Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

[Kavoom]

Influenza Roundup CIDRAP
Influenza Roundup
Thu Jan 14 10:11:15 CST 2010
Good morning. Listed below are new resources added to the CIDRAP site in the past two weeks regarding pandemic H1N1 and seasonal influenza.


PANDEMIC H1N1 FLU
Life threatening infections labelled swine flu
Letter from BMJ, published online Jan 13 Visit link...

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak on a pig farm, Argentina
From Emerg Infect Dis, published online Jan 11 Visit link...

Extensive mammalian ancestry of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus
From Emerg Infect Dis, published online Jan 11 Visit link...

Initial response of health care institutions to emergence of H1N1 influenza: experiences, obstacles, and perceived future needs
From Clin Infect Dis, published online Jan 11 Visit link...

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases, Buenos Aires, Argentina
From Emerg Infect Dis, published online Jan 11 Visit link...

Outbreak of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) at a school--Hawaii, May 2009
From Jan 8 MMWR Visit link...

Patients hospitalized with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1)--New York City, May 2009
From Jan 8 MMWR Visit link...

Influenza virus infection among pediatric patients reporting diarrhea and influenza-like illness
From BMC Infect Dis, published online Jan 7 Visit link...

Does glycosylation as a modifier of Original Antigenic Sin explain the case age distribution and unusual toxicity in pandemic novel H1N1 influenza?
From BMC Infect Dis, published online Jan 7 Visit link...

Predictors and outcomes of respiratory failure among hospitalized pneumonia patients with 2009 H1N1 influenza in Taiwan
From J Infect, published online Jan 7 Visit link...

Preferential lower respiratory tract infection in swine-origin 2009 A(H1N1) influenza
From Clin Infect Dis, published online Jan 4 Visit link...

Safety of thimerosal in vaccines against 2009 H1N1 flu
CDC fact sheet published Jan 4 Visit link...

Flu information for people with diabetes and caregivers of people with diabetes
From CDC, posted Jan 6 Visit link...

Safety and immunogenicity of a 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 vaccine when administered alone or simultaneously with the seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2009-10 influenza season: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial
From Lancet, published Jan 4 Visit link...

Safety and immunogenicity of 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 vaccines in China: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
From Lancet, published Jan 4 Visit link...

Immune response after a single vaccination against 2009 influenza A H1N1 in USA: a preliminary report of two randomised controlled phase 2 trials
From Lancet, published Jan 4 Visit link...

Large trials confirm immunogenicity of H1N1 vaccines
Commentary on above 3 studies, from Lancet Visit link...

Defining the safety profile of pandemic influenza vaccines
Second commentary on above studies, from Lancet Visit link...

Predictors and outcomes of respiratory failure among hospitalized pneumonia patients with 2009 H1N1 influenza in Taiwan
From J Infect, published online Dec 29 Visit link...

National health security strategy of the United States of America
HHS report released Dec 29 Visit link...

The domestic and international impacts of the 2009-H1N1 influenza A pandemic: global challenges, global solutions
IOM report posted Dec 29 Visit link...

SEASONAL/GENERAL FLU
Mandatory influenza vaccination of health care workers: translating policy to practice
From Clin Infect Dis, published online Jan 11 Visit link...

Seasonal influenza risk in hospital healthcare workers is more strongly associated with household than occupational exposures: results from a prospective cohort study in Berlin, Germany, 2006/07
From BMC Infect Dis, published online Jan 12 Visit link...

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Fri Jan 15 16:05:20 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

WHO: Influenza B up in China
Though the pandemic H1N1 virus is still the dominant flu strain, China has found influenza B in 12.6% of specimens, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today. Some countries are sporadically detecting seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 viruses. Regions reporting the most intense pandemic flu activity are North Africa, South Asia, and east and southeastern Europe. The most affected North African countries are Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt. Flu activity also increased in western India. [Jan 15 WHO update]

Kids overdue for booster vaccine dose
A review of data from 10 states shows up to 80% of children under age 10 who were immunized against pandemic flu are overdue for their second dose, USA Today reported. Officials have said children ages 6 months to 10 years need a second dose to be fully protected. States said they worry that declining flu activity may dampen the public's interest in the vaccine. Experts have said a booster is still effective, even when given later than the suggested 4 weeks after the first dose. [Jan 14 USA Today story]

California minority groups hit hard
California Hispanics, African-Americans, and Native Americans have been hospitalized and died from pandemic H1N1 flu at higher rates than whites, according to an LA Times report today. Death and hospitalization rates for the state's Hispanics have been about twice as high as whites', compared with a 50% higher death rate and a tripled hospitalization rate in blacks. Native Americans' rates were also higher than whites', while Asians had a higher hospitalization rate but lower death rate. [Jan 15 LA Times article]

Belgium, Italy cut vaccine orders
Belgium has cut back its pandemic vaccine order with Glaxo by a third because of falling demand, Reuters reported today. The country's health ministry said the cut would save the government about $47.6 million. Meanwhile, Italy cancelled 24 million doses it had ordered from Sanofi, Bloomberg News reported today. The Italian media has reported that only 900,000 people were immunized against pandemic flu. Italy had also bought 24 million doses from Novartis. [Jan 15 Reuters story]

Australia braces for possible back-to-school wave
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has said it is likely swine flu will strike the country again, possibly as a second wave after school resumes in a couple weeks and as people return from overseas holiday travel, according to The Australian. AMA vice-president Steven Hambleton said, "We're expecting to reimport the virus and to see people getting sick again." Officials are encouraging vaccination. [Jan 16 Australian report]

HHS unveils flu-fighter Facebook app
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday announced a new Facebook application called, "I'm a Flu Fighter" that allows users to tell their friends they received the flu vaccine and urge others to do the same. "Social media has been an important tool to communicate with young people and all Americans about the importance of getting the H1N1 flu vaccine," Sebelius said in a press release. [Jan 14 HHS release]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Tue Jan 19 15:51:12 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

GSK vaccine sales lower than predicted
Flu-vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) could end up earning only 75% of what it once forecast from H1N1 vaccines, as governments renegotiate their contracts to two thirds of what they ordered last year, the Financial Times reported. Similar results are expected for other flu-shot manufacturers. In a separate statement, GSK acknowledged that countries are changing their orders but said it is "too early to say" what final dose totals and earnings for H1N1 vaccine will be. [Jan 17 Financial Times report]



FDA chief stresses safety of H1N1 vaccine
Margaret Hamburg, MD, commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently sent a letter to healthcare professionals reassuring them about the safety of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine, based on the latest findings. She said no substantial differences between the pandemic and seasonal flu vaccine have been seen and that 94% of adverse events have been nonserious conditions such as injection-site soreness. [Jan 14 FDA letter]



Greece, Norway scale back vaccine orders
Greece and Norway have both cut back on pandemic vaccine deliveries, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The Greek health ministry said it would pay for only the 3.6 million doses it has already received and wants companies to refund advances made for future shipments. Meanwhile, Norway's health ministry said it reached an agreement with GSK to trim its order by 30%. It has received about 4.3 million doses so far and has vaccinated about 60% of its population. [Jan 18 AFP story]



Experts review Australia's pandemic response
Two respiratory medicine experts from Australia, in a recent issue of Respirology, critiqued their country's H1N1 pandemic response. One said officials could have done more to slow the spread of the virus, such as isolating infected cruise ship passengers and canceling youth sports events, as well as better coordinating response across government levels. The other author praised officials for funding research efforts, but said the next possible wave may reveal more about response. [Jan Respirology report]



Massachusetts minorities hit harder than whites
Massachusetts is the latest jurisdiction to find higher rates of flu illness and death in its non-white residents, the Boston Globe reported in its blog White Coat Notes. Asians were hospitalized 1.5 times as often as whites and were 4 times as likely to die from flu; Hispanics were hospitalized 3 times as often and were 6 times as likely to die; and blacks were hospitalized more than 4 times as often, and had death rates more than 3 times higher than whites. [Jan 15 Boston Globe blog post]



County tests emergency response with H1N1 shots
Lexington County, S.C., used a newly arrived allotment of H1N1 vaccine to stage a 1-day test of its emergency medical response, The State newspaper reported. The county used a sports field to set up portable hospital tents purchased with homeland security funds, called in health professionals and community volunteers to work the site, and funneled 600 vaccine recipients through at several minutes each. [Jan 17 The State story]



Los Angeles airport makes vaccine available
The Los Angeles international airport recently began offering flu shots, including the pandemic vaccine, in most of its terminals. A spokewoman said the airport's goal is to help curb flu spread and put the shots within convenient reach of travelers. Vaccination stations are staffed by nurses from FluEase, a company that specializes in immunization services for organizations. The shots cost $30, and vaccination will continue throughout flu season. [Jan 11 LAX press release]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Wed Jan 20 16:54:39 CST 2010


NEWS SCAN: Foodborne E coli and UTIs, H5N1 in Bangladesh

Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

No flu vaccine in Nigeria after first H1N1 death
Nigerian health authorities disclosed today that the country has no H1N1 vaccine with which to launch a flu-shot campaign, 2 weeks after recording its first death from the pandemic virus. The newspaper This Day reported that screening of the 38-year-old woman's close contacts revealed 8 infected people, out of 46, who were placed on antiviral treatment. The government is ramping up public education about infection risks. [Jan 20 This Day story]



Japan OKs its first imported H1N1 vaccines
Today Japan approved domestic use of H1N1 flu vaccines made by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Novartis, paving the way for their use within a month. Japan has finalized deals for enough GSK vaccine for 7.4 million healthy adults and Novartis vaccine for 2.5 million. The approval marks Japan's first agreement to accept imported vaccine. GSK earlier contracted to supply the country with 74 million doses of H1N1 vaccine. [Jan 20 Kyodo News International article]



Mexico City offers vaccine for subway riders
Health officials in Mexico City this week began offering H1N1 vaccine at 26 of the city's busiest subway stations, the Associated Press (AP) reported. On Jan 18 about 10,200 of Mexico City's 300,000 vaccine doses were distributed at the subway stops. City officials said they will extend the immunization effort to markets by the end of the week. Mexico City was at the center of the novel H1N1 outbreak in the spring. The country hopes to vaccinate 24 million people by March. [Jan 19 AP story]



Chinese expert seeks support for sickest flu patients
China's government should help seriously ill pandemic flu patients cover the cost of lengthy treatment, Dr Zhong Nanshan, one of the country's top respiratory disease specialists, said at a Jan 18 ceremony marking the hospital discharge of a teenage girl, China Daily reported today. He said a financial safety net would help reduce fear and barriers to treatment. Zhong first spoke out on the issue in December after a toddler was found dead after his parents took him out of the hospital. [Jan 20 China Daily story]



Concern raised over vaccine and autoimmune disease
Switzerland's medical regulatory agency, Swissmedic, recommends that people who have serious autoimmune diseases not receive Novartis's H1N1 vaccine because it has not been tested in such patients, Reuters reported today. The agency said it could not exclude the risk that the vaccine antigen or adjuvant could exacerbate disease. [Jan 20 Reuters report]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Thu Jan 21 17:11:19 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

Pediatric flu deaths triple past 3 season average
In an overview of flu activity during the 2009-10 flu season that started Aug 30, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said pediatric deaths from the pandemic virus are three times higher than the average for the past three seasons. Flu activity peaked on Oct 24, much earlier than the February peaks of the most recent flu seasons. The CDC pointed out that multiple waves were seen during the three most recent pandemics, emphasizing the importance of vaccination. [Jan 22 MMWR article]



WHO to write response to 'false pandemic' charges
In response to a request from India's health secretary, the World Health Organization (WHO) will write formal letters to all countries to clarify the facts about the H1N1 pandemic, to counter charges that the threat was exaggerated, the Indian government said in a statement yesterday. In requesting the WHO action, the Indian official said the reports of a "false pandemic" were hurting public health measures taken by governments. India also asked for more details about vaccine contracts. [Jan 20 Indian government statement]



Massachusetts flu effort targets minority groups
Hoping to ease racial disparities in pandemic flu illness, Massachusetts officials said they will target $1 million of its federal funding toward community groups that can help promote vaccination in these groups. The state's public health officials have reported that the disease has taken a heavier illness, hospitalization, and death toll on black, Hispanic, and Asian groups. [Jan 15 Mass. health department release]



Nigeria cites progress in securing vaccine
Following the first deaths and illnesses from pandemic H1N1 flu, Nigeria's health ministry said yesterday that it is in advanced talks with theWHO to receive the vaccine, AllAfrica news reported today. The ministry said Nigeria wasn't previously on the WHO's priority list because it had not detected any illnesses but now said the country could receive vaccine doses by February. Nigeria has confirmed two H1N1 deaths and eight illnesses. [Jan 21 AllAfrica news story]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Fri Jan 22 15:25:16 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

WHO: Pandemic flu activity holds steady
Global flu patterns are about the same as last week, with the most intense activity in North Africa, South Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today. Novel H1N1 still dominates, but a few countries have detected sporadic seasonal flu cases, especially China, where influenza B cases are increasing. Most of the seasonal H3N2 viruses belong to the Perth-like viruses, included in the Southern Hemisphere's seasonal vaccine, not the Northern Hemisphere's. [Jan 22 WHO update]



Colleges have vaccine, but few students immunized
The American College Health Association (ACHA) said yesterday that flu activity on college campuses hasn't changed since its last report for the week ending Dec 18. The attack rate stayed at 2.7 cases per 10,000 students. Though vaccine availability has improved dramatically, with 97% of campuses having supplies, the percentage of vaccinated students is rising very slowly. So far only about 9% of students have been vaccinated, up from 8% in the last report. [ACHA report for week ending Jan 15]



Severe H1N1 illness linked to ethnicity, slow treatment
In Manitoba, the Canadian province with the highest burden of severe H1N1 illness, patients who required intensive care unit admission and advanced life support for pandemic flu shared several characteristics, according to a new paper in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). They were more likely to have taken longer to receive antiviral treatment or to have underlying conditions, or to be members of First Nations groups. [Jan 21 CMAJ article abstract]



Ireland to offer workplace vaccination
Healthy adults in Ireland will be offered the H1N1 vaccine at their workplaces starting in mid February, the Irish Independent reported today. The nation's Health Service Executive (HSE) will provide the vaccine to employers that have occupational health programs. Workers who can't get the vaccine at work will be offered it at HSE-run clinics, said Pat Doorley, HSE head of population health. He said more than 800,000 people, about 18% of Ireland's population, have been vaccinated so far. [Jan 22 Irish Independent report]



UK health chief urges H1N1 shots
The second wave of H1N1 influenza in England is "virtually concluding," Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, said yesterday, but he warned that anyone who has not been vaccinated will be vulnerable when the virus returns in a future season. Anyone who is eligible for the vaccine but has not taken it should "get the jab and protect themselves," he said in a Department of Health bulletin. [Jan 21 Department of Health bulletin]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Mon Jan 25 15:09:56 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

Kentucky shuts down its H1N1 hotline
After receiving about 10,000 calls since it began in October, Kentucky's hotline for questions on pandemic and seasonal influenza has been shut down as demand has waned, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Public health officials say the hotline can be reactivated if needed, but in the meantime those seeking flu-related answers can go to the state's Health Alerts Web site (http://healthalerts.ky.gov). [Jan 22 AP story]



Hong Kong finds H1N1 vaccine safe for fetuses
Despite receiving reports of four recent spontaneous abortions in vaccinated women, Hong Kong has seen no increase in fetal death among women receiving the H1N1 vaccine, according to a press release today from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP). The normal rate of fetal mortality in Hong Kong is 0.3% to 0.5% of total deliveries, compared with a rate so far of 0.2% in pregnant women receiving the vaccine. [Jan 25 CHP release]



Physicians' views on H1N1 vary by country
A seven-country survey by the market research firm Synovate found wide differences in physicians' views about the H1N1 pandemic. Only 20% of Chinese doctors agreed that pregnant women should be vaccinated, versus 90% of US doctors. Overall, 51% of the doctors said they had been vaccinated, with a range from 21% in Spain to 76% in Taiwan. Sixty-two percent believed that the vaccine is effective, while 27% were uncertain. The survey focused on Synovate's proprietary physician panel. [Jan 22 Synovate news release]



Tampa health agencies vaccinating homeless people
Public health agencies in and around Tampa, Fla., are working with homeless outreach organizations to vaccinate homeless people against H1N1 flu, according to the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times. With the virus still circulating, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged communities across the nation to focus attention on the homeless, the story said. [Jan 25 St. Petersburg Times report]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Tue Jan 26 19:14:13 CST 2010


European hearing airs WHO pandemic response, critics' charges
Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and a vaccine-maker trade group at a public hearing today defended themselves against allegations from some European politicians that they exaggerated the H1N1 pandemic threat to benefit drug companies. Read CIDRAP article...

Report: US flunks on ability to blunt bio attack
The United States has made little progress in the past year in improving its ability to blunt the impact of a biological weapons attack, says a new report from the commission Congress established to assess the nation's efforts to prevent and respond to terrorism. Read CIDRAP article...
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/bt/bioprep/news/jan2610bioweapon.html
NEWS SCAN: 'Smoking sausage' found, food safety post filled, airborne flu viruses, medical surge efforts

Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

Bahamas receive first H1N1 vaccines
After months of delay, the Bahamas has received its first shipment of H1N1 influenza vaccines?just as cases of the pandemic virus trend down in much of the world. The Nassau Guardian reported that the 30,000-dose shipment, purchased through the Pan American Health Organization arrived Jan 20, 2 months late. The Bahamas has recorded 41 cases of novel H1N1 since the pandemic began. [Jan 26 Nassau Guardian story]



Bay area commuters offered flu shots
Passengers on the East Bay routes of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the commuter-train line linking San Francisco and Oakland, Calif., will be offered H1N1 vaccinations during this afternoon's commute. The shots, offered in the Oakland BART station, are a collaboration between BART and the Alameda County Health Department, which believes it is the first such offering in the United States. [Jan 26 San Francisco Chronicle story]



Novartis profits rise as it issues warning to nations
Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis today announced an 8% increase in profits from 2008 to 2009, driven largely by sales of H1N1 vaccine, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. But during the announcement in Basel, outgoing CEO Daniel Vasella warned that the company could retaliate against governments now trying to cancel flu-shot contracts. Countries reneging on payment for vaccines that have already been delivered will not receive a priority response during the next pandemic, he said. [Jan 26 AFP report on profits]



High rate of H1N1 complications in pregnancy
Australian researchers report that, of 43 pregnant women admitted to hospitals with H1N1 flu infection between May and July 2009 in the state of Victoria, Australia, 8 were admitted to intensive care and 1 died. In addition, 2 of the pregnancies were miscarried and 1 child died after birth. Half of the women had no underlying conditions, and three-fourths were given antiviral treatment; one-third of those receiving antivirals began them within 2 days of the start of symptoms. [Jan 25 Clinical Infectious Diseases abstract]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

Influenza Roundup
Wed Jan 27 10:10:56 CST 2010

Good morning. The following resources on influenza have been added to the CIDRAP site since January 15. We hope you find them useful.


PANDEMIC H1N1 FLU


2009 H1N1 influenza A and pregnancy outcomes in Victoria, Australia
From Clin Infect Dis, published online Jan 25 Visit link...
Outside the box and into thick air: implementation of an exterior mobile pediatric emergency response team for North American H1N1 (Swine) influenza virus in Houston, Texas
From Jan Ann Emerg Med Visit link...
Correlates of severe disease in patients with 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) virus infection
From CMAJ, published online Jan 21 Visit link...
Incidence of 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 infection in England: a cross-sectional serological study
From Lancet, published online Jan 21 Visit link...
Influenza pandemic preparedness and severity assessment of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in South-east Asia
From Public Health, published online Jan 19 Visit link...
Community-acquired pneumonia due to pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 influenzavirus and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus co-infection
From PLoS One, published Jan 14 Visit link...
Influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in domestic cat
From Emerg Infect Dis, published online Jan 13 Visit link...
Interim results: influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccination coverage--United States, October-December 2009
From MMWR, released Jan 15 Visit link...
Lessons from a pandemic
Editorial from Jan 14 Nature Visit link...
Risk factors for H1N1 influenza complications in 2009 Hajj pilgrims
Letter in Jan 16 Lancet Visit link...
Influenza H5N1 and H1N1 virus replication and innate immune responses in bronchial epithelial cells are influenced by the state of differentiation
From PLoS One, published online Jan 15 Visit link...
Severe hospitalised 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) cases in France, 1 July - 15 November 2009
From Jan 14 Euro Surveill Visit link...
Surveillance of hospitalisations for 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in the Netherlands, 5 June - 31 December 2009
From Jan 14 Euro Surveill Visit link...

GENERAL PANDEMIC FLU


Emergency preparedness: state efforts to plan for medical surge could benefit from shared guidance for allocating scarce medical resources
Jan 25 GAO report Visit link...
1918 and 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses are not pathogenic in birds
From Feb J Gen Virol Visit link...
The vaccination campaign against 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) and its continued importance in view of the uncertainty surrounding the risk associated with the pandemic
Letter from Jan 21 Euro Surveill Visit link...
Would an influenza pandemic qualify as a major disaster under the Stafford Act?
CRS report posted Jan 19 (but dated Dec 15) Visit link...
Public health response to influenza A(H1N1) as an opportunity to build public trust
Commentary from Jan 20 JAMA Visit link...

GENERAL/SEASONAL FLU


Distribution of airborne influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus in an urgent care medical clinic
From Clin Infect Dis, published online Jan 25 Visit link...
Mask use, hand hygiene, and seasonal influenza-like illness among young adults: a randomized intervention trial
From J Infect Dis, published online Jan 20 Visit link...
Unmasking the confusion of respiratory protection to prevent influenza-like illness in crowded community settings
Editorial on above study, published online Jan 20 Visit link...
Influenza testing and antiviral prescribing practices among emergency department clinicians in 9 states during the 2006 to 2007 influenza season
From Jan Ann Emerg Med Visit link...
Trends for influenza and pneumonia hospitalization in the older population: age, period, and cohort effects
From Epidemiol Infect, published online Jan 8 Visit link...
Research and development of universal influenza vaccines
From Microbes Infect, published online Jan 15 Visit link...
Genome-wide RNAi screen identifies human host factors crucial for influenza virus replication
Letter in Nature, published online Jan 17 Visit link...
Vaccines against seasonal and pandemic influenza and the implications of changes in substrates for virus production
From Clin Infect Dis, published online Jan 19 Visit link...
Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: a systematic review
From Epidemiol Infect, published online Jan 22 Visit link...

AVIAN FLU


Serosurveillance study on transmission of H5N1 virus during a 2006 avian influenza epidemic
From Epidemiol Infect, published online Jan 22 Visit link...
An M2e-based multiple antigenic peptide vaccine protects mice from lethal challenge with divergent H5N1 influenza viruses
From Virology J, published online Jan 18 Visit link...

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Wed Jan 27 15:36:28 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

Two Memphis-area kids die of H1N1
Two Memphis, Tenn.-area children died in the past week of H1N1 flu, according to local officials. The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD) today confirmed that a 12-year-old child died from H1N1 infection, and last week a teen from nearby DeSoto County, Mississippi, died of the disease, according to a news release today. The 12-year-old's death is the seventh confirmed H1N1 death in Shelby County. Officials are reminding people to get vaccinated. [Jan 27 MSCHD release]



South Africa aims to vaccinate 3 million
South Africa hopes to vaccinate 3 million people against pandemic flu by winter, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported today. The country's health minister said South Africa has 1.3 million doses and is seeking funding for more. Priority groups will include pregnant women, healthcare workers, some people at border stations, and young people who are at high risk for complications. [Jan 27 SAPA story]



Serbia, Japan look to cut vaccine orders
Serbia's health ministry said it is cancelling further orders of pandemic vaccine from Novartis, Balkan Insight news reported today. The country had originally ordered 3 million doses and has administered 160,000 doses of the 857,500 it had already received. Serbia said it needs 300,000 doses in reserve in case of another flu wave. Meanwhile, Japan signaled that it may cancel some of the 99 million doses of vaccine it ordered from Glaxo and Novartis, Kyodo News reported. [Jan 27 Balkan Insight story]



Southeast Asian officials confer on vaccine, antivirals
Health officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus three countries gathered today in Singapore to open a 3-day meeting on antiviral drugs and pandemic flu vaccines. The conference, supported by the Australian Agency for International Development, will update members on drug and vaccine supplies, provide a forum for discussing issues such as access and technology transfer, and discuss how the nations can share resources, according to an ASEAN statement. [Jan 27 ASEAN statement]



Czech president opposes mandatory military vaccination
The president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, said he opposes mandatory H1N1 flu vaccinations for the country's military forces, the Associated Press reported today. Klaus said he considers the order from the Czech chief of general staff to "highly controversial, if not unacceptable" because of possible risks of vaccination. In a statement, Defense Minister Martin Bartak said the number of soldiers in the program would be reduced but gave no details. [Jan 27 AP story]



Serbian pigs test positive for H1N1
Pandemic H1N1 flu has been detected on a swine farm near Varvarin, Serbia, according to a report today filed with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Twenty of more than 10,000 pigs on a commercial breeding farm tested positive during routine inspection. Affected animals showed respiratory symptoms, but none have died. The source of the infection is unknown. [Jan 27 OIE report]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Thu Jan 28 16:01:06 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

Pandemic hasn't spared nursing homes
Though older people appear to have some immunity to the pandemic virus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention learned of several outbreaks at nursing homes, detailing three in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). They occurred during the fall before the vaccine was widely available, and infections in healthcare workers were documented at two of the facilities. Infection control steps and antiviral prophylaxis seemed to slow flu spread. [Jan 29 MMWR report]



New Mexico lists hospitalization, death rates
The New Mexico Department of Health says the state's H1N1 hospitalization rate is highest in children under 5 and the death rate is highest in people aged 50 to 64. The overall H1N1 hospitalization rate is 50.3 per 100,000, but the rate for children under 5 is 135.5, twice the national estimate. The overall state death rate is 2.6 per 100,000, but the rate is 5.3 for 50- to 64-year-olds and 3.1 for those 65 and older. Children under 5 and adults 25 to 49 had a death rate of 2 per 100,000. [Jan 27 New Mexico statement]



Some on antiviral therapy still test positive
In a study by French researchers in Emerging Infectious Diseases, of 16 H1N1-flu-confirmed patients treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), only 9 (56%) tested negative for H1N1 flu within 3 day of treatment, while 3 (19%) still tested positive more than 5 days after treatment. The authors conclude, "These data raise questions about potential virus transmission during antiviral treatment and the possible resistance of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 to oseltamivir." [Feb Emerg Infect Dis study]



Canada to give 5 million vaccine doses to WHO
Canada announced today it will give 5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine and $6 million to the World Health Organization to combat the pandemic in developing countries. The doses amount to 10% of Canada's total vaccine order, a donation in line with those from other developed countries, the government said. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Canada can donate vaccine because it has met its own immediate needs. [Jan 28 Public Health Agency of Canada release]



Hong Kong hangs on to its vaccine
Hong Kong has no plans to sell or donate its remaining doses of H1N1 vaccine, Secretary for Food and Health Dr York Chow said today, according to the country's news.gov.hk site. Noting that Hong Kong's stockpiled vaccines will expire in October, Chow encouraged people in five high-risk groups to get vaccinated. [Jan 28 news.gov.hk story]



Shoppers bag free flu shots
Aiming to put flu vaccine in the paths of shoppers, the Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota teamed up with Kohl's stores today to offer free pandemic and seasonal flu vaccines to adults and children outside two Twin Cities malls. A grant from Kohl's is covering the administration cost. Federal officials have urged providers to make it easy for people to get vaccinated. [Jan 28 Children's Hospitals statement]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Cidrap Daily News - January 2010

CIDRAP News Headlines
Fri Jan 29 15:15:25 CST 2010


Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

H1N1 still active in some global regions
Although pandemic flu has declined in most of the Northern Hemisphere, transmission remains active in some regions of North Africa, eastern and southeastern Europe, and South and East Asia, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today. Global H1N1 deaths now total at least 14,711. Novel H1N1 remains dominant in most nations, according to a separate WHO update, but in China 49% of flu isolates are the seasonal B strain. Other countries are detecting some seasonal flu, too. [Jan 29 WHO weekly update]



US flu activity stayed low last week
H1N1 flu activity stayed at about the same low level last week as the week before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today. No states had widespread cases; five had regional activity. Five flu-related deaths in children were reported. The share of medical visits ascribed to flu-like illness was 1.7%, below the national baseline of 2.3%, but the fraction of deaths due to flu and pneumonia remained above the epidemic threshold. All but two tested viruses were novel H1N1. [Jan 29 CDC weekly flu update]



Flu down, vaccine availability up at colleges
Flu activity at US colleges declined again after leveling off the previous week, the American College Health Association (ACHA) reported. The attack rate was 2.3 per 10,000 students. Though the number of vaccinated students was around 9%, the ACHA reports some encouraging signs. Some institutions are reporting vaccine uptake rates exceeding 25% to 30%. Vaccine availability has improved, with 86% of campuses reporting that they have it. [ACHA report for week ending Jan 22]



Vaccine from 1918, 1976 strains may fend off novel H1N1
In an experiment to learn more about pre-existing immunity, researchers found that mice vaccinated with 1918-like and classical (from 1976) swine flu vaccines had complete protection against pandemic H1N1, according to a study in PLoS Pathogens. In contrast, vaccines based on more recent seasonal H1N1 strains afforded only partial protection. The authors say their findings underscore the importance of having people under age 35 receive the pandemic vaccine. [Jan 29 PLoS Pathog article]



China denies vaccine-miscarriage link
China's government denied a link between H1N1 vaccine and miscarriages after an official said "several" miscarriages occurred among 10,000 pregnant women who had been immunized, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported today. The official added the miscarriages were coincidental and that most were seen in women in their first trimester. He emphasized that global experience so far shows the vaccine is safe and effective in pregnant women, who are at high risk for flu complications. [Jan 29 AFP story]