Free Access to Swine Flu Information - Springer (24 . 07 . 2009)

Springer Science+Business Media is offering all journal articles which deal with the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, free of charge on its online information platform www.springerlink.com. The articles can be found by using the search term H1N1. A total of 318 scientific articles will be available to print out or download from now until 31 December 2009.

In June 2009, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the H1N1 virus. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway. More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with H1N1 flu.

Eric Merkel-Sobotta, Executive Vice President Corporate Communications of Springer Science+Business Media, said, "As a global scientific, technical and medical publisher, Springer plays a major role in the distribution of scientific information and access to knowledge and research. Therefore we are making all studies, published up to now on the H1N1 virus, freely available online on SpringerLink. By doing this, we hope to push forward scientific research on the causes, cures and other facets of this virus."

An initiative of the IUA Librarians

The IReL service has been a key element in transforming the landscape for scientific research in Ireland.
Dr Ray O'Neill, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, NUI Maynooth