Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

HenryN · Oct 11, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

>>>Six influenza A viruses collected since May 18 have been tested for adamantane resistance. The one influenza A (H3N2) virus tested and one of the five influenza A (H1N1) viruses tested were resistant to the adamantanes. <<<

The presence of anamtadine resistance (S31N) in one of the H1N1 isolates suggest clade 2C is also present in the isolates from the summer, which is not reflected in the antigenic analysis, which only found clade 2B.

Commonground · Oct 11, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

Virus outbreak shuts hospital wards

3:02pm Friday 10th October 2008
Comments (6) Have your say ?

By Andrew Napier ?

TWO wards at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester have been closed because of the spread of the diarrhoea and vomiting bug.

The Norovirus has affected around 30 patients and staff at the RHCH.

Managers have closed two wards to new admissions in an effort to control the virus.

Patients from these wards are not being discharged, except to their own homes, until the infection is under control.

A deep clean been has been carried out and beds will only be reopened in line with the policy.

As a result of the outbreak, visitors to patients on Bartlett and St Cross wards are being asked not to come in to hospital for the time being.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/district/3747502.Virus_outbreak_shuts_hospital_wards/

Shiloh · Oct 14, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

Source: http://www.guampdn.com/article/20081015/NEWS01/810150337/1002

Guam: GMH notes increase in admissions of flu-related ailments

By Beau Hodai ? Pacific Daily News ? October 15, 2008

Last week, GMH Nursing Supervisor Julietta Quinene said she has seen a marked increase in recent weeks of admissions to the hospital for respiratory problems and other symptoms linked to the flu.

Yesterday, she said she has seen the trend continue.

"We had a lot of kids, not just adults," said Quinene. "Over the weekend, we didn't have enough pediatric beds -- parents were getting angry."

Quinene said that about 80 percent of admissions she's seen over the past week have been for respiratory ailments, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and fever -- all of which she said could be attributed to the flu.

She said in the 24 hours that elapsed between last Tuesday and Wednesday, the hospital took in 33 pediatric patients suffering from respiratory ailments, one of which had to be placed on life support.

During the same period, the hospital admitted eight adults for respiratory ailments, four of whom had to be placed on life support.

Quinene said the flu season usually sets in about the time kids return to school in early August. Quinene said that she has definitely seen an increase in respiratory hospital admissions this year over last year.

Information provided in the Guam Epidemiology Newsletter, provided by the Department of Public Health and Social Services' Office of Epidemiology and Research, shows cases of acute respiratory infections increase around mid-August and level off in late October.

Linda Unpingco,[/] health services administrator at the Public Health's northern and southern clinics, said she has seen a recent increase in patients with flu-related symptoms coming into the clinics, most of whom are children.[/B]

The clinic hasn't yet received any flu vaccines, Unpingco said, though she said she expects them sometime this month.

Unpingco suggested that people use preventive measures to ensure that they do not catch the flu.

"When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth -- basic cough etiquette," said Unpingco. "Also, wash your hands and dispose of your tissues properly."

Commonground · Oct 15, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

Australia

Patients isolated after gastro outbreak

Posted 1 hour 13 minutes ago

Map: Shepparton 3630

Several people are in isolation in Shepparton's public hospital because of an outbreak of gastroenteritis.

Fifteen people have been treated at the hospital for vomiting and diarrhoea in the past 24 hours.

Another six people at the Ave Maria nursing home are also sick.

Goulburn Valley Health CEO Greg Pullen says they are trying to prevent the virus from spreading.

"There are some patients that are kept in isolation on the medical ward, some on the rehabilitation ward," he said.

"We have to limit access to them unfortunately. We try and ensure that the chance of it spreading is completely reduced, but we can't always do that of course, it's a quite spreadable sort of disease."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/15/2392240.htm

Giuseppe · Oct 16, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

EUROPEAN CENTRE OF DISEASES PREVENTION AND CONTROL - INFLUENZA NEWS, EXCERPTS

[European Centre of Diseases Prevention and Control (ECDC), Influenza News, Excerpts. For complete release, please follow this link: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_Topics/influenza/news/news_Influenza_081016.aspx ]

* Scientific advances - SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES ? PANDEMIC INFLUENZA - INNOVATIONS

-- Glycan microarray technologies ? a tool which can facilitate mapping of the coarse and fine specificity of previous, current and emerging influenza viruses.

- Recent avian H5N1 viruses exhibit increased propensity for acquiring human receptor specificity. J. Stevens et al - Journal of Molecular Biology 2008 Sep 19;381(5) [URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WK7-4S85DTV-3&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=7b4dea057afc07d0f2103783e9e35c82 ]
- Glycan microarray technologies: tools to survey host specificity of influenza viruses. J. Stevens, O. Blixt at al - Nature Reviews Microbiology 4, 857-864 (November 2006) [URL: http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n11/abs/nrmicro1530.html ]

Description:
These two articles between them describe the theory and application of a set of laboratory techniques, Glycan Microarray Technologies, that has been developed to objectively measure the specificity of influenza viruses to bind to host surface receptors in the human respiratory tract.

The technique is described in the 2006 article and then applied in the 2008 article to avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.2 when the mutations that seemed to make the 1957 and 1968 pandemics gain human receptor specificity are inserted into them.

The authors suggest that this makes the widely spread A(H5N1) ? clade 2.2 influenza strains at higher risk of acquiring an affinity for human receptors than other avian influenza viruses.

ECDC Comment: (16/10/08)
With novel avian influenza viruses, viruses that are essentially transmitting among birds, it is difficult to decide whether or not they are likely to be able to adapt to humans. With A(H5N1) in its current form plainly it has not yet reached that stage in that despite much exposure to humans it has failed to infect them often and transmission from human to humans is even rarer.1

However the difficulty is that one has to have good surveillance to detect a change towards better adaptation to humans and that after the change has happened it is essentially too late to intervene. This technique is one that give an important objective laboratory information as to whether any new avian influenza viruses has moved or (if previous strains are available) is moving closer to being adapted to humans.

However like all laboratory based test it is only a demonstration of human adaptation, not the entire step.

1. ECDC The public health risk from highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses emerging in Europe with specific reference to influenza type A/H5N1 June 1st 2006.

* Public Health Developments - P.H. DEVELOPMENTS ? PANDEMIC INFLUENZA- PREPAREDNESS

-- Draft WHO Guidance on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response ? Core Document - Opportunity for Comment October 15th to November 3rd

For nearly the past 12 months WHO has being reviewing and revising its guidance on planning essentially updating its 2005 pandemic planning guidance.

They have now made available for comment through the internet what is to be regarded as the core document to be published later this year.

This draft guidance is available through the WHO web-site through with a rather cumbersome procedure as those wishing to see the guidance have to fist register and make a declaration before getting access to the document.

The deadline for comment is also tight as all comments have to be in before the end of November 3rd.

There are good reasons for updating the guidance since the last planning document and its accompanying Check List were published.
* Extensive experience has been gained from the pandemic planning process in Europe and elsewhere.
* There has also been much practice in responding to avian influenza outbreaks, some involving human cases in many countries.
* Influenza science has moved on including use of vaccines and antivirals which were hardly mentioned in 2005.
* Pandemic planning has moved out from the health care sector to embrace many other sectors.

Finally the 2005 International Health Regulations have come into force in 2007 providing a major step forward in efforts by the international community to address international public health concerns.

The process of revision has been rapid but detailed and comprehensive with strong involvement of European experts though this is the first consultation open to all countries and the public.

The process and progress was described by WHO in July 2008 through its web-site. It is important to appreciate that the document available now is only the core document and after it will be published a folio of supporting technical document and ?tools? on issues like outbreak communication, on-health sector preparedness, a revised check-list and sample preparedness plans etc.

* P.H. DEVELOPMENTS ? PANDEMIC INFLUENZA - PREPAREDNESS

-- WHO guidelines for emergency health interventions in community settings

Description:
In response to demand from humanitarian agencies for guidance on reducing excess mortality from common illnesses during an influenza pandemic, the WHO in collaboration with external partners has developed practical and simplified recommendations on measures that can be implemented by community-based responders to complement national Pandemic Preparedness Plans.

The two main objectives of document are:
* To provide strategies for prevention and treatment, at the community and household levels, of the most likely contributors to mortality from common illnesses during an influenza pandemic.
* To provide recommendations to support a minimum level of continuity for priority public health programmes during a pandemic.

These WHO guidelines ?Reducing excess mortality from common illnesses during an influenza pandemic ? can be found at:http://www.who.int/diseasecontrol_emergencies/common_illnesses2008_6.pdf

* P.H. DEVELOPMENTS ? PANDEMIC INFLUENZA - PREPAREDNESS

-- Simulation Exercises on Influenza Pandemic Responses in the Asia Pacific Region

Description:
The UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC) Asia-Pacific Regional Hub has released a compilation of simulation exercises conducted by countries to prepare for a human influenza pandemic. It has done so in collaboration with Asian Disaster Preparedness Center and the Kenan Institute Asia with contributions of more than 50 writing team members.

This booklet is a compendium of a number of simulation exercises that have been used to test pandemic preparedness and response plans in different countries and by various organizations in the Asia-Pacifi*c region.

Moreover the document provides a brief discussion on the rationale for conducting simulation exercises, different types of exercises that may be pursued, and factors that may influence the selection of types of simulation exercises.

ECDC Comment:
The last two significant pandemics have emerged from the Asia-Pacific Region as has avian influenza A(H5N1) and the most recent A(H3N2) variants. Therefore this part of the world is the most likely area for the emergence of the next pandemic and the place where WHO?s rapid containment strategy.

-- An attempt to stifle and capture a putative influenza virus
The booklet can be downloaded at:http://www.un-influenza.org/files/asia_pacific/temp/unsic_pandemic_complete.pdf

* Meetings and workshops

-- International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. 24-26 October 2008.

This meeting organised by the Government of Egypt is the sixth in a series of high level meetings that began in Washington in October 2005, followed by Beijing (January 2006), Vienna (June 2006) Bamako (December 2006) and Delhi (November 2007). The Delhi meeting established a Road Map for countries to progress AI prevention and pandemic planning during 2008.

The Ministerial meeting in Egypt is supported by many bodies including the European Union, United Nations, WHO, United States international aid (USAID), the World Bank, the two major global animal health organisations (OIE & FAO) and the African Union.

The focus is to assess the current epidemiological situation and progress since Delhi, and review the effectiveness of the strategies applied and remap the way forward in global avian and pandemic flu preparedness and response for 2009.

A group from the UN Development programme (UNDP) is in the process of preparing a report for the meeting. Its last report is available at http://www.undg.org/docs/8097/12-18-07-UN-WB-AHI-Progress-Report-final.doc

A web-site for the conference in Egypt has now been activated http://www.imcapi2008.gov.eg/
--

<cite cite="http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_Topics/influenza/news/news_Influenza_081016.aspx">http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_Topics/influenza/news/news_Influenza_081016.aspx</cite>

Gert van der Hoek · Oct 17, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

Seasonal Influenza ? European Status

Summary: Levels of influenza activity in Europe are low, with all countries reporting no or only sporadic influenza activity in week 41/2008.

There have been sporadic laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in weeks 40-41/2008: 12 cases of influenza A and one case of influenza B.

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_Topics/influenza/news/news_Influenza_081016.aspx#Seasonal

Giuseppe · Oct 17, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 41 : 06/10/2008-12/10/2008 - 17 October 2008, Issue N. 275 - Continuing low levels of influenza activity in Europe

EISS - Weekly Electronic Bulletin Week 41 : 06/10/2008-12/10/2008 - 17 October 2008, Issue N. 275 - Continuing low levels of influenza activity in Europe

? Summary:
Levels of influenza activity in Europe are low, with all countries reporting no or only sporadic influenza activity in week 41/2008.

There have been sporadic laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in weeks 40-41/2008: 12 cases of influenza A and one case of influenza B.

? Epidemiological situation - week 41/2008:
For the intensity indicator, the national network levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) and/or acute respiratory infection (ARI) were low in all of the 26 countries providing these data. For the geographical spread indicator, sporadic influenza activity was reported in two countries (England and Sweden) and no activity in 24 countries.

? Cumulative epidemiological situation - 2008-2009 season (since week 40/2008):
So far this season, the consultation rates for ILI and/or ARI are at levels usually seen outside the winter period (e.g. below the national baseline threshold).

? Virological situation - week 41/2008:
The total number of respiratory specimens collected by sentinel physicians in week 41/2008 was 159, of which two (1.3%) were influenza virus positive [types A (H1) and A (H3), respectively].
In addition, five influenza virus detections were reported from non-sentinel sources (e.g. specimens collected for diagnostic purposes in hospitals), of which four were type A not subtyped and one was type B.

? Cumulative virological situation - 2008-2009 season (since week 40/2008):
In the first two weeks of the current season, 13 influenza viruses were detected in three countries: eight in England, three in Spain and two in Sweden. Of the detected viruses, eight were type A not subtyped, two type A subtype H1, two type A subtype H3 and one type B.

? Comment:
There have only been a few sporadic laboratory confirmed cases of influenza reported to EISS in this surveillance season (the past two weeks). Hence, it is currently too early to comment on which virus type or subtype may become dominant in Europe this season.

? Background:
The Weekly Electronic Bulletin presents and comments on influenza activity in the 30 European countries that are members of EISS.
In week 41/2008, 26 countries reported clinical data and 25 countries reported virological data to EISS.

The spread of influenza virus strains and their epidemiological impact in Europe are being monitored by EISS under the responsibility of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm (Sweden) in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre in London (United Kingdom).

? Map
The map presents the intensity of influenza activity and the geographical spread as assessed by each of the networks in EISS.

<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From TABLES</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From TABLES</td></tr></tbody></table>

A = Dominant virus A
H1N1 = Dominant virus A(H1N1)
H3N2 = Dominant virus A(H3N2)
H1N2 = Dominant virus A(H1N2)
B = Dominant virus B
A & B = Dominant virus A & B
= : stable clinical activity
+ : increasing clinical activity
- : decreasing clinical activity
Low = no influenza activity or influenza at baseline levels
Medium = usual levels of influenza activity
High = higher than usual levels of influenza activity
Very high = particularly severe levels of influenza activity
No activity = no evidence of influenza virus activity (clinical activity remains at baseline levels)
Sporadic = isolated cases of laboratory confirmed influenza infection
Local outbreak = increased influenza activity in local areas (e.g. a city) within a region,or outbreaks in two or more institutions (e.g. schools) within a region. Laboratory confirmed.
Regional activity = influenza activity above baseline levels in one or more regions witha population comprising less than 50% of the country's total population. Laboratory confirmed.
Widespread = influenza activity above baseline levels in one or more regions with a populationcomprising 50% or more of the country's population. Laboratory confirmed.

Finland : Where available, the epidemiological data are provided by a health-care district in South-Western Finland (the health-care district serves 54,000 inhabitants i.e. approximately onepercent of the Finnish population).

? Network comments (where available)
-- Switzerland: No activity detected last week.
-
----

<cite cite="http://www.eiss.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi">EISS - Bulletin Review</cite>

Commonground · Oct 21, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

October 21, 2008
CDC reports the first influenza death this year

TAIPEI, Taiwan ?? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday that the first death from influenza this year was reported last week in southern Taiwan, and it urged people at high risk to get free flu vaccines before the end of November.

According to CDC Deputy Minister Lin Ting, the patient was a 75-year-old woman who fell ill on Oct. 13 and died three days later of influenza with the complication of pneumonia.

?It is a pity that the woman did not get a free flu shot,? said Lin, noting that the first influenza death occurred this year much earlier than in previous years.

Lin said that the flu epidemic generally begins in October and peaks around the Christmas holidays, before receding in February.
-snip-
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/10/21/179562/CDC-reports.htm

HenryN · Oct 23, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

October 5, 2008 to October 11, 2008 (Week 41)
FluWatch
Low levels of influenza activity continue to be reported in Canada; no new
laboratory detections reported this week
During week 41, influenza activity in Canada remained low with the majority of the influenza surveillance regions
reporting no activity and only six regions (in NS, QC, ON & AB) reported sporadic influenza activity (see map).
No specimens tested positive for influenza in Canada this week (percentage positive = 0%; 0/1,167) (see table).
In week 41, the ILI consultation rate was 18 ILI consultations per 1,000 patient visits (see ILI graph), and is
within the expected range for this week. The sentinel response rate has been slowly increasing over the last
several weeks but remained low at 47% for this week. Fluctuations in ILI consultation rates are expected during
periods of low influenza activity and low sentinel participation. No new influenza outbreaks were reported in
week 41.
Antigenic Characterization:
Since 1 September 2008, National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) has antigenically characterized three
influenza viruses: one influenza A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like and two influenza B/Florida/4/2006 viruses,
which are the influenza A(H1N1) and influenza B components recommended for the 2008-09 influenza vaccine.
(see pie chart)
Antiviral Resistance:
The testing results showed that the influenza A(H1N1) isolate was sensitive to amantadine, however, it was
resistant to oseltamivir due to the H274Y mutation. Both of the influenza B viruses tested were found to be
sensitive to oseltamivir.
Influenza-associated Paediatric Hospitalizations:
No laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated paediatric hospitalizations have been reported through the
Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT) network for the 2008-09 season.
International:

WHO:

During the weeks 39 and 40, overall influenza activity in the southern hemisphere continued to decline. Activity was

low in the rest of the world.

<HTTP: update en influenza disease csr www.who.int />

CDC:

During week 40, overall influenza activity was low with the majority of the states reporting no activity and only 7

states reported sporadic activity. Of the 1,123 specimens tested for influenza viruses in week 40, 8 (0.7%) were positive.
From May 18 - September 27, 2008, the CDC antigenically characterized 6 influenza viruses: 4 influenza A(H1), 1
influenza A(H3), and 1 influenza B. All six viruses are antigenically similar to the components selected for the 2008-09
influenza vaccine. CDC performed oseltamivir and zanamivir resistance testing on 10 influenza A and B viruses collected
since May 18. Two of the 6 influenza A(H1N1) viruses tested were found to be resistant to oseltamivir and the influenza
A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses tested were sensitive to oseltamivir. All tested viruses retain their sensitivity to zanamivir.
Of the 6 influenza A viruses collected since May 18 that were tested for adamantane resistance, 1 influenza A(H3N2)

virus and 1 of the 5 influenza A (H1N1) viruses tested were resistant.

<HTTP: weekly flu www.cdc.gov />

EISS:

In week 41, levels of influenza activity in Europe were low, with all countries reporting no or only sporadic influenza

activity. Since week 40, 13 influenza viruses were detected of which 8 were influenza A not subtyped, 2 were influenza
A(H1), 2 were influenza A(H3) and 1 was influenza B. It is currently too early to determine which virus type or subtype may
become dominant in Europe this season. <

http://www.eiss.org/cgi-files/bulletin_v2.cgi>

Human Avian Influenza:

No new cases of human H5N1 avian influenza infection have been reported by the WHO since

10 September 2008.

<HTTP: en disease csr www.who.int index.html avian_influenza>

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2009 southern hemisphere influenza
season:
It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2009 influenza season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:
– an A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus
– an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus
– a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus

<http://www.who.int/wer/2008/wer8341/en/index.html>
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/08-09/w41_08/pdf/fw2008-41-eng.pdf

Giuseppe · Oct 23, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

EUROPEAN CENTRE OF DISEASES PREVENTION AND CONTROL (ECDC) - INFLUENZA NEWS (EXCERTPS)

[EUROPEAN CENTRE OF DISEASES PREVENTION AND CONTROL (ECDC) - INFLUENZA NEWS (EXCERPTS)

* Scientific advances - SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES ? PANDEMIC INFLUENZA - VACCINES

-- Influenza vaccine safety monitoring ? the US experience.

Iskander J, Broder K.

- Monitoring the safety of annual and pandemic influenza vaccines: lessons from the US experience Expert review of vaccines. 2008 Feb; 7(1):75-82

Description:
In this paper authors from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discuss the issues concerning how broad and focused vaccine safety surveillance and research will be undertaken both for seasonal and for pandemic vaccines when deployed on a large scale in a pandemic.

They point out the experience from 1976-77 in the USA when severe adverse events Guillain-Barre syndrome were associated with deployment of an influenza vaccine and how this then halted an emergency vaccination campaign.(1)

They argue that the role of public health officials is to monitor unexpected and rare events during a national vaccination program, because recent experience suggests that detection of common nonserious adverse event following immunization occurs quite frequently, but can be planned for.

They argue that existing United States vaccine safety surveillance infrastructure (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System VAERS, Vaccine Safety Datalink VSD) may need to be enhanced in order to be able to provide large amounts of safety data in a timely manner, as may be needed during a prepandemic or pandemic vaccine campaign.

ECDC Comment: (23/10/08)
The circumstances and challenge described by CDC for the United States would apply also in Europe either with seasonal influenza vaccines or more especially human avian influenza (?per-pandemic?) vaccines (HAIVs) and specific pandemic vaccines (SPVs).

With seasonal influenza vaccines adverse events, seemingly associated with immunisation, occur on occasion and always need careful investigation.(2)

Though its rare to find a causative relationship these events are disruptive to vaccination programmes both where they occur and in other countries through media reporting. In the event of a pandemic SPVs and HAIVs would be offered to large numbers of people rapidly. While there would be some safety experience with the HAIVs this would be for a limited number of people and by definition there would be hardly any experience with the SPVs which would be being prepared rapidly and mass distributed.

By chance alone there would be adverse events taking place in association with these immunisations. It is easy to imagine that these could be perceived as having a causative relationship with vaccination and of course there would always be the possibility that this was a real relationship.(1)

The challenge for Europe would be as for the United States, namely to quickly assess reported associations and investigate and analyse those that have epidemiological and biological plausibility.

This will only be possible with pre-planning and investigations could probably not be left to vaccine producers alone if the results are to have credibility.

1. Schonberger LB, Bergman DJ, Sullivan-Bolyai JZ, et al. Guillain-Barr? syndrome following vaccination in the National Influenza Immunization Program, United States, 1976-1977. Am J Epidemiol. 1979;110:105-123.
2. ECDC Risk Assessment October 2006 ? Four sudden deaths in elderly patients associated with use of influenza vaccine in Israel.

* Public Health Developments

-- An International Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Strategy published by the UK Government

Ahead of the International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza in Egypt 24-26 October (see next item) the UK Government has this week published an international strategy on pandemic preparedness demonstrating a cross government approach for the next three to five years. ?

* Meetings and workshops

-- International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. 24-26 October 2008.

This meeting organised by the Government of Egypt is the sixth in a series of high level meetings that began in Washington in October 2005, followed by Beijing (January 2006), Vienna (June 2006) Bamako (December 2006) and Delhi (November 2007).

The Delhi meeting established a Road Map for countries to progress AI prevention and pandemic planning during 2008.

The Ministerial meeting in Egypt is supported by many bodies including the European Union, United Nations, WHO, United States international aid (USAID), the World Bank, the two major global animal health organisations (OIE & FAO) and the African Union.

The focus is to assess the current epidemiological situation and progress since Delhi, and review the effectiveness of the strategies applied and remap the way forward in global avian and pandemic flu preparedness and response for 2009.

A group from the UN Development programme (UNDP) is in the process of preparing a report for the meeting.

Its last report is available at http://www.undg.org/docs/8097/12-18-07-UN-WB-AHI-Progress-Report-final.doc

A web-site for the conference in Egypt has now been activated http://www.imcapi2008.gov.eg/

-- Retroscreen Virology Conference - Medical, Scientific and Historical Lessons from the Great Avian (H1N1) "Spanish" Influenza Pandemic of 1918: The 90th Anniversary 10th November 2008 at The Imperial War Museum - London

This conference specifically considers the first World War and the start of the Spanish Influenza pandemic.

Specifically did the war itself engender the emergence of this avian influenza A(H1N1)?

Are there serious lessons from that pandemic to help today as we prepare for 21st century pandemics?

Details are at http://www.retroscreen.com/rv/news/rel/allnews_rel/2008/2008-09-08/

-- International Workshop - Ethical Issues in European National Preparedness for andemical Influenza, Paris, 20-21 November 2008

A web-site with registration details are at http://www.espace-ethique.org/fr/pandemic_ethics_november_2008.php

-- European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Berlin 19-21 November 2008.

The second annual European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology ? ESCAIDE ? is fast approaching.

The event is being held in Berlin from 19-21 November, and over 500 health experts from across Europe and beyond are expected to come together to share scientific knowledge and experience on all areas related to infectious disease epidemiology.

It is possible to register for the conference for a reduced fee of 100 Euros- the deadline for early registration is 1st October. It is also still possible to submit a ?late breaker abstract? to the conference- the deadline for submission is 29th September.

Details of the full conference programme, participant registration, and abstract submission can be found on the ESCAIDE website
-

<cite cite="http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_Topics/influenza/news/news_Influenza_081023.aspx">http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Health_Topics/influenza/news/news_Influenza_081023.aspx</cite>

HenryN · Oct 23, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/10230801/H274Y_Canada.html

HenryN · Oct 24, 2008

Re: Seasonal Flu 2008 - 2009

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=782 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=1 bgColor=#0063c8 height=3></TD><TD width=1 bgColor=black height=1>