Sharon Sanders Inteviews Gregory H?rtl - World Health Organization Spokesman Today at 4 pm EST

[sharon sanders]

Mr. Härtl was very interesting. We discussed many things including the current H1N1 and H5N1 situations. We also talked about the vaccine selection for the northern hemisphere 2010-2011 and the allegations of "fake" pandemic.

This is a "must listen".

Click on "Listen Now" at 4 pm EST.

http://www.radiosandysprings.com/

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We are taping an interview with Gregory Härtl tomorrow for play on the Infectious Disease Hour next Monday at 4 pm EST.


What questions should we ask?

[Giuseppe]

Re: FluTrackers Interviews WHO Representative Gregory H?rtl

Thank you Sharon.

I would ask something about Africa.

Has the WHO an idea about the causes behind the low intensity pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 activity experienced in most of African continent so far, excluded South Africa?

Is it only a poor surveillance issue?

[mixin]

Re: FluTrackers Interviews WHO Representative Gregory H?rtl

1. Could he update any WHO information on the mutations at position 225?

2. I'd like more information about the USAFSAM reference strain which had a 4-fold reduction in hemagglutination inhibition (data from CDC) and will become a new WHO reference strain (under a different strain number).
A. What part of the world did it come from
B. Did it have D225G
C. will it be part of the seasonal vax for the N. hemisphere?

From this post: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=139400
Taken from: http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/idc...ctb_129864.pdf

[Kavoom]

Re: FluTrackers Interviews WHO Representative Gregory H?rtl

1. Questions around concerns regarding a third wave, particularly in countries with a low uptake in the vaccine (e.g. Italy purportedly).

a. U.S/Canada examples: There has been a noticable leveling of ILI in the U.S., however, increases in ILI are being seen in emergency rooms in regions over a period of weeks then seeming declines.

http://www.isdsdistribute.org/

It is estimated that 25% (approximate) of the U.S. has been vaccinated with another 20% plus having been infected.

In Ontario, it is estimated that 40% have been vaccinated with a corresponding number of infected individuals.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/02/10/ontario-h1n1.html

Q: Has herd immunity been achieved at levels that would either suppress or mitigate a third wave (assuming existing virus stability and vaccines)? And do countries with a low uptake of the vaccine represent situations where the likliehood is increased of a third wave?

2. Dr. Niman with Recombinics appears to have some serious concerns about information and how it has been presented and released by WHO and other governmental entities. Do you feel that WHO is being transparent in it's presentation of information regarding possible mutations and the potential ramifications? It is alleged that at least the appearance of a lack of transparency is being perceived.

Q: Do you think WHO could improve how it communicates with the citizens of the world. Is the concept of transparency explicit in your communications plans?

a. What is the WHO doing to address the need to incorporate "severity" into its response models? The recent attacks by quasi governmental entities in Europe claiming a "false pandemic" seem in many respects to be a result of not being able to effectively communicate "why" the world responded in the way that it did. Many articles have noted this. It has also been noted how effective CDC's Dr. Besser was in communicating the initial phase of the pandemic including addressing severity issues as foundational in its planning in April and May of 2009. The media quickly used the CDC severity index to explain what the U.S. was doing and the PSI explained "WHY." A recent Harvard Poll has noted a positive response by the public in the United States to the U.S. public health response. "A majority of adults (59%) rated the overall response of public health officials to the H1N1 outbreak as “excellent” or “good.” Conversely, 39% rated the overall response as “fair” or “poor.” In the view of more than half of adults (54%), public health officials spent “the right amount” of attention on the H1N1 flu outbreak, but 26% said they spent “too much” attention, and 16% said they spent “too little.” http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/pre...reak-over.html

Many have noted that NOT addressing the severity element in an "effective" fashion similar to the CDC's pandemic severity index (PSI) may have harmed the messages WHO delivered and set the stage for the criticisms that have followed.

WHO did address the severity issue in May http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swine.../en/index.html but it's response seemed to be more confusing than explanatory.

Q: Would a more simple easily communicable approach like the CDC PSI incorporating some of the elements noted by WHO in the May communique have better served WHO and the world...in retrospect? And what is planned for the future?

(aside: It is noted that a defacto PSI was able to be discerned within two weeks of the initial outbreak and in fact news media were even able to do it. The nature of a pandemic is such that it is much better, perhaps essential, to "over react" at first with a novel agent and then like a rheostat, dial down the PSI as more data comes in. Intrinsically and dynamically, when a novel biological agent is introduced, very likely, the first indicator will be "case fatalities." Thus like an iceberg where you only see the tip, you can make some decent guesses on the size of the iceberg underneath by a quick look at ILI even in resource poor countries it will be notable. WHO noted that the dependence upon a "case fatality ratio" was a core weakness of the PSI. In retrospect, it appears it was enough to provide a skeleton of a response based upon an easily understood and communicated set of "pre-planned" "triggers (PSI) that all understood even if not complete or all encompassing. As a novel agent spreads, it will then provide a depth and breadth of information that will allow public health to "flesh out" the skeleton and dial back or up the PSI as circumstances warrant. (Starting from scratch and not doing it very well or perhaps even clearly is still reverberating.)

[Pathfinder]

Re: FluTrackers Interviews WHO Representative Gregory H?rtl

My first question:

Could the restriction of antivirals in the US be related to the high level of severe H1N1 infections and deaths in the country?

Hat tip to: ARR 309:

"If a clinician cannot reliability predict whether an otherwise healthy infected patient might develop a rapid, life-threatening condition up to 5 or 6 days after the onset of symptoms, and knowing that in order to be of much use, antivirals need to be administered within 48 hours of symptoms, how does this add up?

It doesn't. The entire purpose of administering antivirals post infection is to reduce the risk of a severe outcome. Advising clinicians against treating people with no underlying health conditions is extremely FOOLISH. Pandemic H1N1 IS the only underlying health condition for 20-50% of deaths that have occurred!!"

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122238

My second question:

Margaret Chan has stated that "the world is not ready for a pandemic to be caused by H5N1".

What is being done right now to prepare for this eventuality?

[alert]

Re: FluTrackers Interviews WHO Representative Gregory H?rtl

At what point did the WHO first receive notification of the detection of the novel H1N1 virus (or the unexplained illnesses in Mexico)? I have read several conflicting accounts of the story of this pandemic prior to April 22, 2009 and would like to know the truth.

[calyx]

Re: FluTrackers Interviews WHO Representative Gregory H?rtl

Quite likely this is too late but:

The WHO appears to believe that D225G is a sporadic spontaneous phenomenon. Is this paradigm shifting more to the recombination model in light of the preponderance of data suggesting this explanation?

Love the show and wish it was more frequent.
thank you

[Vibrant62]

Re: FluTrackers Interviews WHO Representative Gregory H?rtl

A series of H5N1 / H1N1 laboratory experiments were scheduled to take place in France last year (see nature report for verification of this), and I think the CDC also did some.

Whilst it is accepted that it is harder for nature to repeat what happens in a lab, what was the outcome of these reassortment experiments? Nothing has been publically announced as far as I am aware.

Please note that the question relates to H5N1/ H1N1 reassortment only and not the experiments that were carried out to assiess seasonal flu reassortment potentials, whose results were made public.

[sharon sanders]

Re: Sharon Sanders Inteviews Gregory H?rtl - World Health Organization Spokeman Today at 4 pm EST

hat tip Michael Coston -

Gregory Härtl Radio Interview Today



# 4368


With the World Health Organization poised to meet this week to discuss whether to move to a post-pandemic alert phase, Sharon Sanders at FluTrackers has picked an opportune time to interview Gregory Härtl – spokesperson for the WHO – on the Infectious Disease Show which airs on Radio Sandy Springs.

This session, which was recorded late last week, is the second time that Sharon has interviewed Härtl – the first time being late last June. That interview may be heard a:

06/29/09 Guest Gregory Härtl of the WHO

Today’s show will air at 4pm EST and can be heard on 1620 AM in the Atlanta area, but is more widely listened to online at Radio Sandy Springs. The show will be archived in a couple of days as well, in case you miss it.

Other notable interviews conducted by Sharon Sanders over the past 6 months include:

11/02/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson
08/17/09 Guest William Schaffner, MD
08/10/09 Guest Author John Barry
05/26/09 Guest Dr. Michael Osterholm
05/18/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

In the same vein, an interview with Gregory Härtl appears in this morning’s Globe & Mail on the upcoming WHO meeting.

Q&A / Gregory Hartl

The World Health Organization's H1N1 spokesman tells Caroline Alphonso its team will attempt to determine if the pandemic's peak has passed
CAROLINE ALPHONSO
TORONTO — From Monday's Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 12:00AM EST Last updated on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 3:55AM EST

Its worldwide spread could not be stopped. It infected and killed thousands, pushing countries to rush to develop a vaccine that would limit its reach. The World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level to the maximum 6. But now, months later, is the H1N1 pandemic virus still creating havoc?

That's the main topic of discussion when the WHO's emergency committee of 15 influenza experts meets tomorrow. New clusters of the virus may still emerge, but Gregory Hartl, WHO's spokesman for the H1N1 pandemic, said the experts will look at the possibility of moving into a new phase of the pandemic.
(Continue . . . )

[heavenforever]

Re: Sharon Sanders Inteviews Gregory H?rtl - World Health Organization Spokesman Today at 4 pm EST

Hi Sharon, do you have a transcript of the interview as I am unable to listen to it in the UK, not compatible with my PC for some reason. Greatly appreciated!

[sharon sanders]

Re: Sharon Sanders Inteviews Gregory H?rtl - World Health Organization Spokesman Today at 4 pm EST

No I do not, maybe a member will volunteer to make one. You can download the podcast when it is available in a couple of days from here:

http://www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/infectious2.php

[heavenforever]

Re: Sharon Sanders Inteviews Gregory H?rtl - World Health Organization Spokesman Today at 4 pm EST

Thanks

[Kavoom]

Re: Sharon Sanders Inteviews Gregory H?rtl - World Health Organization Spokesman Today at 4 pm EST

The link is up for the archived piece and active to listen. I heard it a couple of hours ago.

[sharon sanders]

Please see this thread for a selection of the radio interviews:


Sharon Sanders radio interviews - a selection including World Health Organization and US Department of Health and Human Services


Also please see a nice write up about FluTrackers by Dr. Jeremy Brown in his new book Influenza:

https://books.google.com/books?id=UmFEDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT122&lpg=PT122&dq=jeremy+brown+influenza+flutrackers&source=bl&ots=YRjHrJxpqo&sig=cZ1KFH63eWzjPb9pDslm4RwBtfU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGp8jBr83fAhVntlkKHShFBocQ6AEwDXoECAAQAQ#v=snippet&q=sanders%20&f=false