| H1N1 / Avian / Pandemic Flu News |
| 12.08.09 |
National Institues of Health |
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New York Autopsies Show 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus Damages Entire Airway
In fatal cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the virus can damage cells throughout
the respiratory airway, much like the viruses that caused the 1918 and
1957 influenza pandemics, report researchers from the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) and the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner. |
| 11.10.09 |
US FDA |
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Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, today sent a letter to America’s healthcare professionals thanking them for their efforts
during the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak and providing information on the
safety of the 2009 H1N1 vaccines.
"Some of your patients may be asking how the FDA, the manufacturers
and the scientific community can have confidence in vaccines that were
available just six months after the 2009 H1N1 virus emerged," Dr.
Hamburg wrote. "Understanding more about the manufacturing and approval
process for these vaccines should help you to answer their questions."
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| 11.05.09 |
American Medical Association |
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In contrast with some common perceptions regarding 2009 influenza A(H1N1)
infections, an examination of cases in California indicates that hospitalization
and death can occur at all ages, and about 30 percent of hospitalized cases
have been severe enough to require treatment in an intensive care unit,
according to a study in the November 4 issue of JAMA.
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| 11.04.09 |
California Nurses Association |
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In a dramatic settlement seen as a novel pattern for the nation, the nation's
largest nurses union and professional association, and one of the country's
biggest hospital systems, today announced a landmark agreement that sets
a national standard on containing the spread of pandemics such as H1N1
"swine flu".
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National Institutes of Health |
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Healthy pregnant women mount a robust immune response following just one
dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, according to initial results from
an ongoing clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy
and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health.
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| 10.28.09 |
US DHS |
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Increased demand during a severe pandemic could exceed the capacities of
Internet providers’ access networks for residential users and interfere
with teleworkers in the securities market and other sectors, according
to a DHS study and providers. Private Internet providers have limited
ability to prioritize traffic or take other actions that could assist critical
teleworkers. Some actions, such as reducing customers’ transmission speeds
or blocking popular Web sites, could negatively impact e-commerce and require
government authorization.
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| 10.21.09 |
US FDA |
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On October 15, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a joint warning letter to a Web site marketing fraudulent supplements that claim to help prevent
the spread of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.
The warning letter, the first to be issued jointly by the agencies, advises
the owners of the site that they must discontinue the fraudulent marketing
of their product or face legal action.
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Business Wire |
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As we head into a flu season where the 2009 H1N1 swine flu is expected
to cause increased sickness, hospitalization and deaths across the U.S.,
something as simple as inaccurate body temperature measurements may lead
to social and economic turmoil – and may cause many more deaths.
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| 10.19.09 |
USDA |
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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA's National
Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed the presence of 2009
pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in a pig sample collected at the Minnesota
State Fair submitted by the University of Minnesota. Additional samples
are being tested.
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| 10.16.09 |
University of California |
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University of California, Davis, researchers studying the 2009 H1N1 influenza
virus, formerly referred to as "swine flu," have identified a
group of immunologically important sites on the virus that are also present
in seasonal flu viruses that have been circulating for years. These molecular
sites appear to result in some level of immunity to the new virus in people
who were exposed to the earlier influenza viruses.
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| 10.13.09 |
AP / Google News |
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U.S. health officials have lost track of how many illnesses and deaths
have been caused by the first global flu epidemic in 40 years.
And they did it on purpose.
Government doctors stopped counting swine flu cases in July, when they
estimated more than 1 million were infected in this country. The number
of deaths has been sitting at more than 600 since early September.
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Medical News Today |
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Critical illness among Canadian patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) occurred
rapidly after hospital admission, often in young adults, and was associated
with severely low levels of oxygen in the blood, multi-system organ failure,
a need for prolonged mechanical ventilation, and frequent use of rescue
therapies, according to a study to appear in the November 4 issue of JAMA.
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| 9.27.09 |
Orlando Sentinel |
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More than 70 students stayed home from a special-needs Lake County school
today after flu cases were reported earlier this week, county health officials
said.
About 72 students stayed home today from Lake Hills School after 22 students
had flu-like symptoms Monday, Lake County Health Department spokeswoman
Sheri Hutchinson said.
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| 9.26.09 |
University of Michigan Health System |
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With schools back in session, H1N1 flu has become more active across the
United States—especially among children. A new vaccine against H1N1 flu—strongly
recommended for kids—has been tested and is expected to be available in
October. But will parents get their children vaccinated?
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| 9.15.09 |
US Food and Drug Administration |
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has approved
four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccines will
be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available, which
is expected within the next four weeks.
“Today's approval is good news for our nation's response to the 2009 H1N1
influenza virus,” said Commissioner of Food and Drugs Margaret A. Hamburg,
M.D. “This vaccine will help protect individuals from serious illness and
death from influenza.”
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |
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We are encouraged by reports that are now emerging from various clinical
trials of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines, conducted by various vaccine manufacturers.
We expect additional companies to announce their preliminary trial results
shortly. The early data from these trials indicate that 2009 H1N1 influenza
vaccines are well tolerated and induce a strong immune response in most
healthy adults when administered in a single unadjuvanted 15-microgram
dose. We congratulate the companies on these trials, which are an important
part of the ongoing worldwide effort to develop vaccines to protect the
public from 2009 H1N1 influenza.
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| 9.14.09 |
National Institutes of Health |
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The first trial testing a candidate 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in pregnant
women is launching this week, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, announced
today.
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Alabama Dept of Public Health |
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“We are still in the acceleration phase of H1N1 influenza, and there has
been almost logarithmic
growth in its incidence,” said Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer
at a joint news
conference with State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton Tuesday.
“Looking at our
schools, three weeks ago 20 percent of schools had more than 5 percent
absenteeism, and now
54 percent of schools have absenteeism rates of this level. On a positive
note, relatively few
schools have more than 20 percent absenteeism and this seems to be stabilizing.”
|
| 9.12.09 |
Harvard School of Public Health |
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In a national survey of businesses that looks at their preparations for
a possible widespread H1N1 outbreak, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
researchers found that only one-third believe they could sustain their
business without severe operational problems if half their workforce were
absent for two weeks due to H1N1 (also known as "swine flu").
Just one-fifth believe they could avoid such problems for one month with
half their employees out.
|
| 9.04.09 |
University of Leicester |
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Results from the first swine-flu vaccine trials taking place in Leicester
reveal a strong immune response after just one dose. The pilot study, run
by the University of Leicester and Leicester Hospitals, was trialled with
100 healthy volunteers, aged between 18 and 50.
|
| 9.03.09 |
KCRA3.com |
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a serious warning Tuesday about the H1N1
flu virus, predicting that one in four Californians -- or about 9 million
people -- may get the bug this fall and winter.
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Flu.gov |
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Assessment of the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Outbreak on Selected Countries
in the Southern Hemisphere
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| 9.02.09 |
University of Maryland |
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A laboratory study by University of Maryland researchers suggests that
some of the worst fears about a virulent H1N1 pandemic flu season may not
be realized this year, but does demonstrate the heightened communicability
of the virus.
|
| 9.01.09 |
Indiana State Department of Health |
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The Indiana State Department of Health continues to monitor pandemic H1N1
influenza in the state. The State Labs are only confirming influenza samples
submitted from influenza sentinel physicians or from flu-related deaths.
State health officials say any current flu activity is most likely the
novel H1N1 flu, and additional confirmatory testing is not necessary.
|
| 8.30.09 |
California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee |
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A patient health and safety survey of 190 American hospitals from coast
to coast compiled by registered nurses in nine different states finds that
a disturbing number of our nation’s healthcare facilities are not prepared
for the coming H1N1/swine flu pandemic, according to results released today
by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.
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| 8.29.09 |
World Health Organization |
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WHO is advising countries in the northern hemisphere to prepare for a second
wave of pandemic spread. Countries with tropical climates, where the pandemic
virus arrived later than elsewhere, also need to prepare for an increasing
number of cases.
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| 8.26.09 |
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News |
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An MIT Sloan School of Management expert on U.S. vaccine markets is “cautiously
hopeful” that public and private sector players are far better prepared
for North America’s upcoming flu season than they have been for earlier
flu pandemics.
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| 8.25.09 |
US Food and Drug Administration |
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it has issued an
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) that allows a 2009 H1N1 influenza virus
test to be used to detect the virus in troops serving overseas.
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Foxnews |
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The H1N1 flu virus could cause as many as 30,000 and 90,000 deaths in the
United States and "poses a serious health threat" the Obama administration's
advisory group on Science and Technology said in a report released Monday.
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China Post |
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The global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up
in the coming months and governments must boost preparations for a swift
response to a coming “explosion” of cases, the World Health Organization
said Friday.
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| 8.24.09 |
Dept of Health and Human Services |
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Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
and Department of Education (ED) Secretary Arne Duncan joined with Dr.
Beth Bell, Deputy Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory
Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to announce
new guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) to plan for and
respond to the upcoming flu season.
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| 8.22.09 |
CNS News |
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The global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up
in coming months and governments must boost preparations for a swift response,
the World Health Organization said Friday.
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Modern Medicine |
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Schoolchildren and their parents should receive priority for flu vaccines
(both seasonal and swine flu) because they are primarily responsible for
transmission, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in Science.
|
| 8.21.09 |
Elsevier Global Medical News |
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An independent safety monitoring committee recommended Aug. 18 that trials
of a candidate vaccine against the novel influenza A(H1N1) virus begin
in children, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
has announced.
|
| 8.20.09 |
Federal Planning Guidelines for Employers for Upcoming flu Season |
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Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced new
guidance for businesses to plan for and respond to the upcoming flu season.
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| 8.19.09 |
Daily Mail Reporter |
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Doctors have been put on alert for a deadly disease linked to swine flu
jabs.
The Health Protection Agency has told neurologists to look out for a rise
in Guillain-Barr Syndrome - in which paralysis of the breathing muscles
can cause death by suffocation - when vaccination starts in the next few
weeks.
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Canadian Medical Association Journal editorial |
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We must not underestimate an enemy like pandemic (H1N1) 2009, especially
now. This influenza pandemic has already created havoc in communities worldwide,
including some in Canada. The virus’s place of origin, the speed of its
spread and the severity of the illness in otherwise healthy people could
not be foreseen before the initial outbreaks, even by experts.
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| 8.18.09 |
NewScientist |
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As the swine flu pandemic continues to sweep the world, what do public
health officials, epidemiologists and flu researchers think will happen
in the coming months?
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| 8.15.09 |
San Diego Union Tribune |
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With a more intense wave of swine flu expected to hit this fall, San Diego's
ambulance provider this month has begun sanitizing its rigs with a new
fogging machine to prevent viruses and bacteria from gaining a foothold
in the vehicles.
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Associated Press |
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The number of American troops in Iraq diagnosed with swine flu has climbed
to 67, making U.S. soldiers the largest group in the country to come down
with the potentially deadly virus, Iraqi health officials said Wednesday.
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| 8.13.09 |
Baltimore Sun |
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Kevin Stranen left his home in Philadelphia at 5 a.m. Monday eager to make
it to Baltimore to roll up his sleeve for the University of Maryland's
swine flu vaccine trial. The biochemist and seasoned vaccine volunteer
jumped at the chance to participate in the first human tests of the H1N1
vaccine.
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| 8.12.09 |
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
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At least one strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus leaves survivors
at significantly increased risk for Parkinson’s disease and possibly other
neurological problems later in life, according to new research from St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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| 8.11.09 |
Medical News Today |
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Tokyo-based global pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo Limited announced
today, Monday, that their new anti flu drug CS-8958 (generic name laninamivir) has shown "positive top line
results" in a phase III trial that compared its safety and effectiveness
with Tamiflu.
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| 8.7.09 |
Minnesota Public Radio |
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Several thousand turkeys at a large poultry producer in central Minnesota's
Meeker County have been quarantined after routine testing discovered a
strain of avian flu.
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Department of Homeland Security |
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Updated federal guidelines offer state and local public health and school
officials a range of options for responding to 2009 H1N1 influenza in schools,
depending on how severe the flu may be in their communities.
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UPMC Center for Biosecurity |
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As the U.S. prepares to respond this fall and winter to pandemic (H1N1)
2009, a review of the 1957-58 pandemic of Asian influenza (H2N2) could
be useful for planning purposes because of the many similarities between
the 2 pandemics.
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| 8.6.09 |
Government Accountability Office |
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Influenza Pandemic: Gaps in Pandemic Planning and Preparedness Need to
Be Addressed |