog: This blog focuses on health policies for labor, women and more.
32. The Sentinel Effect: Richard Eskow, CEO of Health Knowledge Systems in Los Angeles, focuses on health care services and workers’ compensation industries.
33. Wellforce: A Certified Occupational Health Nurse, wellness practitioner and health coach writes about health behaviors, prevention practices, consumer empowerment and health policy.
34. Wellness Corporate Insights: The owners of Wellness Corporate Solutions, a leading Maryland-based employee wellness company, offer this blog to help benefits brokers, HR managers and others in the wellness industry keep current.
35. Workers’ Comp Insider: Lynch Ryan’s weblog about workers’ compensation, risk management, business insurance, workplace health & safety, occupational medicine, injured workers, insurance webtools & technology and related topics.

Healthcare Ethics

36. Bioethics Discussion Blog: Dr. Bernstein posts a new ethics topic about once or twice per week so you can discuss the topic with others.
37. Global Bioethics Blog: Stuart Rennie at Chapel Hill is a research assistant professor in bioethics, an ethics consultant for projects in DR Congo and Madagascar and is a grant project manager who focuses on bioethics and research ethic issues in sub-Saharan Africa.
38. Health Care Organizational Ethics: This blog, written by Jim Sabin, is centered on discussion and debate about health care organizational ethics and the health system in general.
39. Medical Ethics Blog: Stuart Laidlaw has covered faith and ethics since early 2006 at the Toronto Daily Star, and he continues to sort out ethics as they apply to medical ethics on this blog.
40. Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma: Dr. Howard Brody provides insight, updates and commentary on the topics he wrote about in his book by the same name as the Web site.
41. Vaccine Ethics: Vaccine news and commentary from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics.

Health and The Law

42. FDA Law Blog: This blog is maintained by Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C., the the largest dedicated food and drug law firm in the country.
43. Health Care Law Blog: Bob Coffield is intent on helping businesses and health care providers weave through a variety of state and federal health care regulations and assisting them in business transactions.
44. HealthBlawg: David Harlow is a health care lawyer and consultant who focuses on legal, policy and business issues that face the health care community.
45. HealthLawProf Blog: S. Elizabeth Malloy from the University of Cincinnati College of Law talks about health care reform and much more.
46. Journal of Health Law and Policy: Stay up-to-date on health law and policy through this blog produced by the Saint Louis University School of Law.

Government Policy Watchdogs

47. EnviroWonk: If you believe your environment has something to do with your health, follow this blog to learn more about current and changing environmental policies.
48. Eye on FDA: Mark Senak, an attorney with experience in public health, provides his opinion on issues emanating from the Food and Drug Administration.
49. Not in my Food: The Consumers Union believes that all citizens have a right to know what is contained in the food we eat, and keeps a tight watch on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
50. OMB Watch: This blog focuses on promoting open government accountability and citizen participation with health, safety and environmental issues.

The following twenty-five bookmark-worthy links are categorized, and each link is listed in alphabetical order within each category. This method assures our readers that we do not favor one resource over another.

Nutrition

You are what you eat, and others are making it easier to find those healthy food choices. Use the ‘cheat sheets’ below to learn quickly about how to eat healthier.

1. Food for Thought: Nothing like a cheat sheet for a cheat sheet – this list provides reviews on some books that might change your health through changing your eating habits.
2. Learn about Local Harvests: CSAs, or Community Supported Agriculture, is making a comeback. Learn about your local resources at Local Harvest.
3. Nutritional Scoring System: Developed by a recognized team of nutrition and medical experts from leading health organizations and universities, the NuVal System is a food scoring system that helps consumers see – at a glance – the nutritional value of the food they buy.
4. Stake Out Your Territory: You may live in an area filled with bad choices. Breaking bad eating habits will be harder in the areas covered in this Forbes article.
5. Ten Worst Foods You Can Eat: Here’s an easy list of items to avoid at all costs if you want to get or stay healthy.
6. The Five Most Unhealthful Fast Food “Value Menu” Items [PDF]: If you’re operating on a slim budget, which value menu items from fast food restaurants should you avoid at all costs? This report, from the Cancer Project, will tell you.
7. Unhealthy Chinese-Food Choices: Do you believe that eating Oriental food is healthier? You may be in for a surprise.

News

If you want a real cheat sheet, then you’ll use press release information that newspapers and other news media use. The following can put you ahead of the game and provide you with news you may have missed.

8. EPA Newsroom: Learn more about environmental news in your area through this site.
9. Eurekalert: This site is a goldmine for cheat-sheet fanatics. They cover every possible health category, bringing press releases straight to your computer on topics such as medicine and health and agriculture, or the food you eat.
10. FDA Press Releases: The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, issues warning, recalls and more.
11. Harvard School of Public Health: Use these news items to learn more about international health issues – topics that may not be covered locally.
12. HHS Newsroom: The press releases issued here concern news generated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
13. National Institutes of Health: This Web page lists news and events offered by the nation’s medical research agency. Most of the news here focuses on catastrophic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and AIDS.

Medicines

At some point in your life you may need to take medications. Are they safe? What do they do? Are there generic equivalents available? These cheat sheets answer all those questions and more.

14. AAAAI Allergy and Asthma Drug Guide: If you suffer from allergies, learn quickly about brand names, active ingredients, doses and which types of allergy they are used for at this site.
15. Consumer Tips: The California Department of Consumer Affairs offers a list of items to do when you need to take prescription drugs. Very easy.
16. Generic Equivalent Listing: Some brand name medications are available under multiple names. This list may not include all of the brand names that are available for a specific drug, but it’s a good start.
17. Drugs.com Pill Identifier: This site goes one step beyond the RXList site listed below, as it covers non-generic drugs as well as generic medications.
18. RXList: If you’re having trouble identifying generic pills, you can use this site to gain control.
19. Tips from Pharmacists: Read through this list once, and you’ll learn almost everything you need to know about prescriptions. But, keep it on hand to follow the links to learn more.

Sports and Exercise

Exercise is for people who have willpower, right? Not necessarily. If you can walk in your sleep, then you’re exercising. It’s really that easy. The following cheat sheets will make it easier.

20. Back Exercises for Beginners [PDF]: Trouble with the back? Use this cheat sheet, one that includes photos, to go through a simple routine quickly and easily.
21. Diet and Exercise Tips: Want an easy list that will add to your healthy lifestyle? This one covers it all.
22. Facts About U.S. Government’s Exercise Tips: Talk about easy – this article does all the thinking for you and provides you with a free printable exercise log sheet.
23. Food and Exercise Tips to Lose Weight: Use the information here to learn more about calories and how to burn them.
24. Sports Injury Prevention and Treatment: Here’s a quick rundown on how to prevent injury and how to treat an injury once it happens.
25. Weight Loss Diet and Exercise Cheat Sheet: Want to be reminded how many calories you need to lose to lose a pound of fat? Or, do you need to be reminded about what you need to do today to lose that pound? This is your cheat sheet.