Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

[HenryN]

CNN (Sanjay Gupta) just ran a fairly extensive report on clinical trials of H1N1 in US, Interviewed parents and children in trial starting for children and mentioned upcoming trial for pregnant women.

May be repeated and a transcript is likely.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

Another segment on H1N1 (back to school preparation) scheduled to broadcast now on John King's State of the Union (guest is HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius).

 

[HenryN]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

Another segment on H1N1 (back to school preparation) scheduled to broadcast now on John King's State of the Union (guest is HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius).

King asked Sebelius about CDC statement that without a vaccine the US death toll could be in six figures.
Response was standard "plan for the worst, hope for the best" and noted that a vaccine course takes 5 weeks (three weeks between shots anf two more for full immunity) so "even if" vaccine was available in mid-October, there would be infections among those scheduled for highest priority for shots (which include children) so parents should develop pan for caring for sick child who couldn't go to school.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

CNN (Sanjay Gupta) just ran a fairly extensive report on clinical trials of H1N1 in US, Interviewed parents and children in trial starting for children and mentioned upcoming trial for pregnant women.

May be repeated and a transcript is likely.

Noted that thus far there were fewer problems with swine flu vaccine trial than seasonal flu, and also noted that vaccine was the same as seasonal (except target was changed).
Interview included physician in charge of Vanderbilt trial, who noted that blood draws were shipped daily for analysis to ensure that vaccine was approved and ready by mid-Octorber.

 

[somebodyoutthere]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

King asked Sebelius about CDC statement that without a vaccine the US death toll could be in six figures.
Response was standard "plan for the worst, hope for the best" and noted that a vaccine course takes 5 weeks (three weeks between shots anf two more for full immunity) so "even if" vaccine was available in mid-October, there would be infections among those scheduled for highest priority for shots (which include children) so parents should develop pan for caring for sick child who couldn't go to school.

It's a shame that this message is NOT the one getting communicated to schools & parents.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

It's a shame that this message is NOT the one getting communicated to schools & parents.

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The government is urging parents to have a backup plan for caring for their kids in case they are hit by swine flu once the new school year begins.

Swine flu is expected to hit hard this fall, and a vaccine won't be ready until October.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says parents need to consider alternative strategies for caring for kids who are sick with swine flu.

School officials are already taking preparations to minimize the spread of the flu at schools. One strategy is frequent hand washing. Sebelius endorses the idea that kids should wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing "Happy Birthday to You" to themselves.

Sebelius spoke Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/sns-ap-us-swine-flu-parents,0,6856466.story

 

[somebodyoutthere]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The government is urging parents to have a backup plan for caring for their kids in case they are hit by swine flu once the new school year begins.

Swine flu is expected to hit hard this fall, and a vaccine won't be ready until October.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says parents need to consider alternative strategies for caring for kids who are sick with swine flu.

School officials are already taking preparations to minimize the spread of the flu at schools. One strategy is frequent hand washing. Sebelius endorses the idea that kids should wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing "Happy Birthday to You" to themselves.

Sebelius spoke Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/sns-ap-us-swine-flu-parents,0,6856466.story

Yes, I know, but this harsher message was not communicated until AFTER the official guidelines had been given to schools. Is anyone really paying attention now?

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

A question: why should US to have six digit figure of deaths from pandemic flu when southern hemisphere nations at the peak of epidemics haven't?

Some of the nations with seasonal activity have experienced high level of influenza H1N1 2009 activity with widespread outbreaks at community level, in Chile, Argentina, most of Central American and Caribbean nations, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and more others.

The ''final'' count of severe cases and deaths will not be known until at least another month (four weeks to reach the peak and another four week - minimum - to return at baseline activity), so we can figure if the ''six digits figure'' is a reality or not.

Obviously, nothing is known about antigenic properties of H1N1 2009 viruses are circulating in souther hemisphere. A WHO statement may be useful to northern hemisphere nations in order to re-evaluate possible quarantine measures enhancements and other social-distancing measures to slow the spread of a even unknown more pathogenic strain.

Another question should be like this: what's the estimate amount of US population already hit by H1N1 2009?

And what's the neutralization titers of these spring wave US patients against HA H1N1 2009 collected in southern hemisphere nations?

If the drift variants currently in circulation are not antigenically distant from spring US wave, what's the possible impact of these people naturally acquired immunity in the epidemiology of the autunm wave? Do they contribute to slow the spread of the infection?

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

Noted that thus far there were fewer problems with swine flu vaccine trial than seasonal flu, and also noted that vaccine was the same as seasonal (except target was changed).
Interview included physician in charge of Vanderbilt trial, who noted that blood draws were shipped daily for analysis to ensure that vaccine was approved and ready by mid-Octorber.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=281826#post281826

 

[HenryN]

Re: Sanjay Gupta - CNN on US H1N1 Clinical Trials

A question: why should US to have six digit figure of deaths from pandemic flu when southern hemisphere nations at the peak of epidemics haven't?

Some of the nations with seasonal activity have experienced high level of influenza H1N1 2009 activity with widespread outbreaks at community level, in Chile, Argentina, most of Central American and Caribbean nations, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and more others.

The ''final'' count of severe cases and deaths will not be known until at least another month (four weeks to reach the peak and another four week - minimum - to return at baseline activity), so we can figure if the ''six digits figure'' is a reality or not.

Obviously, nothing is known about antigenic properties of H1N1 2009 viruses are circulating in souther hemisphere. A WHO statement may be useful to northern hemisphere nations in order to re-evaluate possible quarantine measures enhancements and other social-distancing measures to slow the spread of a even unknown more pathogenic strain.

Another question should be like this: what's the estimate amount of US population already hit by H1N1 2009?

And what's the neutralization titers of these spring wave US patients against HA H1N1 2009 collected in southern hemisphere nations?

If the drift variants currently in circulation are not antigenically distant from spring US wave, what's the possible impact of these people naturally acquired immunity in the epidemiology of the autunm wave? Do they contribute to slow the spread of the infection?

I suspect the 6 figure number is calculated like the 36,000 seasonal deaths per year is counted. It is not 36,000 lab confirmed deaths or even 36,000 deaths with a flu diagnosis, it is just an extrapolation of deaths that have some kind of respiratory component, so figuring swine flu will triple such deaths is quite likely (even with no additional changes in the virus, and such a number may be reached WITH a vaccine, since it will be in short supply and many will refuse to take it).