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United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

Giuseppe

Giuseppe

Emeritus
Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC):

On FT: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=381639&postcount=1
On ECDC: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/public...UR_Weekly_Influenza_Surveillance_Overview.pdf


Weekly influenza surveillance overview - 10 December 2010

(...)

Country comments

* Norway:
o Thirteen of the 17 influenza B detections in week 48 were from a single county in south-eastern Norway suggesting a local outbreak.
* Finland:
o Six 2009 pandemic A(H1N1) viruses were detected in one army training center.
* UK (England):
o Although general practitioner consultation rates remain low, several outbreaks and severe hospitalised cases have been reported indicating influenza transmission in the community.
o Several severe cases of influenza have been reported in the last two weeks resulting in an increase in ICU bed occupancy and in the provision of beds used for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and some related deaths were reported.
o The majority of these patients are under 65 years of age.
o Further information can be found on the Health Protection Agency website: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1284475022603

(...)
-
------
 
Swine flu: it's back

Swine flu: it's back

Hat tip stephensons:tiphat:

Swine flu: it's back

H1N1 virus returns, already claiming lives of 10 British adults with early signs that illness has spread to other European countries

By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Saturday, 11 December 2010


The Swine flu virus that swept the world last year causing a global health emergency has returned to claim the lives of 10 adults in the UK in the past six weeks


The swine flu virus that swept the world last year causing a global health emergency has returned to claim the lives of 10 adults in the UK in the past six weeks.

The 10 deaths were in younger adults under 65 and associated with H1N1 swine flu. Most had underlying conditions but "a small proportion" were healthy before being struck down by the virus, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Seasonal flu normally causes severe illness and death in the elderly. The H1N1 swine flu virus targets pregnant women, younger adults, and those with chronic conditions, making it a cause of particular alarm.

No other similar reports of deaths linked with swine flu have been received from elsewhere in Europe. Official figures show GP consultations for flu-like illness in England were at 13.3 per 100,000 population last week, well below baseline levels.

Flu experts expressed surprise at the relatively high incidence of deaths and severe illness in the context of the low consultation rates. John Watson, head of respiratory diseases at the Health Protection Agency, said: "We seem to be in the vanguard on this. Other European countries are just beginning to see some H1N1 activity."

Calls to NHS Direct and other indicators show there is "quite a lot" of H1N1 swine flu about, despite the low GP consultation rate.

Around 30 per cent of those who fell ill, went to their GP and got tested for the virus, were coming up positive for H1N1, which was a high rate. Flu was very difficult to predict, Dr Watson added. "I am a little surprised to see as much activity as we seem to be seeing – both in terms of its spread in the community and its severity. I don't see it as being extraordinary but it is more than I would have expected."

All parts of the country are affected with deaths reported from each region, according to the HPA. There were nine flu outbreaks last week, eight in schools and one in an army barracks in Yorkshire.

Pressure has been building on intensive care in recent days with the worst affected patients treated on Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machines which bypass the lungs to artificially oxygenate the blood. "A good many intensive care units are seeing severely ill cases including some using ECMO beds," Dr Watson said.

(...more...)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s.../health-news/swine-flu-its-back-2157407.html?
 
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Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

Anybody got more information on this ? Regions ? There hasn't been anything at all int he news on this.
 
H1N1 virus returns, claiming lives of 10 UK adults

H1N1 virus returns, claiming lives of 10 UK adults

Doctors shocked by spread of swine flu ? and its severity

H1N1 virus returns, already claiming lives of 10 British adults with early signs that illness has spread to other European countries

By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Saturday, 11 December 2010



The swine flu virus that swept the world last year causing a global health emergency has returned to claim the lives of 10 adults in the UK in the past six weeks.


The 10 deaths were in younger adults under 65 and associated with H1N1 swine flu. Most had underlying conditions but "a small proportion" were healthy before being struck down by the virus, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
....

Five of the 10 adults who died for whom information was available had not received the flu vaccine, the HPA said.

....
article continues at; http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...swine-flu-ndash-and-its-severity-2157407.html
 
Re: H1N1 virus returns, claiming lives of 10 UK adults

Re: H1N1 virus returns, claiming lives of 10 UK adults

To clarify the last line above; Vaccination information was only available for five of the fatal cases, all of whom had been unvaccinated. No information was available for the other five.

"None of the five fatal cases with information available had received the 2010/11 seasonal influenza, or the 2009 monovalent pandemic influenza vaccine."

http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1287146267647
 
Re: Swine flu: it's back

Re: Swine flu: it's back

Vaccine call after swine flu deaths

Dec 11 2010

Health chiefs have urged people to take up the flu vaccine after it emerged that the swine flu virus which swept the country last year has claimed the lives of 10 adults in the UK in the past six weeks.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed that the deaths were in younger adults under 65 and associated with H1N1 swine flu.

Most had underlying conditions but "a small proportion" were healthy before contracting the virus, a spokeswoman said.

The deaths came against a background of a low rate of doctor visits. GP consultations for flu-like illness in England were 13.3 per 100,000 population last week.

Read more





Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/u...wine-flu-deaths-91466-27808945/#ixzz17oWrJmKn
 
Re: Swine flu: it's back

Re: Swine flu: it's back

Swine flu is back

science Saturday, December 11, 2010 . This is a SciScoop post by David Bradley

Just now on BBC Radio 4, ten people (with underlying health problems) have died of swine flu (H1N1) within the last six weeks. A man is currently beeing treated for the disease in the intensive care unit of the Southport and Formby District General Hospital in Merseyside. The health authority says it has admitted several patients with H1N1 since mid-October, according to the BBC.

The Independent newspaper reports that doctors are ?shocked? by the spread of the disease, especially given that several of those afflicted were not suffering from any underlying health condition.

Source: http://www.sciscoop.com/swine-flu-i...Sciscoop-Science-Forum+(SciScoop+Science+Blog)
 
Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

Notice to contributors by IOH: I merged all three threads opened about this incident in UK, with the purpose to focusing better the attention of both readers and members. :)
 
Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

It is useful to show the latest ECDC influenza update paragraph about severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) reported during current week and the cumulative number since the beginning of 2010-11 winter season (source: ECDC, http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/public...UR_Weekly_Influenza_Surveillance_Overview.pdf.)

(...)

Hospital surveillance ? severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) - Weekly analysis ? SARI

In addition to Romania, which has reported 43 SARI cases since week 37/2010, Slovakia has reported its first case.

Belgium retroactively notified 227 cases.

During week 48/2010, 33 SARI cases were reported: 24 in Belgium, eight in Romania and one in Slovakia. The gender ratio (male/female) was 1.5 and no information was available regarding the possible causative pathogens. Four cases were admitted to the intensive care unit and all cases needed respiratory support. The vaccination status of nine patients was known and eight of them were not vaccinated. Of the eight patients for whom information was available, three had no underlying conditions and four were infants less than two years old. No related fatalities were reported.


Table 4: Cumulative number of SARI cases, weeks 40/2010 - week 48/2010

[Country - Number of cases - Incidence of SARI cases per 100,000 population - Number of fatal cases reported - Incidence of fatal cases per 100,000 population - Estimated population covered]

  • Belgium - 227 - ... - ... - ... - ...
  • Romania - 43 - 0.67 - ... - ... - 6.413.821
  • Slovakia - 1 - ... - ... - ... - ...
  • Total - 271 - ... - ... - ... - ...
(...)


Table 5: Number of SARI cases by age and gender, week 48/2010

[Age groups - Male - Female]

  • Under 2 - 13 - 6
  • 2-17 - 5 - 4
  • >=60 - 2 - 3
  • Total - 20 - 13

Table 6: Number of SARI cases by influenza type and subtype, week 48/2010

[Virus type/subtype - Number of cases during current week - Cumulative number of cases since the start of the season]

  • Influenza A - ... - ...
  • A (pandemic H1N1) - ... - ...
  • A(subtyping not performed) - ... - ...
  • A(H3) - ... - ...
  • A(H1) - ... - ...
  • A(H5) - ... - ...
  • Influenza B - ... - ...
  • Unknown 33 - 268
  • Total 33 - 268

Table 7. Number of SARI cases by antiviral treatment, week 48/2010

[Antiviral treatment - Number of patients who received prophylaxis - Number of patients who received anti-viral treatment]

  • Oseltamivir - ... - 1
  • Other (or combinations with other) - 1 - 1
  • Unknown - 24 - 24
  • None - 8 - 7
  • Total - 33 - 33

Table 8. Number of SARI cases by level of care and respiratory support, week 48/2010

[Respiratory support - ICU - Inpatient ward - Other - Unknown]

  • No respiratory support necessary - ... - 2 - ... - ...
  • Oxygen therapy - 3 - 3 - ... - ...
  • Respiratory support given unknown - 1 - ... - 24 - ...

Table 9. Number of SARI cases by vaccination status, week 48/2010

[Vaccination Status - Number Of Cases - Percentage of cases]

  • Not full pandemic vaccination - 0 - 0
  • Not vaccinated - 8 - 24
  • Seasonal vaccination - 1 - 3
  • Unknown - 24 - 73
  • TOTAL - 33 - ...

Table 10. Number of underlying conditions in SARI cases by age group, week 48/2010

[Underlying condition/risk factor - Infant below 2 years - 2-17 years - 18-44 years - 45-59 years - >=60 years]

  • Asthma - 1 - 1 - ... - ... - ...
  • Chronic heart disease - ... - ... - ... - ... - 1
  • Chronic lung disease - 1 - ... - ... - ... - ...
  • Neuromuscular disorder - ... - ... - ... - ... - 1
  • No underlying condition - 2 - ... - ... - ... - 1
  • Other (please specify separately) - ... - 1 - ... - ... - ...
  • Underlying condition unknown - 15 - 7 - ... - ... - 2
(...)
-
------
 
Ten dead as H1N1 flu returns to Britain

Ten dead as H1N1 flu returns to Britain

Source: http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE6BA1RD20101211

Ten dead as H1N1 flu returns to Britain
Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:48am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - The H1N1 swine flu virus which swept the globe last year has returned to Britain with 10 people dying in the last six weeks, health officials said Saturday.

Britain's Health Protection Agency said the 10 deaths had occurred in adults all under the age of 65, most of whom had underlying health issues...
 
UK - Ten deaths raise fears of a new swine flu epidemic

UK - Ten deaths raise fears of a new swine flu epidemic

Ten deaths raise fears of a new swine flu epidemic

By Jo Macfarlane
Last updated at 11:36 PM on 11th December 2010

Ten people have died after contracting the swine flu virus in the past six weeks.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) officials have confirmed the H1N1 virus that caused last year?s global pandemic is circulating again this winter.

The deaths have occurred across England and most of those affected, although not all, had underlying health problems before coming into contact with the virus...


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...s-raise-fears-new-epidemic.html#ixzz17r1sIxZS
 
Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

The reporter in the story in post #13 incorrectly states;
"Five of the ten adults had received the flu vaccine."

This is not what has been reported by the HPA. The HPA reports that vaccination information was available only for 5 cases and that each of those was unvaccinated. There is no available information on the other 5.

"None of the five fatal cases with information available had received the 2010/11 seasonal influenza, or the 2009 monovalent pandemic influenza vaccine."

http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1287146267647

This mistake is now being picked up and propagated - next thing we know there will be cries of "vaccine escape". Oh Dear.

http://fluboard.rhizalabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=109&start=160
 
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Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

Is there anywhere we can find out how many people have actually had flu so far ?
 
Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

thanks very much :tiphat:
 
Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

Vaccine uptake in the UK was low last year, and the media and individuals felt (by and large) that the pandemic was a non event - deaths and severe illness incidents were not generally reported in the media, and fatalities were attributed to underlying disease wherever possible.

Overall the perception has been that the pandemic vaccine purchase and Tamiflu help line etc was a waste of time and money - except by people who became unwell.

As the pandemic has been declared over there is an erroneous perception by the majority of the population that the virus was very mild and has now gone away. Individudals catching flu are more likely to struggle to work than stay at home - the 'Stay at Home' message is absent from communications this year. As a result, I fully expect H1N1 flu to spread rapidly to susceptible individuals in the UK - aside and apart from issues associated with H3 and Flu B infections.

I am seeking seroprevalence data (rather than incidence estimates) to see what proportion of individudals are likely to really have immunity to H1N1. Put all these factors together and I am fully expecting a major flu epidemic in the UK this year, that will hit hospitals hard as pandemic management plans (and additional funding thereof) are no longer in place.

The seasonal trivalent vaccine is reserved in the UK solely for the normal profile of patients, namely those over 65 and those with pre-existing conditions. Individual surgeries advance order vaccine for the individuals meeting these critieria each year - and vaccine supplies normally run out by about this time each year. In other words, it is a bit late for a vaccine response for UK populations as orders cannot be increased unless there has been excess production this year. The lead time for additional vaccine production is quite long.
 
Re: United Kingdom, England: Increase in ICU bed occupancy reported and ECMO provision, some deaths (from ECDC, Dec. 10 2010)

In his commentary, ProMed viral diseases moderator Craig Pringle said:

''Time will tell whether this an alarmist piece of journalism or a
portent of things to come. - Mod.CP''
Click to expand...

Source: ProMedMail.org, (2): http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,86201


I agree.

The 2010 southern hemisphere winter seasonal influenza epidemics demonstrated wide variability among regions and countries but almost everywhere the H1N1 (2009) former pandemic influenza virus had lower activity with respect full pandemic 2009-2010 waves, with less morbidity and mortality.

Some countries experienced a late season activity, like Chile and Argentina, with co-circulation of H1N1 (2009), A/H3N2 and type B influenza viruses.

H3N2 and B were dominating strains in some regions although elsewhere H1N1 (2009) was more active, like in New Zealand.

Overall, the impact on health care system seemed lower than in 2009-2010 pandemic waves.

Since influenza is almost unpredictable, it is possible a different scenario during northern hemisphere winter season, but a lot depends by influenza vaccine intake among population, weather conditions and other variables rather than a sudden shift in virus intrinsic virulence, at least until there will be evidences of this. (IOH)
 
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