UK: 607 confirmed fatalities due to influenza

[mixin]

Re: UK Genetic Evaluation thread

I ran all the HA nucleotides of the UK sequences with gs's program and then grouped them together in a way that looked right. Keep in mind that I'm no scientist. Maybe someone else will see different clades; please feel free to offer opinions.

The severe and fatal cases are marked; notice that about half of them appear on clade B.

Clade A: 451,598,658,1408,1464
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245 T,T1374G,C1408T,C1464T(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245 T,T1374G,C1408T,C1464T(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245 T,T1374G,C1408T,C1464T(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245 T,T1374G,C1408T,C1464T(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245 T,T1374G,G1403A,C1408T,C1464T(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245 T,T1374G,G1403A,C1408T,C1464T(4)

G451A,T598C,T658A,T879C,C1098T,A1172G,G1266A,C1408 T,C1464T,A1568G,G1577T,G1630A(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T879C,C1098T,A1172G,G1266A,C1408 T,C1464T,A1568G,G1577T,G1630A(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T858C,T879C,C1098T,A1172G,G1266A ,C1408T,C1464T,A1568G,G1577T,G1630A
G451A,T598C,G605A,T658A,A1172G,A1213G,G1266A,C1408 T,C1464T,G1577T,G1630A(4)
G451A,T598C,G610T,T658A,A1172G,G1266A,C1408T,C1464 T,G1577T,G1630A(4) F

G451A,G531A,T598C,T658A,C921T,A1131G,C1408T,C1464T (4)

Clade B: 340,658,1056,1171,1403,1408
G340A,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A,C1408T,T165 3C(4)
G340A,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A,C1408T,T165 3C(4)
G340A,G605C,T658A,T680C,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A,C1408 T,T1653C(4) F
G340A,G605C,C612T,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A,C1408 T,T1653C(4)

G340A,A579G,G605C,T658A,C704T,T1056C,G1171A,A1386G ,G1403A,C1408T(4)
G340A,A579G,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,A1386G,G1403 A,C1408T(4) S
G340A,A579G,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,A1386G,G1403 A,C1408T(4) S
G340A,A579G,G605C,A611G,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,A1386G ,G1403A,C1408T(4) F
G340A,A579G,G605C,T658A,A716G,T1056C,G1171A,A1386G ,G1403A,C1408T(4) S
G340A,A579G,G605C,T658A,A716G,T1056C,G1171A,A1386G ,G1403A,C1408T(4) S

Clade C: 40,207,605,658,1056,1171,1403,1408,1629
A40G,G207A,G302T,C573A,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,G 1403A,C1408T,G1629T(4)
A40G,G207A,G515R,G605C,T658A,C816T,T1056C,G1171A,G 1396A,G1403A,C1408T,G1629T(4)
A40G,G340A,A579G,G605C,T658A,C672T,T1056C,G1171A,A 1386G,G1403A,C1408T,G1624A(4)
A40G,G207A,G605C,T658A,T834A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A, C1408T,G1473A,G1629T(4)
A40G,G207A,G605C,T658A,G832A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A, C1408T,G1629T(4)
A40G,G207A,G605C,T658A,G1005A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A ,C1408T,G1629T(4)
A40G,G207A,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A,C1408T ,G1629T(4) F
A40G,G207A,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,C1182T,G1403A ,C1408T,G1629T(4)
A40G,G207A,G605C,T658A,T834A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A, C1408T,G1629T(4)
A40G,G207A,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,G1403A,C1408T ,A1435G,G1629T(4) (? F/S)


Odd Ones
C148T,G340A,A424G,A566G,T658A,G684A,C870T,T927C,G1 171A,A1230G,G1326A,C1408T,A1536G(4)
T216C,G340A,A424G,G435A,T658A,C672T,G1171A,C1408T( 4) F
T243C,G340A,A424G,C473T,T658A,G713A,A747G,G1171A,C 1408T,C1627A(4) F
C172T,G360A,A424G,T519A,T658A,G1171A,C1408T(4)
G154A,G207A,G605C,T658A,T1056C,G1171A,C1383A,G1403 A,C1408T,G1524K,G1629T(4)
T17C,G565A,T658A,A973G,G1171A,T1197C,G1395A,C1404T ,C1408T,G1524A,A1651G(4) F
G396A,G451A,G531A,T598C,T658A,A795G,C921T,A1131G,G 1407A,C1408T,C1464T,A1553G,A1579G(4)
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245 T,T1374G,C1408T,C1464T(4)

By areas
1 Coventry
4 Newcastle-upon-tyne
3 Oxford
1 Durham
2 Leeds
1 Manchester
4 Birmingham
1 Leicester
1 York
1 Cambridge (Fatal)
6 London
2 Nottingham
3 Whitechapel (2 Fatal)
1 Middlesex
1 North Yorkshire

8 Severe/fatal with no locations given
1 Possible severe/fatal no location

[NS1]

Hyper-Zoonoses in the UK Matching World Circulation Reservoir

UK Genetic Evaluation thread Response #27 from mixin

mixin produced data output today concerning the recent deposit of UK sequences. The original evaluation is on the genetic evaluation thread. We've provided a link, but if a moderator would prefer to instantiate the post prior to this response, we'd be pleased.

==

Thank you for evaluating these sequences, mixin.

Bear in mind that a program is most useful when the heuristics and assumptions are fully externalised. We are not in receipt of those information points, so our comments here will be given as one in the dark. We've attempted to gain this required insight in the past without success.

From your narrative and the block of output, we can ascertain that the program did some level of data organisation (unstated) and that you then re-arranged parts of the output based on some secondary heuristics.

Does each line represent one sequence and the nucleotide changes on that sequence? Does the program have a method to effectively label those lines with the sequence names (at the beginning and end)? Does any possibility exist to manage ambiguity codes? Does any possibility exist to notate the amino acid positions in parentheses next to the nucleotide positions [e.g. G451A (137T), T1056C (syn338G), et al] or to provide a separate report notated by amino acid position with silent changes differentiated?

Per line, could we see an automated count of the SNPs (silent and non-syn) and have highlighted the SNPs matching the selected sub-clade standards:

Clade A: 451,598,658,1408,1464
G451A,T598C,T658A,T933C,T1020C,T1191C,G1206A,C1245T,T1374G,C1408T,C1464T[x SNPs, x Silent, x Non-syn] (4)

An output format of .csv would increase ease of visualisation if the changes are properly aligned per dataset. Input into a spreadsheet allows additional automated analyses. Output designed for insertion / update into a relational database is even more useful.

Also note that the sequence deposit does not directly match the Ellis Figure 3 Phylogenetic Tree. So overall count and category counts are very dependent on identifying the individual sequence / sample name.

==

At any rate, the output and the post-processing organisation appears to demonstrate that the selected sub-clades demonstrate a lower CFR than the "Odd Ones"? The odd ones, we suggest, are the sequences that do not pattern onto the major groupings using the unstated parameters and hueristics of the program?

If this statement is true concerning the method of selecting the "Odd Ones", then we may conclude that this category has a CFR of 37.5% (3 of 8) as opposed to much lower death rates on the selected larger groups? In fact, the largest suggested sub-clade has the lowest CFR signalling that transmission v. severity are two different concerns with the current circulating reservoir combinations in the UK.

CFR by Suggested Sub-Clade

37.5% - Odd Ones (3 of 8)
20.0% - Clade B (2 of 10)
20.0% - Clade C (1 or 2 of 10)
08.3% - Clade A (1 of 12)

A higher death rate among unpatterned sequences may potentially signal that the hyper-morphic phase has re-initiated. Our analyses indicate that many of the novel and rare changes incoming to PF11 at this time also exist in animal reservoirs that have been previously related to human infection. Small changes in human influenza matching animal genetics are known to create significant changes in severity levels and viral behaviour.

Hyper-morphism (high change rate) with a significant percentage of animal-matched intake equates to a present hyper-zoonotic set of strains.

This hypothesis appears to agree with your data . . . if we are guessing correctly at the underlying parameters.

[NS1]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

UK Genetic Evaluation thread response #30 from gsgs

GSGS responded to the genetics thread at the prior link. The original evaluation is on the genetic evaluation thread. We've provided a link, but if a moderator would prefer to instantiate the post prior to this response, we'd be pleased.

==

I just found this thread.
When will the sequences be published so we can
verify and discuss it freely ?

According to the narrative, these sequences have apparently been
processed through a program of your authorship?

Earlier attempts to assign differences in virulence to
different substrains had failed.
Remember Argentina last year, Ukraine, early Mexico.

Clear indications of severity markers and Vaccine Escape domains are available as are indications of drug resistance.

A complete statistic with the proportion of deaths in the
published (or GISAID) substrains would be useful, though.

Some outdated material has been produced and analysed to little effect due to scarcity and unreliable parameters.

calculating % of deaths (or ICU) per mutation is straight forward,
then assign the sums of the values to each virus
then calculate the average for each month and chart
it over time, per country,continent

Such small point factors are unreliable for many reasons, but, most importantly, due to various synergies among combinations of polymorphisms, some that produce little net effect and others that produce multiplicative effect. The record is observable on these matters.

Calculations based on selected combinations of polymorphisms chosen by frequency / absence on a background among other factors may provide comparisons that feedback to the choice of SNPs to include on that calculation. Due to sparsity of data and clinical meta-data, the calculations must be iterated and interpreted with a high level of earnestness and objectivity.

it has been speculated that more middle-age people are infected
this season vs. more children last season.
And the children die less often from ***, more are immune now,
and that that allone could explain the increased number of deaths.

Do we have UK-deaths by age 2009/10 vs. 2010/11 ?

The data have been produced by HPA and provided in spreadsheet format. Transparency and timely reporting is not occurring, nor do we expect valid data in the near term.

GeneWurx_UK_ICU_Categories_v1.xls

Virologically it's remarkable that these substrains are new,
they emerged from early Cancun viruses, presumably in Asia
and have nothing in common with the strains circulating
in USA,Europe last season.

These mutations do not occur e.g. in my list of 28 substrains
from Nov.2010

Though novelty and divergency is now the norm in the UK reservoir, one of the strains that was previously found in a robust form during the late Australia winter season is easily trackable.

Emergence began in late 2009 in the United States of the most frequent background and continued via domaining during the early part of 2010 and the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, translating well into the winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

GeneWurx analyses show a pattern of emergence throughout the world of this particular currently low CFR strain. What will happen next may be more predictable should sequences be provided in a timely fashion in conjunction with mild, severe and fatal cases.

GeneWurx_UK_December_Emerging_Genetics_v3.xls

[NS1]

UK Severe Wave Sequences Show No Fatalities with 225G

UK Severe Wave Sequences Show No Fatalities with 225G

The UK Health Protection Agency released a group of 37 sequences at GISAID dated 2010-01-05 that appeared sometime after that date. Some of the sequences in this deposit also appear on the Figure 3 Phylogenetic Tree from the HPA Eurosurveilance paper requested to be cited as:

Ellis J, Galiano M, Pebody R, Lackenby A, Thompson C, Bermingham A, McLean E, Zhao H, Bolotin S, Dar O, Watson JM, Zambon M. Virological analysis of fatal influenza cases in the United Kingdom during the early wave of influenza in winter 2010/11. Euro Surveill. 2011;16(1):pii=19760.
Available online:

http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19760

Date of submission: 31 December 2010

The science community expected a full deposit to back the paper, but not all sequences noted on the phylogenetic table were in place at GISAID as of this 2nd deposit.

The recent GISAID deposit added 4 of the fatalities noted on the Ellis Figure3 <SUP>1</SUP> phylogenetic tree to the 4 fatalities previously released on 2010-12-20. The previously released sequences were not marked at GISAID with a fatality notation, but now have been notated as "Deceased" as of yesterday. Oddly enough, on the 2010-01-05 deposit, none of the sequences notated as fatal on the phylogenetic tree were marked as to outcome at GISAID? This dys-synchronicity and cycling of outcome data is less than optimal for worldwide communication.

None of the sequences at the GISAID database that correspond to notated fatalities on the Eurosurveillance paper carry the severity marker of HA 225G.

225G is found on identical HA sequences noted as 2 severe cases.

• UKEngland4940476_2010_12
  
• UKEngland4880378_2010_12
  

. . . . UKEngland4940476_2010_12 (
. . . . . . . . 100N,
. . . . . . . . syn179L (CTg) [Regional Marker 2009 (tTA)]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [TexasAF2588_2009_10_04,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TexasJMS404_2010_01_08],
. . . . . . . . 188T,
. . . . . . . . 225G,
. . . . . . . . syn338G,
. . . . . . . . 377K,
. . . . . . . . syn448L [Regional Marker 2009]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [UKEngland4880378_2010_12 with syn179L, 188T,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UKEngland4640543_2010_11_f with syn179L, 188T, 190G
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UKEngland4920303_2010_11 with syn179L, 188T,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UKEngland142_2010_11 with syn179L, 188T,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UKEngland4860049_2010_11 with syn179L, 188T,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UKEngland126_2010_11 with syn179L, 188T,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NZChristchurch8_2010_07_08
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with syn44L, 97N, syn99I, syn106E, 128D,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . syn214K, 253A, syn362S, 377K,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calif06_2010_04_05 with 269V
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hawaii08_2010_04_12
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with 159D, 269V, 312R, 313K,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethiopia13_2010_02_10
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with 100N, syn163K, 269V, 324I, syn360Q, syn455Q,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philippines824_2010_02_17 with 165N,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kosova876_2009_12_22,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RussiaYakutsk_EAV_2009_11_18,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Netherlands2143_2009_11_16 with syn179L (tTA),
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RussiaYaroslavl_CHMV_2009_11_10_f with 224K & 225G mix
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AntwerpINS221_2009_10_28 with syn179L (tTA)],
. . . . . . . . 454N)

. . . . UKEngland4880378_2010_12 (
. . . . . . . . 100N,
. . . . . . . . syn179L,
. . . . . . . . 188T,
. . . . . . . . 225G,
. . . . . . . . syn338G,
. . . . . . . . 377K,
. . . . . . . . syn448L,
. . . . . . . . 454N)

With 8 fatalities noted on the tree and none of them coming from cases manifesting an HA 225G severity marker, we must ask for more data while looking elsewhere for causality. The common theme in recent UK and other geographies is hyper-zoonosis creating divergency. Animal reservoirs (H3N8, H5N1, H7N7) carry change values matching the recent intake into the pH1N1 circulation. Data suggests that this human disease is rapidly diversifying by accumulating genetic information from multiple animal reservoirs.

For example, the 377G that is emergent in 2009 Human H5N1 from Dakahlia, Egypt is also emergent in England and Iran in the Pandemic H1N1 reservoir. A recent fatal case from England, UKEngland4500186_2010_11_f, carries the same coding for 377G combined with a 190Y that is found elsewhere in 2010 Malmoe, Sweden pH1N1 and in Avian H6N1.

The HPA Ellis Figure3 <SUP>1</SUP> phylogenetic tree did not notate the 377G branch though 5 English sequences, including this fatal one, appear on the chart carrying the H5N1 Human adaptation.

• UKEngland83_2010_10
  
• UKEngland87_2010_10
  
• UKEngland5500192_2010_10
  
• UKEngland119_2010_11
  
• UKEngland4500186_2010_11_f
  

GeneWurx has annotated the Ellis Figure3 <SUP>1</SUP> phylogenetic tree with green boxes next to the four fatal GISAID 2010-12-20 deposited sequences and has proposed polymorphism notations on various unmarked branches in an attempt to provide clarity.

UK_2010_Phylo_ELLIS_Fig3new_4_GISAID_Notated_2011_ 01_08.JPG

Is the Hydra Effect providing Immune Escape capacity for this circulating viral reservoir? Has an accelerant been insinuated into the reservoir?

In many locales around the United Kingdom, half of the ICU beds are occupied by Influenza patients. Only 1 of 12 ICU beds was occupied by an Influenza patient at the peak of last year's pandemic. 100% of the ECMO capacity (heart/lung machine) has been utilised for more than 2 weeks. Hospitals have moved to "Black Alert" status. Ireland has set new records for the number of ER (Casualty, A&E) patients left on gurneys due to room capacity problems.

Do these facts move the HPA to quickly derive plausible causality and workable next steps?

Usable data streams with matched clinicals to the sequences are the primary inputs required to investigate and validate causality. An explanation is deserved from the HPA on their removal of this valuable data from the science community?


1. Ellis J, Galiano M, Pebody R, Lackenby A, Thompson C, Bermingham A, McLean E, Zhao H, Bolotin S, Dar O, Watson JM, Zambon M. Virological analysis of fatal influenza cases in the United Kingdom during the early wave of influenza in winter 2010/11. Euro Surveill. 2011;16(1):pii=19760. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/View...rticleId=19760

[Toaster2]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

Just a question. Can anyone give a short and comprehensive response to these questions ? I see a huge amount of data and analyses and have lost the overview:

The changes in aa 188 and 186: As I understand these are in about half of teh UK sequences. Are they expected to be linked to the severity and vaccine escape ?

D225G: only present in 2 of the sequences ?

H275Y: Tamiflu resitance - I saw somewhere that this is getting fixed in this years H1n1. Is this correct ?

In other words: Are the novel sequences as alarming as for example suggested by HenryN or is there "no cause for concern" ?

Thanks !

[NS1]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

Just a question. Can anyone give a short and comprehensive response to these questions ? I see a huge amount of data and analyses and have lost the overview:

The changes in aa 188 and 186: As I understand these are in about half of teh UK sequences. Are they expected to be linked to the severity and vaccine escape ?

188T may be related to VxX, but not verified yet. Severity is not determined due to lack of data being published.

D225G: only present in 2 of the sequences ?

Yes, only 2. The essential description of this UK sequence set is Divergence.

H275Y: Tamiflu resitance - I saw somewhere that this is getting fixed in this years H1n1. Is this correct ?

More than 100 sequences in US and Asia, but not fixed with 275Y yet.

In other words: Are the novel sequences as alarming as for example suggested by HenryN or is there "no cause for concern" ?

Of vital concern due to viral reservoir behaviour in the hosts.

Novelty is always a problem. Novelty that also appears in multiple animal reservoirs from known human-infective / donation serotypes increases the potential for a "confused" virus and the potential for severity.

[tetano]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

Liverpool council manager dies of swine flu


A DAD-OF-TWO who became ill during his birthday celebrations died two weeks later from swine flu.

David Hanson fell ill while having a meal with his family for his 59th birthday, on December 16.

Mr Hanson was a marketing manager at Liverpool City Council who worked on a number of key regeneration projects across the city.

His wife of 30 years, Carol, said it was first thought he had a bad cold which developed into a chest infection until the morning of December 23 when he became ?delirious?.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2011/01/10/liverpool-council-manager-dies-of-swine-flu-100252-27957851/

[Anne]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

Local man dies from Swine Flu

North Belfast News 10th of January 2011

By Kieran Hughes

http://www.belfastmedia.com/home_article.php?ID=2281

A North Belfast man



has died from swine flu despite previoulsy being in good health.
Paul Morrissey, who was born and bred in the New Lodge, died yesterday morning (Wednesday) after being admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital on Tuesday evening.
Fifty two year old Paul, who was brought up in Pim Street but who had been living in Cavendish Street off the Falls Road, had been sick for a couple of days before going to hospital, his ex-wife Susan told the North Belfast News.
And, although his death was first attributed to pneumonia and multiple-organ failure, the family was subsequently contacted by the health authorities who informed them the cause of death was swine flu.

[JJackson]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

I have posted some thoughts (all stricktly mine not FluTrackers') on the current situation as post #38 in the UK Genetic Evaluation thread (not wanting to clog this news thread with too much speculation on the meaning of the available sequence data - and it is rather long). It in part addresses Toaster2’s question and addresses some points raised in posts by ironorehopper, mixin and NS1. It looks at phylogenic analysis, vaccine escape, anti-viral resistance, sequence collection, limitations of correlating sequences to severity and other issues. I am sure some will not agree with all - or possibly any - of my conclusion but the other thread is a better venue for discussion and speculation.

[tetano]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

Liverpool Royal Hospital chief says ?we are coping with swine flu?

HOSPITAL chiefs assured patients the city was coping with the swine flu outbreak last night.

Health bosses said although Liverpool wards were seeing a high number of seriously ill flu patients, everything was under control.

At least nine people in Merseyside have died from the H1N1 strain so far this winter.

Figures released on Friday showed cases were going down, but Liverpool still has much higher rates than average.

Diane Wake, Director of nursing and operations at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospitals, said the trust had increased its intensive care capacity from 13 beds to 20, but that they were not all currently being used.

All Merseyside hospitals have been told to cancel none emergency operations when necessary by the strategic health authority, to accommodate serious flu patients. But Ms Wake said procedures were still going ahead.

She added that flu patients have continued to come to A&E, and urged people to stop.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/01/11/liverpool-royal-hospital-chief-says-we-are-coping-with-swine-flu-92534-27963155/

[tetano]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

WAG gives GPs vote of confidence over flu jabs

DOCTORS were last night given a vote of confidence as the Assembly Government said there were no plans to strip GP practices of the responsibility for ordering flu vaccines.

Officials said GPs were well placed to ensure Wales had sufficient stocks of the jab in the future as it emerged more than one in 10 people had already been immunised.

Supplies of the last year?s swine flu vaccine will continue to be sent to GP practices that have run out of this year?s seasonal flu jabs in the response to extra demand from patients.

Prime Minister David Cameron had raised the spectre of flu vaccines being ordered centrally by the Department of Health following reports of shortages across the UK.

..

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/01/11/wag-gives-gps-vote-of-confidence-over-flu-jabs-91466-27963338/

[tetano]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

It was a week and then she was gone: Fit and healthy mother-of-three dies from swine flu

A pharmacy worker and mother-of-three has died of swine flu.

Lindsay Goddard, 36, was described by her family as fit and healthy. She thought she just had a cold, and took over-the-counter medication.

But she became seriously ill with the H1N1 virus and died 10 days later. She was rushed into hospital and put on a ventilator when she started struggling for breath.

She was treated for a week with Tamiflu but the virus caused internal bleeding to her bowel and damage to her liver. Despite two operations, doctors at Royal Blackburn Hospital, Lancashire, couldn't save her.

Ms Goddard, a healthcare assistant at St Peter's Pharmacy in Burnley would normally have received the swine flu vaccine at work - but she'd been on long-term leave.
She'd caught suspected swine flu the year before, but had overcome it after being prescribed Tamiflu.
...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1346034/It-week-gone-Fit-healthy-mother-dies-swine-flu.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[tetano]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

'Fit and healthy' former bouncer, 44, dies of swine flu


'Fit and healthy' former bouncer, 44, dies of swine flu
Premium Article !


Published Date: 11 January 2011
The fiancee of a South Yorkshire man who died after contracting swine flu has shared her shock at how quickly the "fit and healthy" former bouncer succumbed to the virus.
Dean Brown from East Herringthorpe, Rotherham, died last Wednesday - six days after being taken into Rotherham Hospital. He is one of four people from the borough to have died with swine flu recently.

The 44-year-old's fiancee Sandra Kelsall, who received an eternity ring from the 'gentle giant' on Boxing Day, said he suffered from no underlying health complaints. "He was a fit man," she added.

Professor Walid Al-Wali, medical director at Rotherham Hospital, agreed and said: "He was quite healthy and did sport and gym work.

"Unfortunately, he died despite aggressive treatment and was confirmed to have swine flu."

The other deaths in the area include a 16-year-old who died at home and two 52-year-olds who died in hospital. They all had other health problems, but swine flu was a "contributory factor" in their deaths.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/rotherham/39Fit-and-healthy39-former-bouncer.6685879.jp

[tetano]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

FLU: ONE DEAD AND THREE IN INTENSIVE CARE


ONE patient with swine flu has died and three others are currently in intensive care at Warwick Hospital, it was confirmed yesterday

In Coventry and Warwickshire, four patients with swine flu have died this winter, but an NHS Warwickshire spokeswoman said it could not be confirmed that they had died directly as a result of the disease.


She said that swine flu was part of seasonal flu which caused deaths every winter: ?We are not seeing abnormal levels of death this year from seasonal flu (including the swine flu strain), but we are seeing a different demographic of people affected.

?We?re generally seeing a younger demographic affected, whereas generally seasonal flu tends to affect older people more severely.?

http://www.stratford-herald.com/mainstory.php?ID=2532

[tetano]

Re: UK: Reports of Approximately 57 Deaths and 800+ Patients in intensive care (50 deaths confirmed by HPA as for Jan. 06 2011) due to influenza

Swine flu figures in Warrington high according to Health Protection Agency


LEVELS of swine flu in Warrington are the third highest in the north west.

According to the Health Protection Agency 108.8 people per 100,000 had flu in the last week of December compared to 82 the previous week with 69 confirmed cases. A more recent set of results will be published at the end of this week.

In Liverpool the rate was 88.5 per 100,000, in Manchester it was 83.5 and worst hit was Stockport at 147.

In spite of its high rate NHS Warrington confirmed it currently has enough swine flu vaccine to give to at risk patients across the borough.

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/8783095.Levels_of_swine_flu_in_Warrington_third_highest_in_north_west/