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CIDRAP - Daily News - November 2009
Nov 3
Obesity risk stands out in study of California's sickest H1N1 patientsWHO team arrives to assist with Ukraine flu probeNEWS SCAN: Multistate E coli outbreak, H9 flu case in Hong Kong, WHO pandemic guidanceH1N1 Flu Breaking News
Vaccine production reaches 31.8 million doses
Total H1N1 vaccine availability today reached 31.8 million doses, said US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Thomas Frieden at a briefing, up 1.8 million doses from yesterday. "We are therefore on track to hit the 10 million increase that we had been hoping for" this week, though the total is far from satisfactory, he said. He declined to predict when the US will give vaccine doses to developing countries, saying it will depend on clarification of production. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/?date=110209
Uptake of seasonal flu vaccine may set record
This year's uptake of seasonal flu vaccine is "unprecedented" and may set a record, said CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden at today's H1N1 news briefing. The CDC expects that 114 million doses will be distributed by the end of the year, but the demand may be greater still, he said. He also said there are signs of a higher vaccination rate than usual among healthcare workers, who usually have only about a 40% immunization rate. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/?date=110209
Virginia takes steps to keep voters healthy
Election officials in Virginia, whose citizens vote for governor today, among other offices, are taking steps to avoid transmitting H1N1 influenza. According to the Associated Press (AP), voters will have hand sanitizer available at the polls and possibly cotton swabs or disposable coffee stirrers so they can avoid contact with touch-screen machines. Some sites also have backup election workers on standby. http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1800896
Indiana pigs get pandemic flu
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) yesterday reported that four samples from Indiana pigs tested positive for pandemic H1N1 influenza. The samples were collected on Oct 22. Indiana's state veterinarian said in a statement yesterday that the animals have recovered and are being monitored. He said workers who had contact with the animals had been sick with flulike symptoms before some of the pigs became ill. http://www.usda.gov/documents/FINAL_...LUENZA_CHT.pdf
GSK vaccine gets Saudi approval
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority approved GlaxoSmithKline's H1N1 vaccine yesterday, according to Reuters, as the kingdom readied for more than 2 million pilgrims at this month's Islamic hajj. The vaccine is distributed under the Pandemrix brand. http://www.reuters.com/article/swineFlu/idUSL3692176
South African panel favors novel H1N1 in seasonal vaccine
South Africa's National Institute of Communicable Diseases has recommended that South Africa include the pandemic H1N1 virus in its seasonal flu vaccine for next year, according to News24, a South African online news service. Barry Schoub, director of the institute, said it would be up to the nation's health department whether to follow the advice. Reports did not clarify whether the pandemic virus would replace the seasonal H1N1 strain in the vaccine or be added to it. http://www.news24.com/Content/World/...in_flu_vaccine
FDA issues guidance on diagnostic tests
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published guidance yesterday to help manufacturers develop diagnostic tests for the novel H1N1 influenza virus. Manufacturers of tests can submit a request to the FDA for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). If granted, the EUA will allow the test to be used during the H1N1 pandemic. No H1N1 test is currently approved or cleared by the FDA. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsro.../ucm188717.htm
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