Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2015/08/flu-scan-aug-19-2015
Flu Scan for Aug 19, 2015
Avian flu vaccine in birds; H5N1 outbreak in Vietnam; Flu vaccine and stroke
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); Influenza Vaccines
[h=3]APHIS calls for avian flu vaccines, says it will publish assessment[/h] The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) yesterday announced two actions to help prepare for a potential return of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to US flocks: a request for proposals for vaccines to equip the National Veterinary Stockpile and a notification that it will publish an environment assessment on vaccinating poultry.
"While APHIS has not approved the use of vaccine to respond to HPAI to date, the Agency is preparing to ensure that vaccine is available should the decision be made to use it," APHIS said in a statement.
The agency is planning to stockpile vaccines against the Eurasian H5 strains that circulated in US poultry earlier this year, affecting about 50 million birds. It will evaluate all proposed avian flu vaccines based on several criteria.
In addition, according to the statement, "In the coming weeks, APHIS will also publish an environmental assessment that examines the impacts of using HPAI vaccine in the field during an outbreak response." After the assessment is published, the public will have 30 days to comment on it. Experts worry that vaccinating poultry can mask avian flu outbreaks and disqualify poultry for export to some countries.
Aug 18 APHIS statement
[h=3]Vietnam reports small H5N1 outbreak[/h] Vietnam reported an outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in a backyard flock of more than 100 birds in Soc Trang province in the south, according to a World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) report posted today.
The outbreak happened about a month ago in a flock of 114 birds. The disease killed 102 poultry, and the surviving 12 were euthanized to contain the outbreak. The area has been disinfected and other control measures taken, the report said.
Since Jul 24 Vietnam has reported three H5N1 outbreaks, all in backyard poultry but in three separate provinces, all in the southern part of the country.
Aug 19 OIE report
[h=3]Study shows flu vaccination associated with lower stroke rate[/h] Flu vaccination is associated with a lower incidence of stroke, according to a study yesterday in Vaccine.
UK researchers used a self-controlled case-series design to analyze the data on 17,853 adults who received at least one flu vaccination and had a stroke from September 2001 to May 2009. They used Poisson regression to compute incidence rate ratios (IRRs).
They found reductions of stroke incidence of 55% (IRR 0.45) in the first 1 to 3 days after vaccination, 36% at 4 to 7 days, 30% at 8 to 14 days, 24% at 15 to 38 days, and 17% at 29 to 59 days after vaccination. They also found that vaccination from Sep 1 to Nov 15 showed a greater reduction in IRR compared with vaccination later in the flu season.
The authors conclude, "This study supports previous studies which have shown a beneficial association of influenza vaccination for stroke prevention."
Aug 18 Vaccine study
Flu Scan for Aug 19, 2015
Avian flu vaccine in birds; H5N1 outbreak in Vietnam; Flu vaccine and stroke
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); Influenza Vaccines
[h=3]APHIS calls for avian flu vaccines, says it will publish assessment[/h] The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) yesterday announced two actions to help prepare for a potential return of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to US flocks: a request for proposals for vaccines to equip the National Veterinary Stockpile and a notification that it will publish an environment assessment on vaccinating poultry.
"While APHIS has not approved the use of vaccine to respond to HPAI to date, the Agency is preparing to ensure that vaccine is available should the decision be made to use it," APHIS said in a statement.
The agency is planning to stockpile vaccines against the Eurasian H5 strains that circulated in US poultry earlier this year, affecting about 50 million birds. It will evaluate all proposed avian flu vaccines based on several criteria.
In addition, according to the statement, "In the coming weeks, APHIS will also publish an environmental assessment that examines the impacts of using HPAI vaccine in the field during an outbreak response." After the assessment is published, the public will have 30 days to comment on it. Experts worry that vaccinating poultry can mask avian flu outbreaks and disqualify poultry for export to some countries.
Aug 18 APHIS statement
[h=3]Vietnam reports small H5N1 outbreak[/h] Vietnam reported an outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in a backyard flock of more than 100 birds in Soc Trang province in the south, according to a World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) report posted today.
The outbreak happened about a month ago in a flock of 114 birds. The disease killed 102 poultry, and the surviving 12 were euthanized to contain the outbreak. The area has been disinfected and other control measures taken, the report said.
Since Jul 24 Vietnam has reported three H5N1 outbreaks, all in backyard poultry but in three separate provinces, all in the southern part of the country.
Aug 19 OIE report
[h=3]Study shows flu vaccination associated with lower stroke rate[/h] Flu vaccination is associated with a lower incidence of stroke, according to a study yesterday in Vaccine.
UK researchers used a self-controlled case-series design to analyze the data on 17,853 adults who received at least one flu vaccination and had a stroke from September 2001 to May 2009. They used Poisson regression to compute incidence rate ratios (IRRs).
They found reductions of stroke incidence of 55% (IRR 0.45) in the first 1 to 3 days after vaccination, 36% at 4 to 7 days, 30% at 8 to 14 days, 24% at 15 to 38 days, and 17% at 29 to 59 days after vaccination. They also found that vaccination from Sep 1 to Nov 15 showed a greater reduction in IRR compared with vaccination later in the flu season.
The authors conclude, "This study supports previous studies which have shown a beneficial association of influenza vaccination for stroke prevention."
Aug 18 Vaccine study